How to Pray
Overview
The power of prayer is celebrated in R. A. Torrey’s classic How to Pray, a spiritual gem that has remained popular for over 100 years. Beginning with the importance of prayer, Torrey’s practical guidebook covers the how, when, and most importantly, the why of praying. An excellent devotional resource for any Christian library.
Top Highlights
“‘Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.’” (Pages 6–7)
“The measure of our appropriation of grace is determined by the measure of our prayers.” (Page 16)
“Nothing can be more foolish in prayer than to rush heedlessly into God’s presence, and ask the first thing that comes into our mind, or that some thoughtless friend has asked us to pray for. When we first come into God’s presence we should be silent before Him. We should look up to Him to send His Holy Spirit to teach us how to pray. We must wait for the Holy Spirit, and surrender ourselves to the Spirit, then we shall pray aright.” (Page 59)
“When we feel least like praying is the time when we most need to pray” (Page 59)
“Before a word of petition is offered, we should have the definite and vivid consciousness that we are talking to God, and should believe that He is listening to our petition and is going to grant the thing that we ask of Him. This is only possible by the Holy Spirit’s power, so we should look to the Holy Spirit to really lead us into the presence of God, and should not be hasty in words until He has actually brought us there.” (Pages 33–34)
- Title: How to Pray
- Author: R. A. Torrey
- Publisher: Fleming H. Revell Company
- Publication Date: 1900
- Pages: 100
Reuben Archer Torrey (1856–1928) was an American evangelist, pastor, educator, and writer. Torrey studied at Yale University, Yale Divinity School, Leipzig University, Erlangen University and received a doctorate degree from Wheaton College.
Soon after becoming a congregational minister, Torrey joined Dwight L. Moody in his evangelistic work in Chicago. Torrey became the superintendent of the Bible Institute of the Chicago Evangelization Society (now Moody Bible Institute).
He later became pastor of the Chicago Avenue Church (now the Moody Church). Torrey later served as a chaplain with the YMCA and dean of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (now Biola University).
Torrey authored over 40 books in his lifetime. The classic four-volume set The Fundamentals includes over 90 articles by leading Christian scholars. The R. A. Torrey Collection features 15 titles of biblical doctrine and teaching from Torrey.
