Book Review - The Prayer Coin {How To Pray Like Jesus}

In her book The Prayer Coin, Elisa Morgan dives into Jesus' prayer: Take this cup, yet not my will. Are these two opposite prayers together for a reason?

Book Review – The Prayer Coin {How To Pray Like Jesus}

February 21

~ Today’s Scripture Art and Prayer Coin book review were designed to help you pray like Jesus as well as write God’s Word on your heart. ~

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It’s been ages since I’ve re-read a book immediately after just finishing it.

And the funny thing is, I almost didn’t read this book at all.

I had another book picked out to review – a best-seller that came highly recommended. One that I jumped to order the moment I heard about it. One that sounded like it would be right up my alley.

Well.

Long story short – I don’t want you to read that book. So you will not be hearing the title mentioned here.

After my unexpected disappointment in that book, I looked through my “To Be Read” pile for a short one – a quick read to redeem the wasted time I had put into the last one.

The Lord did redeem – and in a big way!

Of course He did. Because redeeming big is His specialty …

Ephesians 1:7 (ESV): In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

The short little book I picked would have probably remained in the bottom of that pile for years. It was inconspicuously not standing out in my tall stack of colorful books with enticing titles. It was not on my radar. I can’t even remember what prompted me to buy it.

But obviously God wanted it on my radar.

Now I want it on yours.

Seriously, do not dilly dally like I did. I recommend you read it right now.

Take a sec and put this book on your wish list.

It’s worth every penny! {get it?}

It’s one of those books every Christian should read.

That is, if you want to pray like Jesus – and I hope you do.

The Prayer Coin by Elisa Morgan takes a deep dive into Jesus’ prayer in the garden of Gethsemane recorded in Luke 22:42, Matthew 26:39, Mark 14:36, and John 18:11.

And by deep, I mean backing up Scripture with Scripture – and then more Scripture. Just how I like it.

And it’s the perfect “part 2” for last week’s post! God clearly wanted us to sit a little longer with this theme.

This book lives up to its name in that on one side it’s a short, potentially quick read. But on the flip side, it’s rich with thought-provoking applications, which could – and should – make it a longer read.

The book has 11 chapters plus a study guide at the end, making it ideal for group discussions. The chapters are cumulative, each building more understanding upon the previous.

30 Day Scripture Prayer Guide by Write Them On My Heart

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I liked how Elisa got right to it and explained the entire premise of the book in chapter one. You could literally read chapter one alone and have your prayer life transformed.

But you won’t want to.

You’ll insist on knowing more.

You may even read the book twice in a row to make sure you don’t miss anything!

So I will follow Elisa’s lead and let her explain the prayer coin right off the bat:

“In the deepest hours of Jesus’ life on this planet, a two-sided coin of a prayer was forged. In the crucible of the garden of Gethsemane, pressed between what He wanted and what the Father wanted, Jesus prayed ‘Take this cup,’ and then, ‘Not my will.’ Two sides of Jesus. Two sides of us. Two sides of prayer. The Prayer Coin.”

Ever wondered about these two seemingly opposite prayers found in one sentence? Did God mind Jesus begging Him to take His cup?

Hebrews 5:7 (ESV): In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.

God actually desired His honest plea, and Jesus cried out knowing there would be something fulfilling and unifying in His heartfelt, earnest request.

Hebrews 4:16 (ESV): Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

As Elisa took a closer look, it dawned on her that she usually prayed only one side of the prayer coin. She wondered what she might be missing by not frequenting both sides.

And this book is her journey.

Do you pray “Take This Cup or Not My Will” rather than “Take This Cup and Not My Will?”

We tend to slip into one side or the other but Jesus prayed both. And what happened? The Father aligned Jesus’ will to His own. Notice the very next verse …

Luke 22:42-43 (ESV): Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done. And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.

Could praying honestly before God be the first step in gaining strength to surrender our will?

Hebrews 5:8 (ESV): Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.

While we’re being honest, Elisa admits that she was conflicted when she prayed – pulled in the two directions of what she wanted and what she thought God wanted.

She explains, “On the one hand, I long to be honest – gut-wrenchingly raw – in blurting out my needs and desires before God and begging Him to meet them. Every single one of them. Unsure, I hedge honest and dress it up as respectful requests. One inch deep. On the other hand, I yearn for the courage to abandon my desires in surrender to God’s best in all things. But, oh my, what all might ‘God’s best’ include? What might He allow? In my life or in the lives of those I love? Uncertain, I wince a compromised yielding.”

Then she asks: “You relate, don’t you?”

Hand raised.

This is definitely a kind of relinquishment that does not come naturally or easily. But with practice, we can learn to see and believe that what we want is never as good as what He wants.

Elisa asks the burning question: “How did Jesus pray both sides of prayer? How could He say both ‘no’ and ‘yes’ in a single supplication? Such a braided duality. Take This Cup. Not My Will. […] Is it possible that these two seemingly opposite sides of prayer, of need, of reality, are wedded for good reason?”

No doubt about it.

And this book lays it all out in a way you’ll be excited to try!

The two prayers are together for a good reason!

Who knew? And of course, we should follow Jesus and pray both sides of the prayer coin.

And just in case you share Elisa’s fear mentioned above, I’ll share how she finished the book: “I assumed I’d be sizzled into abandon – forced to utterly give up my honest desires. In reality, I yielded tender toward God and what I knew He ultimately wanted for me. Instead of being lost in abandon, I was found. Really, the only thing I’ve given up in this journey is the very fear I was running from.”

Want all the details of the model for building a prayer relationship with the God who made us to be one with Him?

Then you know what to do. I highly recommend this book!

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