5 Recommended Resources on Prayer

Communication is the foundation and fuel of relationships. It is through words that we come to know and to be known by others. As believers, we know that communicating with God is vital, yet most of us would confess that our practice of prayer is not what we’d like it to be. The following resources, curated by the Ligonier editorial team, seek to provide answers to some of the tough questions about prayer, as well as guidance in how to grow in speaking to our heavenly Father.

A Simple Way to Pray by Martin Luther

When Martin Luther’s barber needed guidance on prayer, he asked Luther to help him. Luther responded by giving his barber a simple outline for prayer that would help him to maintain his focus and also to keep his prayers God-centered and filled with what he needed to pray for. This book is Luther’s response to his barber, which offers a way to pray through the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer. Dr. R.C. Sproul regarded this as one of the most helpful works on prayer ever written.

A Way to Pray by Matthew Henry

Often we look for wisdom and guidance in prayer, forgetting that the Bible itself is a prayer book. This work by the famous Puritan commentator Matthew Henry provides excellent guidance for using Scripture to direct our prayers and to form the basis of our intercession.

Does Prayer Change Things? by R.C. Sproul

One common question about prayer is whether it actually makes a difference. Do our prayers actually change the course of events? This booklet considers this question, affirming that while prayer does not change God’s mind, the Lord sovereignly uses our prayers to change things.

If God Already Knows, Why Pray? by Douglas F. Kelly

Many of us wonder what the purpose of prayer is since God already has ordained whatsoever comes to pass. This book considers this question, reminding us that the primary purpose of prayer is communion with God and calling us to remember who we are addressing when we pray.

Pray With Your Eyes Open: Looking at God, Ourselves, and Our Prayers by Richard Pratt Jr.

Many Christians feel like their prayer lives are inadequate and unstructured. This book addresses these concerns and a wide variety of other issues related to prayer, including fasting, posture, the form of prayer, and more.

This article is part of the Recommended Resources collection.