The LaceDevotion Book Club didn’t always meet online – this is the story of how God’s plan really does use all things even a pandemic to bring His people together. And the book we read couldn’t have been better than that calling us to Fervent prayer. This book Fervent by Priscilla Shirer is PIVOTAL to winning the battle on our knees and this review is only a few reasons why you need to add it to your reading list.
In the midst of the COVID lockdown at the end of 2020, our Lace Book Club had taken a pause. Then, as the news and outlook of gathering together in person for book club seemed dim – the Lord gave Beth an idea that has changed book club forever and FOR the better.
Fervent Defined:
In English, we know this word means displaying or having great passion but in the Bible (in Colossians 4 specifically) this word; Epaphras means to “saluteth you, laboring fervently for you in prayers”. Another definition would say this ardently and with zeal. Those are passionate words but at their core, they are full of action.
When we have convictions we are led to a passionate pursuit. We are led with zeal (devotion to God). Our prayer lives should be filled with passion, devotion, conviction, and laboring for others because in prayer – we are working but not necessarily in the here and now.
At least not in the physical world. Instead, we are focusing on the spiritual world.
Priscilla points out that Scripture’s definition of the Armor of God has one aspect we often discredit.
Verse 18, points out the final component of the Armor is prayer and the command is to “always keep praying”.
But do we take prayer this seriously?
When the Lord gave Beth (founder of Lace) the task of switching book club to meeting online – something amazing happened. He started putting friends on her heart who didn’t live close by. Because WHY NOT? If we weren’t able to meet in person, we could open book club for people around the country.
And God did just that!
He used a pandemic to bring women from around the USA together for book club. And the book He put on Beth’s heart? Fervent.
Not just slightly – with conviction she knew the battle we were facing was also spiritual. A time when so many had been in quarantine for months on end, we needed each other. We needed Jesus (as we always do) but we needed a community that could encourage us to His feet.
So we became women of fervent prayer. We went on this journey with Priscilla and the largest group of book club to date! We learned how to pray for others. We learned how to fight spiritual battles against our passion, focus, identity, family, confidence, calling, purity, rest/contentment, our heart, and relationships.
These 10 strategies are the basis for the chapters as Priscilla outlines the tactics of the enemy so you too can have a battle plan.
A quote from the book on page 35:
Priscilla says, “Because praying – reaching outward and upward to Him – is the way His passion comes down. Even prayers that begin with the blunt edge willpower, dragging your heart along kicking and screaming, can soon begin to shine with the cutting edge of hope, faith, and passionate confidence in Christ. Once the wind of God’s Spirit starts blowing, you’re no longer praying rote, innocuous prayers. Instead, you’re praying deliberate prayers. Prayers that are as personalized and devastating as the enemy’s attacks against you. Strategic prayers. Powerful prayers. Prayers that tell the enemy his cover is blown, his number has come up, and his game is done. Prayers built on the promises of God that entreat Him to give you back what He was responsible for giving you in the first place.”
Trust us, this book WILL change the way you think about prayer and the battles going on around you.
Buy it now on ChristianBook.com
Learn more about Priscilla Shirer.
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