How to Pray When You Don’t Know What to Say
Overview
Perhaps you’ve gotten pretty good at asking, thanking, and seeking forgiveness when you pray. Or maybe you haven’t. Did you know there are dozens of other biblical models for prayer? For example, praying without words, praying with a partner, meditating, and intercessory prayer. And what about nagging questions: Is there a right way to pray? Is God always listening?
This is a breakthrough book for students, parents, pastors, new believers, long-time prayer warriors, or anyone who may be in a prayer rut or drought. There’s no guilt trip here. This book will take you on a journey of discovery that will blow the doors off of your prayer life. And the rest of your life will never be the same. Never be distracted or frustrated with your quiet time again. And don’t miss the chapters on praying in times of doubt, prayers for healing, and warfare prayer.
In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.
Save more when you purchase this book as part of the Elmer L. Towns Collection.
- Provides a detailed perspective on prayer
- Sheds light on multiple biblical models for prayer
- Presents a breakthrough book for students, parents, pastors, and long-time prayer warriors
- Beginning Prayer
- Our Model for Prayer
- Intimacy with God
- Asking and Receiving
- Repentance and Deliverance
- Praise and Worship
- Establishing a Time and Location for Prayer
- Posture in Prayer
- Praying with Others
- When We Don’t Receive
- When We Feel Abandoned
- When We Are Desperate
- When We Need to Prevail
- When We See Injustice
- When We Recognize the Sins of Others
- When We Need Healing
- When We Are in Despair
- When We Engage in Spiritual Warfare
- Praying Continually
- Meditation in Prayer
- Being Silent Before God and Resting in Prayer
- Vowing in Prayer
- Hypocritical Prayers
- Reciting Written Prayers
- Praying in the Spirit
- Prayers of Crucifixion
- The Transforming Power of Prayer
Top Highlights
“Just as there are many ways that a child talks to his or her parent, there are many ways that we can talk to God. For example, when my son became old enough to realize that something he did was wrong, he would say, ‘Father, I’m sorry.’ This represents our prayers of brokenness—we recognize that we have sinned and ask the Father for forgiveness. When my son had a nightmare, he would cry out, ‘Daddy, I’m scared!’ This represents our prayers of desperation—we realize that we need God’s comfort and care, and cry out to Him for help. When my son was a little older, he would often say, ‘Dad, I need five dollars.’ This type of request represents our asking prayers. And of course, then there are all the other little things that children talk about, which reflect our minor (or minutia) prayers.” (Page 10)
“Introspective prayer is also always focused on self-blame and self-pity” (Page 152)
“In this petition, we ask to be restored to God’s fellowship, just as we forgive the debts of others and restore them to our fellowship. So, this petition includes more than just forgiveness; it also teaches us how to live with others.” (Page 26)
“If we have too much bread, we forget to rely upon God each day. If we have too little, we may be tempted to break God’s commandments and steal. We need enough to satisfy our needs one day at a time.” (Page 26)
“we can certainly pray for necessities, but nowhere in Scripture are we told to pray for luxuries.” (Page 25)
I’ve read almost every book written on prayer and I think that Elmer Towns’ new book, How to Pray, is absolutely the best that’s been written in the past 50 years since I’ve gone into ministry.
—Jerry Falwell, senior pastor, Thomas Road Baptist Church
Dr. Towns’ refreshing appeal, his conversational approach, his unfolding of simple truths, and his exploring of profound mysteries all make How to Pray an easy-to-understand, yet challenging read. The Lord will use this book to help answer the modern disciples’ cry, ‘Teach us to pray!’
—Rev. Sylvia R. Evans, founder and director, Creative Word Ministries
Read this book not to learn the different techniques to pray, but to develop a passion to pray—and then pray.
—Dr. Yonggi Cho, pastor, Yoido Full Gospel Church, Seoul, Korea
- Title: How to Pray: When You Don’t Know What to Say
- Author: Elmer Towns
- Publishers: Gospel Light, Regal
- Print Publication Date: 2006
- Logos Release Date: 2014
- Pages: 224
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Prayer › Christianity
- ISBNs: 9781493425495, 0830741879, 1493425498, 9780830741878
- Resource ID: LLS:HWPRYTOWNS
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T00:40:52Z
Elmer Towns is cofounder of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, and dean of its School of Religion. Also a best-selling author, he won an ECPA Gold Medallion Book of the Year Award for The Names of the Holy Spirit.