The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears by Batterson, Mark (2012) Paperback

I don't often take the time to write book reviews, but I just had to for this one. I picked it up last Summer in the States when the cover kind of leapt off the shelf at me. God had been challenging me on what dreams I was actually pursuing in my life, and has also been challenging me on the level of prayer in my life - and this book covered both issues. When I read it, though, I was totally blown away. Mark is a very good writer - accessible and easy to read, but with simply loads of encouraging stories about how he has seen God move in his life and that of National Community Church as they have "dreamed big and prayed hard". It really lifts your faith - and definitely does not make you feel guilty about historic failures to push through in prayer. i loved it, gave it to my wife who felt the same, then have been buying it for everyone we know. A truly amazing read, and quite simply has been life-changing for us - and I do not say that lightly, at all. Wonderful book! The follow-on Draw the Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge is a good way of cementing some of the content into your everyday life, too!

I am glad I did not take the negative reviews posted here seriously and decided to get this book anyway... to say that the book is "unscriptual" or "unbiblical" is highly questionable as Mark Batterson gives time and time again scriptural references to back up what he says -If you know you serve a God who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above and beyond all that you could ask or think and that He loves you with a passion enough to die for you for... if you can't think of anything else, then to me that is a good enough reason & a promise that you can circle and believe for.This book is not purporting to be one of those "get rich quick" schemes or fancy notions of doing some fancy action 3 times a day to make God move into action on our behalf because of the repetition; it is simply saying, your faith CAN move mountains, if you come into AGREEMENT with HIS plan and purpose for your life!!!

A good read with equal mix of challenge and encouragement. It is an easy read, not everyone will like it but it charts a positive story for church and leaders about prayer. Not as inspiring as 'Dirty Glory' but it does encourage you to think hard about persevering in prayer. That's not a bad thing.

Is your faith sagging? Your prayer-life lagging? Then 'The Circle Maker' is a must-read. Not only is the writing articulate and 'punchy'; you will be encouraged as you follow Mark Batterson's journey of faith through the pages. You will learn to listen to God and to seize the promises He is making to you, and to the people important to you. The Circle Maker is full of inspiring stories of people who believed for the impossible, and received even more. I really appreciated the way the author is very REAL. He didn't side-step or gloss over prayers that went unanswered. Once you've read 'The Circle Maker' your faith will have blossomed and you will definitely want others to benefit the same way. I was given a copy of this book, which I subsequently gave away to someone in need of encouragement. That gift was the start of a stream of kindle and paper-back copies given to other friends & co-workers on the mission field.

It’s such a cliche to say that something is life changing, but I know without a shadow of a doubt, this book is and will radically change my life.I have been frustrated with my prayer life for a while, knowing there is so much more to be had, but just not knowing how to access this. I don’t remember having ever been so inspired by a book and feel immensely empowered and excited as to the future.Thank you Mark and of course, thank God.

As a practicing Christian, I like to read Christian literature to help with the growth of my faith. I found The Circle Maker to be an inspiring and worth while read – I will certainly be taking up his advice about a prayer journal. It also made for a great discussion piece for my church's book club meeting.

Fantastic. You must read this - but don't just read it. Act on it. Believe it. And live it everyday.At a time I felt useless and restless God called me to "Stop!"' This book has helped me find a,purpose and a. New way of living because of Him. Pray. And don't stop praying

Mark is a fantastic storyteller and weaves his story, the story of his church and other poignant stories into a book which at its root is encouraging us to dream big, think long and pray hard.The only potential criticism is that some British readers could accuse it of being too American, by which we would mean over optimistic and risky. But Mark balances this with a wholehearted commitment to Gods glory and his power and that it's about him and not us.