Customer Reviews

Luther's Prayers

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Over the course of the past 6 or 7 months I have been slowly working my way through the book "Luther's Prayers". The book is only 100 pages long, so I made it my practice to read through each of the prayers devotionally. I have to admit that this was something of a strange practice for me as one who has grown up in evangelical circles, I've never really thought about reading through prayers or making other people's prayer my own. I was always taught that prayer needs to be something between you and God, so therefore it must be spontaneous. After all, we don't want to be like the Pharisees who simply repeated the words to prayers without any meaning. While I still believe that prayer should be heartfelt, it seems that there is something to be said for taking the time to thoughtfully record prayers and to leave a record of them for others. I have been richly blessed by making many of Luther's prayers my own. Not in a meaningliess manner of repeating words but in feasting upon the depth of his theology in my prayer life.

"Luther's Prayers" is a record of many of the recorded prayers of Martin Luther. I wouldn't say that it's the best book of prayers that I've read, that would be the "Valley of Vision" but it is definitely a good collection that stirs the soul and provides a unique insight into the heart of the Pastor Martin Luther as well as the heart of the reformer. The book is chalked full of practical advice about how to pray. Luther instructs how to pray through the Lord's Prayer as well as through the 10 commandments, something I had never thought of. In addition to the practical advice, the book gives insight into the prayer life of Martin Luther the reformer. At the diet of worms, where Luther was put on trial for his teachings, he was asked if would recant of his opposition to the Roman Catholic Church, in response he quietly asked for a night to think it over. The following is the prayer that he recorded before going back to the trial and declaring that he would not recant.

Almighty and eternal God, what a strange cause this is! How it loosens peoples' tongues! How small and insignificant is their trust in you! How weak and tender is the flesh, and how powerful and busy is the devil, with the help of his apostles and the worldly wise! How quickly the world withdraws help, does an about-face, pursues the easy way, and speeds on the broad road to hell where the godless belong. It sees only what is brilliant and powerful, great, mighty, and respected! If I should turn my eyes to it, I would be done for.

Oh God, Oh God, Oh my God, Oh my God, stand by me against all the wisdom and reason of the world. Do it. You alone must do it. It is not really my concern; it is yours. Alone I have nothing to do with these great lords of the world. I want good and quiet days, undisturbed. But it is your cause; it is righteous and eternal. Stand by me. Oh true and eternal God. I do not rely on human counsel, for it would be in vain. All that is carnal and tastes carnal falters.

O God, O God, do you not heart me, my God? Are you dead? No, you cannot die; you are only hiding. Have you called me to this place? I ask you so that I may be sure. God, grant it! Never in my life had I thought to oppose such great rulers and never had I set out to do it.

O God, stand by me in the name of your dear Son Jesus Christ who shall be my Protector and Defender, even my mighty Fortress, through the power and help of your Holy Spirit.
Lord, where are you? Come, come, I am ready like a patient lamb to lay down my life for this cause. It is your cause and it is righteous. I will not separate myself from your forever. Be it resolved in your name that the world cannot force me to act against my conscience, even if I had still more devils, and if my body which is first of all your creation should have to perish. So your Word and Spirit come to my rescue even if only for the body. And my soul is yours. It belongs to you, and may it remain with you forever. Amen. So help me. Amen.

In this prayer and in the rest of the book, we see the heart of a man struggling to "contend for the faith" and to "shepherd the flock of God." May God send forth an army of Luthers to bring about a new reformation in our day.

This book of Luthers prayers brought great comfort to me during some difficult times in my life. Luthers personal insight into the sins, trials and tribulations of the every Christian is shown here in these very inspiring prayers. I just wish it was still available in the small red hardcover.

These thoughtful and sometimes painfully honest prayers will be a great add to anyone's daily prayer life.
"Dear God , if only we were as diligent to pray, at least with a longing in the heart, as you are in coaxing, bidding, commanding, assuring, and constraining us to pray. Unfortunately, we are too lazy and ungrateful!"

The prayers of Martin Luther are ideal for daily reference and support for Christians. I like the topical format and clear concise language. Luther's gift of humility shines in this work while giving glory to God for mercy and grace continuously.

Excellent, just what I was looking for.

This book is a collection of simple but powerful prayers for all occasion. Prayer is a simple means for God to aid the pleas of those in need. Prayer has been practiced now for some 2,000 years. This is probably the best book of prayers you will find on the market coming from such a famous, important figure like Martin Luther. Luther was a Catholic Monk, who discovering atrocities in the Catholic church, rifted from it and founded protestant in the 1500s, and also the Lutheran demonination of Christianity, still the most popular branch of the Christian religion.

This review is rather a first impression than a final sentence. I am a Luther fan and I like good books. Being a pastor I thought I might find some of Luther's strong prayers in a form that I could use in services. However, the book is not layed out that way. Some of the prayers are still nice, but very personal. However, it is not the right thing to just read as a personal devotional either. The prayers are sorted by topics, though. Another thing I did not like is that the print almost appears to be scanned images rather than set print. It appears unclear, like photocopies in the old days. It is not pleasant for the eye to read. Maybe I am a little too critical, but it just wasn't what I had hoped for.

There are people who don't think you can take the written prayers of others and pray them. I, on the other hand believe prayers are never outdated; we simply join all others in prayer, past, present and future! If we have learned how to pray Scripture; then praying the words of others will come just as easily. This is a wonderful prayer book. I highly recommend it to others who are looking, not so much for liturgical prayers, but solid prayers anyone of any faith could feel comfortable praying