I"m always needing inspiration when it comes to prayer. Especially these past few years that have drained so much of my fortitude. Prayer Starters motivated me to break from my routine of rote praying...and remember that I can talk to God. Gave me focus, and hope and lifted my spirit.

Thank you to Bethany House Publishers for the read of Suzanne Eller's, Prayer Starters.

As a young mother, Suzanne “Suzie” Eller struggled to find the words to pray, despite prayer lists or formulas. She too wanted to hear from Jesus. She wanted to have intimate talks with Him like she would a dear friend. When she didn’t know how to pray in difficult seasons of her life, Suzie found the words as she studied Bible passages. What stood out to her in scripture about who God is and how He sees her helped to start a conversation with Him.
In "Prayer Starters: Talking with God about Hard Times," Suzie shared how she went about starting conversations with God during those difficult seasons in life. She organized the daily prayer starters into three parts. Each part has 30 prayers she's written, with a total of 90 conversations to have with God. 
Prayer isn’t about the eloquence or quantity of our words, Suzie said. The Holy Spirit prays for us. He hears our groans. We can even sit in silence. She said we need to intentionally seek God and show up. God is already there waiting for us.
Suzanne wrote a prayer to correspond with a passage from the Bible. Sometimes she included a personal story as well from insights from her own prayer journal. She ended with questions for the reader to answer and extra space for them to write so they could personalize their prayers. Readers can choose to start with day 1 and proceed in that fashion, or search by title for what speaks to them based on what’s going on in their lives.
The electronic advance copy of this book doesn’t have illustrations, but I believe the finished work will have them. Suzie said she liked to color and draw in her journal and Bible, so she left space for readers to do the same in this prayer book. She wanted readers to write down the date of specific prayers and prayer requests. We can then go back and write the answer received as a way to celebrate and remember how much God loves us and listens to us.
Thank you to Netgalley and Baker Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. I plan to buy this book for myself, and I have a feeling this will be one I also purchase as a gift for friends and family, along with colored pencils, of course.

I recommend this book to all Christians, to everyone that has trouble praying. Sometimes I just feel that I pray the same things over and over. I know I have lots to pray about but just don't always find the words or the thoughts. This book helped me by giving me new ideas to start a prayer with and then my thinking would take over. The name, Prayer Starters, says it all. Every chapter is short, has scripture and one central idea to start with. Each "prayer starter" can be read multiple times, and each time I will get new meaning and new prayers out of it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the DRC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Susan Eller for filling a need.

Do you need help with prayer?
Author, speaker, Bible teacher, and pod-cast co-host Suzanne (Suzie) Eller presents her new book "Prayer Starters. Talking with God about Hard Times," published by Bethany House Publishers. The book is divided into three parts: 1) Trusting God in Hard Seasons, 2) Growing in Hard Places, and 3) Freedom in Hard Places. It includes also some "challenges" between the chapters, e.g., "Think on This", "What Are You Asking Me to Do, Lord?", "When You Are Afraid", or "When Your Heart is Bummed Out, Burned Out". There are ninety prayer starters. All contain a short prayer and a Bible verse and some of them include also a suggestion for something to do for the reader. At the beginning Eller describes what the prayer starters are and how to use them. She says: "The prayer starters within are an invitation to begin the conversation you’ve been longing to hold with God. Each prayer starter was birthed out of a specific Scripture and is a launching pad to talk about what’s been on your heart. Prayer Starters is a creative, interactive invitation to help you pray right where you are.
A prayer starter may lead you into meaningful conversation with God. It may create space where you just soak in his presence. It may allow you to talk with him about what has been heavy on your mind, to air your hurts, or to ask your questions. It may give you room to rejoice about things that make your heart glad. The most beautiful news is that God meets you there no matter what" (in "A Note from Suzie").
Eller closes the book with four short chapters: "What now?", "Scriptures to Encourage You", "How Prayer Starters began", and "Just for You: Creative Coloring Exercises" and she also offers possibilities to connect with her. This is not a book about prayer but a book to help with prayer. I highly recommend it for readers who are looking for help with their prayers especially when they are in hard seasons / hard places.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#PrayerStarters #Netgalley

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I loved this book! I am all about prayer and this book is wonderful for all Christian's out there.

My tears were trying to spill while I read, “A Note from Suzie”. I felt like only God knew where I was right now. The place I’ve been. A hard and trying season of my own. But my tears refused to stay where they were when I read the, “face in the carpet moments”. Have you been there? Just from her note I knew this was HOPE for me.
And I want to say thanks to the author for that.

About the book ,
“Each prayer starter was birthed out of a specific Scripture and is a launching pad to talk about what’s been on your heart.”
SE encourages Christians to find a time and place that works for them to meet with God. Carrying this with them. Let it help them.
SE also gave resources for study tools.

I found each prayer doable and short, relatable and enough. Nothing hard here to ponder over. I found it comforting. And I recommend it if you need a boost to get back to your quiet time with God.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit. (Jer 17:7–8 esv)”

Thanks Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley.
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