Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Prayer Resources: General Studies on Prayer

Lord, Teach Me to Pray in 28 Days, by Kay Arthur
Basic instruction on prayer, based on The Lord’s Prayer. From the back cover: “Practical insights to help you know how to pray, what to pray, and what to expect when you pray."
Options: 192 page book in daily format with discussion questions (at Amazon or Lifeway)
or 144 page workbook titled Lord, Teach Me to Pray for 5 session DVD series (at Lifeway).

Prayer: Does it Make Any Difference? by Philip Yancey
This honest and personal discussion of questions about prayer includes the topics of Keeping Company with God, Unraveling the Mysteries, the Language of Prayer, Prayer Dilemmas and the Practice of Prayer. Includes many personal testimonies. Options: 352 page book (at Amazon) or 103 page workbook for 6 session DVD series (at Lifeway)

Disciple’s Prayer Life: Walking in Fellowship with God,
by T.W. Hunt and Catherine Walker
This extensive study is meant to be used by a small group. I think it would be appropriate for a group with members of varying spiritual maturity. Topics include family prayer times, gratitude, confession, praying with others and unanswered prayer. Handy perforated memory verse cards in the back of the book. Lifeway describes the book this way: “Helps adults learn to pray experientially - based on prayers of the Bible. Through personal, daily study and 13 weekly small-group meetings, you will discover practical truths to strengthen and deepen your prayer life.” At Lifeway.

Passionate Prayer, by Catherine Martin
My favorite prayer resource, this is a detailed overview of prayer; accessible but deep. 30 Day format, includes study questions. Includes studies of Biblical prayers, quotes from famous books on prayer and suggested formats for prayer journals. I suggest that if you study this in a small group, you spread it out over 8 or 10 weeks--don't try to fit it all into 30 days.
Book available at Amazon or Quiettime.org. DVDS for group study available from Quiettime.org

Also from Catherine Martin: Passionate Prayer, a Quiet Time Experience.
This is a book of Quiet Times on the subject of prayer, with journaling suggestions, study questions, and quotes from classic Christian authors. Great for solo study or discussing in a group. Ideal for someone just beginning to have a quiet time, an experienced believer who wants to refresh her devotional routine or someone whose routine is often interrupted. It could be used to follow a study of Passionate Prayer, but neither book requires the other. Available at Amazon or Quiettime.org.

A Woman’s Call to Prayer: Making Your Desire to Pray a Reality,
by Elizabeth George
Practical guidance for beginning the habit of prayer, becoming more organized and consistent in prayer, and overcoming obstacles to prayer. Also includes advice on praying when hurting, overwhelmed, worried or needing to make a decision. If you are currently praying for wisdom in a particular situation, this would be a helpful book. 288 pages, includes study questions. At Amazon.

With Christ in the School of Prayer: a 31 Day Course in Christian Prayer,
by Andrew Murray
Classic study on prayer and the Holy Spirit’s role in prayer. Recommended by Ruth Myers, Catherine Martin and others. 104 pages, at Amazon.
Also from Andrew Murray: 365 Daily Devotions on Prayer. At Amazon.

Do you have a favorite book about prayer? Please leave me a comment.

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