Method For Prayer (Paperback)

by Matthew Henry (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Edited by Ligon Duncan. True prayer comes from the heart, so why do we need a method? The great devotional commentator and pastor shows here that Christians benefit from discipline just as much as talking freely with God. You will discover the methods Jesus taught, look at styles of prayer, and see helpful examples. Duncan has incorporated some of Henry's other work on prayer.

About the Author
Edited by Ligon Duncan. True prayer comes from the heart, so why do we need a method? The great devotional commentator and pastor shows here that Christians benefit from discipline just as much as talking freely with God. You will discover the methods Jesus taught, look at styles of prayer, and see helpful examples. Duncan has incorporated some of Henry's other work on prayer.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Mentor (July 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1857920686
• ISBN-13: 978-1857920680
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #608,431 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Puritan Method for Prayer, May 16, 2004

By	Roy Ingle "The Seeking Disciple" (Augusta, GA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Matthew Henry is best known for his commentary on the Bible. However, few understand the passion and heart in this man. In this book, A METHOD FOR PRAYER, Henry's love for Jesus, passion for prayer, and love of Scripture can clearly be seen.

The book is divided into different methods of prayer. In each chapter Henry offers some insights but mainly fills the pages with prayers (which the Puritans were noted for writing down their prayers; see THE VALLEY OF VISION) and with Scriptures. Nearly every chapter contains over 50 passages of Scripture that Henry prayed.

My only reason for not giving this book a solid 5 stars is that it is difficult to read the chapters and keep flipping to the end of the chapter for the Scripture references since the editor did not include them in the prayers and teachings of Henry. The language is updated and this earns the book a good 4 star.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Praying Rightly..., December 22, 2007

By	Adam Cummings (Mooresville, IN) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A Method for Prayer was, if nothing else, a strong reminder of what is lacking in the lives of many Christians--myself included. The first part of the book is essentially a conglomeration of Scripture references put together as a prayer to God. It is further subdivided into the following chapter-genres: His greatness (ch. 1); our sin (ch. 2); our need (ch. 3); our thanksgiving (ch. 4); intercession (i.e. our prayers for others: ch. 5); special-occasion/particular prayers (ch. 6); and concluding prayers (ch. 7). Chapter 8 is an expanded/paraphrased Lord's Prayer, once more by use of Scripture references. Finally, chapter 9 is some short forms of prayer.

The second section of the book regards three discourses given by Matthew Henry himself. The first concerned how to begin the day with God, the second how to spend the day with God, and the third how to close the day with God.

In the Appendices, Ligon Duncan (the editor of the book) offers a few outlines for a guide to prayer. They are rather helpful summaries of Matthew Henry's preceding, lengthier, and more repetitive work.

One may ask: Why not just read the Bible? Well, Matthew Henry does offer some helpful sermons in the second part of the book--as was mentioned. However, even concerning the first, I found it a helpful conglomeration of things which we Christians might pray to God in times of need. It is also categorized, which is helpful for one who desires to know how to pray concerning different areas of life. I hope that this book, for me, becomes a resource. It's always a joy to hear some godly pastor pray to God as though Scripture were just bubbling out from his inner man into a form of spoken communication to the Lord. Pastors should be praying Scripturally. So, why not pray Scripture itself? In this, the Lord is blessed and the hearers can follow along and repeat the prayer in their hearts--for the Word which God graciously gave to believers is being lifted back up to Him in prayer. What a beautiful way of thanking and honoring the Lord!

On the negative side, one should watch for Henry's more Reformed/Covenantal doctrines bleeding into his prayers. It seems that Israel is sometimes equated with the church; moreover, a discourse is given by him on how to pray for the baptism of a baby (for one who believes in Believer's Baptism, this section of the book will obviously be seen as mistaken). Any Christian, of course, should understand the danger of praying Scripture in this way, for words or verses may also be taken out of context. It is important for the reader to know when certain Scriptures are intended primarily for the people of Israel, even if the principles there inferred may be applied to Gentiles. Thus, as always--even with an author as wonderful as Matthew Henry--, one must guard his own heart and prove himself a Berean, studying Scripture on his own and properly deciphering what other books or authors or teachers are saying concerning the Bible.

Yet, it is wonderful to hear the prayer, "...we must here set up a stone and call it Ebenezer, for hitherto the Lord hath helped us" (AMP, 84). Moreover, the great part of Henry's Reformed position is that he firmly recognizes the grace of God in salvation and prays as a true Christian should, giving thanks to God in every single thing. He calls Christians, toward the end of the book, to go to bed each night with death on their minds: "O that we could always go to sleep with death upon our thoughts, how would it quicken us to improve time! It would make our sleep not the less desirable, but it would make our death much the less formidable" (AMP, 265). After all, "We hope God will bring us to heaven; and by keeping up daily communion with God, we grow more and more meet to partake of that inheritance; and have our conversation in heaven" (AMP, 271). So let it be... Maranatha!