Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Have I been drinking the Kool-Aid or is this the best book that I have ever read?

I am a prayer warrior but I don't go around advertising it. People who are close to me know that if they call me with a prayer request that I will pray for them a hundred times over. I jokingly say that I have a direct line to God because often times, my prayers are answered. I make a practice of praying. I pray at stop signs, while I'm loading the dishwasher, or changing a diaper. I see any regular moment as an opportunity to pray.

I don't discuss my spirituality often. If someone asks me about my beliefs, I will tell them but it's not open for a theological discussion. My spirit is mine and my heart is free to believe in prayer. Your heart is free too, I'm not here to change anyone. I can only be in charge of my own heart.

Yet, there is this book that I read that has changed my life. It has changed my husband's life and he doesn't even know it. I discovered it one day when I was seeking refuge at the grocery store a few years ago (click here to find out why I consider a trip to the grocery store a form of therapy). My husband was out of a job and depressed. I floated around the aisles praying, crying, and hoping that no one was staring at me. My eyes happened to fall upon this book...

The Power of the Praying Wife

I picked it up and tossed it into the shopping cart without even batting a teary eyelash. When I later read it, I discovered a key to changing my life. Let me interject here and tell you that if I had picked up this book six years ago I would have slammed it shut and tossed it into the trash within the first chapter. It has some seriously old school biblical views. Frankly, I am shocked that I not only read the book but totally immersed myself into it. The photo of the author looks like a lady at church who would have given me the stink eye as a teenager because I was painting my fingernails during the sermon. I mean, look at her...

"Hi, my name is Stormie and
I eat bad little girls for lunch."


I digress...something within me found comfort in her words. Each chapter is a meditation of prayer for your husband. From finances to his integrity, this book has 30 devotions that you do daily. It's backed up with bible verses and has a script at the end of each chapter. If you read this book for one month, by the end of the month you would have prayed for every aspect of your husband's life.

Let me tell you something, this book is like gold. After I read it, my husband found a job within 2 weeks. Any time I sense that he is misdirected or just feeling down, I'll bust out this book and pray. Just a few weeks ago, I pulled out this book and within a week Roger got a raise at work. It's magical! It's also better than me riding his ass all the time and trying to control things that I can't change.

In conclusion, if you have a servant's heart and are willing to get down on your knees, buy this book and let the praying commence. If this is not really your thing and just the look of Stormie scares you, then simply move along but do it quietly please...I'm not open for business if you don't like what I'm selling, if ya know what I mean!

Disclaimer: I received no compensation for writing this book review.
I wrote it out of the kindness of my own heart and so that you wouldn't
have to walk through Kroger crying your eyeballs out
in search of this book.
You're welcome.

14 comments:

Jocelyn Christensen said...

Ha! You crack me up. Stormie does scare me a bit, but I believe in the power of prayer! I am so glad that you've got such a great testimony of prayer and that it has been a blessing in your life too! That's awesome.

PS - I have made many a teary spectacle in my day...mostly as a single person though! I have no shame when it comes to crying. You don't like it, Kroger shoppers, look the other way, I say! :)

Unknown said...

Not only is Stormie O martian an awesome author she can flat preach a church down. A survivor of abuse in her life she is just so real. I love her.. I have that book and the one for kids.. I need to get it back out and put it in practice..

Andrea said...

Nope...it's not the cool-aide, this time! It is an awesome book!
Blessings,
andrea

Vanessa said...

I LOVE THIS BOOK. I actually read it when I was married the first time and in the midst of that craptastic marriage, I found peace and contentment and this book helped. (And have you read the bio on Stormie? She's human!)

P.S. I pray like that too -- all the time, anytime, I love that God lets us do that, too!

Unknown said...

I've heard a lot about that book, but haven't read it. Your recommendation might just get me to the book store!

June said...

I have heard a few sermons by Stormie and they are very moving.

Crying in the grocery store is not uncommon, trust me. I refuse to go into the card isle in any store that is full of people... I choke up too easily.

Thank you for being a prayer warrior, Leigh.

Susan Anderson said...

What a generous post this is, Leigh, and I am going to read the book. (And singedwingangel says there's one for kids, too...which is equally interesting to me.)

Of course, I already pray for my husband and kids...but I'm always interested in hearing/reading a new take on that. And the fact that she inspired you so much makes me curious about her.

Having said that, the author DOES scare me. But I sort of scare myself when I look in the mirror (for different reasons, of course). So I'm used to it!

Thanks again for sharing your entirely un-pushy, un-preachy prayer practices with us. I love it when people are both funny and spiritual. What a great combo!

=)

=)

The Ninja said...

I don't pray...well, I sometimes do, but for my sanity only.

Caroline said...

I loved this post of yours because I think all wives can relate to feeling a real desire to help, but often uncertain where to begin. I agree with you that prayer is always the best place to start. I read this book a few years ago and remember it being wonderful. Thanks for the reminder--I need to pick it up again!

R Montalban said...

Leigh, I think you are just such a sweetie.

cathyjoy said...

i pray for my husband but perhaps i need this book to help me pray more specifically...

Christy said...

I love this Leighbug!!! Thank you for sharing, Love, Christy

Annie B said...

Cool! I'm going to check it out! Thanks for the recommendation. :) Prayer works.

Tracie Nall said...

Love love love this book!

In fact....I haven't used it for a while and I should probably pull it back out! And that is all I'm going to say about that.