T. D. Jakes. 100 Bold Prayers. T.D. Jakes, 2020.

This collection of prayers by the popular Pentecostal Bishop T. D. Jakes has something for nearly everyone. The format is reminiscent of the best selling Prayers that Avail Much because each of the 100 Bold Prayers is based on a promise or principle from the Bible. If the Bible expresses God’s word and God’s will, then prayers that align with the what the Bible says should be in God’s will. At the very least, we can pray them without sensing that we are “asking amiss.”

Jakes has arranged 20 prayers in each of five categories: Your Spiritual Life, Health and Healing, Emotional Health, God’s Provision, and Your Relationships. Surely most people have concerns in at least one of these areas.

Jakes has the book set up like a prayer journal. On the even-numbered page is a Scripture and a prayer based on the Scripture. Facing that page is a lined page for the reader to write his or her own prayer or any notes. Some people write the date they first prayed the prayer and the date they received an answer. Some will keep praying until they get a response.

Here is a simple example from the Emotional Health section:

Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes…I remain confident in this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. (Psalm 27:12-14 NIV)

Lord, be my victory and cause me to triumph over adversity, Infuse me with confident expectation of seeing your goodness manifest itself in overflowing proportions. I wait for you, Lord, by focusing on what you said to me. All my hope is in You. Amen. (No. 42)

Direct, simple, and clear—one can see how the prayer developed from the Scripture.

Some appear to be more like positive confessions of faith rather than asking God for something, but the Bible tells us faith comes from hearing God’s Word (See Romans 10:17). Here is an example from Health and Healing:

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. (3 John 1:2 NKJV)

Lord, thank you for a prosperous soul. As my mind, will, and emotions are renewed by Your Word, I’m able to live purposefully, as You’ve ordained for me. Because of Jesus, I am successful in all things, and my outer victories are rooted in the inner health and healing He’s given me. Amen. (No. 30)

These are just two samples but might give you an idea of what to expect.

For the record, I took nearly three months to go through the prayers, a few at a time. Some I could tell made a difference just by me praying them. As noted above, many were more like positive confessions, but worth acknowledging if the Word truly says those things about those who believe.

The Bible instructs us to “Pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17). In other words, it is nearly impossible to pray too much. Rev. Jakes’ 100 Bold Prayers can certainly help us in our need and get us going to pray more and pray more biblically—aligned with the Word of God.

N.B. This book does not have page numbers but labels each prayer by a number, so that is what is represented in the parenthetical references here.