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Pray First: The Transformative Power of a Life Built on Prayer
Prayer is the lifeblood of the Christian faith--but many followers of Jesus still struggle to make prayer part of their daily lives. In Pray First, bestselling author and pastor Chris Hodges shows readers how to make prayer a first response, rather than a last resort. Why is it that so many Christians find it difficult to develop a vibrant and exciting prayer life? Even though prayer is foundational to the Christian life, many are intimidated or uncertain about how to talk to God. Prayer feels quaint and old-fashioned to some, sacred and uncomfortable to others. It's not a lack of inspiration--there's plenty of that. And it's not that Christians don't realize prayer is important--they know it is. So what's the issue? Pastor Chris Hodges has spent years studying the prayers of the Bible and the models of prayer that the scriptures provide for Christians. Now, he shares with readers the teachings and methods he's used to successfully help hundreds of thousands of people understand how to spend time in conversation with God--and enjoy every minute. Pray First will help readers Written in the personable, relatable, and always biblically based style that has become Hodges's hallmark, Pray First is a revolutionary how-to manual for all Christians who want to experience a dynamic, intimate prayer life with God.
256 pages, Paperback
Published December 27, 2022
1387 people are currently reading
6215 people want to read
About the author
Chris Hodges
65 books220 followersChris Hodges is the founding and senior pastor of Church of the Highlands. Since it began in 2001, Highlands has grown to have campuses across the state of Alabama, known for its life-giving culture and focus on leading people to an intimate relationship with God.
Pastor Chris has a deep passion for developing leaders and planting life-giving churches. He co-founded ARC (Association of Related Churches) in 2001, which has launched hundreds of churches across the United States. He also founded Grow, specializing in training and resourcing pastors and churches to help them break barriers and reach their growth potential. Chris is also the founder and Chancellor of Highlands College, a ministry training school that trains and launches students into full-time ministry careers.
Chris and his wife Tammy have five children and live in Birmingham, Alabama, where Church of the Highlands began. He speaks at conferences worldwide and is the author of Fresh Air, Four Cups, The Daniel Dilemma, and What’s Next?.
Pastor Chris has a deep passion for developing leaders and planting life-giving churches. He co-founded ARC (Association of Related Churches) in 2001, which has launched hundreds of churches across the United States. He also founded Grow, specializing in training and resourcing pastors and churches to help them break barriers and reach their growth potential. Chris is also the founder and Chancellor of Highlands College, a ministry training school that trains and launches students into full-time ministry careers.
Chris and his wife Tammy have five children and live in Birmingham, Alabama, where Church of the Highlands began. He speaks at conferences worldwide and is the author of Fresh Air, Four Cups, The Daniel Dilemma, and What’s Next?.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
January 29, 2024
Chris Hodges is such a good speaker/writer. It is beyond obvious that my pastor has used Chris's style to shape our church and it is done so well. I really enjoyed reading this one and diving deeper into prayer. It has gone hand in hand with what PC is teaching right now
May 5, 2025
This book has CHANGED my prayer life. Speaks with such deep conviction and truth + gives a bunch of practical tips and structures to follow. I few of my favourite quotes:
“No matter what you’re doing throughout your day, praying first keeps you tethered to the One who loves you most.”
“Prayer is the difference between the best you can do and the best God can do.”
“Surrendering our needs to Him is a form of worship. We can be generous because we trust the Source of all resources.”
“No matter what you’re doing throughout your day, praying first keeps you tethered to the One who loves you most.”
“Prayer is the difference between the best you can do and the best God can do.”
“Surrendering our needs to Him is a form of worship. We can be generous because we trust the Source of all resources.”
March 2, 2024
I LOVE it when I am listening to or reading a book that claims to be from a Christian POV and is instructing in said POV and actually USES and QUOTES Scripture! Sadly, that is not always the case with Christian labeled non-fiction, but that moved this book up immediately in my eyes.
Yes, the Scripture can be mis-used and often is, but it's a good start to at least have Scripture in a non-fiction Christian book. I don't feel that it is mis-used here. I'm no theologian, but it seems like a sound Christian foundation, pray, fast and congregate together and pray together.
I was THRILLED to have the section on fasting, as it has always interested me and does seem to be an important part of the praying process that isn't really discussed much, at least not in my church that I've noticed. He is clear that fasting isn't just food and drink and that some people aren't in a place where they can healthily fast from food and drink, BUT we can always fast from other things that distract us from the Lord and our relationship and prayer with Him. Our cell phones, media, the news, etc. Whatever keeps you away from God can be fasted from, so our focus can be on what really matters, the Lord.
His church has a 21 day fast in the beginning of each new year and they pray and fast as a church. It sounds so wonderful tbh. I try to fast during Lent and that did NOT happen for me this year, other than my audio books and the music I listen to in my car, so I guess half victory? Which is also half-failure.
Another thing he also discusses is spiritual warfare. It is a thing. Just because God won the war with Jesus on the cross doesn't mean that Satan is going to give up the battles to take us from God. I don't think it's giving Satan too much power to acknowledge that he exists and that he wants to hurt God by hurting us, God's beloved. Satan can't win the war, he knows this. He also knows God loves us and gave us free will to choose Him or not. So Satan is going to do his best to hurt God by convincing us to use our free will to make the wrong choice.
But, PRAY FIRST! I love how the author starts out with pray before EVERYthing, big or small. I don't always remember to do it, but it's an easy mantra to circle back to and every time I remember to do it, I smile.
This book is going to be a Lenten re-listen every year I think. It has a simple, yet powerful message that really resonated with me. I highly recommend it if you want a good book on prayer and fasting.
The author narrated his own book and it wasn't bad, but the volume control wasn't quite there, which was annoying, as I didn't want to miss a word.
5, definitely a book to come back to year after year, stars.
My thanks to libro.fm and Thomas Nelson for an ALC to listen to and review.
Yes, the Scripture can be mis-used and often is, but it's a good start to at least have Scripture in a non-fiction Christian book. I don't feel that it is mis-used here. I'm no theologian, but it seems like a sound Christian foundation, pray, fast and congregate together and pray together.
I was THRILLED to have the section on fasting, as it has always interested me and does seem to be an important part of the praying process that isn't really discussed much, at least not in my church that I've noticed. He is clear that fasting isn't just food and drink and that some people aren't in a place where they can healthily fast from food and drink, BUT we can always fast from other things that distract us from the Lord and our relationship and prayer with Him. Our cell phones, media, the news, etc. Whatever keeps you away from God can be fasted from, so our focus can be on what really matters, the Lord.
His church has a 21 day fast in the beginning of each new year and they pray and fast as a church. It sounds so wonderful tbh. I try to fast during Lent and that did NOT happen for me this year, other than my audio books and the music I listen to in my car, so I guess half victory? Which is also half-failure.
Another thing he also discusses is spiritual warfare. It is a thing. Just because God won the war with Jesus on the cross doesn't mean that Satan is going to give up the battles to take us from God. I don't think it's giving Satan too much power to acknowledge that he exists and that he wants to hurt God by hurting us, God's beloved. Satan can't win the war, he knows this. He also knows God loves us and gave us free will to choose Him or not. So Satan is going to do his best to hurt God by convincing us to use our free will to make the wrong choice.
But, PRAY FIRST! I love how the author starts out with pray before EVERYthing, big or small. I don't always remember to do it, but it's an easy mantra to circle back to and every time I remember to do it, I smile.
This book is going to be a Lenten re-listen every year I think. It has a simple, yet powerful message that really resonated with me. I highly recommend it if you want a good book on prayer and fasting.
The author narrated his own book and it wasn't bad, but the volume control wasn't quite there, which was annoying, as I didn't want to miss a word.
5, definitely a book to come back to year after year, stars.
My thanks to libro.fm and Thomas Nelson for an ALC to listen to and review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2022
I watched Chris Hodges speak on the topic, “Pray First” before reading an advance copy of his book. I wish I'd thought to do a search for him speaking sooner. He's from Louisiana and said he's Cajun, which made for fun reading. I now understand his frequent use of my least favorite punctuation mark: the exclamation point. I think using that mark is akin to writing in all caps. But I get it. If you’re Cajun, you need them.
Chris told his audience, “Some messages should teach you something you don’t know, and...[others should] remind you of things you stopped doing,” like his message that day. He wanted to stir hearts to make pray a priority and to pray without ceasing, much like the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8. The widow kept coming to petition the judge to grant her justice against her adversary. The judge didn’t fear God nor people, but he gave in because he tired of her constant pleas. God will supply quick justice to His chosen ones when they cry out to Him. Jesus taught his disciples to “always pray and never give up” (NLT) in this passage.
The book “Pray First” developed from prayer guides Chris used in his own prayer time and shared with his church family at Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, Alabama. He said believers need to make prayer the “first response and not the last resort.” It doesn’t have to be a long prayer. A sentence or two at a time can become a continuous conversation with God throughout the day. If you’ll pray first, Chris promises you will step into God’s reality and out of our worldly reality and into a heavenly reality, God’s realm, where we take our seat thanks to Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:6-7) Earth’s reality may say, “That’s impossible,” but God says “Is anything too difficult for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27)
Chris studied Jesus’ prayer life and noted three takeaways. First, Jesus made time for prayer. He recommending praying first thing in the morning. The first thing we give attention to is what we worship, he said. We need to let God know He comes
first. Second, Jesus had a place to pray, a spot where He would go off alone to commune with His Father. And third, Jesus had a plan. Here, Chris discussed the Lord’s prayer, the outline Jesus gave the disciples when they asked Him to teach them how to pray as He did. The disciples would have been more familiar with Jewish prayers. They memorized and recited prayers for different reasons as part of Jewish tradition. Jesus’ prayers had an intimacy because He approached Him as His Father.
And that’s how believers should approach God, Chris said. As kids, most of knew not to just barge in and outright demand things from our parents. We would greet and check in with them before requesting things -- or test the waters if you were me.
To have a quality prayer life, Chris said to pray consistently, to find a place, and to make time to pray. Our prayer closet technically is within, he said, so we always have a private place to speak with God. We can schedule time with God on a calendar. We can do as he does and pray first thing when we wake up for the day and just continue the conversation as we go about our activities.
In Part 2, Chris described some of the prayer plans he uses to keep his communication with God fresh and focused. He had collected several guides over the course of his 40 years in ministry that he shared with people. Having a deliberate plan to use helped him focus on why he’s praying and brought order to his thoughts. He thought through or processed his most important concerns first before turning them over to God.
Having a plan can prevent people from turning God into Santa, like He’s just there to hear our requests and give us what we think we want or need from Him. We need to see prayer time as a moment to praise and worship God, to seek forgiveness and restoration, and to make intercession for the people in our lives who have made requests.
Besides using the Lord’s prayer as a guide, Chris described the steps of the Tabernacle prayer, or the Prayer of Moses. He talked about the popular prayer of Jabez based on his prayer in 1 Chronicles 4:10 for blessing, influence, God's presence and protection. He gave the prayer of the sheep where we can learn and pray the names of God as they correspond to our circumstances. He also gave a plan for prayers for the lost and prayers for spiritual warfare.
In the last section of this book, Chris talked about prayer and fasting as an essential spiritual practice. The Bible talked about prayer and fasting more than 70 times, he said. His church has prayer and fasting for 21 days in January (the first of the year) and August (the first of the new school year). They modeled their prayer and fasting from Daniel's practice of praying and fasting for 21 days. Daniel had no meat or wine from the king's table, but instead ate vegetables and grains with water. Chris also shared stories from individuals throughout the Bible who prayed and fasted, such as Moses, Paul and Barnabas, Nehemiah, the king of Nineveh, the prophet Anna, Queen Esther, and Jesus Himself.
When you fast, you give up something for a time that has become an indulgence, a distraction, a comfort, or an escape for you. (This reminded me of Lent.) You disconnect from the world and all its distractions and appeals to the flesh and connect with God and rely on Him alone. Chris made sure to say several times that if it is solid food you decide to give up you need to consult with your doctor. You can have a partial fast also and opt to give up a part of your diet, like dairy and sugar, or give up something else like time spent on social media or other forms of entertainment.
Chris said to first consider our reasons for fasting though. Some have used fasting thinking God will give them what they ask for just because they fasted. That’s not the right heart attitude though. Chris supplied 21 days of focus material for those who want to fast and pray as he described. He recommended easing into non-fasting at the end of however long we fast to avoid a worsened spiritual state. You don't want to revert to old behaviors, practices, and ways of thinking that held you captive before your time of fasting, so he said we need to stay alert and keep our spirit closely aligned with God.
I saw that Chris has a companion to go with this book, a six-session study guide with streaming video. I look forward to viewing that as well. I plan to go back and make my own prayer guides based on the material in this book. Chris has written prayers within that I plan to use as prayer starters. Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Books for this opportunity to read and review this book on prayer.
Chris told his audience, “Some messages should teach you something you don’t know, and...[others should] remind you of things you stopped doing,” like his message that day. He wanted to stir hearts to make pray a priority and to pray without ceasing, much like the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8. The widow kept coming to petition the judge to grant her justice against her adversary. The judge didn’t fear God nor people, but he gave in because he tired of her constant pleas. God will supply quick justice to His chosen ones when they cry out to Him. Jesus taught his disciples to “always pray and never give up” (NLT) in this passage.
The book “Pray First” developed from prayer guides Chris used in his own prayer time and shared with his church family at Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, Alabama. He said believers need to make prayer the “first response and not the last resort.” It doesn’t have to be a long prayer. A sentence or two at a time can become a continuous conversation with God throughout the day. If you’ll pray first, Chris promises you will step into God’s reality and out of our worldly reality and into a heavenly reality, God’s realm, where we take our seat thanks to Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:6-7) Earth’s reality may say, “That’s impossible,” but God says “Is anything too difficult for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27)
Chris studied Jesus’ prayer life and noted three takeaways. First, Jesus made time for prayer. He recommending praying first thing in the morning. The first thing we give attention to is what we worship, he said. We need to let God know He comes
first. Second, Jesus had a place to pray, a spot where He would go off alone to commune with His Father. And third, Jesus had a plan. Here, Chris discussed the Lord’s prayer, the outline Jesus gave the disciples when they asked Him to teach them how to pray as He did. The disciples would have been more familiar with Jewish prayers. They memorized and recited prayers for different reasons as part of Jewish tradition. Jesus’ prayers had an intimacy because He approached Him as His Father.
And that’s how believers should approach God, Chris said. As kids, most of knew not to just barge in and outright demand things from our parents. We would greet and check in with them before requesting things -- or test the waters if you were me.
To have a quality prayer life, Chris said to pray consistently, to find a place, and to make time to pray. Our prayer closet technically is within, he said, so we always have a private place to speak with God. We can schedule time with God on a calendar. We can do as he does and pray first thing when we wake up for the day and just continue the conversation as we go about our activities.
In Part 2, Chris described some of the prayer plans he uses to keep his communication with God fresh and focused. He had collected several guides over the course of his 40 years in ministry that he shared with people. Having a deliberate plan to use helped him focus on why he’s praying and brought order to his thoughts. He thought through or processed his most important concerns first before turning them over to God.
Having a plan can prevent people from turning God into Santa, like He’s just there to hear our requests and give us what we think we want or need from Him. We need to see prayer time as a moment to praise and worship God, to seek forgiveness and restoration, and to make intercession for the people in our lives who have made requests.
Besides using the Lord’s prayer as a guide, Chris described the steps of the Tabernacle prayer, or the Prayer of Moses. He talked about the popular prayer of Jabez based on his prayer in 1 Chronicles 4:10 for blessing, influence, God's presence and protection. He gave the prayer of the sheep where we can learn and pray the names of God as they correspond to our circumstances. He also gave a plan for prayers for the lost and prayers for spiritual warfare.
In the last section of this book, Chris talked about prayer and fasting as an essential spiritual practice. The Bible talked about prayer and fasting more than 70 times, he said. His church has prayer and fasting for 21 days in January (the first of the year) and August (the first of the new school year). They modeled their prayer and fasting from Daniel's practice of praying and fasting for 21 days. Daniel had no meat or wine from the king's table, but instead ate vegetables and grains with water. Chris also shared stories from individuals throughout the Bible who prayed and fasted, such as Moses, Paul and Barnabas, Nehemiah, the king of Nineveh, the prophet Anna, Queen Esther, and Jesus Himself.
When you fast, you give up something for a time that has become an indulgence, a distraction, a comfort, or an escape for you. (This reminded me of Lent.) You disconnect from the world and all its distractions and appeals to the flesh and connect with God and rely on Him alone. Chris made sure to say several times that if it is solid food you decide to give up you need to consult with your doctor. You can have a partial fast also and opt to give up a part of your diet, like dairy and sugar, or give up something else like time spent on social media or other forms of entertainment.
Chris said to first consider our reasons for fasting though. Some have used fasting thinking God will give them what they ask for just because they fasted. That’s not the right heart attitude though. Chris supplied 21 days of focus material for those who want to fast and pray as he described. He recommended easing into non-fasting at the end of however long we fast to avoid a worsened spiritual state. You don't want to revert to old behaviors, practices, and ways of thinking that held you captive before your time of fasting, so he said we need to stay alert and keep our spirit closely aligned with God.
I saw that Chris has a companion to go with this book, a six-session study guide with streaming video. I look forward to viewing that as well. I plan to go back and make my own prayer guides based on the material in this book. Chris has written prayers within that I plan to use as prayer starters. Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Books for this opportunity to read and review this book on prayer.
August 8, 2025
Move to the top of your read next list !!!!!
February 1, 2023
Such a phenomenal book! It has completely changed my mindset on prayer, and definitely for the better! Pastor Chris gives the most simple explanations and beautiful Biblical models for prayer- I can’t wait to use what I’ve learned in my spiritual life!
April 19, 2024
Great book for practical advice and scriptures on how and why to pray. Chris gave a step by step guide on how to learn to pray, how to implement different kinds of prayer into your life, how often to pray, what kind of prayers to pray, etc. I did take away one star though because of some Bible scriptures that he used came from translations that I consider not accurate or good.
September 18, 2024
2.5 stars
May 5, 2023
I'm currently in a season of "going all in" for God and this book helped me understand prayer is so much more than what I thought!
I think this book is perfect for the new Christian, the new-old Christian, and those who are "stuck" and need to get out of their rut.
I think this book is perfect for the new Christian, the new-old Christian, and those who are "stuck" and need to get out of their rut.
April 7, 2025
Prayer is not the only thing we can do it’s the best thing we can do
January 9, 2024
4.25⭐️ A good devotional on praying for yourself, praying for others, and putting prayer as a priority. Pastor Hodges went through several different outlines for prayer, including the Lord’s Prayer and the Mosaic prayer, which was something I thoroughly enjoyed. This book has challenged me to take my prayer life more seriously and not let it get repetitive.
June 19, 2024
I received this in a Goodreads drawing, and hope my review is helpful for anyone wondering if this is their next read.
The good points:
1) the Gospel was clearly presented more than once. In a time when most Christian books gloss over that we are sinners in need of Christ, I found that refreshing.
2) the tone was gracious and the information well organized.
3) There were several helpful ideas about how to organize prayer for a specific time or goal (end of ch. 16 for example had a daily focus for three weeks, and through the second section there were some ideas that could help one get "unstuck" if prayer felt repetitive.
The negatives:
1) Not all, but many of the scriptures cited were out of context or did not support the topic in the chapter. Some ideas could help if teased out, but were missaplied or incomplete (I looked up each one to be sure). This is a pretty serious issue in Christian literature today, and has led to abuse in extreme cases, so this is the main reason for my lower rating.
2) There were some good sentiments that as a lifelong Christian I understand, but could be misleading or harmful to a new believer or someone having come out of legalism or mystic beliefs. Example; pg 13-14 imply we have to prove to God nothing comes before Him. For someone from a mystical background, they may assume this means we have to earn God's favor; from a legalistic history, it could bring fear of judgement for not following a rule. If God is loving and all knowing, he already understands where our hearts are and why we didn't get to things that day.
3) Lists of rules and formulas often detract from the Gospel. I found some of these helpful, but having come from a legalistic background myself, I see some potential danger in thinking I have to "crack a code" to pray correctly or reach God.
The good points:
1) the Gospel was clearly presented more than once. In a time when most Christian books gloss over that we are sinners in need of Christ, I found that refreshing.
2) the tone was gracious and the information well organized.
3) There were several helpful ideas about how to organize prayer for a specific time or goal (end of ch. 16 for example had a daily focus for three weeks, and through the second section there were some ideas that could help one get "unstuck" if prayer felt repetitive.
The negatives:
1) Not all, but many of the scriptures cited were out of context or did not support the topic in the chapter. Some ideas could help if teased out, but were missaplied or incomplete (I looked up each one to be sure). This is a pretty serious issue in Christian literature today, and has led to abuse in extreme cases, so this is the main reason for my lower rating.
2) There were some good sentiments that as a lifelong Christian I understand, but could be misleading or harmful to a new believer or someone having come out of legalism or mystic beliefs. Example; pg 13-14 imply we have to prove to God nothing comes before Him. For someone from a mystical background, they may assume this means we have to earn God's favor; from a legalistic history, it could bring fear of judgement for not following a rule. If God is loving and all knowing, he already understands where our hearts are and why we didn't get to things that day.
3) Lists of rules and formulas often detract from the Gospel. I found some of these helpful, but having come from a legalistic background myself, I see some potential danger in thinking I have to "crack a code" to pray correctly or reach God.
December 21, 2022
Chris Hodges is the first evangelical megachurch pastor I’ve read in a long time that I mostly can agree with theologically. I picked up Hodges’ book as a liberal Mennonite theologian interested in what the author had to say about prayer. Despite his insistence on God’s gender (his God has a penis, as my great-uncle would say), and an excessive focus on sacrificial atonement, Hodges does a pastoral job of reminding Christians to pray before undertaking their daily tasks, whether giant or small.
Pray First is divided into three parts: Learning About Prayer, Prayer Models and How to use Them, and Prayer and Fasting. Hodges recognizes that prayer is both important and necessary but insufficient. That is, we should pray but also act. He also uncomfortably focuses on praying for everyone that we know to be converted to Christ, but emphasizes kindness and good deeds over condemnation and hellfire. (A guy with 60,000 people showing up to church on a Sunday knows something about marketing.) He even offers the Prayer of Jabez not as a get-rich-quick prayer scheme but an opportunity to build a base to give to others. And his idea that the Lord’s Prayer is a model template for our own situation rather than a rote and lifeless incantation is very important. Hodges’ heavy emphasis on the reality of spiritual warfare is another of our theological differences. (Jesus has already won – giving the devil too much credit and attention is just as dangerous as not giving him enough.)
I’d be happy to sit down and have a friendly theological conversation across the aisle from Hodges. I’d be happy to lead a church conversation on this book, both its pros and cons. And of course, in any case, we’d all pray first.
Pray First is divided into three parts: Learning About Prayer, Prayer Models and How to use Them, and Prayer and Fasting. Hodges recognizes that prayer is both important and necessary but insufficient. That is, we should pray but also act. He also uncomfortably focuses on praying for everyone that we know to be converted to Christ, but emphasizes kindness and good deeds over condemnation and hellfire. (A guy with 60,000 people showing up to church on a Sunday knows something about marketing.) He even offers the Prayer of Jabez not as a get-rich-quick prayer scheme but an opportunity to build a base to give to others. And his idea that the Lord’s Prayer is a model template for our own situation rather than a rote and lifeless incantation is very important. Hodges’ heavy emphasis on the reality of spiritual warfare is another of our theological differences. (Jesus has already won – giving the devil too much credit and attention is just as dangerous as not giving him enough.)
I’d be happy to sit down and have a friendly theological conversation across the aisle from Hodges. I’d be happy to lead a church conversation on this book, both its pros and cons. And of course, in any case, we’d all pray first.
November 16, 2024
Chris Hodges passion for prayer is so evident reading this book.
“If prayer is the lifeblood of the Christian faith, then I’m afraid many believers are anemic”
Really great book for anyone who wants to grow in their prayer life! Highly recommend.
“If prayer is the lifeblood of the Christian faith, then I’m afraid many believers are anemic”
Really great book for anyone who wants to grow in their prayer life! Highly recommend.
August 13, 2024
Aha-Momente: 5/10 (habe mich nie mit dem Thema Beten wirklich auseinandergesetzt, deswegen mal was ganz neues für mich ☺️)
Unverständliche Diagramm-Quote: 0/10
Google notwendig: Das englische Kirchen-Vokabular hatte ich nicht so drauf 🥲
Meinungsänderung während des Lesens: Meine Sicht auf das Beten und auf Gott hat sich grundsätzlich nicht verändert, aber es war Mega interessant zu sehen, was das für andere Leute bedeutet und ich hab’s auch probiert und fand es sehr spannend auch für mich selbst ☺️
Pausenquote, um zu verarbeiten: 8/10
Neues gelernt: 10/10
Passendes Schulfach: Religion
Empfehlung: Aus Jux eher nicht, aber wenn euch das Thema gerade packt, dann definitiv! Eher weniger für 100% Atheisten gedacht, wenn man sich nicht darauf einlässt.
Unverständliche Diagramm-Quote: 0/10
Google notwendig: Das englische Kirchen-Vokabular hatte ich nicht so drauf 🥲
Meinungsänderung während des Lesens: Meine Sicht auf das Beten und auf Gott hat sich grundsätzlich nicht verändert, aber es war Mega interessant zu sehen, was das für andere Leute bedeutet und ich hab’s auch probiert und fand es sehr spannend auch für mich selbst ☺️
Pausenquote, um zu verarbeiten: 8/10
Neues gelernt: 10/10
Passendes Schulfach: Religion
Empfehlung: Aus Jux eher nicht, aber wenn euch das Thema gerade packt, dann definitiv! Eher weniger für 100% Atheisten gedacht, wenn man sich nicht darauf einlässt.
July 4, 2025
This book emphasizes the importance of prayer - how it can be a means of growing our relationship with God, and the many ways prayer can benefit us in all aspects of life. The author provides different structures for praying and examples of prayers. The author does incorporate occasional stories from his own life and church, but for the most part this read like a religious textbook. This book would be great to use as a guide if I were to write out my prayers, but most often I pray in my head. I like to talk naturally with God and pray about the things that are on my mind. But if you’re looking for a more structured way to pray, I think this book would be an excellent resource.
June 17, 2025
The beginning of the book sets up prayer and almost put down the book bc I thought it was going to stay that way but it doesn’t and goes into different ways and types of prayer. It was great to read about how he has implemented prayer into the church he leads and the impacts it has had. Loved having a real life example.
June 8, 2025
Amazing take on "pray without ceasing" and how we should be IMMERSED in prayer. I went in with low expectations and I was blown away by the thought and specificity of how to take your prayer life from a 0 to a 7 with SIMPLICITY!!!!!
January 16, 2023
Quite simply, the best book I’ve read on prayer. Biblical, practical, and comprehensive. Highly recommend.
January 19, 2025
So encouraging to read. Want to buy it physical so I can highlight and bend pages. Good read to learn more about prayer and fasting
January 23, 2025
loved the frameworks for prayer he discusses with biblical + personal evidence. great read that I will likely continuously refer back to
May 5, 2025
I will always appreciate this book. The writing is simple but powerful
September 5, 2025
This really is a great reminder to always pray first and takes a deeper dive into what it means to have a strong prayer life. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
March 19, 2023
I love the whole "pray first" idea, which is what we all should be doing! Overall, I really like this book a lot. You can learn much from the author's experience(s), and from the Scripture. I also like very much that the author states that this is not a magical formula, etc. The one thing I didn't love is the "Prayer of Moses". It is not an actual prayer, and is stretching it (the Scripture), in my opinion. That whole section of the book was my least favorite.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance e-copy of this book!!
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance e-copy of this book!!
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
June 6, 2025
DNF
I was a bit over a third of the way in, and the amazement over the Lord’s Prayer as an outline took me out. I simply wasn’t getting anything new or inspiring about it. The author has a heart for God, but it just wasn’t clicking.
No hate, just not my thing. I need to work on my prayer life, but this wasn’t helping - just a lot of super specific opinions, with some Scripture in and out of context. Meh. I will at least pray about it. ;-)
I was a bit over a third of the way in, and the amazement over the Lord’s Prayer as an outline took me out. I simply wasn’t getting anything new or inspiring about it. The author has a heart for God, but it just wasn’t clicking.
No hate, just not my thing. I need to work on my prayer life, but this wasn’t helping - just a lot of super specific opinions, with some Scripture in and out of context. Meh. I will at least pray about it. ;-)
February 26, 2025
always gotta rate the founding pastor 5 stars!!!!
July 11, 2023
Pray First by Chris Hodges is a book that addresses the challenges many Christians face in developing a vibrant and consistent prayer life. Hodges, a bestselling author and pastor, delves into the reasons why prayer can be difficult for some people and offers practical guidance on how to make prayer a first response rather than a last resort.
The author begins by acknowledging that prayer is essential to the Christian faith, yet many believers struggle with incorporating it into their daily lives. He explores various factors that contribute to this struggle, such as intimidation, uncertainty, and misconceptions about prayer. Hodges effectively addresses these concerns and helps readers understand that prayer can be a personal and enjoyable experience.
Drawing from his extensive study of the prayers found in the Bible, Hodges shares valuable insights and models of prayer that can be applied to one's own spiritual journey. He emphasizes the importance of making prayer more personal and powerful by taking inspiration from the prayers of biblical figures. Additionally, the author highlights the often overlooked discipline of fasting and explains how it can enhance and complement one's prayer life.
One of the strengths of Pray First is the practical advice and strategies offered by Hodges. He provides proven and biblically grounded methods for making prayer a priority in one's life. The book encourages readers to prioritize prayer, offers guidance on establishing a consistent prayer routine, and addresses common obstacles that may hinder a fulfilling prayer life. The author's writing style is personable, relatable, and firmly grounded in Scripture, making it accessible to readers from various backgrounds.
Overall, Pray First is a revolutionary guide that seeks to empower Christians to develop a more dynamic and intimate relationship with God through prayer. Chris Hodges combines his theological knowledge with practical wisdom to create a valuable resource for anyone seeking to deepen their prayer life. Whether you are a seasoned prayer warrior or someone who desires to cultivate a stronger connection with God, this book offers valuable insights and tools to help you along your spiritual journey.
The author begins by acknowledging that prayer is essential to the Christian faith, yet many believers struggle with incorporating it into their daily lives. He explores various factors that contribute to this struggle, such as intimidation, uncertainty, and misconceptions about prayer. Hodges effectively addresses these concerns and helps readers understand that prayer can be a personal and enjoyable experience.
Drawing from his extensive study of the prayers found in the Bible, Hodges shares valuable insights and models of prayer that can be applied to one's own spiritual journey. He emphasizes the importance of making prayer more personal and powerful by taking inspiration from the prayers of biblical figures. Additionally, the author highlights the often overlooked discipline of fasting and explains how it can enhance and complement one's prayer life.
One of the strengths of Pray First is the practical advice and strategies offered by Hodges. He provides proven and biblically grounded methods for making prayer a priority in one's life. The book encourages readers to prioritize prayer, offers guidance on establishing a consistent prayer routine, and addresses common obstacles that may hinder a fulfilling prayer life. The author's writing style is personable, relatable, and firmly grounded in Scripture, making it accessible to readers from various backgrounds.
Overall, Pray First is a revolutionary guide that seeks to empower Christians to develop a more dynamic and intimate relationship with God through prayer. Chris Hodges combines his theological knowledge with practical wisdom to create a valuable resource for anyone seeking to deepen their prayer life. Whether you are a seasoned prayer warrior or someone who desires to cultivate a stronger connection with God, this book offers valuable insights and tools to help you along your spiritual journey.
October 14, 2023
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Pray First
The Transformative Power of a Life Built on Prayer
By: Chris Hodges
Narrated by: Chris Hodges
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Publisher's summary
Read by the author.
Prayer is the lifeblood of the Christian faith--but many followers of Jesus still struggle to make prayer part of their daily lives. In Pray First, bestselling author and pastor Chris Hodges shows us how to make prayer a first response instead of a last resort.
Why is it that so many Christians find it difficult to develop a vibrant and exciting prayer life? Even though prayer is foundational to the Christian life, many are intimidated or uncertain about how to talk to God. Prayer feels quaint and old-fashioned to some, sacred and uncomfortable to others. It's not a lack of inspiration--there's plenty of that. And it's not that we don't realize prayer is important--we know it is. So, what's the issue?
Pastor Chris Hodges has spent years studying the prayers of the Bible and the models of prayer that the scriptures provide for Christians. Now, he shares the teachings and methods he's used to successfully help hundreds of thousands of people understand how to spend time in conversation with God--and enjoy every minute.
Pray First will give you the tools you need to:
Bring the joy back into your time with God
Take a journey through the prayers of the Bible, which reveal how to make prayer more personal and powerful
Learn about fasting, an often overlooked but powerful discipline that's a vital companio
Try now
Audible Premium Plus. Only $5.95 a month for the first 4 months. Get this deal! $14.95 a month after 4 months. Cancel anytime. Offers ends December 31, 2023 11:59pm.
Pray First Audiobook By Chris Hodges cover art
Sample
Pray First
The Transformative Power of a Life Built on Prayer
By: Chris Hodges
Narrated by: Chris Hodges
5.0 out of 5 stars
Try for $0.00
Prime logo
Prime member exclusive:
pick 2 free titles with trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection. Prime members pick 2 during trial, terms apply.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Buy for $19.79
Listeners also enjoyed....
Back to next and previous controls
Publisher's summary
Read by the author.
Prayer is the lifeblood of the Christian faith--but many followers of Jesus still struggle to make prayer part of their daily lives. In Pray First, bestselling author and pastor Chris Hodges shows us how to make prayer a first response instead of a last resort.
Why is it that so many Christians find it difficult to develop a vibrant and exciting prayer life? Even though prayer is foundational to the Christian life, many are intimidated or uncertain about how to talk to God. Prayer feels quaint and old-fashioned to some, sacred and uncomfortable to others. It's not a lack of inspiration--there's plenty of that. And it's not that we don't realize prayer is important--we know it is. So, what's the issue?
Pastor Chris Hodges has spent years studying the prayers of the Bible and the models of prayer that the scriptures provide for Christians. Now, he shares the teachings and methods he's used to successfully help hundreds of thousands of people understand how to spend time in conversation with God--and enjoy every minute.
Pray First will give you the tools you need to:
Bring the joy back into your time with God
Take a journey through the prayers of the Bible, which reveal how to make prayer more personal and powerful
Learn about fasting, an often overlooked but powerful discipline that's a vital companio
December 27, 2022
I tend to measure the usefulness of a book on prayer on whether it inspires me to pray more. This book does just that and not just because it provides a variety of prayers to pray. Chris Hodges church in Birmingham, Alabama has a well known reputation for being a praying church. They don't just say they do it but they actually do it as individuals, intercessors for the needs of congregants and others and corporately at weekly prayer meetings and twice annual 21-day prayer and fasting cycles.
Hodges leads from the front as is clearly evident in this book both from his own personal reflections on the significance of prayer in his life and that of the church but from the various models he provides in this book. These models come from a "Pray First Prayer Guide" that the church has been using for many years now.
The book is split into three sections:
1. Lessons on Prayer - it's importance in terms of knowing God
2. Prayer Models and How to Use them - this includes such items as the Lord's Prayer, Interceding for others, spiritual warfare prayers and the like
3. Prayer and Fasting - once again, fasting has been very important in Hodges and the church's life. This section delves in the why and how plus provides some great examples of fasting in the Bible.
I thoroughly recommend this book as it equipped me to pray. I love praying but like most of us go through dry seasons and this book stimulated my prayer life in different ways. I'm a great believer in using other people's prayers to enhance one's prayer life. Hodges in supplying the various prayer models provides the prayers he uses. I find the Holy Spirit engages and those prayers are embellished to help me to draw closer to God.
I appreciated the simplicity of the fasting section. We can over-complicate fasting and I like the fact that Hodges provides the outline of his church's 21-day prayer and fasting practice. Perfectly timed for the beginning of a new year.
I feel very fortunate receiving an early ebook copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this had no bearing on my review. I fully expect to purchase a paper version of the book as I'm likely to refer to it frequently.
Hodges leads from the front as is clearly evident in this book both from his own personal reflections on the significance of prayer in his life and that of the church but from the various models he provides in this book. These models come from a "Pray First Prayer Guide" that the church has been using for many years now.
The book is split into three sections:
1. Lessons on Prayer - it's importance in terms of knowing God
2. Prayer Models and How to Use them - this includes such items as the Lord's Prayer, Interceding for others, spiritual warfare prayers and the like
3. Prayer and Fasting - once again, fasting has been very important in Hodges and the church's life. This section delves in the why and how plus provides some great examples of fasting in the Bible.
I thoroughly recommend this book as it equipped me to pray. I love praying but like most of us go through dry seasons and this book stimulated my prayer life in different ways. I'm a great believer in using other people's prayers to enhance one's prayer life. Hodges in supplying the various prayer models provides the prayers he uses. I find the Holy Spirit engages and those prayers are embellished to help me to draw closer to God.
I appreciated the simplicity of the fasting section. We can over-complicate fasting and I like the fact that Hodges provides the outline of his church's 21-day prayer and fasting practice. Perfectly timed for the beginning of a new year.
I feel very fortunate receiving an early ebook copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this had no bearing on my review. I fully expect to purchase a paper version of the book as I'm likely to refer to it frequently.
March 8, 2023
PRAY FIRST - GOD Is Waiting
First of, I would like to say that I love the fact that Chris Hodges outlined this book into three parts, which are:
1. PART 1: Learning About Prayer
2. PART 2: Prayer Models and How To Use Them
3. PART 3: Prayer and Fasting
This makes reading the book very smooth, instead of having jump back and forth to similiar topics.
In Part 1, the author stresses the importance of praying without ceasing. He states that Jesus' followers devoted themselves to prayer (Acts 2: 42) and prayed continuously and constantly, and in Acts 1: 14, the apostle Paul wrote, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”
The author emphasis the fact that, "The goal of being focused and committed to prayer is relationship, not religion", because making prayer a priority ensures that we won’t minimize it as simply our default SOS when we need help.
When praying, we should reference scripture because Jesus said, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7: 24 niv), so when we pray God’s promises, we’re putting Jesus’ words into the fact that we’re willing to rely on God.
In Part 2, the author discusses several prayer models and how to use them. The most prevalent models are listed below:
1. The Prayer of Jesus
2. The Prayer of Moses
3. The Prayer of Jabez
4. The Prayer of the Sheep
5. The Prayers for the Lost
6. Warfare Prayers
7. The Prayer for Us
Each of the above prayer category is discussed in detail.
Finally, in Part 3, the author discusses one of my favorite topics: Prayer and Fasting. He states that fasting is about less of us and more of God, and is mentioned in the Bible more than seventy times! He discusses some of the many reasons why one should fast.
He states that there are nine fasts in the bible, but he has chosen four types to discuss in this book. Additionally, he has provided guidelines for doing a 21-Day Fast.
I love this book, the information on prayer and fasting is great for a novice or acquired practitioner. Highly recommend.
First of, I would like to say that I love the fact that Chris Hodges outlined this book into three parts, which are:
1. PART 1: Learning About Prayer
2. PART 2: Prayer Models and How To Use Them
3. PART 3: Prayer and Fasting
This makes reading the book very smooth, instead of having jump back and forth to similiar topics.
In Part 1, the author stresses the importance of praying without ceasing. He states that Jesus' followers devoted themselves to prayer (Acts 2: 42) and prayed continuously and constantly, and in Acts 1: 14, the apostle Paul wrote, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”
The author emphasis the fact that, "The goal of being focused and committed to prayer is relationship, not religion", because making prayer a priority ensures that we won’t minimize it as simply our default SOS when we need help.
When praying, we should reference scripture because Jesus said, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7: 24 niv), so when we pray God’s promises, we’re putting Jesus’ words into the fact that we’re willing to rely on God.
In Part 2, the author discusses several prayer models and how to use them. The most prevalent models are listed below:
1. The Prayer of Jesus
2. The Prayer of Moses
3. The Prayer of Jabez
4. The Prayer of the Sheep
5. The Prayers for the Lost
6. Warfare Prayers
7. The Prayer for Us
Each of the above prayer category is discussed in detail.
Finally, in Part 3, the author discusses one of my favorite topics: Prayer and Fasting. He states that fasting is about less of us and more of God, and is mentioned in the Bible more than seventy times! He discusses some of the many reasons why one should fast.
He states that there are nine fasts in the bible, but he has chosen four types to discuss in this book. Additionally, he has provided guidelines for doing a 21-Day Fast.
I love this book, the information on prayer and fasting is great for a novice or acquired practitioner. Highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews