11 Best Christian Books on Prayer

Prayer is a mainstay for Christians looking to commune with God and grow spiritually. But praying knowledgeably is the best way to approach it.

Several must-read books on prayer for every Christian can help you learn how to use God’s word during prayer.

Even though most Christians know how to pray, they have no idea how to do it right. Some have no idea why they should pray and fast or why they should pray according to the words of the Bible.

This article suggests 11 books to help you get the best out of your prayer life. They are authored by people who have been on the Christian journey for years and know what it takes to have a fulfilling prayer life.

Keep reading to learn more about the Best Christian Books on Prayer.

 

1. The Hidden Life of Prayer by David McIntyre

Every Christian needs private or secret prayer, without which their relationship with God will likely wane.

History teaches us about great Christians who have testified about the effectiveness of consistent private prayer in their lives.

Some devotees, like Martin Luther, couldn’t make it through a busy day without starting with 2 to 3 hours of private prayer sessions.

As a Christian in the fast-paced 21^st century, you can draw from the experiences of great like Luther, Muller, Spurgeon, Wesley, and Whitefield.

According to the author, every Christian needs to be committed to prayer and take time to be with God every day

. In the book, he says that when Christians present themselves to the Lord in prayer, they open their hearts to the Holy Spirit.

In short, prayer is an effective way of yielding to the inward impulse, allowing divine energy to command your being.

According to your natural man, you lay aside your plans and accept God’s purpose for your life. As a Spirit-born Christian, prayer helps you to be Spirit-controlled.

2. Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God by Timothy Keller.

According to New York Times bestselling author Timothy Keller, many Christians know the power of prayer but have no idea how to make it meaningful in their lives.

In this book, he discusses the multi-nature of prayer to help Christians understand how to make it work.

Keller writes with uncharacteristic insights and energy, offering biblical guidance and specific prayers for situations such as forgiveness, love, loss, and grief.

He provides strategies to personalize prayer and make it more powerful. You’ll also learn to make prayer an integral part of your life.

Even though prayer is a struggle, it is awesome and results in greater intimacy with the Maker. It is the most important thing a Christian can do to enrich and alter their lives.

Dr. Keller leads the Redeemer Presbyterian Church and has sold millions of copies of his other books. He has helped millions of Christians develop a more intimate, closer relationship with God through his teachings.

So, trust him to show you what it takes to have a deeper relationship with God.

3. Why Revival Tarries by Leonard Ravenhill.

In Why Revival Tarries, Leonard Ravenhill aims to teach Christians what it takes to demonstrate the power of the Gospel through a life dedicated to prayer. He observes that today’s pulpits are full of “dead men.”

When these dead men preach on Sundays, their summons isn’t taken seriously because many Christians are equally dead, anyway.

It horrifies him that Christians would be resigned to the routine of going to church on Sundays and never realizing the power of the Gospel.

So, he proposes dedication to prayer as the best way to spur a biblical revival and renew spiritual excellence among church leaders and followers alike.

If Christians would follow his advice and go back to a life of prayer, nothing would prevent them from doing exploits like the church of Acts.

4. The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer  by E. M. Bounds.

Through The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer, you’ll learn how effective prayer can be in helping you meet your daily needs. It puts together a definitive collection of Bounds prayers written in modern English.

The book provides eight classic explorations covering all aspects of a Christian’s prayer life in a readable fashion.

It contains more than 120 entries in which Bounds taught about the power, possibilities, reality, purpose, weapon, and essentials of prayer.

This isn’t a theoretical book but what Bounds did and practiced in his walk as a Christian. In a collection that took a lifetime to prepare, Bounds captures the essence of prayer, providing contemporary Christians with greater insights.

It is the perfect book for Christians looking to grow in their Christian walk and become better disciplines. Bonds encourages men to do “God’s work in God’s way, and to God’s glory.” Without prayer, it can be impossible to accomplish that.

5. A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World by Paul Miller.

A Praying Life by Paul Miller sold more than 300,000 copies before it was updated and expanded in its first edition. Miller acknowledges how hard it is for Christians to pray, only saying a word to God during a meal or when sick.

But is that how it is supposed to be? In essence, Christians should have a vibrant prayer to connect more closely with God. After all, Jesus seeks to have greater intimacy with Christians, inviting them to join God at the dinner table.

At it is basic, prayer is having a conversation with God. Making that part of one’s life can make the Christian walk more enriching. It comes with additional chapters, guiding with the help of prayer guides and making prayers of lament.

Through this book. Miller invites Christians to make prayers while hoping, trusting, and expecting God to act. It is the perfect way to learn the habits and approaches that go into prayer with childlike faith and trust in God’s ability to help you.

Also See: Spiritual Warfare Books: 32 Powerful.

6. A Call to Prayer by J.C. Ryle.

J.C. Ryle asks a simple question that should get every Christian thinking about their approach to prayer. “Do you pray?” The answer you provide to that question indicates how much you value being intimate with God.

According to Ryle, prayer is necessary for man’s complete salvation. After all, making prayer a daily habit marks you out as a true Christian.

While many people go for corporate prayers on Sundays, those moments of private prayer give you the strength to keep going.

In the book, Ryle observes the central role of prayer as an act of religion that all Christians should strive to practice. Those who remain diligent in prayer have discovered the secret to pursuing greater holiness.

If you give yourself to prayer life, it would be difficult for you to fall into sin. As Ryle says, no heart can accommodate prayer and sin simultaneously. Either your “prayer will consume sin or your sin will choke prayer.” There are no two ways about it.

7. Praying with Paul: A Call to Spiritual Reformation by D.A. Carson.

D.A. Carson is a top-selling author who observes that frenetic church programs and hectic church programs aren’t part of what God requires from Christians. Instead, what God wants is knowing him closely and more intimately.

The book discusses how the Apostle Paul found spiritual closeness by fellow-shipping closely with God through prayer. Christians can do the same by taking Paul’s example.

Carson calls on Christians to get rid of superficiality and change their lives by embracing a God-driven approach to prayer. Apart from encouraging Christians to pray for themselves, he urges them to pray for others.

The book was initially published as A Call to Spiritual Reformation and came with a new title following updates for reaching out more effectively to modern readers.

Readers can also get a DVD, study guide, and a leader’s kit through The Gospel Coalition and Life way.

8. The Power of Prayer and Fasting by Ronnie Floyd and Bill Bright.

Prayer and fasting are two things that work hand-in-hand to make Christians more intimate with God while releasing greater power. According to Floyd and Bright, the Christians have neglected the two’s practice, making it appear as a fad.

According to Floyd and Bright, prayer and fasting are two things all Christians are called courtesy of the Scriptures.

It is one of the best ways to humble oneself before the Lord and draw closer to Him. As you pray and fast, you make room for God to act and speak into your life.

It is one of the must-read books on prayer for every Christian young or old.

In the revised version of the book, Floyd offers an insight into real-life experiences of how he fasted and prayed over the years and saw tremendous results.

Christians who have never fasted will find the book practical in guiding Christians to seek God even more deeply.

9. Praying: Finding Our Way Through Duty to Delight by J.I. Packer and C. Nystrom.

According to J.I. Packer, prayer is an essential practice for all Christians to relate more closely with God.

In prayer, Christians exercise their knowledge, beliefs, value, hopes, fears, certainties, uncertainties, or ignorance, putting God in charge of their lives.

The book is a heart-to-heart affair as described by two Christians doing their best to pray and putting in greater effort.

So, Packer and Nystrom share their thoughts with people going through similar challenges in their prayer lives.

They not only get to clarify Christian understanding but also foster Christian living.

They present their views with humility, sincerity, and wisdom, leading you through multiple praying moods, including complaining, hanging on, asking, praising, and brooding.

The authors seek to give hope to Christians who daydream when listening to God and stumble in prayer. In the end, Christians should be inspired to pray more and connect closely with God.

10. Praying the Bible by Donald Whitney.

Do you know that it is your Christian duty to pray?

This is the challenge Whitney poses to all Christians, with the understanding that many do not know how to approach it. When praying, most Christians’ minds wander off, taking them away from prayer.

The book seeks to offer encouragement, hope, and practical advice to those looking to improve their prayer life.

It is a concise book that shouldn’t give you any trouble quickly reading and implementing its suggestions.

It has a simple, proven method to transform any Christian’s prayer life. All you have to do is pray words straight from the Bible.

It shows you a simple way to pray through different Scripture portions, one line after another.

It focuses you on praying and allowing God’s Word to direct your words and thoughts. The simple, profound message is invaluable to Christians seeking to commune with the heavenly father.

11. The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions by Arthur Bennet.

In this book, Arthur Bennet promotes how important the Puritan character committed to prayer and meditation.

Puritanism required its practitioners to pray in the first instance—the book advises people to make prayer either by vocalizing it or writing.

The Puritan tradition has many written meditations and prayers, which constitute some literature to inspire you to more fulfilling prayer life. It seeks to bring definiteness, order, and variety to a Christian’s prayer life.

If you’re looking for a book of prayer that can re-orient you to the right path, this is it. The authors encourage Christians to emulate those who have gone before them rather than supplying specific prayers.

In Conclusion,

There are several must-read books on prayer for every Christian, regardless of how long you have been walking with Christ.

The books help you turn around your prayer life and seek God more intimately. Many of the books recognize the ignorance of many Christians that prayers end after church meetings.

Some of them have prayers, which you can practice, while others seek to help you adopt a life of fasting and prayer. Buy and read any of these books, and your Christian walk will never be the same.