A Guide to Prayer
| Weight | 0.68 lbs |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 7.7 × 5.25 × 0.75 in |
| ISBN | 9781848719491 |
| Binding | Clothbound, eBook (ePub & Mobi), Cloth-bound & eBook (ePub & Mobi) |
| Topic | Prayer |
| Original Pub Date | 1715 |
| Banner Pub Date | Dec 1, 2001 |
| Page Count | 192 |
| Scripture | Whole Bible |
| Format | Book |
Book Description
Isaac Watts’ book A Guide to Prayer, is a helpful and practical guide to prayer. To Isaac Watts, prayer was more than a duty required in the worship of God. It was ‘the conversation which God allows us to maintain with himself above, while we are here below…in which the soul of a saint often gets near to God, experiences great delight and, as it were, dwells with his heavenly Father for a short time before he comes to heaven.’
But Watts knew that most Christians need help in the use of this great privilege, so that our prayers should be both acceptable to God and ‘a delightful and profitable exercise to our own souls and to those that join with us’.
Watts deals in turn with the nature of prayer, prayer viewed as a gift which can be developed, prayer as dependent on the fruits of divine grace, and the assistance of the Spirit of God in prayer. In his final chapter he brings forward several arguments to persuade all Christians to develop and use ‘this holy skill of conversation with God’.
Table of Contents Expand ↓
| Preface | 1 | |
| Introduction | 8 | |
| CHAPTER 1: THE NATURE OF PRAYER | 10 | |
| Invocation | 10 | |
| Adoration | 11 | |
| Confession | 13 | |
| Petition | 16 | |
| Pleading | 20 | |
| Profession, or Self-Dedication | 26 | |
| Thanksgiving | 29 | |
| Blessing | 32 | |
| Amen, or the Conclusion | 33 | |
| CHAPTER 2: THE GIFT OF PRAYER | 34 | |
| What the Gift of Prayer Is | 34 | |
| Forms of Prayer, Free or Conceived Prayer, and Praying Extempore | 36 | |
| The Content of Prayer | 49 | |
| The Method of Prayer | 62 | |
| Expression in Prayer | 68 | |
| The Voice in Prayer | 86 | |
| Gesture in Prayer | 92 | |
| General Directions on the Gift of Prayer | 102 | |
| CHAPTER 3: THE GRACE OF PRAYER | 109 | |
| The Grace of Prayer, and How It Differs from the Gift | 109 | |
| General Graces of Prayer | 113 | |
| Graces that Belong to Particular Parts of Prayer | 115 | |
| Directions to Attain the Grace of Prayer | 119 | |
| CHAPTER 4: THE SPIRIT OF PRAYER | 124 | |
| Proofs of the Assistance of the Spirit of God in Prayer | 125 | |
| How the Spirit Assists Us in Prayer | 134 | |
| Cautions about the Influences of the Spirit | 147 | |
| Directions to Obtain and Keep the Spirit of Prayer | 157 | |
| CHAPTER 5: PERSUASIVE ARGUMENTS TO LEARN TO PRAY | 167 |
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Gerry –
Only yesterday did I receive my copy of this little book on prayer, and though I have only had time read and marvel, and yes, enter into, some of the examples my dear brother Watts offers as examples of true prayer (much as I find myself praying the Psalms, as most expressive of my own hearts desire’s) I must say that this book is already blessing indeed, and I look forward not only to unfolding the rest of its contents, but also to retuning to it again and again.
I have read a few other books on prayer over the years, but this is clearly, for me, the best of anything I have seen, or experienced.
I offer all of this as one who feels myself to be a great struggler in this most important privilege and indeed necessity if we are to prevail in this very real war we fight against world, flesh and devil.
Just as Watts hymns have always touched a special place in my soul, here I find his thoughts and words on prayer do so also.
Thank You Lord, for leading me to this elder brothers help in lifting up my heart to You, and for leading BOT to publish this precious wisdom for Your children in the midst of what appears to me to be the great Apostacy Paul spoke of by way of warning in his letters. May it be a means of refreshing and procurement of sustaining power to your saints to stand in an evil and wicked generation. I ask it it Jesus Name and for His Sake, Amen.