Pray First: The Transformative Power of a Life Built on Prayer

I’ve been studying the Bible since 2019, and if there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that it is so easy to talk about God without actually talking to Him. For a long time, prayer felt like a formal duty or a "break glass in case of emergency" button. Chris Hodges’ Pray First has completely shifted my perspective.What I love about this book is that it isn’t just "inspiration"—we’ve all had enough of that. It’s a practical, biblically-grounded manual. As a woman in my 50s who just wants to soak up everything I can about the Lord, I found his breakdown of the different prayer models in the Bible to be so refreshing. It took the intimidation away and replaced it with a simple invitation to sit down and have coffee with my Creator.A few things that really stood out to me:The "How-To" of Prayer: It provides actual tools to make prayer your first response. I’ve started applying this when my husband is working late or when life feels heavy, and the peace is immediate.Fasting: He handles this "scary" topic with such grace, showing how it’s a companion to prayer, not a chore.The Relatable Tone: It feels like a conversation with a wise friend.If you’re like me and you want your home to be a place where God’s presence is felt in every room, get this book. It’s helping me build a prayer life that is dynamic and personal. I’m finally enjoying the conversation!

This book was straight forward, practical and useful in supporting growth in prayerfulness.

Engaging, informative, and easy-to-read, Pray First will give you a greater understanding of what prayer is, what examples the Bible gives us, and different ways to strengthen your prayer life. What is more foundational to your faith than an effective prayer life? It informs how we engage with Scripture, life's challenges, and our Savior. Highly recommend.

This is a great book on one of the most important parts of a Christ follower's life. Prayer is a foundational habit but not as complicated as we make it. I love this book and the insights provided by the author.Someone gave me a copy a year or two ago, which I read and passed along to someone else. I recently purchased another copy and am reading it again.

I'm not much for prosperity gospel but i do know that God desires for us to be prosperous while we are here. I believe that this book has great points on prayer and it brings a biblical prospective on prayer that I believe all followers of Christ should keep in mind.Its also important to keep scriptures in context, for ex, the Jeremiah 29:11, that was written to a specific people at a specific time. Not everything in the bible is not written TO US but all of it is written FOR US.For new believers I encourage you to read the bible front to back at least 2x intentionally and with the help of the holy ghost you will have more discernment in truly understanding this book.

Chris Hodges provides necessary information and scripture to back up everything he recommends. It is definitely a book I will keep forever so that I can return to it frequently.

Over the last year and a half, God has blessed me with grace and energy to develop a daily prayer life which continues to be strengthened by Him each and every day. This book provided some additional scripture and guidance to continue to draw closer to God and deepen my walk with God through this communication. It also confirmed some of the components and cadences that God had already shown me (which was actually pretty fun!). What I wasn’t expecting when I purchased this book was the great detail and inspiration to consider fasting, as a mean to draw even closer to God, especially when moving through various challenges and seasons in life. Several months ago, as I had been doing some reading in the Bible, a mention of fasting came up and I began to consider if this was a discipline and practice that I might want to prayerfully consider. But I didn’t know where to begin and didn’t focus on it. Well, boom, Chris spoke at the church where we watch each week online. He discussed the role of prayer and I I immediately purchased the book and began to read, only to delightfully discover that it contained a section on fasting. So, that was fun too! I may have not given it much serious thought, but apparently God did not forget. I just finished a thorough once-through on the book and now have the highlights and areas that I can drill down and, with God’s leading, incorporate into my walk.

Chris Hodges' writing is clear and concise, making it easy to understand and follow his message. He presents a compelling argument for making prayer a daily practice, and provides practical advice and strategies for incorporating prayer into daily life.One of the things I appreciate most about this book is the way the author emphasizes the importance of listening as well as speaking in prayer. He encourages readers to take the time to be still and listen to God's voice, rather than just rushing through a list of requests. This approach has helped me to feel more present and mindful when praying.Pastor Chris also does an excellent job of addressing common obstacles that people may face when trying to establish a consistent prayer practice. He offers valuable insights and encouragement for overcoming these challenges and staying committed to prayer.Throughout the book, he shares personal anecdotes and stories that add depth and dimension to his message. These stories are relatable and inspiring, making it easy to connect with his message on a personal level.I would highly recommend "Pray First" to anyone looking to strengthen their prayer life. This book is filled with wisdom and practical advice that will help readers to establish a deeper and more meaningful relationship with God.

Taking my time to read through it. Great start so far

Loved it

A great book with lots of practical wisdom and guidance rooted in the scriptures. It was inspiring to read and loved the concept of a prayer shield at the end; will certainly apply this to my life.

Not good