New Ministry Grab Bag

Stimulate Your Prayer Life

This is the full text of an article published in Woman to Woman Winter 2007 edition. To subscribe to the e-newsletter, visit the Women's Ministries homepage.

Want to stimulate your prayer life? Here are some suggestions to get you moving in the right direction. Why not have a goal this year to read at least one book on prayer? You will be the richer for it.

Prayer Bibliography

Augustine. Confessions. Random House, 1998.

• A classic work by one of the greatest of the church fathers and required reading by every Christian. To be read devotionally. It is at its root a conversation with God.

Author unknown. The Kneeling Christian. Hendrickson Publishers, 2006.

• A book with a great many illustrations. Motivational.

Bloesch, Donald. The Crisis of Piety. 2nd edition. Helmers & Howard Publishing, 1988.

• Written in the sixties, it remains an important commentary on the necessary life of piety for the mature Christian. It is both scholarly and deeply devotional.

Bloesch, Donald. The Struggle of Prayer. Helmers & Howard Publishing, 1987.

• “The disciplines of devotion have receded into the background as people seek instant salvation through prescribed and easily learned techniques. The often painful and laborious struggle to attain spiritual maturity in Christ characterized the great saints of the past.  This exceptional book is for those serious about their prayer life. Bloesch brings balance to the prophetic and the mystical elements of prayer. His chapters on Scripture, dialogue, heartfelt supplication, prayer and mysticism, prayer and action are all essential reading. Some people find the book a little difficult, but few find it not worth the effort.

Brother Lawrence. The Practice of the Presence of God. Whitaker House Publishers, 1982.

• A classic translated by E. M. Blaiklock of a cook in a 17th century monastery. It is an example of a single-minded devotion to God in prayer and meditation.

Bounds, E. M. The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer. Baker, 2004.

• This volume contains eight complete books on prayer by E.M. Bounds. They include: The Necessity of Prayer, The Essentials of Prayer, The Possibilities of Prayer, The Reality of Prayer, Purpose in Prayer, The Weapon of Prayer, Power Through Prayer, and Prayer and Praying Men.

Bounds, E. M. Purpose in Prayer. Whitaker House, 1997.

• A small and simple book on prayer. Bounds wrote eight of these short devotional books. They are all motivational, filled with examples of the saints prevailing in prayer and seeing God move in tremendous ways. The books are all short and simple reading. A good book to pass on to your children to encourage their prayer lives.

Bunyan, John. Prayer. Banner of Truth, 1989.

• It has been said of Bunyan that his soul is full of the Word of God, and this book is no exception. The first part was written in the Bedford gaol [jail] and published in 1662 under the title I Will Pray with the Spirit and with the Understanding. The second part is The Saint’s Privilege and Profit, a treatise based on Hebrews 4:16 which appeared posthumously in 1692.

Eastman, Dick. The Hour that Changes the World. Baker, 2002.

• An eminently practical book on prayer. One hour in five-minute segments. A notebook of practical guidance on prayer to help you develop a personal prayer life is either The 2959 plan or The 959 plan by Peter Lord and may be purchased through the Agape Ministries Post Office Box 6006, Titusville, FL 32782-6006 Phone # (305) 267 5330.

Edwards, Jonathan. The Religious Affections. Banner of Truth, 1961.

• This book brings balance to the doctrines of justification and sanctification and helps the Christian determine, “What is the nature of true religion? And wherein do lie the distinguishing notes of that virtue and holiness that is acceptable in the sight of God.”

Grenz, Stanley J. Prayer: The Cry for the Kingdom. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2005.

• Buy it, read it, practice it, and join with those who are changing the course of the world.

Hallesby, Ole. Prayer. Augsburg, 1994.

• Practical, inspirational and a modern classic on prayer.

Hybels, Bill. Too Busy Not to Pray. Intervarsity Press, 1998.

• Hybels reminds us that our problems and responsibilities should not keep us from prayer but should drive us to our knees. He uses the ACTS formula (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication), along with a fervent commitment to prayer, to unleash God's power in our lives.

Kelly, Douglas. If God Already Knows, Why Pray? Christian Focus Publications, 2001.

• Deals with God’s sovereignty and man’s dependency. Our confidence in prayer is based on God’s omniscience. Prayer: for praise - the purposes of God - an agent of change. Persevering, wrestling, and dealing with negative answers.

Murray, Andrew. The Believer’s Prayer Life. Bethany House Publishers, 1983.

• A 19th century writer from South Africa who is best known for his devotional books. This rates at the top of that list.

Piper, John. Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist, 10th anniversary edition. Multnomah, 1996.

• If you want to learn to love God in a way that will affect every aspect of your life, read this book. Pay attention to the footnotes even though they are at the ends of the chapters. You will pick up tips on many other good books from this one.

Piper, John. Let the Nations be Glad: The Supremacy of God in Missions. 2nd edition. Baker, 2003.

• Piper walks his talk, and that is saying quite a lot.

Piper, John. The Pleasures of God: Meditations on God’s Delight in Being God. Multnomah, 2000.

• Inspired by Henry Scougal’s 17th century classic The Life of God in the Soul of Man. If you read this book, you will not be disappointed. It nourishes the soul with food that feeds a rich prayer life. While this book is not devoted to the topic of prayer, it is devoted to the object of prayer and it is a right knowledge of God which feeds an abiding life of prayer.

Wiersbe, Warren. Prayer: Basic Training. Tyndale House, 1993.

• A study of Jesus’ prayer in John 17.

White, John. Daring to Draw Near. Intervarsity Press, 1977.

• A book of biblical character studies of people noted for their prayer lives.

Willard, Dallas. The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives. Harper Collins Publishing, 1990.

• A book very much worth reading.

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