Make Me Like Jesus, by Michael Phillips

Sometimes the small books with the simplest messages pack the greatest punch.  Michael Phillips's Make Me Like Jesus: The Courage to Pray Dangerously definitely wallops the reader good.  This little book is the anti- Prayer of Jabez, the anti- Your Best Life Now.  Phillips bemoans evangelical's "obsession to pray for increased blessings from God's hand . . . to pray in the power of the flesh for temporal blessing rather than in the spirit of Christ for godliness of character."  Phillips argues that the one thing we should pray for, to agree with God, with what he most wants for our lives, is "that we become sons and daughters of God who are conformed to the image of Christ."  To be like Jesus is the highest goal and should be our heart's desire.

Following Christ's example, we should seek God's will and submit to it prayerfully.  We should abide in him, living selflessly.  We should seek our joy in him.  None of this is easy; Phillips makes it clear from the start that this prayer and the lifestyle it could--and should--lead to is not for the spiritually immature or half-hearted follower of Jesus.  This is a challenging little book, and will challenge you to ask yourself if you really want to pray that prayer: "Father . . . make me like Jesus."