Learn to Pray Boldly with Adam Stadtmiller's New Book "Praying for Your Elephant"

By Timothy Yap Aug 17, 2014 06:03 AM EDT

Adam Stadtmiller will be releasing his brand new book "Praying for Your Elephant: Boldly Approaching Jesus with Radical and Audacious Prayers" on Oct. 1 from David C Cook, Stadtmiller has written the book to not teach on the subject of prayer, but rather to challenge readers to pray. Stadtmiller is Lead Pastor at one of San Diego's most historic churches, La Jolla Christian Fellowship. A regular contributor to Christianity Today's Leadership Journal, he is also the author of "Give Your Kids the Keys" (2011) and "Discover Your Kids Spiritual Gifts" (2012).

The idea for this new book started with a random prayer. Adam saw an ad where-for a huge fee-an elephant could be brought to a youth outreach event. Almost in jest, Adam and his team prayed that God would make it happen for free. The extravagant way God answered that prayer years later in Thailand left him humbled and hungry to pray even bigger prayers.

"While I can't promise that God will give you these 'elephants,' I can say that by praying for elephants you will come to know him in a way you never have while diving deep into the adventure that is the prayer-filled life," affirms Stadtmiller. The book is for anyone who struggles with prayer and wants to grow in their prayer life.

Praying for Your Elephant also seeks to help everyone understand what it means to be a person of prayer. Written in a conversational style that blends simple, but deeply provocative truth with entertaining and engaging stories and metaphors, Stadtmiller leans on the affirmation in Romans 8:26 that there are no experts in prayer, just faith-filled people willing to boldly approach God in their weakness with radical and audacious prayers.

"God did not intend prayer to be a magical art whose deep secrets are guarded by shrouded monks on remote islands. Nor is prayer solely a mystical experience reserved for the spiritual illuminati. Rather, prayer is the common language of God's people. Prayer is the Christian's native tongue," teaches Stadtmiller in the book. "The key to effective power-filled prayer is simply praying. Taking the time to step out of your normal, frenetic existence to center yourself through prayer is the only way that you will ever move forward in this journey... People who often experience prayer in its deepest ways are people who show up most, seeking God in prayers' glorious monotony and routine."

This book is intended to help readers identify their own elephants (prayers), create specific and strategic requests, break through self-imposed boundaries of prayer, partner with God in His answers to prayer and pray for their future. The end of each chapter includes a short study guide for groups, churches and/or leadership teams, as well as "Prayer Prescriptions" to give readers tools to explore and re-imagine their prayer lives. Bonus content includes a grid to track 100 answers to prayer requests, a 6-week small group resource, discussion questions and a weekly prayer challenge.