Pray First: The Transformative Power of a Life Built on Prayer

This is a great book on one of the most important parts of a Christ follower's life. Prayer is a foundational habit but not as complicated as we make it. I love this book and the insights provided by the author. Someone gave me a copy a year or two ago, which I read and passed along to someone else. I recently purchased another copy and am reading it again.

Engaging, informative, and easy-to-read, Pray First will give you a greater understanding of what prayer is, what examples the Bible gives us, and different ways to strengthen your prayer life. What is more foundational to your faith than an effective prayer life? It informs how we engage with Scripture, life's challenges, and our Savior. Highly recommend.

This book was easy to read yet challenged me to PRAY FIRST. Our pastor did a series on this book and then my small group did it a year later. Definitely a reread book.

Amazing book, every Christian needs to read

I’ve been studying the Bible since 2019, and if there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that it is so easy to talk about God without actually talking to Him. For a long time, prayer felt like a formal duty or a "break glass in case of emergency" button. Chris Hodges’ Pray First has completely shifted my perspective. What I love about this book is that it isn’t just "inspiration"—we’ve all had enough of that. It’s a practical, biblically-grounded manual. As a woman in my 50s who just wants to soak up everything I can about the Lord, I found his breakdown of the different prayer models in the Bible to be so refreshing. It took the intimidation away and replaced it with a simple invitation to sit down and have coffee with my Creator. A few things that really stood out to me: The "How-To" of Prayer: It provides actual tools to make prayer your first response. I’ve started applying this when my husband is working late or when life feels heavy, and the peace is immediate. Fasting: He handles this "scary" topic with such grace, showing how it’s a companion to prayer, not a chore. The Relatable Tone: It feels like a conversation with a wise friend. If you’re like me and you want your home to be a place where God’s presence is felt in every room, get this book. It’s helping me build a prayer life that is dynamic and personal. I’m finally enjoying the conversation!