I am finally reading a book that my mom gave me 15 years ago. Not that I have not tried to read it before, I just never finished it. The book is The Hour That Changes the World: A Practical Plan for Personal Prayer, written by Dick Eastman in 1978.

Mr. Eastman made a commitment to pray for one hour every day after reading Matthew 26:40-41 [ESV]:

"And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping.
And he said to Peter, 'So, could you not watch with me one hour?
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.
The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.'”

I have often come to the realization that prayer is the key to an intimate relationship with Christ, to joining with God in his work in the world, and to unleashing his power in my life. This book has reawakened this understanding and fanned my passion to seek God in diligent prayer.

He suggests that you can easily pray for one hour by dividing sixty minutes into ten five minute increments devoted to different aspect of prayer.

This format is not intended to be a strict structure to which we must adhere. It is a beginning point for understanding the various aspects of prayer and committing a particular amount of time for prayer. Many will find that an hour is just not enough!

I have been impressed and challenged by this book. It is simple and well written. It contains many powerful quotes and stories from historic prayer warriors and books on prayer. My understanding of the various parts of prayer has been broadened significantly.