Meet Tommy: Making Faith Practical with a Prayer Book That Works
Sometimes, a customer review reminds us why we do what we do at Lay It Flat. Aside from the business, it’s really all about helping people live their values in a way that feels natural and practical.
Tommy’s review of Deliverance Prayers: For Use by the Laity caught our attention because it was short, simple, and powerful:
“A Practical Tool for Real Life. Sometimes you just need something that works. This book is easy to read, easy to carry, and easy to keep close.”
Behind those words is the story of a husband, father, and man of faith who just needed a prayer resource that fit into his busy life.
Family, Faith, and Real Life
Tommy is 50 years old, married for over two decades, and a dad to three kids. He’s the kind of guy who wakes up early to pack lunches, says grace at dinner, and tries to live his faith in the quiet, consistent ways that matter most.
“I’m not a theologian.”
Tommy laughs when we ask about his prayer life. “I’m a dad who works full-time, helps with homework, and sometimes feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day. But faith is non-negotiable for me.”
Like many Catholic parents, Tommy wanted to lead his family spiritually, not just financially. But real life? It’s messy. Some days, carving out an hour for quiet prayer feels impossible.
The Catalyst: When Ordinary Days Feel Heavy
It started during a tough season. Work stress was mounting, one of his kids was going through a rough patch at school, and Tommy found himself lying awake at night, thoughts spinning.
“I realized I needed something more structured,”
He recalls. “Not just random prayers I remembered from childhood, but something intentional—something that could help me pray with a purpose for my family, for protection, and peace in my home.”
He wasn’t looking for a complicated theology book or a resource meant for priests. He needed something for ordinary people, like a guide he could actually use.
Finding the Right Resource
Tommy’s search led him to Deliverance Prayers: For Use by the Laity, a collection designed for Catholics who want to engage in spiritual warfare through prayer. It includes prayers from the Church’s treasury and public domain, and it carries an imprimatur from the Archdiocese of Denver: a detail that gave Tommy confidence in its authenticity.
“When I read that it was written specifically for the laity and had an imprimatur, that told me this was solid,”
Tommy says. “I wanted something rooted in the Church, not random stuff from the internet.”
The promise of practicality sealed the deal: clear language, structured sections, and prayers he could incorporate into real life.
Why Deliverance Prayers Matter
For those unfamiliar, deliverance prayers are a way for lay Catholics to ask for God’s protection, break spiritual ties, and invite peace into their lives. While exorcism prayers are reserved for clergy, deliverance prayers are entirely appropriate, and powerful, for ordinary people.
“These prayers remind you that spiritual warfare isn’t just for movies,”
Tommy says.
“It’s real. And so is God’s power.”
Putting Prayer into Practice
When the spiral-bound book arrived, Tommy was surprised by how much that small detail mattered. “It sounds silly, but the spiral binding? Game changer,” he laughs. “I could lay it open on the kitchen counter while packing lunches, keep it on my nightstand without losing my place, or even flip it open in the car while waiting to pick up my kid.”
He started small: a morning prayer for protection before work, a blessing for his family at night, and occasional prayers to break the negativity when stress felt overwhelming.
“It wasn’t about adding more to my day. It was about making prayer fit into the life I already had,” he explains.
The Transformation
Within weeks, Tommy noticed a shift. The stress didn’t magically disappear, but he felt grounded. “It’s hard to describe, but I felt like I had armor on,” he says. “I wasn’t walking into work or parenting challenges empty-handed anymore.”
His family noticed too. “My wife said, ‘You seem calmer,’ and that meant everything. Prayer didn’t just change me: it changed the atmosphere in our home.”
Tommy’s Advice for Others
“If you’re waiting for life to slow down before you start praying, it’s not going to happen,”
Tommy says with a smile. “Start where you are. And find resources that meet you there.”
His biggest tip? Don’t underestimate practicality. “A book that’s easy to carry and easy to keep open? That matters more than you think. When you can grab it in a moment, you’re more likely to use it.”
Looking Ahead
Today, Tommy keeps Deliverance Prayers within reach — not just as a book, but as a lifeline. “It’s part of my daily rhythm now,” he says. “I’ll keep using it for as long as it helps me lead my family in faith.”
Now It's Your Turn
Tommy’s story is a reminder that faith doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes, all you need is a resource that works. It’s a book you can actually use in the middle of real life.
Deliverance Prayers: For Use by the Laity is designed with that in mind: clear language, practical structure, and a spiral-bound format that stays open when you need it most.
