audio tapes - 2

Lots of very practical advice, which was very helpful. ( )

I. God’s Power, Willingness and Ability
A. Content Hybels’ opens his tenth anniversary, expanded edition of his best selling book on prayer by introducing prayer as it relates to the power of God (pp. 9-47). He cites many personal examples of his own experiences of seeing God’s power in prayer. In a very personal and honest style, Hybels describes his own innate self-dependency as a common obstacle to reliance upon the power of God. Several compelling and biblical examples of prayer, such as Moses’ prayer in Exodus 17 are presented to illustrate the power of God through prayer. Hybels urges his readers to understand that, “Prayer is the key to unlocking God’s prevailing power in your life” (p.16). Hybels exposes common misconceptions related to God’s willingness to hear prayers by emphatically asserting that God does indeed care for his children. Hybels helpfully and logically forges the link between God’s power, willingness and ability.
B. Correction On a corrective note, Hybels uses the phrase, “It is hard for God…” (p. 15). Hybels would be more accurate if he employed Biblical language in explaining the need for man’s submission to God in prayer. Instead his wording lacks Biblical authority by directly contradicting passages like Genesis 18:14 and Matthew 19:26. The fact that nothing is too hard for God ought to be emphasized in a discussion of prayer.
II. Practical Habits, Models and Patterns
A. Content The second section of Too Busy Not to Pray (pp. 41-85) offers very practical advise to those who seek to develop a disciplined life of prayer. But even in his most practical section, the author has not lost sight of the importance of the principles behind the practice. Hybels has peppered his book with the Bible. In this section alone he offers more than thirty scripture references. Hybels attempts to strike a balance between a legalistic approach he calls “straight jacket discipline” (p. 43) and still maintaining good prayer habits. Hybels consideration of Jesus’ model prayer is helpful.
B. Consideration Being the leader of a massive seeker-sensitive movement keeps Pastor Hybels extremely busy. He continually notes throughout his book that he shares the burden of busyness with his readers. Showing himself empathetic to the average CEO he repeatedly emphasizes the fact that he is a busy man and he still is able to find the time to pray. This theme is a major emphasis of Hybels’ book.
III. Unanswered Prayer and Slackness in Prayer
A. Content Hybels’ section on unanswered prayer excels in sympathy and empathy to the individual who is experiencing a lack of visible answers to prayer. Hybels breaks down his understanding of unanswered prayer by categorizing possible reasons that a person’s prayers appear to remain unanswered. He cites three reasons for unanswered prayer: inappropriate requests, the wisdom and timing of God, and the presence of “something wrong in our lives” (p. 97). This section is filled with great illustrations from Pastor Hybels life that are very sympathetic to those frustrated with unanswered prayer. He continues to develop his theme of unanswered prayers by expanding these three factors under the name of “Prayer Busters” (p. 99-109). Hybels concludes this section with a pastoral warning against prayerlessness.
B. Caution Hybels section on unanswered prayer must be tempered with his section on Prayer Busters. The former chapter has no theology and very little scripture. Hybels saves this important foundation for the following chapter. In this section he sufficiently explains the relationship between sin and unanswered prayer.
IV. Listening in Prayer
A. Consideration Hybels’ largest section tackles several aspects of prayer regarding our hearing from and listening to God. While Hybels affirms the Word of God being the first way God speaks to us, he also teaches that God will speak to us through people and the Holy Spirit’s “direct leadings” (pp. 134 – 142). Hybels spends far too much time discussing mystical approaches to hearing from God and far too little time encouraging people to hear God’s final and authoritative voice in the careful study of the Bible. Hybels does teach that private promptings are to be consistent with Scripture, yet his emphasis carries far too much subjectivity and insufficient Bibliology.
V. Study Guide for Private and Group Prayer
A. Conclusion Hybels concludes his effort with a practical study Guide intended to help the reader further consider the message of the book. The questions are very practical and helpful and complement the book well. Too Busy Not Too Pray, is a surprisingly helpful little book from a man who is not widely known for his commitment to the Bible. His work on prayer is well-done, thorough and extremely readable. His approach is not highly doctrinal or theological, yet he does address most issues he raises with scripture proofs. The most important caution that ought to be noted is the strange and unbiblical emphasis put on leadings and validated by experiences and illustrations, not by God’s written Word. Overall, Hybels offers pastoral wisdom to encourage prayer.