Prayers of Rest

Title: Prayers of Rest: Daily Prompts to Slow Down and Hear God's Voice

Author: Asheritah Ciuciu

Source: Moody Publishers

My Review:

I don't know about you, but rest seems to be lacking lately. So, when I saw Prayers of Rest, I requested a copy to review.

We are a distracted and divided people, and God is calling us to rediscover the unity, devotion, and joy found only in His presence.

This book is so much more than I thought it would be. I think there are prayers for literally any circumstance you will find yourself in. Want to pray during Advent? No problem, it is there. What to pray during Lent? Yep, it's there. Feeling angry, confused, depressed, simply want to bless every room in your house? Again, it is all there. There are prayers for finding freedom in overindulging in food, a prayer for each of the 66 books of the Bible, a prayer for balancing the budget, weekend rest, New Year's Day, and so many more. 

The acronym itself, REST, serves as a reminder that God welcomes us to cease striving, to stop worrying, to pause our hustling, and to rest in him.

This book can be used to read a prayer a day. Each day follows the same format. It starts with a Bible verse, and then you

Recite God's Goodness
Express your neediness
Seek His stillness
Trust His faithfulness

and then, as if that wasn't enough, there is a section at the bottom of the page for further prayer and study, with additional Bible verses you can look up that correlate with that day's verse/topic.

Or, you can choose to use the book more as a resource. Having a bad day, just find that topic, it's your birthday, or someone else is, read that entry. There is no wrong way to use this book.

I will say, after trying to read it straight through, that was not the best approach for me. I found I didn't want to pray prayers centered around Advent right after Christmas (not that there is anything wrong with that), but I just felt a little bogged down.

Thank you to Moody Publishers for the opportunity to review this book. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

★★★★/5

Synopsis (Goodreads):  

Do you feel too busy to pray? Then you’re invited to find REST in God’s loving presence. Let’s face we all know we should be praying more. And we genuinely try to make it happen! But before we know it, the day’s worries and demands often distract us from conversation with God, and we’re left wondering why we don’t hear from Him. It happens to all of us. In Prayers of Daily Prompts to Hear God’s Voice , Asheritah Ciuciu offers you a respite from your spiritual to-do list. She provides guided prayers that will focus your mind and heart on Scripture. Using a memorable acronym and daily Bible verses, this prayer devotional will guide you through worship, confession, stillness, and surrender. You’ll learn Don’t let distractions pull you away from God. When the duties of life begin to weigh on your mind . . . that’s exactly when you need to REST in the Lord. “We learn how to pray not by reading a book or sitting in a lecture, but by actually praying.” – Asheritah Ciuciu