A review of “2 Chairs: The Secret that Changes Everything”

Jesus is surprising. His earthly father, Joseph, was a tekton in Greek, meaning a carpenter, builder, or stone worker of some kind. Jesus likely learned the trade. 

The Apostle Paul was a tentmaker. Several of the original disciples were fishermen. In each case, their “career” had little connection to their spiritual authority and insight. 

Something similar is going on with Bob Beaudine. He’s the CEO and founder of a leading Dallas search company for sports and entertainment executives. Given his corporate career, you might be surprised that his spiritual insight in 2 Chairs: The Secret that Changes Everything is down-to-earth, clear, and profound.

Beaudine’s idea, or “secret,” is simple: pray. 

But Beaudine doesn’t start or end with this simple step. He shares a particular way of praying—a ritual. Thankfully, the ritual is simple as well. 

Take two chairs and face them together. Then, sit in one.

Here’s the idea: God will sit in the opposite chair. 

If you set up the meeting, God will make an appearance. In fact, he’s the one inviting you to the meeting, even though you’re the one putting the chairs together! 

You can’t see him, but he’s there. 

What’s the secret to 2 Chairs? 

So much wisdom comes from our mothers. This idea of two chairs is no different; it originated with Beaudine’s mom, who practiced it for decades. 

Here’s how Beaudine describes his first two chairs meeting: 

Before I sat down I made myself a cup of coffee, as my mom had told me this would be like a meeting with a close friend. The moment I sat down at 2 Chairs, I felt Him. I can only describe it as a wave of peace and love that suddenly hugged me in a way, and my eyes immediately teared up. I hadn’t even said anything yet. Then I clearly heard him say in my mind, “I’m so excited you’re here!”

Beaudine describes these times as meetings between two friends. Jesus called his followers friends, but Beaudine isn’t just writing to Christians. He makes this observation: if you thought there was a one percent chance that the God of the universe would actually show up and communicate with you at a 2-chairs meeting, would you do it? 

The book is an invitation to everyone. To Christians, the meeting with God is guaranteed—because he always answers us in prayer. To non-believers, it could mark the beginning of a journey to a relationship with their Savior. 

To this end, Beaudine makes 2 Chairs incredibly accessible. Most of it is written at a fourth or fifth-grade reading level, but it clearly comes from the heart. The simple idea might belie its depth, but the profundity of the two-chairs approach comes when you actually try it. 

It offers little in new theological insight or perspective that will change your life. Instead, 2 Chairs offers an activity that could change your life. 

I’m a heady, philosophical guy. My faith is always in danger of becoming merely intellectual. Sure, God meets me in the abstract, but such an academic connection can’t replace a personal relationship. As a result, I’ve found the two-chairs method of prayer to be an extremely fruitful ritual in my own life. 

The rewards of 2 Chairs

Simplicity is not bad. The simplest key can unlock the largest door. So it is with 2 Chairs. 

The book wraps up several spiritual disciplines that most of us lack. 

• Pray aloud 
• Listen to God in the quiet
• Actually have silence and solitude 
• Submit to and obey God’s leadership
• Meditate on his promises and truths
• Ritual with a physical, symbolic object or action (in this case, a chair)

All of this, by putting it in the two-chairs setting, puts them in a highly relational context. Bowing, kneeling, closing your eyes, or putting your hands together are all wonderful, embodied ways of symbolizing your honor and focusing your attention. This approach is no different from these ancient ways of communing with God—it just focuses on the “friendship” aspect of your relationship. 

Friendship is one part, not the whole picture, of our standing with God. He is our king, Lord, and judge. This does not take away from that. As Paul says, we can boldly approach the throne of God. 

Beaudine spends around 160 short pages unpacking how we meet God by learning to listen instead of just talking, although he advocates that when you do speak, you speak aloud when possible. 

He also shares stories of when God gave him clear insight, concretely leading him in life. For example, what to say in a big meeting, or what job to take. These clear directions might be rare, but the consistent practice is essential to opening up a two-way communication with God. 

I highly recommend Beaudine’s 2 Chairs. It’s an accessible, quick read that just might change your life. Even if you don’t pick it up, consider trying the two-chairs method as a morning routine; I think you’ll be surprised at the connection you’ll feel with God. (If you’re interested in why that is, I just released a deep dive into the philosophy of “embodied cognition” on my Substack.)

Will you try it today? See if the Lord your God will meet you in the stillness of the chair across from you.