Craig T. Owens

I’m a huge fan of Mark Batterson’s books! So I’ll admit that when I received my copy of The Circle Maker, I went into it with high expectations. And this book didn’t disappoint!

I grew up with a phrase repeated often around our church and my home: The Church (and Christians) move forward on its knees. I believe that because I have tested it in my life. I know firsthand that my life is more centered and in-tune with God when I make prayer a regular habit. And on the flip side, I know how hectic and disjointed my life seems when my prayer time is abbreviated.

I’m an action-oriented guy. I like to do things quick, and I like quick responses. This frequently carries over into my prayer life, where I pray for something, and quickly check it off my list if the answer doesn’t come quickly enough. But that’s not how Honi The Circle Maker prayed.

This is the man Mark uses to teach us to pray with more intensity and more perseverance. Honi would—literally—draw a circle and kneel in prayer in that circle until God answered his prayer. Wow! From this man’s example, Mark teaches us three key concepts about becoming circle-maker pray-ers.

1. Dream Big
2. Pray Hard
3. Think Long

In every section I was convicted on how short-sighted and puny my prayers seemed. But at the same time, I was also encouraged and energized to make the changes to become a circle maker in my prayer life. I’m excited to see how my life will change because my prayers are changing. I’m going to be a circle maker!

If you would like to revolutionize your prayer life, I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

I am a Zondervan book reviewer.