Review of The Prepared Heart

[Alida Spies]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Prepared Heart" by Bryan Harr.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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How old were you when you felt the presence of God for the first time? Perhaps you’ve never experienced it or ignored it when you did. Bryan Harr was seven years old when he felt a gentle pull to ask Jesus to fill him with His spirit. When Bryan turned fourteen, he heard God’s call to ministry. In “The Prepared Heart,” Bryan shares his insight on preparing your heart to seek God. Using texts from the Bible, personal experiences, and insightful questions at the end of each chapter, the author leads the reader to understand what it means to prepare one’s heart.

Preparing one’s heart is not a goal or a once-off project; it's a lifestyle. It provides worthwhile rewards, namely the blessings, joy and peace we can only find in Him. Our relationship with God takes effort, just as our relationships with friends, family or spouses require. Trust Him with your life and give up control. After all, God created us and has a good plan for our lives, much better than we can imagine.

I was astounded to learn that regular prayer can show up on a brain scan and provide health benefits. Another part of the book I enjoyed was the author’s description of his time in Haiti. We take so many things for granted, and reading about their lives and attitudes, so different from ours, was an eye-opener. Bryan revisits many of the journeys of well-known biblical characters, e.g., Joseph, David and Gideon. I appreciate how the author used these and other accounts to illustrate his teachings.

The author systematically leads the reader to seek God and strengthen their relationship with Him. Bryan uses language that is easy to understand and provides clear guidance so everyone can achieve this worthwhile goal. I disliked nothing about this book, but I was confused about the author's explanation of how Adam and Eve broke the third commandment when they disobeyed God. I intend to do some further research to obtain clarity.

I discovered only two minor errors, and the editor delivered a professionally edited product. My rating is five out of five stars. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to develop a strong relationship with God and understand what it means to surrender to His will.

This book is based on the Bible, with numerous quotes and references. It is, therefore, more suitable for Christians and open-minded people who want to know more about Christianity.

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The Prepared Heart
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[Umesh Bhatt]

This book appears to be a work which would convince many that believing in God and getting its blessings is definitely a great healer. It is a support felt only by those who believe in it.
God is a concept but if it helps people to attain peace and happiness what can be better than it?
Thanks for a well made review.

[Pankaj k 1]

Thank you for sharing your heartfelt review of "The Prepared Heart" by Bryan Harr. Your personal reflections on the continuous journey of faith and the parallels you draw between our relationships with God and those with friends and family are truly insightful. The mention of regular prayer influencing brain activity and offering health benefits is fascinating and underscores the profound connection between spirituality and well-being. Your intention to delve deeper into the author's interpretation regarding Adam and Eve and the third commandment highlights the depth of engagement this book inspires. I appreciate your thorough analysis and the recommendation for those seeking to deepen their relationship with God.

[Kristin Paolantonio]

Thank you for your review! The book sounds very down to earth and inspiring. I like authors who write from experience how real God is and the relationship we can have with Him rather than scholarly writing.
I did look up Adam and Eve breaking the 3rd commandment. You had me wondering as well. I found on my Google search: "because by disobeying God's direct command regarding the forbidden fruit, they essentially showed a disregard for God's word and authority, which is seen as a form of taking His name in vain." I prefer the author leave that out of his book, if it had the reaction you and I had, to make the reading smoother. I would have to read the book to see how he wrote it.
I may have to add this to my bookshelf!

[Louis Donald]

The part about prayer showing up on a brain scan is fascinating. It’s always interesting when science and faith intersect like that.

[Pearl Flourish]

Bryan Harr’s “The Prepared Heart” offers a heartfelt guide to deepening one’s relationship with God, blending personal experiences with biblical insights to encourage a lifestyle centered on faith.