Resources for Your Prayer Life

December 29, 2022 | by: John Lee | 0 Comments

Posted in: Pastoral Encouragement

As we begin to finish another year around the sun, we prepare ourselves and our families for another year in the Lord’s grace and faithfulness. Truly the Lord’s mercy is new every morning (and year!). As we finish off the year, you might find yourself reflecting on all the years, people, events, etc. that the Lord has used to shape you, to prune you, and ultimately to make you more like Christ. One thing that I found myself reflecting on and thanking God for were all the years of family prayer meetings on the couch growing up. My parents still hold those family prayer journals that are filled with pages of honest prayers that we shared and prayed for one another. Those journals have become tangible reminders of God’s gracious kindness and faithfulness, a sort of Ebenezer for us. As I consider how formative those years have been for my own prayer life today, I find myself looking back at all the helpful and supplemental resources that have impacted my prayer life this year.   

I’d like to extend some of my favorite prayer resources from this past year to you. I pray these too would help supplement your prayer life either as a family or simply for personal use. Although these resources could never replace the wonderful prayers we find in the Bible, I am reminded of what Dr. Ligon Duncan once said to me about the usefulness of prayer books. He spoke of these book resources as useful tools to help “prime” the heart especially when it is often difficult to find words, the proper expression, or even the heart to pray. I pray that these resources will help draw out the wonderous truths of Scripture as you pour out your heart before the Lord. 

  1. A Way to Pray by Matthew Henry (Edited and Revised by O. Palmer Robertson)

This is a revised and updated version of Matthew Henry’s Method of Prayer (https://www.matthewhenry.org/). These prayers consist entirely of Scripture, arranged under various headings. In other words, this is a wonderful resource to pray the Bible. 

  1. The Valley of Vision by Arthur Bennett

These are various prayers compiled together from the Puritans. The Puritans knew the importance of prayer for the life of the Christian. These prayers are rich in the truths of Scripture. Although the word choices might sound odd to our modern ears, these prayers are rich in engaging the mind and heart together in prayer. 

  1. Streams of Mercy by Barbara Duguid

This is a wonderful resource especially for those who may find The Valley of Vision difficult to due to the language used. With that, this resource is inspired by The Valley of Vision. This resource provides short, specific prayers of confession to Scripture passages, giving gospel comfort and assurance through a variety of topics. This is also a wonderful resource to incorporate in family worship.   

  1. Persistent Prayer by Guy M. Richard

This is a resource that doesn’t contain prayers like the other listed resources, but it is a wonderful and succinct book on prayer. If you are wanting to grow in your knowledge and heart for prayer, this book is helpful to inform what biblical prayer is and what it is not.

I pray that these resources would be helpful as we continue to heed what the Apostle Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18a, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances” for we know that this is the will of God for us in Christ Jesus.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor John


 

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