A Good Read That is Challenging My Heart
By Ryan Dawson
Every once in a while, you come across a book that doesn’t just give you new information—it invites you into a deeper relationship with Jesus.
For me, Lead with Prayer by Ryan Skoog, Peter Greer, and Cameron Doolittle has been one of those books.
As a staff team and Board team, we’ve been working through it together, and it has been both deeply practical and profoundly inspiring. Rather than making prayer feel like another item on a spiritual checklist, it reminds us that prayer is the lifeblood of ministry and leadership. As the authors put it, “An intentional prayer life is the nonnegotiable constant of lasting, fruitful Christian life and leadership.”
I wonder how you are doing in growing as a person of prayer? If you’re looking for a meaningful summer read that will deepen your dependency on Christ and strengthen your daily walk with Him, I would highly recommend picking it up.
One of our 8 Core Practices as a church is Investing in Prayer, and this book aligns beautifully with that vision. It doesn’t simply tell you to pray more—it offers wisdom, examples, and practical habits that help cultivate a life where prayer becomes as natural as breathing.
A few insights that have especially stood out to me:
• Prayer is not wasted time. In a culture that values productivity above almost everything else, the book gently reminds us that time spent with God is never unproductive. It is often where our most important work begins.
• Praying Scripture shapes our hearts. One line that has stayed with me is: “Praying Scripture ensures that we are praying in line with God’s will and helps us to pray prayers that are both strong and specific.”
• Prayer can become a culture, not just a personal discipline. The authors challenge leaders to build environments where seeking God together becomes normal, expected, and life-giving.
I also think this would make an outstanding resource for our Impact Communities. Imagine groups not only studying God’s Word together but growing together as people who genuinely seek His presence and direction in prayer. What a beautiful foundation for discipleship and mission.
You can find Lead with Prayer wherever you buy your books. More than anything, I hope it stirs in you a fresh hunger to spend time with Jesus and to lead your family, workplace, ministry, or sphere of influence from a place of dependence on Him rather than reliance on yourself.
If you decide to pick it up this summer, I’d love to hear from you. Let me know what God is teaching you and how He is speaking to you through its pages. I have a feeling the conversations that come from it will be just as encouraging as the book itself.
Blessings, Ryan
ryand@sequoiachurch.org
Every once in a while, you come across a book that doesn’t just give you new information—it invites you into a deeper relationship with Jesus.
For me, Lead with Prayer by Ryan Skoog, Peter Greer, and Cameron Doolittle has been one of those books.
As a staff team and Board team, we’ve been working through it together, and it has been both deeply practical and profoundly inspiring. Rather than making prayer feel like another item on a spiritual checklist, it reminds us that prayer is the lifeblood of ministry and leadership. As the authors put it, “An intentional prayer life is the nonnegotiable constant of lasting, fruitful Christian life and leadership.”
I wonder how you are doing in growing as a person of prayer? If you’re looking for a meaningful summer read that will deepen your dependency on Christ and strengthen your daily walk with Him, I would highly recommend picking it up.
One of our 8 Core Practices as a church is Investing in Prayer, and this book aligns beautifully with that vision. It doesn’t simply tell you to pray more—it offers wisdom, examples, and practical habits that help cultivate a life where prayer becomes as natural as breathing.
A few insights that have especially stood out to me:
• Prayer is not wasted time. In a culture that values productivity above almost everything else, the book gently reminds us that time spent with God is never unproductive. It is often where our most important work begins.
• Praying Scripture shapes our hearts. One line that has stayed with me is: “Praying Scripture ensures that we are praying in line with God’s will and helps us to pray prayers that are both strong and specific.”
• Prayer can become a culture, not just a personal discipline. The authors challenge leaders to build environments where seeking God together becomes normal, expected, and life-giving.
I also think this would make an outstanding resource for our Impact Communities. Imagine groups not only studying God’s Word together but growing together as people who genuinely seek His presence and direction in prayer. What a beautiful foundation for discipleship and mission.
You can find Lead with Prayer wherever you buy your books. More than anything, I hope it stirs in you a fresh hunger to spend time with Jesus and to lead your family, workplace, ministry, or sphere of influence from a place of dependence on Him rather than reliance on yourself.
If you decide to pick it up this summer, I’d love to hear from you. Let me know what God is teaching you and how He is speaking to you through its pages. I have a feeling the conversations that come from it will be just as encouraging as the book itself.
Blessings, Ryan
ryand@sequoiachurch.org