Publisher: Prosferro Press
ISBN 978-1-0685558-0-0
308 pages
Paperback published 14th February 2025 on Amazon
eBook also available on Amazon from 14th February 2025
Does God answer prayer? Christians would say “Yes” and that sometimes God’s answer is “No” or “Wait.” But there is more to prayer than this. Prayer is about a developing relationship with God beyond just asking Him to provide for our needs and those of others, good and important as that is.
‘God’s Heart for Answering Prayer’ provides 47 study sessions focussing on Jesus’ responses to those who came to Him, seen as a reflection of the Father heart of God for answering prayer. This is unusual, the focus is more often on the content of the stories that Jesus told and the miracles that He performed. Paying attention to His relationship dynamics helps us to know Him and therefore the Father better. For example, what did Jesus say to His disciples when they didn’t ‘get’ His parables? How did His approach to them change over time? What do the answers tell us about what He might be saying to us?
For each session the questions are designed to help us to appreciate and love God with our minds and the meditations to engage with God at heart level. Taking part in both discussion and meditation will be a new adventure for some, but to learn to pray we need understanding and practice! This book offers opportunities to grow in both.
The book comes into its own as a Bible study guide for small groups meeting weekly and can also be used as a daily Lent Guide. It is divided into 6 parts:
- Jesus and Father God
- Jesus and His Family
- Jesus and his Disciples
- Jesus and the Sick and Needy
- Jesus, Religious Leaders and Reluctant Followers
- Jesus, the Civic Authorities and the Cross
A comprehensive Introduction explains how to make best use of the Sessions.
Endorsements
“Jane Atkinson’s book can be commended on various fronts. Her premise that relating to God is at the heart of what prayer should mean in the life of a Christian offers a refreshing angle for exploring the Gospel material. She offers a very practical directed study which, using a basically Ignatian approach, takes participants smoothly into their own personal engagement with God. The notes on using the studies explain well how the various sections are intended to work together, providing an important balance between the objective and the subjective. While valuable for individual use, the book comes into its own in a group setting, with its potential for shared engagement.”
Rev Dr John Nolland Bsc, Thl, Bd, Phd. Retired Lecturer in New Testament Studies at Trinity Theological College, Bristol and Previously Regent College, Vancouver.
“Jane Atkinson deals with 47 profound lessons on the father heart of God in a readable and practical way in this book. In a trial run of the sessions a group of us studied all of them, experiencing incredible benefits in our lives as we spent time thinking, imagining, praying and interacting with the characters/ incidents. The icing on the cake is the author’s vivid description of the historical, geographical and cultural background to the events. Each study provides new insights and experiences as each incident is different, while the main focus is on Jesus’ responses, which helped people to receive what they needed and enabled them to draw closer to God. The author has brought out this invaluable book with much prayer and I highly recommend it to anyone who desires spiritual growth, as it facilitates a deeper understanding of the father heart of God, as seen in Jesus.”
Lois Medikonda. Co-Founder of Partnership India with her husband Krishnaiah Medikonda, equipping church leaders by providing counsel, support, training and teaching of God’s word.
“It is not easy to describe this book, God’s Heart for Answering Prayer, because it does not fit into any of the usual categories of books on prayer, but neither is it a biblical commentary on the Gospels. What Jane Atkinson has given to us is a treasure of meditations upon the ministry of Jesus which sheds fresh light upon his relationships with his disciples, his family and friends, the sick and the needy, as well as others whom he encountered. The author’s own personal relationship with Jesus shines through this study and she uses her practical experience to bring a fresh perspective on prayer that even the most mature of Christians will find helpful. As a Lenten study for groups or personal use I warmly commend this book.”
Rev Dr Clifford Hill Ma. Bd. Phd.
“Delving into Jane Atkinson’s book was thrilling and electrifying, as she lights up the Gospel narrative about people meeting with Jesus. Her searching questions pose exciting challenges. Jane introduced sessions for our Bible Study Group, guiding us in probing reasons for Christ’s responses when engaging with characters whose motives He knew. Wondering at Jesus’ compassionate humility, always obedient to His Father’s will, we also pondered Jane’s touching phrase “the Father’s heart” as each session unfolded, showing our Father God’s “extravagant” love. Background verses indicate the context and atmosphere while Jane’s reading and re-reading of chosen passages, followed by a pause, let us select a character to identify with, giving us greater awareness of the reality of what had happened and the dramatic effects on lives touched, plus a uniquely beautiful, shared experience of Jesus. Immersing yourself in this book will lead you to a stronger relationship with our Father God.”
Janice G. Luff, retired hospital nurse.
“Jane Atkinson knows her Bible and I found her work insightful and scholarly. In these studies she helps us to realize how much we can learn about the nature of God the Father from looking at the life of Jesus; his responses to people and his relationships can help us to understand the Father in a way that illuminates His character. I think any Christian would benefit from following these studies, whether in a small group setting or individually as an aid to private prayer.”
Sally Hogg, Bible study group leader, meeting on zoom. retired social services manager and civil servant. Author of Invisible Women: A History Of Women In The Church.