Last year, I started keeping a list of prayer requests, dated and described, and then, to my great surprise — answers! Clear direction for a son, help and success in a ministry opportunity, a new and wonderful job for my husband. Reviewing the list from time to time, I’m reminded to give thanks, and I’m reinforced in my thinking that when it comes to prayer, there is always something new and fresh God wants me to know.

Women Who Move Mountains by Sue Detweiler is clear and comprehensive enough to serve as a primer on prayer for the uninitiated, but Sue has shared so many deeply insightful stories and has woven them so beautifully with Scripture that those who are further along on the journey will also find a rewarding read. Twice in the gospels, Jesus talks with His disciples about mountains moving at their command. Of course, this is not a matter of showcasing the disciples’ great faith, but rather, the power of God at work on behalf of those who believe.

I have been guilty of praying small and safe, so it was a challenge to hear Sue’s rallying cry to pray with confidence, boldness, and grace. The book is set up with odd-numbered chapters covering real and raw stories of women who witnessed mountain-moving responses to their prayers, while even-numbered chapters pose questions based on living the principles here at ground level.

Belief in the ever-present, always-available Maker of Heaven and Earth is the foundation for a vibrant prayer life. Unfortunately, fear, shame, anxiety, perfectionism, entitlement, and timidity often derail us in the mountain-moving life. Staying close to Truth is transformational, and this becomes evident in the lives of women whose childhood wounds have been healed and whose “orphan mindset” has been replaced with assurance that in God’s eyes, they are a much-loved daughter.

Sue hammers on one truth about this following life that almost cannot be overstated:

“Just because you obey God does not mean that it will be smooth sailing forever and ever.”
Our obedience opens the door to God’s help and connects us to God’s plan, but prayer requires trust at every level. Offsetting the vending-machine-God mentality, Sue reminds readers that Jesus suffered greatly in His time on this planet. The following life is not lived above emotional pain and loss. Women who feel like the walking wounded are encouraged to turn to God rather than blaming God for their wounds.

Biblical examples of women like Hannah who prayed for a child and Esther who prayed for the rescue of her people demonstrate that prayer is a powerful weapon, that it launches us into our destiny, and that — amazingly — it is as simple as a conversation in which we transparently come before God bearing “our stuff.”

Just as conversation builds relationship between people, prayer is a day-long interaction with God. And since it is not simply prayer or my puny faith, but rather GOD who moves mountains, I want to press into that relationship and know the heart of this powerful God. Indispensable to our prayer life is a right understanding of who He is, and Sue has shared rich Scriptural insights:

Jesus is uniquely equipped to comfort and strengthen us when we face rejection. Remember what happened in Nazareth? When He challenged the hometown crowd, they were ready to drive Jesus off a cliff!
It’s an American idea that if God calls you to a task and if He is truly in it, then success always follows. Dietrich Bonhoeffer said it well: “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” Some of our most enriching spiritual growth experiences come through failure.
Jesus always had choice words of condemnation for the Pharisees in the crowd and set the example for us. “Becoming a woman who moves mountains means you care more about what Jesus thinks than the Pharisees in your life.”
F.U.N.K. and H.O.P.E.
Sue employs a couple of creative acronyms to stimulate readers to prayer that results in renewed thinking and powerful life-change. The next time you feel as if you are in a funk, realize that you are Floundering Under Negative Knowledge. Everything that seems dark and wrong may be very true, but staying close to God’s truth fights the slide into the pit.

Likewise, when the dark tunnel seems endless, hope says, “Hold On, Pain Ends!” God offers His hope when ours has long ago sputtered to a stop.

God-confidence gives perspective for the long haul of praying in light of God’s specific promises. There is so much that He wants to do as He trains us in righteousness, so many good works, prepared beforehand, that are waiting for us who walk with Him. Thanks be to God that we have been invited to come before Him in confidence, boldness, and grace.

//

This book was provided by Bethany House via Interviews and Reviews in exchange for my review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

While, I didn't necessarily agree with all of Sue's theology (minor things), I think she did a very good job of breaking down important aspects of prayer to make it seem possible to have a solid prayer life. I will admit, I didn't know going into it that half the chapters were going to be discussion questions. I was just planning on reading through it and marking things I found useful. It's difficult for me to find time to answer 20+ questions, especially since those questions are accompanied by Scripture that sometimes bounces around the Bible. I do think it would be a good book for a Bible study or book club, but it's not necessarily something you would just sit down and read. Definitely a good book, but know what it is going into it.

This book is wonderful. It provides a "step by step journey to find true freedom in Christ." The Odd chapters discuss how to change and better my relationship with God through examples from the Bible and personal experience. The Even chapters provide methods of practical application of the prayer principles. This book is for new christians, those who have been christians for a while and mature christians; anyone who desires a greater intimacy with the Lord and desires a deeper prayer life. It helped me see that I don't need to learn new prayer methods. I just need to ask God to increase my faith and grow in knowledge of Him. I loved how real the author was. She encourages readers by sharing her own journey towards intimacy with God and draws out stories from the Bible, easily explaining them in simple terms, and uses them as examples to support her ideas. I love it when authors go right to the Bible to explain their points. She also gives tips for doing a group study of the book, provides training and resources on her website and encourages readers throughout the book. This is a great book. I highly recommend it.
I was given a digital copy from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

Women Who Move Mountains is a good book on prayer, helping the reader see herself more clearly in relationship to God and then to be able to communicate more clearly with God in light of that relationship. The book alternates chapters between helping the reader overcome obstacles in her relationship with God (odd-numbered chapters) and then how to apply those relationship insights while praying (even-numbered chapters). The second part of the book is then a 21-day devotional encouraging the reader to practically apply what she has just learned in the previous chapters. The 21-days part includes suggestions for journaling, taking a personal retreat, and fasting.

I recommend that the reader have her Bible open while reading this book. Many of the Scriptures presented are just references and not written out. The book was easy to read, helpful, and encouraging.

I gratefully received a free eARC from the author, publisher, and NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.

I really liked this book on prayer. God wants to hear from us, Detweiler says. There is so much that can hinder us from praying so she helps us work through those mountains.

Most of the book is material to help us on that journey of learning to pray with confidence, boldness, and grace. The chapters alternate. First is the teaching, including instruction and illustrations from biblical and modern stories. The following chapter contains suggestions on how to apply the previous teaching. Scriptures to read, questions to journal and one question for discussion are all included.

The last quarter of the book is a resource section. It includes twenty one devotionals. Each has a suggestion to journal, to meditate, a short devotional, a written prayer, and a statement to declare. Next are guidelines for doing a personal spiritual retreat. Next are guidelines for fasting.

I am impressed with this book. Not only is it good teaching on prayer, it also includes practical help in moving those mountains that impede us in our prayer life and obedience to God. She writes about shames, pride, perfectionism and more. One section I really appreciated was her writing about experiencing rejection in the area to which we feel we are called. Detweiler says God will use that heaviness we feel in our hearts. She encourages us to use that sense of desperation as a driving force for prayer. Another meaningful section was on the steps she went through in her healing of sexual abuse.

I think the strength of this book is in the opportunity Detweiler gives readers to journal their responses to the questions she provides. She offers a free download of journal pages that complement the book and offer additional growth opportunities. She has also included instructions for doing a ten week study with this book.

I recommend this book to women who want to grow closer to the Lord and each other through prayer. It would be a good resource for those wanting to start a women's prayer group and for women beginning their prayer journey.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Women Who Move Mountains is an interesting workbook and inspirational guide, but the tone was a little difficult for me to appreciate. Though it is clear the author intended no harm, some of the generalizations within the text struck me as abrasive which caused significant struggle for me personally.

"Removing barriers between us and God improves our prayer lives. That’s what this book will do for you!" ~Excerpt


What a joy to find a book that heightens your awareness, builds your faith, and helps you discover the ways to move the mountains along your way. This sounds like a bold statement to make about a book, but it has inspired me and empowered me in my daily walk.

Women Who Move Mountains provides examples of Biblical women who have prayed away the “mountains” in their lives. It also shows the reader how to use the same principles in her own life. Prayer transforms all aspects of our daily walk—our thoughts, our actions, and how we affect others.

The book not only provides valuable guidance, but also asks stimulating questions (group discussions) journaling prompts, and a 21-day study guide to help you make a spiritual breakthrough.

5 Stars

Cover: Okay
Title: Like
Publisher: Bethany House
Pages: 256
ISBN: 978-0764219146
First Lines (introduction): Every journey has a beginning. The starting point of prayer is God. Like a father who waits to hear every detail of your life, He waits for you.

Thank you, Bethany House and NetGalley, for my complimentary copy.

[Note: This book was provided free of charge by Bethany House Publishers. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]

This book, for better or worse, is yet another book that I was able to relate to a great deal despite not being part of its target audience, an experience I find greatly frustrating and alienating. The author herself comes from a conservative Mennonite background but felt compelled to seek a ministry alongside that of her husband, putting her odds with many who do not believe women can and should be ordained into the preaching ministry. The book itself is one that is written by a woman about women for women [1], and specifically its target audience are women who struggle with pasts that include sexual abuse or who struggle with anxiety, a native sense of timidity, and perfectionist tendencies. There was, needless to say, plenty I was able to relate to despite being a gentleman, and I find books like this somewhat irritating in that they assume that only women struggle with these sorts of issues. It would be good, especially as these books are marketed to a wide range of reviewers, for publishers and authors to be more sensitive to the fact that these books are read by at least a few men who dislike having their own perspective marginalized and ignored on a consistent basis when it comes to reading books like this.

In terms of its structure, this book is highly unconventional, but at the same time very well organized. The book consists of two disparate but related parts. The first part of the book consists of alternating chapters that discuss a truth about the spiritual relationship between believers and Jesus Christ on odd chapters and on even chapters provide questions and biblical passages for thought and reflection and group study. And so we have an opening chapter on belief followed by a chapter on learning how to pray with faith, a chapter on being chosen followed by one on learning how to pray with conviction, a chapter on being healed followed by one on learning how to pray with healing prayers, and so on and so forth. Throughout the book the author uses her own experience as well as some very painful experiences from other women. The second part of the book, in contrast, consists of a short outline for a 21-day spiritual breakthrough as well as notes that give guidance to spiritual retreats as well as the sorts of fasting that one can do over the course of a three-week period.

Despite my own irritation with the framing of the book, I find this book very worthy of recommending to women in particular, whether they are reading this book alone or in groups with others. I can see this book being the source of a great deal of cathartic weeping as the readers examine passages, read the personal and biblical stories included here, and wrestle with their own burdens and struggles over the course of life. There are a great many men (and at least a few men) who struggle to feel loved by God in the face of the horrors this world has inflicted, and the author does not shy away from the ugly details of such stories, nor with the redemptive scope of how such struggles can make us into more compassionate and understanding people. There is clearly a very large niche for books like this encouraging healing and growth for those who consider themselves, and may be considered by others, to be somewhat damaged people as a result of their backgrounds and experiences. The book combines stories and narratives with reflection and practical aims at adopting spiritual disciplines to help with personal spiritual growth, and as such is a book I can warmly recommend to the distaff side of my readers.

[1] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017/03/29/book-review-lost-women-of-the-bible/

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017/01/17/book-review-all-the-women-of-the-bible/

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015/10/30/book-review-wicked-women-of-the-bible/

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015/09/17/book-review-7-women/

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com/2014/12/10/book-review-fierce-convictions/

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2014/03/26/book-review-the-secret-place-of-the-most-high-for-women/

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2013/09/14/book-review-wounded-women-of-the-bible/

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2013/08/03/book-review-what-about-women/

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2013/01/07/book-review-the-women-of-afghanistan-under-the-taliban/

Sue Detweiler's book caught my attention immediately with it's stories of women who have overcome tremendous obstacles. She added spiritual fuel to the fire by combining these with Bible verses and stories that fit perfectly with the mountains people encounter in life being addressed within. The journal links were wonderful as well as her 21-day plan to ignite your prayer walk. I adored this book so much that I want to reread it soon and have bought coppies for the ladies in my family to enjoy. It has made a huge impact on my life. I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

If you are looking to strengthen your prayer life, this book is a great way to do it. It examines prayer at any level and meets you where you are. The combination of examples from the Bible as well as the candid stories of everyday women really helped to illustrate the power we have when we go to God in prayer. This book not only gives opportunities to learn about prayer, but it also has questions and prompts that help you to go deeper in your quiet time with God. This book truly touched me, as if the author was speaking directly to me.

I love the structure of this book with the odd-numbered chapters providing examples of biblical and modern women and the even-numbered chapters applying the principles to our own prayer life. The stories of women who have overcome incredible adversity spoke to my heart. Any woman who has ever felt overwhelmed by life struggles can benefit by this heartwarming book.

Women Who Move Mountains

Praying with Confidence, Boldness, and Grace



by Sue Detweiler

Bethany House

Bethany House Publishers



Christian

Pub Date 02 May 2017

I am voluntarily reviewing Women Who Move Mountains through Bethany House and Netgalley:

This book Women Who Moves Mountains takes on a journey through prayer, and teaches us to pray with confidence, Boldness and Grace.

We are reminded that there are different types of prayers including prayers of desperation, those prayers when you face a life or death situation or a life altering one. Sue Detweiller also reminds us that we don't have a fear problem, but a faith one.

The author reminds us the importance of learning to Pray with Faith, the first step being establishing a firm foundation.

This book would be perfect for either A Women's Bible study, or to add to personal Bible Study Time.

I give Women Who Moves Mountains five out of five stars.

Happy Reading.

The power of prayer and the transformation that can come through thoughtful, passionate prayer is shown in this wonderful book. Do you ever wonder if God truly hears your prayers? Learning to truly have conversation with God and to listen for His promises helps prayer become meaningful and a true worship experience. This book includes a study guide and journaling prompts which enhance the reading. Excellent book for individual study or group study. I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my personal honest opinion.