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Author Morris constructs a cohesive Christian guide to assist readers in pursuing and maintaining their faith despite and within everyday occurrences and distractions. Her initial chapter asks why one should pray, proposing seven dynamic reasons: to ask God for his care, to commune with him, to confess, to give thanks, to invite miracles, to ask for aid for others, and to submit to God’s will.
Subsequent segments, each designated as “Purpose,” follow a set pattern, beginning with a short essay, perhaps to be seen as a brief sermon on a particular theme of action for the reader to tackle, such as “To Have a Safeguard” and “To Be a Soldier for Christ.” Quotations from the Holy Bible are then given, appropriate to the chapter’s theme, and an exhortation follows these. Themes offered include such interesting perspectives as the purpose “To Be Peculiar,” reminding readers that good works reach all aspects of life, not merely church attendance, and that one’s “honorable behavior” can “influence your unbelieving neighbors.”
Morris is a children’s church director with a doctorate in psychology who has written on other related matters affecting those who wish to become more devout and clear-minded in their religious thought and endeavor. This current work can be seen as a manual to be read, acted upon, and re-read as new life situations arise. Morris takes a wide view of whom and what one should pray for, encompassing many political and social stances. Her ability to rise above “sides,” urging the reader to be “pruned” by God and “get a good report card” from him, will doubtless provide a thought-provoking focus for group workshops and personal progress.