audiobooks

Every Day I Pray is a wonderful collection of prayers for many situations we all find ourselves in. I have been on a dedicated search to find a way to incorporate prayer into every aspect of my life, and am so thankful I found Iyanla Vanzant's books. Thank you Iyanla for putting into words that EVERYTHING we do/say/think is noticed by God and we should give it all to Him/Her in thanks. I especially like that Iyanla writes God as He/She, Him/Her, as I believe God to be a duality of both the male and female. God Bless and I hope you find what you need in this lovely book.

EVERYDAY I PRAY is a collection of prayers written by Ms. Vanzant to address the everyday trials and tribulations that one may face. This collection seemingly has a prayer for every situation that extends to touch just about everyone! In reading through EVERYDAY I PRAY, one will feel inspired and reflective, thankful and serene.

Given to me as a gift, I picked up the book to casually peruse its pages. Let me tell you, there is nothing casual about EVERYDAY I PRAY. It is a powerful collection of prayers that has touched me. Ms. Vanzant has outdone herself once again!

Reviewed by Nedine
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Having watched the author on television a few times it was the title of the book Every Day I Pray that caught my attention. Prayer has always been a fascinating subject to me, and I love learning how people pray and how they have evolved in their prayer life. The cover of the book gave me a hint that the small book I held in my hands would be worth my time.

She begins by saying "I grew up in the Holiness Church, where prayer was an event" and then she explains the effort and drama that happened in the church when prayer was discussed and practiced. Then she states "However, somewhere deep inside of me, I had the secret belief that I did not know how to pray, and that frightened me." Oh I know so well what she means....... She continues "I'm not sure where I heard it or why I believed it, but when I was in my mid-twenties a few words changed my approach to and experience of prayer. The words were these: 'Every thought you think is a prayer. Every word you speak is a prayer. Every act in which you engage is a prayer, because the Spirit of God lives in you' Now how awesome is that? I dint need drums. I didn't need to clap. I didn't need a host of other people to help me raise the volume of my prayers so that God would hear them. If the words of that statement are true, and I do believe they are, it means that at every moment of every day, I am communicating with the Creator of the universe."

On page 18 she notes "Once I got it straight, I realized that the essence, energy, power and presence of God is in fact house at the core of my being. I also understood that God does in fact hear every thought and word. His/her response show up as my experiences, my feelings and the many divine inspiration that have shaped the course of my life"

She then proceeds to share dozens of wonderful prayers of thanks and gratitude, seeking wisdom and guidance and simply prayers of joy. I loved the book since the author write as if she knew me. Knew my friend Cathy and my friend Cindy. We all have had conversations about prayer that mirror what she writes about. We have been on that same path and have found the same joy.

I also like the book because it has a Zen quality. You can slip inside your briefcase, carry all and in a few moments open it up read a prayerful thought she shares and find yourself renewed. It is almost like a literary meditation.

On page 54 she has the prayer "Please Untie the Nots" which in part says:

Dear God Please untie the nots that are invading my mind my heart and my life. Please remove the have nots the can nots and the do nots that invade my mind. Please erase the will nots, may nots, might nots, that invade my heart. Please release me from the could nots, would nots and should nots that invade my life. Most of all God I ask that you remove from my mind, heart and life all the am nots that I have allowed to hold me back.......