LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Book Critique 1: Prayer: the Timeless Secret of High-Impact Leaders
Submitted to Dr. O'Neill
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
EVAN 670-D01 LUO
Strategic Prayer and Spiritual Warfare
by
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Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
Summary..........................................................................................................................................1
Critique............................................................................................................................................5
Evaluation........................................................................................................................................6
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................6
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Earley, Dave. Prayer: the Timeless Secret of High-Impact Leaders. Chattanooga, Tenn.: Living
Ink Books, 2008.
Introduction
Dave Earley’s book Prayer: The Timeless Secret of High-Impact Leaders is an uplifting
read that leaves one wanting to pray fervently and incessantly. Earley presents his studies and
evaluations on how prayer is utilized through a variety of high-impact leaders. He narrows down
the strategic devices to nine disciplines that each leader fundamentally implements within their
own prayer lives.
Summary
Earley does well to expound upon these nine devices as being: relativity of prayer by
discussing the value and power of prayer, how to make time to pray, intercession, the value in
receiving intercession from others, why we should turn to prayer when faced with problems, the
power from fasting and prayer has been gained from prayer, adopting the best practices for
prayer, and finally how to bring it all together to make it work in sync for you with an easy
question and answer outline.
He then introduces prayer as the common denominator in spiritual leadership. In an effort
to reiterate the value of prayer, he reminds us “prayer is certainly not the only act of leadership,
but it is the indisputable common denominator of spiritual difference-makers in every generation
and in any setting.”1
Earley then moves onto the topic of making time for prayer. Some forget to pray because
they say they simply do not have time to pray but when we review and model what Jesus did in
the little time he was on earth, we will see he definitely made time for prayer and never went
without it. In fact, with every effort in every situation, He went to the Father in counsel in prayer
1 Dave Earley, Prayer: the Timeless Secret of High-Impact Leaders (Chattanooga, Tenn.: Living Ink Books,
2008), xi.
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for all that He needed to carry out in the Lord’s name. Jesus modeled this behavior so we would
imitate Him as our ultimate goal is to become an imitator of Christ.
In an effort to establish prayer norms, Earley recommends establishing a daily prayer
time, praying several times daily apart from the established daily prayer time, determine a set
amount of time to spend in prayer, create a regular place for prayer, make the time to do it and
not forego it as prayer is the only line of communication that we have with our Heavenly Father.
Therefore, in making time to pray, Earley recommends that we remind ourselves of the value of
prayer, set aside daily prayer time with a regulated amount of time in a preferred place, and make
sure to adhere to it.
As logical as it can be, Earley shifts into intercession as his next choice topic.
Intercession is the logical next step as we have since established the value in prayer and have
determined that good prayer inevitably leads one to pray for others in need, those we have been
led to pray for, and those that are lost.
Coincidentally, asking others to pray on your behalf goes hand in hand with praying for
others in a give and take relationship. Earley introduces the topic of asking others to pray on your
behalf by sharing a story on spiritual warfare. In agreement with Earley, I too, believe we must
become trained in believing that prayer when two or more gather in the Lord’s name can make
change occur. We must not be fearful or shy in asking others to pray on our behalves as it is what
brings us together in the eyes of the Lord. Group prayer can be powerful in terms of healing
and/or moving the universe in God’s will to do good unto those that request the help. Earley
persuades us to remember the ease of asking others to pray for us in reminding of Paul’s requests
for prayer in 1 Thessalonians 5:25, 2 Thessalonians 3:1, Romans 15:30, Ephesians 6:19, and
Colossians 4:3.
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Once we feel comfortable in asking others to pray for us then we must train ourselves to
turn our problems into prayers. Every aspect of our lives should be prayed about whether it be
problem solving, thanksgiving, or reverence. Earley discusses this point by referring back to
Moses dutiful prayer in praying for his people, Jesus praying for people, David praying for his
people in Psalms, and many others praying for others in an effort to exhibit how many in the
Bible as well as other influential spiritual leaders used prayer to solve their problems.
Earley recommends prayer for problem solving by citing S.D. Gordon as stating, “Prayer
wonderfully clears the vision; steadies the nerves; defines duty; stiffens the purpose; sweetens
and strengthens the spirit.”2 Given that citation, who would not want to pray in an effort to solve
problems on any given day. Earley does a fantastic job in defining different levels of powerful
prayer with varying levels of boldness.
Earley transitions into fasting and praying in the next section. He reminds us that “fasting
has long played a significant role in the prayer ministry of the effective spiritual leader.”3
History within the Bible and otherwise has documented many thanksgiving in the answers of
prayers due to fasting and prayer. The one most famously recalled was Jesus’ fast for forty days
which enabled Him to resist the devil’s temptations and to launch His ministry in the power of
the Spirit.4
Earley explains “fasting as used in the Bible means ‘not to eat’ or ‘self-denial’.”5 Earley
discloses “A summary of the biblical teaching on fasting reveals it to be choosing not to partake
of food because spiritual hunger is so deep, determination in intercession is so intense, or
spiritual warfare is so demanding that you temporarily set aside even fleshly needs to give
2 Ibid., 75.
3 Ibid., 91.
4 Ibid., 92.
5 Ibid., 94.
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yourself more wholly to prayer.”6 He goes on to explain the differences between abstaining from
all food with the exception of water by referencing Matthew 4:2 and the utter difference in
abstaining from both food and water in an extreme manner as indicated in Acts 9:9; Ezra 10:6;
Esther 4:16; Deuteronomy 9:9, 18; Exodus 34:28; and 1 Kings 19:8.7 Both are attributed to
elucidating the glory given to God through fasting and prayer. If those fasts are too much, Earley
also mentions that one can fast by abstaining from a specific activity or food for a twenty-four
hour period. He also reminds us that the early church fasted for two days weekly in either an
individual or a corporate manner.
Earley does a fine job in determining the importance of fasting by discussing twenty
references to fasting found within the Bible but he does not stop there, he goes on to discuss
Jerry Falwell’s fast which both times yielded remarkable results. He concludes the chapter by
detailing how to fast more effectively which is appreciated as one becomes overjoyed with the
knowledge gained and may want to try a fast to become closer to God.
Cleverly, Earley moves from discussing fasting to detailing information on how to pray
bold prayers. Earley equips us with all we need. At this point in the book, we have become
prayer warriors and now he is explaining that we must go boldly to the throne with confidence as
outlined in Hebrews 4:16.
Interesting enough, Earley shares that there are 7,487 promises found within the Bible
and in an effort to ask God to fulfill those promises we must quote those promises back to Him
in reverence for answered prayers.
Now that we have the vices of prayer, we must learn to build upon the basics of prayer.
Earley reminds us of the model prayer provided by Jesus in accomplishing this in Matthew 6:9-
6 Ibid., 94.
7 Ibid., 94.
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13.8 Earley exclaims that his goal is to recite the Lord’s Prayer at least once daily in an effort to
readjust his priorities in prayer.9 He further recommends the act of prayer as being an acronym
of ACTS, meaning: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication which seems to be a
well-rounded approach that encompasses all that is necessary in going to the throne.
In conclusion, before he brings everything together in totality, Earley shares how we can
adopt and apply the best practices as learned from prior day spiritual leaders. He reminds us to
pray without ceasing and apply it, persevere in petitions of prayer and apply it, attend prayer
retreats, pray utilizing Scripture, partake in prayer walking without grabbing attention in carrying
out the act, and strive to see others as God sees them, and prepare the way for others through
prayer.10
Critique
Earley states his “goal in writing this book is simple: I hope to motivate Christian leaders
to pray more fervently, more frequently, more effectively, and more contagiously than ever
before. I want to stretch their prayer life.”11 In evaluating the information Earley has put forth,
one can easily say that he has done just what he set out to do in expanding one’s prayer life.
The one critical critique that I may offer is in stating that he falls short in limiting the
book to high-impact leaders because the book may be read and utilized by all that read it. The
book offers a humbling experience in reading all that others do in an attempt to abide in the Lord.
As Jesus told us, we must abide in Him for Him to abide in us. Earley provides us with the steps
necessary in learning to abide in the Lord through this book. I appreciated all of the detailed
8 Ibid., 129.
9 Ibid., 129.
10 Ibid., 170.
11 Ibid., xii
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information provided. In becoming a prayer warrior, I now know what goals to set and how to
be persistent in attaining those goals.
Conclusion
In conclusion, in considering the personal application of Earley’s book, I would have to
say that I agree with all that he presents about the power of prayer. I agree that “prayer is the key
that unlocks all the storehouses of God’s infinite grace and power.”12 I believe and agree that
“prayer can do anything God can do, and as God can do anything, prayer is omnipotent.”13
I also agree that if one should want to maximize the impact that prayer makes, one must
prioritize prayer, make it the most important task carried out, it saves time, it is omnipresent, it is
the determining factor “between mild stirrings and deep breakthroughs”14 as the more we pray,
the more God moves on our behalf, prayer provides insight into all situations, God does nothing
in ministry without prayer, and prayer is our greatest weapon against all evil as it enables us to
have the armor of God. As Ephesians 6:12 states “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but
against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (NIV) which makes the power of prayer all that
more important. Prayer provides us with the ability to communicate with God. Ephesians 6:18-
20 states that we must “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for
me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the
mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it
fearlessly, as I should.” (NIV) The Lord not only gives us the power of prayer but He also
12 Ibid., 4.
13 Ibid., 4.
14 Ibid., 7.
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explains how we should pray. We should pray boldly and incessantly as stated in I Thessalonians
5:17 and Hebrews 4:16. I agree with Earley when he makes the statement that boldness really
impacts the effectiveness of our prayers. Boldness matters because it showcases our faith and our
belief in the power of our prayers. When we are bold in prayer, we are being obedient in what
God asks of us. He tells us to pray to Him and to pray in Jesus’ name. He wants us to be certain
in what we ask for from our Father because He has laid it out for us within the Bible. If whatever
we ask for is His will then it shall be done. We must exhibit our faith by asking for what we
know He is willing to provide us with, therefore, when we go boldly to the throne as stated in
Hebrews 4:16. We know without a doubt that we know what we are praying for and we know the
all mighty and omnipotent God is going to answer our prayers if they are God’s will. 1 John
5:14-15 verifies this by stating, “And this is the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask
anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask,
we know that we have obtained the requests made of him.” (RSV)
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