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The Essentials of Prayer [Annotated, Updated Edition]
How Christians Ought to Pray
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How Christians Ought to Pray
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New, updated, and annotated edition. And the very God of peace sanctify you completely, that your spirit, soul, and body be preserved whole without reprehension for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23) Christians who pray well, who bring the largest things to pass, and who move God to do great things, are those who are entirely given over to God in their praying. God wants, and must have, all that there is in us. We must be wholehearted people through whom he can work out his purposes and plans concerning us. God must have us in our entirety. No double-minded people need apply. No vacillating person can be used. No person with a divided allegiance to God, the world, and self can do the praying that is needed. Holiness is wholeness, and so God wants holy people – wholehearted and true – for his service and for the work of praying. This book challenges the reader to first make sure he is ready to pray, and it also shows from Scripture when and how we ought to pray. E. M. Bounds examines the lack of prayer and its causes, but he also includes examples of answered prayer to give hope to those who feel like their prayers aren't being answered. Some may experience guilt for their lack and inconsistency of prayer, but sincere Christians will also be stirred in their heart to pray, and to pray well.
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While this book on prayer is based largely but not entirely on the Bible's teachings, I struggled with the tone that comes across here and there. Made me think of “holier than thou” kind of attitude. It's probably my preference to be taught more than to have things being preached “at” me; didn't enjoy the author thinking that most church leaders today are lacking in many areas. I agree that many are lacking, that shouldn't be so underlined throughout a book that should teach us “how we ought to pray”. It's practical and if you can pass the author's style, you may quite enjoy it. Oh yes, you may expect to be judged if you go to the opera and so on.
I specifically liked the last part of the book about missions. Here's a quote from the book in relation to it: “They who truly pray will be moved to give. Praying creates the giving spirit. The praying ones will be giving liberally and self-denyingly. He who enters his closet to God will also open his purse to God but perfunctory, grudging assesment giving kills the very spirit of prayer.”
