Book Review: Marked by Prayer

I usually fight the temptation to buy interesting books. I'm currently in a purging and downsizing mode. However, needing to rekindle my writing (stalling out again), I bought the 2026 Christian Writers Market Guide. To finagle free shipping, I purchased G. Dwayne McCrary's $5 book, Marked by Prayer: Five Traits of People Who Pray. I thought it might jump start my flagging prayer life in the same way as the marketing guide. The extra effort extended on prayer in past years has dwindled in these first months of 2026. Indeed, I am not currently marked by prayer (nor am I using the writers market guide).

McCrary posits that prayer warriors are people who have experienced helplessness (prodigal son scenario, check). They are grounded in scripture (check, that has not diminished in the slightest). Prayer warriors exhibit personal grief over sin (so easy to desire recognition of sin in others, while missing it in myself). I think my favorite chapter was on "deferred confidence." In mentioning this trait to my BSF group, one friend said she has a plaque in her home that says, "Godfidence!" Oh that this would be true of me. Too often I want the answers and solutions now, or at least on my timetable. Finally, prayerful people seek out the presence of God. This was convicting, too. Do I spend time actively listening for God's voice? Or do I rush to check off the various portions of my morning routine?

I want to be the reason people see God moving in their lives! I want my prayers to transform those I lift to His throne! I ask, with the author, "what keeps me from carrying these marks?" Am I unwilling to provide the time, effort, and transparency required? His reminder is true, "Anything worth doing is difficult and painful in some way."