2017 Reading Quest 32

Book:  How to Pray for Lost Loved Ones.

Author: Dutch Sheets

Info:  Copyright 2001: Ventura, CA:  Regal Books

Rating (on a scale of 1-4 stars):  ✮✮

Where Acquired:  Unknown

What it's about:  Dutch Sheets touches on the heart's desire of the committed Christian--the salvation of loved ones.  Using Scripture and historical examples, Sheets sets out to prove that not only should the Christian pray for the conversion of others, but also to absolutely expect that prayer to be answered.

Favorite Quote(s): 

I want you to be so convinced that God will save the person you love, the one for whom you pray, that you would be shocked it they didn't get saved. - p. 10

Biblical meditation...means to ponder, muse on, think about and even mutter to one's self.  In other words, it is repetitious thinking on and speaking on God's word.  This allows the Holy Spirit to transform the Word from information in the mind to revelation of the heart. - p. 21

...we must allow ourselves to receive the burden of the Lord.  We must let His heart for people become ours so much that when we pray, it is really Him praying through us. - p. 82

Some would contend that we cannot command God to do something.  I would agree.  But there is a great difference between dictating and simply being a spokesperson.  We are not telling God what to do.  We are decreeing for Him, releasing His Word to perform its work. - p. 105

What I liked:

• The author's taking the time to give the meanings of the original Greek and Hebrew words used in many of the quoted biblical passages enhanced the text.

What I didn’t like: 

• While I applaud the author's research of significant prayer warriors and revivals from history, I would have also liked to see more examples of the principles working in his own life and in the lives of his friends and family. 
• The publisher's use of the aside box.
• Sheets did a great job of explaining why a Christian needs to pray for and expect the conversion of loved ones, but he doesn't give much direction on how and what to pray.  Because of the scholarly nature of his research, I gather that he assumes the reader would know what scriptures to stand on and what prayers to pray.  That's not always true, especially for those new to the faith, or those who are not versed in in-depth biblical study.
• There are questions at the end of each chapter.  However, many of the questions didn't relate to the text.  Also, how would the reader know if his answers were correct?  There's no study guide or answer key included.
• The author waxed a little too political for my taste.  It didn't seem to fit the theme of the book.

Takeaway:

I enjoyed the encouragement presented in this book.  I also gleaned a lot from the scholarly research of the author.  However, I felt the book needed more.  It seemed like the author told us what to do, but not really how to do it, as the title implied. 

I do own a copy of Sheet's book Intercessory Prayer.  Perhaps this book will be a better guide on this subject.  We'll see...