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Prayer-Saturated Family: How to Change the Atmosphere in Your Home through Prayer
A Bestselling Author Shows How Prayer Can Change the Atmosphere of Your Home
As we experience an unprecedented cultural attack on biblical values, it has never been more important for families to pray together. But busy schedules, digital distractions, and a general lack of enthusiasm make this vital goal difficult. How do we change the focus of our families from the world to the Lord, and the mood of our households from one of frustration to one of peace and joy?
In The Prayer-Saturated Family , Cheryl Sacks gives you step-by-step guidance and real-world tips on how to experience the atmosphere of heaven in your home by praying together regularly as a family. Sacks helps you navigate the challenges--like getting everyone involved!--and experience the benefits of family prayer, such as unity, spiritual growth, and precious bonding time. Discover how a family that prays together becomes an unstoppable force for good, bringing God's answers to impossible situations.
And it can start with you! You have the power not only to change the atmosphere of your home but also to be part of changing the spiritual atmosphere wherever you go.
As we experience an unprecedented cultural attack on biblical values, it has never been more important for families to pray together. But busy schedules, digital distractions, and a general lack of enthusiasm make this vital goal difficult. How do we change the focus of our families from the world to the Lord, and the mood of our households from one of frustration to one of peace and joy?
In The Prayer-Saturated Family , Cheryl Sacks gives you step-by-step guidance and real-world tips on how to experience the atmosphere of heaven in your home by praying together regularly as a family. Sacks helps you navigate the challenges--like getting everyone involved!--and experience the benefits of family prayer, such as unity, spiritual growth, and precious bonding time. Discover how a family that prays together becomes an unstoppable force for good, bringing God's answers to impossible situations.
And it can start with you! You have the power not only to change the atmosphere of your home but also to be part of changing the spiritual atmosphere wherever you go.
- GenresParenting
192 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 10, 2016
Cheryl Sacks has offered up a very well-written, practical book about the power of prayer and how to help your family become a family that turns first to prayer above everything else. The book is easy to read, and I appreciate the conversational style Sacks has written the book in. And, what I most enjoyed about the book is the real-world examples, from Sacks' family and from many other families, demonstrating how prayer releases God's power into your home and the world around you. I think that our media-saturated culture results in so much negativity pervading our families, along with temptations that previous generations did not even have to face. Sacks reminds us that "prayer can help us navigate the often uncertain landscape of life, and seek the direction, wisdom and presence of God along the way. It is amazing how, when we look back, we can see what God has done - especially when we invite Him into our families and allow his His Spirit to change the atmosphere of our homes". How amazing that God offers us a way to invite his presence into our lives, and he does so in such a very real and tangible way! I personally know that the very act of lifting up my children in prayer every day brings me such peace, and God has certainly answered prayers in our family time and time again. I also want to mention that one of the most amazing parts of the book is the "31-Day Family Prayer Guide" included at the end of the book, offering guidance to truly engage every member of the family in making prayer a daily part of the family life. Following this prayer guide will certainly challenge every member of the family (i.e. doing a prayer walk at your school), and may push you out of your comfort zone. But what an amazing blessing it is to have God truly use us to change the world around us, and prayer is the avenue he uses to do so!
I highly recommend this book for every family seeking to make God the center of their lives, and to unite together for Jesus. I award this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
I highly recommend this book for every family seeking to make God the center of their lives, and to unite together for Jesus. I award this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
December 3, 2016
Prayer is one of those weird topics within the church. It's foundational, everyone has heard of it, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of teaching on the topic in my experience and most people are afraid to ask questions. This is why I love books like this. Cheryl takes readers through different styles of prayer, ways to incorporate prayer into families at all stages of life, and easy to follow "how-to's" she has encountered over her own life and research.
I really appreciated the care Cheryl takes to go through the highs and lows of families in each of their glorious stages from no children to empty nesters and everywhere in between. The 31 day guide at the end of the book gives a wide variety of topics and suggestions to help families practically expand their own understanding of prayer and how to become more intentional about incorporating prayer into areas that may not be naturally apparent in our busy lives.
As I said, I love useful how-to's and this book provides them :)
On the flip side, I would recommend this for people who have been in the church for some time and already possess a more balanced view on the role of prayer for one main reason. Cheryl's writing, at times, slips into a very "health & wealth"/ "name it &claim it" mentality that can be dangerous. Without acknowledging that, sometimes, even prayers for what we perceive to be good things can receive an answer of no or not yet, we run the risk of turning prayer into a one way request line for a Santa Claus God. I think she tempered this somewhat with her incorporation of worship but for someone new to faith an explicit statement that prayers are not wishes and sometimes the answer isn't what we want would have been nice to see stately more strongly and clearly.
3.5 out of 5 stars
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."
I really appreciated the care Cheryl takes to go through the highs and lows of families in each of their glorious stages from no children to empty nesters and everywhere in between. The 31 day guide at the end of the book gives a wide variety of topics and suggestions to help families practically expand their own understanding of prayer and how to become more intentional about incorporating prayer into areas that may not be naturally apparent in our busy lives.
As I said, I love useful how-to's and this book provides them :)
On the flip side, I would recommend this for people who have been in the church for some time and already possess a more balanced view on the role of prayer for one main reason. Cheryl's writing, at times, slips into a very "health & wealth"/ "name it &claim it" mentality that can be dangerous. Without acknowledging that, sometimes, even prayers for what we perceive to be good things can receive an answer of no or not yet, we run the risk of turning prayer into a one way request line for a Santa Claus God. I think she tempered this somewhat with her incorporation of worship but for someone new to faith an explicit statement that prayers are not wishes and sometimes the answer isn't what we want would have been nice to see stately more strongly and clearly.
3.5 out of 5 stars
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."
July 13, 2021
Every wife should have this book! Eye opening. The stories narrated in the book are relatable.
March 10, 2017
This book was given to me by a friend, and I in no way mean to disparage the gift. There are a number of useful things that can be wrestled out of this book. While I agree with the premise that prayer is necessary for the Christian family, I find the arguments in this book to be exegetically lacking or even manipulative of Scripture, the theology mushy at best ("The Spirit told me..."; "I heard the Lord say"; "Take communion as a family"?!), and the God & Country motive for prayer to be disheartening. Overall, I don't recommend it as a guide for why you ought to pray, or even for a method for prayer.
January 1, 2017
The Prayer Saturated Family: How to Change the Atmosphere in Your Home through Prayer by Cheryl Sacks is a practical tool to help you understand the need for family prayer time, with lots of stories of encouragement and helpful suggestions on how to incorporate a family prayer time into your busy schedule.
Part One: What Happens When Families Pray explains the need for family prayer time. In this section, Cheryl explains the concept of a family altar, and offers lots of real-life examples of why praying as a family has such a big effect - both in communication with God and in teaching our children to follow suit. This section was kind of a hard read for me. Having grown up in a family which did not emphasize God, much less praying together as a family, I felt very discouraged by how much emphasis she put on the concept that adults who grew up in praying families are the ones to teach their children to be part of a praying family. My husband and I are both in our 30's with a total of four kids (9-12), and we've only been on the trek of seeking out Jesus for about a year and a half now. I got this book not because we grew up in praying families, but because we're both trying to learn how to become one. There was a huge road block between where we are and the families that Cheryl seemed to be addressing in this first section. Fortunately, I kept reading the book, albeit very slowly through this first section. Side effect of reading to post reviews is that I won't review a book I haven't finished reading.
Part Two: Time To Take Action is the foundational section that walks you through launching a family prayer time, even if you've never prayed together before. In this section, Cheryl also shows you ways to overcome most common obstacles to family prayer time, such as busy schedules, kids that won't participate (a problem area for us), negative outside influences, and the feeling of overwhelm at not knowing how to do it "properly" (our largest issue).
Part Three: Jump-Start A Lifetime Of Family Prayer is a 31-day family prayer guide, with a suggestion for each day in order to help your family get closer to God. I read this section, and we're planning on implementing it on January 1st, in light of Chapter 12: Dedicating Your Year To The Lord.
Overall, I'm giving this book 4/5 stars. For those readers who did not grow up in households tightly knit in the Lord's word and family prayer time, I would highly suggest reading Part Two of this book first. Because you most likely already believe in the strength of family prayer, or you wouldn't have picked up the book. After you read Part Two, go back and read Part One for more insights and encouragement on ways that God will support your family when your family supports Him. Then, use Part Three as a plan of action to jumpstart your own family prayer time.
*Disclaimer: I received a free print edition of this book from the publisher in exchange for this honest review. All opinions are my own.*
Part One: What Happens When Families Pray explains the need for family prayer time. In this section, Cheryl explains the concept of a family altar, and offers lots of real-life examples of why praying as a family has such a big effect - both in communication with God and in teaching our children to follow suit. This section was kind of a hard read for me. Having grown up in a family which did not emphasize God, much less praying together as a family, I felt very discouraged by how much emphasis she put on the concept that adults who grew up in praying families are the ones to teach their children to be part of a praying family. My husband and I are both in our 30's with a total of four kids (9-12), and we've only been on the trek of seeking out Jesus for about a year and a half now. I got this book not because we grew up in praying families, but because we're both trying to learn how to become one. There was a huge road block between where we are and the families that Cheryl seemed to be addressing in this first section. Fortunately, I kept reading the book, albeit very slowly through this first section. Side effect of reading to post reviews is that I won't review a book I haven't finished reading.
Part Two: Time To Take Action is the foundational section that walks you through launching a family prayer time, even if you've never prayed together before. In this section, Cheryl also shows you ways to overcome most common obstacles to family prayer time, such as busy schedules, kids that won't participate (a problem area for us), negative outside influences, and the feeling of overwhelm at not knowing how to do it "properly" (our largest issue).
Part Three: Jump-Start A Lifetime Of Family Prayer is a 31-day family prayer guide, with a suggestion for each day in order to help your family get closer to God. I read this section, and we're planning on implementing it on January 1st, in light of Chapter 12: Dedicating Your Year To The Lord.
Overall, I'm giving this book 4/5 stars. For those readers who did not grow up in households tightly knit in the Lord's word and family prayer time, I would highly suggest reading Part Two of this book first. Because you most likely already believe in the strength of family prayer, or you wouldn't have picked up the book. After you read Part Two, go back and read Part One for more insights and encouragement on ways that God will support your family when your family supports Him. Then, use Part Three as a plan of action to jumpstart your own family prayer time.
*Disclaimer: I received a free print edition of this book from the publisher in exchange for this honest review. All opinions are my own.*
February 26, 2017
As a Licensed Professional Counselor who loves working with couples and families, this is a book that will benefit every family! Cheryl not only inspires prayer that will change the atmosphere in your home, but also offers practical application on how to do so. What I especially appreciate is a month's reading of daily prayers in the back of the book that your family can use to get started. I am praying that this book starts a movement....it is that powerful!
January 4, 2017
This is a good book to read. I have not read it all the way through mind you, just bits and pieces, enough to perk my desire to read it more in-depth.
Divided into three sections
What Happens When Families Pray (8 sub-sections)
Time to Take Action (3 sub-sections)
Jump-start a life of family prayer (1 section)
Cheryl Sacks has a desire to reinforce the prayer life in families of believers. She has therefore provided us with a book full of stories and practical ways to add prayer to your family's way of living. She adds so many ways that prayer is answered, how it's a true work of God on behalf of his people.
This is a very practical book written about how prayer can change the atmosphere in your home. Prayer should be our first thought.
Sacks tells us this "prayer can help us navigate the often uncertain landscape of life, and seek the direction, wisdom and presence of God along the way. It is amazing how, when we look back, we can see what God has done - especially when we invite Him into our families and allow his His Spirit to change the atmosphere of our homes".
We are often told that we should pray without ceasing, and this book helps us to make that necessary part of our lives of faith, a reality.
The third section of book is a 31 day section of different prayers that one can do as a family, praying for leaders, friends, decision making, schools, evangelistic works etc.
I cannot say that I agree with everything in the book ... the whole section on the family altar and taking communion only as a family causes me hesitation... but much about the book intrigues, and the fact that it helps stoke the fires of increased conversation with the Lord God, that is a good thing is it not?
Recommendation: This book is definitely worth a read. Take it prayerfully. Be willing to be challenged and to be changed. God calls for us to be prayer warriors... this book will help.
Divided into three sections
What Happens When Families Pray (8 sub-sections)
Time to Take Action (3 sub-sections)
Jump-start a life of family prayer (1 section)
Cheryl Sacks has a desire to reinforce the prayer life in families of believers. She has therefore provided us with a book full of stories and practical ways to add prayer to your family's way of living. She adds so many ways that prayer is answered, how it's a true work of God on behalf of his people.
This is a very practical book written about how prayer can change the atmosphere in your home. Prayer should be our first thought.
Sacks tells us this "prayer can help us navigate the often uncertain landscape of life, and seek the direction, wisdom and presence of God along the way. It is amazing how, when we look back, we can see what God has done - especially when we invite Him into our families and allow his His Spirit to change the atmosphere of our homes".
We are often told that we should pray without ceasing, and this book helps us to make that necessary part of our lives of faith, a reality.
The third section of book is a 31 day section of different prayers that one can do as a family, praying for leaders, friends, decision making, schools, evangelistic works etc.
I cannot say that I agree with everything in the book ... the whole section on the family altar and taking communion only as a family causes me hesitation... but much about the book intrigues, and the fact that it helps stoke the fires of increased conversation with the Lord God, that is a good thing is it not?
Recommendation: This book is definitely worth a read. Take it prayerfully. Be willing to be challenged and to be changed. God calls for us to be prayer warriors... this book will help.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews