Simply Pray: How to Ask, Seek, and Knock for Answered Prayer

by Deb Hopper

Transform your prayer life in three easy steps! It sounds like a slick commercial that’s too good to be true, but Jesus did give us three simple directions to ask, seek, knock.   In the gospel of Matthew, He “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (7:7). Using this as a guide, Deb Hopper unpacks how we can do just that as part of our everyday lives. Think about it. How much more powerful would your prayers be if you were actually praying with direction and actively receiving answers? God listens and cares about everything we bring to Him, so why not pray in expectation? Deb did, and she wants you to experience the peace that comes from relying on God. 

More than giving a simple prayer strategy, Deb weaves over 30 years of answered prayers through this book to show you how she learned to pray. If you want to make prayer a part of your daily routine in a practical way, try Simply Pray . Prayer may just change your life.

Genres: Christian

224 pages, Paperback

Published March 5, 2024

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

All in all, I enjoyed this book as a whole. It is well written and I liked the authors writing style. The topic of prayer is one that I enjoy studying up on. One thing I wasn’t entirely keen on was the authors inference that by simply writing down your prayers, God is more likely to answer. I will say, that writing down your prayers can make your prayer life more intentional. If you’re prone to your mind wandering when you’re praying or falling asleep when you’re trying to pray before bed (hey, I’ve been there!) writing your prayers out while you pray them aloud can help to keep your thoughts on track! In summary, the book was good and I would recommend it to others. But if I’m being nitpicky, there were a couple things I wasn’t 100% in agreement with.

[Paul Walter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Debbie Hopper’s first (and hopefully not last) book! I read a few pages each day as part of my quiet time and was furiously jotting down notes in my journal with every page. She writes with faith, humility and clarity. There were so many practical takeaways and memorizable scripture verses to soak in!

I love that Debbie answered God’s call to share her stories and her secret superpower (prayer!) so that we all could benefit and draw closer to God. Five stars for D-Hop!!!

[Yannick Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matthew 7 verse 7: "Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you."
The book is based on this principle: ASK,SEEK,KNOCK.

1-ASK) We can trust God and come to him believing He will answer, we can make a list and ask precisely what we need.
2-SEEK) God will often confirm you if you are in the right direction, seek a confirmation from God andlearn how to hear God's voice. Always try to align your prayer to God's will. The more you align yourself with God's will, the more He will be able to direct your path and you'll grow in faith with more discernment.
3-KNOCK) There will be times where our faith will be tested, God can say No, Not now, but praying without ceasing will help God shape your character.

At the end of each chapter you'll have questions you can answer and verses to memorize. The author gave a lot of examples of how God helps
her in difficult times, how He provided for her and her family you can see God's hands in her life and the power of prayer.

I received a copy of this book and this is an honest review.

[Anne-Marie Madore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book through Our Daily Bread Ministries, whom provide wonderful resources to advance the Kingdom of God. I gladly support this Ministry to assist them in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I'm a mature Christian. God has answered many prayers in my lifetime. And I’ve read many books on prayer. Why then do I want to read another one? Because I want my faith elevated to a higher degree. Along with my Bible, books written by Christian men and women help me do just that.

Deb Hopper weaves over 30 years of answered prayers throughout her book to show readers how she learned to pray. I wanted to discover her wealth of knowledge and wisdom regarding prayer for myself.

Matthew 7:7 is one of my favorite verses with 3 key words, ask, seek, and knock. In the Introduction, the author shares an acronym for these key words: ASK. A great way to remember Matthew 7:7.

The book is broken down into four parts: Part One: Ask; Part Two: Seek; Part Three: Knock; Part Four: Seeing God in the Answers. Each part includes five short chapters, and ends with Ask In Your Life comprised of thought-provoking questions.

Yes, it's amazing when we see how God answers our prayers. The answers vary from a definite yes or no, or not right now. However way God answers our prayers, we learn to trust His wisdom, knowing His ways and thoughts are higher than ours.

Deb Hopper has written an amazing book on prayer. She uses the gifts God has given her to the best of her ability. Her writing style is easy and she’s able to draw her readers with stories from her own life and that of others. This book would make an excellent gift for people of all ages. I recommend you read it for yourself and discover how simple prayer can be.

Anne-Marie Madore
Author, God Said, “I WILL” Promise Book

[Christine Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm new to learning to pray. This book brings it straight to the point: Simply Pray. "Let us never make prayer too complicated or too cumbersome. Instead, let us simply pray - asking, seeking, and knocking - and trust the answers to the Weaver."

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply Pray by Deb Hopper ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Enjoyed her journey down a very understandable road of learning how to pray or to enhance your prayer life. Very easy to read and follow.

[BJ Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply Pray is a book on prayer that revolves around Matthew 7:7, "Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you."

The first word in this verse is both an acronym that Deb Hopper uses, and the first word in that acronym: Ask = ask, seek, knock.

This book would work well as a three week devotional as there are 21 chapters that each would take about 10 minutes to read, and then at the end she has 4 follow up action steps that would get a person (or group) diving in to their Bible in reading and memorization as well as focused prayer points.

In reading this book, at first I was a bit put off and didn't think I would enjoy it. Many of her illustrations and analogies are personal and only someone who knows her or those related would be inspired by them. But Mrs Hopper is an older mother and younger grandmother who is just sharing how God has worked through her life and experiences. Once I settled into this mindset, I enjoyed this more and the personal, unrelatable illustrations were a bit less so. In all, this is not the best book on prayer out there, but it is certainly a worthy addition to a topic we can never possibly have too many books about.

[Dana McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply Pray by Deb Hopper uses the acronym ASK-Ask, Seek, Knock. This concept was taken from scripture found in Matthew 7:7. This book offered some wonderful advice on how to pray with purpose. I loved all the first hand testimonies given in each chapter, how she used prayer throughout many of life’s obstacles. The best part was that it wasn’t just her advice or recommendations everything was backed up by Gods word. The questions at the end of every chapter were thought provoking, they made you want to dive even deeper into what was given in the chapters. This study would be perfect for a small group or a personal Bible study.
I definitely recommend this Bible study, I’m going to recommend it at our next small group.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the writing style that Deb Hopper uses to express her faith, feelings and prayerful attitude. She easily draws you in and tells a compelling story. She relied on Matthew 7:7 for her basis on how to use prayer to better connect with God. I will say that sometimes it felt as though she was hammering home her point in a way that made her struggles and the ability to overcome them very simplified. As if by simply writing down your prayers, God will suddenly provide you with the means to fix all your problems in a very concise, easy, two step plan. (Perhaps, in particular, she should have paid closer attention to the fact that praying to lose weight is such a complex and layered situation. It certainly is more layered than is explored here.)

My theology includes a space for the mystery and for the fact that sometimes God does not step in as an answer to prayer.

This is a well-written book. I would certainly give it to a more conservative, sheltered Christian.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply Pray by Deb Hopper helps the reader understand the power of ASK—Ask, Seek, Knock—as the reader examines their prayer life and applies this simple concept from Matthew 7:7. The book presented scripture and information that was clear and concise along with the author's personal journey and how she faced obstacles and overcame some of her struggles through prayer.

Reading the book, I feel like I need to develop more faith as I get skeptical reading this book because it seemed like this author was able to have a job land in her lap, etc., and sometimes things are not so easy.

Overall, Simply Pray is a good book to begin the journey of asking, seeking, and then listening and delving into scripture to hear God’s voice. It is a book I will return to to find inspiration and scripture and how to sit quietly and listen for God's guidance.

#SimplyPray #NetGalley

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simply Pray by Deb Hopper is an interesting exploration of Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you." I found some new-to-me ideas and tips, but overall I felt like this book probably could've been condensed down to a single sermon.

Note: I'll put this out there, because I know there are some differences in opinion on the theology - The author is a Pastor of women's ministry, which she covers in several anecdotes in the book.

3/5 stars. This was a little heavy on the anecdotes and a little light on the exposition for me. Recommended if you're looking for a light, uplifting book on prayer that won't put you to sleep.

Thank you to NetGalley, Deb Hopper and Our Daily Bread Publishing for the opportunity to read the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Kayla Hollatz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deb does a wonderful job breaking down the basics of prayer through the lens of Matthew 7:7. I liked how the sections were broken into "ask, seek, knock" and the various references to scripture. However, the author focuses more on the stories where God answered her prayers rather than leaning into the hardship of when God is seemingly quiet. We don't magically get whatever our heart desires just because we commit to prayer, but that's somewhat the tone of this book. I could see it being a companion guide for those who are beginning their prayer life, but I wanted it to go a few steps further. Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Michelle Castaneda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply Pray: How to Ask, Seek, and Knock for Answered Prayer by Deb Hopper is a beautifully written, life-changing book. The author learned some important principles about prayer and has clung to them in key points in her life. These proven prayer elements are easily explained in the book. Reading this book feels like sitting down with a good friend, a Godly mentor that has gone before you and can help you light the way. I highly recommend this book. It is one to read again and again. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

[Kimberly Keagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply Pray offers practical advice for how to pray with purpose, backed up by powerful testimonies of how prayer has worked in the author’s life. I love the way the book is laid out. The ideas are clearly presented with call-outs throughout and thought-provoking questions at the end of each chapter. Highly recommend this well-written book.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Our Daily Bread Publishing. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Destiny Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how this book gave practical tips for approaching prayer, as well as prompts to think about. I also appreciate when Christian authors are transparent and share some of the struggles that arise when prayer is not answered exactly when/how you want it. Deb was very open about some things she’s faced and didn’t pretend to be a perfect Christian.

[Morgan Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have followed Deb Hopper on instagram for a couple of years and am always so thankful for her wisdom that she shares. This book was no exception. She clearly lays out, in easy to understand terms and steps, how she has overcome many obstacles through prayer. This felt like the perfect lent read, and I can't wait to put some of this principals into practice.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always looking for ways to make my prayer life more impactful, and found the concept of Ask, Seek, Knock from Matthew 7:7 as beautifully described in SIMPLY PRAY incredibly helpful. It's given me a new way to approach prayer, which I've always experienced as healing, especially as I pray for others. Highly recommended!

[Analisa Carrillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVE this book. The way it is written is just so smooth and makes you want to keep reading it. It's such an encouraging book on prayer and has been really helpful for me at this moment in life. Highly recommend you read this one.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply Pray by Deb Hopper details how to apply the principal of prayer found in Matthew 7:7, ASK, SEEK, KNOCK. It would be a great companion guide for those new to prayer. It offers practical, simple advice to get you started. I also like the questions at the end of each chapter and how they make you dive deeper. If you are struggling with prayer, Simply Pray will help guide you along the way.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review.

[Aunjanai Query · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took me a while to finish, because life! Super busy during the summer time. Overall, great read! She uses real life examples for her personal life that keeps you engaged. My viewpoint of praying has changed. Very thankful this book was gifted to me from a dear friend. Every educational!

[Carol Standish-Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well write. Book on the ASK method of prayer. Each chapter ends with questions to ponder. A valuable resource for those wish to go deeper in prayer.

[Megan Stanton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It offers a very accessible way to be more intentional about your prayer life.

[Joy Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ready to read book by Jess Connolly’s mom on how to pray using the Ask, Seek, Knock method. She tells lots of stories where she has used this method.

[Amy Cosentino · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really encouraging read filled with personal testimonies that will boost your faith, Scripture truth and practical tips to reinvigorate your prayer life.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used this book for my daily devotions. Mrs. Harper had excellent illustrations to enhance her teaching on prayer.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great listen on Spotify audiobooks. Not gimmicky like I expected. Practical advice and lots of personal stories to connect with.