In BEFORE AMEN, beloved author Max Lucado writes about the most difficult of all Christian disciplines: prayer. He opens this generously written text admitting that he is a recovering prayer wimp: “I doze off when I pray. My thoughts zig, then zag, then zig again. Distractions swarm like gnats on a summer night. If attention deficit disorder applies to prayer, I am afflicted.” Like most folks, Lucado understands the difficulty of developing a daily, intentional, powerful prayer habit. It is with this understanding that he guides Christ followers in the how-tos of learning to pray simply.

Note: Lucado isn’t offering Christians a road map to praying longer, more eloquently, impressively or even passionately. What he is aiming to impart is the wisdom of simple prayer --- just like the kind that Jesus modeled for His disciples over 2,000 years ago. Lucado shares that today’s believer would do well to follow the quotable, repeatable, portable prayer that Jesus gave to those who would listen. According to him, all the prayers of the Bible could be distilled into one simple “pocket-size” prayer. Here it is: “Father, you are good. I need help. Heal me and forgive me. They need help. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

"As always, Lucado knows how folks feel and where they are most frustrated. Then he does what only he can do: he spins his words in a way that leave others uplifted and comforted in the most uncanny ways."

Lucado continues to drive home the main point that prayer isn’t only done on your knees alone in your prayer “closet,” though that’s a mighty good thing. For many people (as it should be for everyone), prayer is simply a conversation with God on the road, in the office, cooking dinner, waiting for an appointment, or hurrying out the door. Prayer is and should be an ongoing dialogue with the One who knows us best and loves us most: God. Lucado also reminds Christians that they needn’t be worried about getting the words exactly right. God will gently coach, teach, guide and show us how to pray and how praying changes and grows over one’s lifetime.

In each of Lucado’s nine brief (but powerfully expressed) chapters, he takes apart the simple prayer outlined above and helps readers better understand what each section means in everyday terms. Chapter by chapter, he redefines each phrase by sharing stories from his own life (or others) and then complementing each essay with to-the-point biblical principles that underscore the vital quality the statement makes in prayer (and makes it powerful).

Of course, longtime fans of Lucado’s work will fall in love all over again with his down-to-earth, honest-to-goodness style that just breathes out encouragement and hope, as well as a desire to implement whatever lesson he sets forth to teach. His own spiritual journey has always been an open book (in all his published works), and this book is no exception. Whether one is a new Christian or a seasoned sojourner in the faith, Lucado’s words will offer fresh perspective and an open-hearted welcome to the family type of conversation. As always, Lucado knows how folks feel and where they are most frustrated. Then he does what only he can do: he spins his words in a way that leave others uplifted and comforted in the most uncanny ways.