Few things expose our inadequacy more than our anemic prayer lives and for that reason the Christian market is constantly inundated with books on prayer. Here are some of my top recommendations for books on the subject of prayer.
Top Recommendation
A Praying Life by Paul Miller.
Perhaps the greatest strength of this book is Miller’s unrelenting emphasis that prayer cannot be an add-on to the Christian life; it cannot be supplemental but must always be instrumental. This book will equip you to understand prayer properly and, on that firm foundation, to commit yourself to it, with confidence that God is willing and able to hear and answer your prayers.
Other Recommendations
- It Happens After Prayer by H.B. Charles Jr. This book will teach you to pray and, best of all, make you want to pray.
- When Prayer Is a Struggle by Kevin Halloran. Halloran’s book is meant to console Christians who are struggling to pray, to diagnose their troubles, and to provide practical counsel that can motivate them once more.
- Prayer by Tim Keller – This is a wonderful book that dives deep into the history of Christianity to find both a theology and practice of prayer.
- Praying Backwards by Bryan Chapell – This book majors on praying in Jesus’ name and trusting the power of the Holy Spirit.
- The Prayer of the Lord by R.C. Sproul – Sproul looks to The Lord’s Prayer and uses it as our model.
- In Light of Eternity by Mack Tomlinson – Sometimes the best way to renew our love of prayer is to read about a Christian who loved to pray. Consider this biography of Leonard Ravenhill.
- It Happens After Prayer by H.B. Charles – I really enjoyed this short, simple, practical book.
You may also benefit from reading other people’s prayers.
- The Valley of Vision is a great collection of Puritan prayers.
- Before the Throne of Grace by John MacArthur prints many of his pastoral prayers and reveals him not only as a great preacher but also as a man who knows how to pray.
