Many Christians struggle with prayer. They tremble as if the light from God’s throne exposed them in a naked shame, when in fact it reveals the radiant robes that have been draped around them, the righteousness of Christ given to all who trust in Him. The key to prayer—to praying often, to praying openly, to praying boldly and freely and with gladness of heart—is to know that one is clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, invited to His own saving ministry, purchased by His precious blood, and anticipated by His sympathetic intercession. This is the secret to lively and happy prayer. In their book Praying: Finding Our Way Through Duty to Delight Dr. J.I. Packer and Carolyn Nystrom write to help Christians understand not only the privilege of prayer but also the joy regularly prayer is. Along the way they help readers learn to start praying properly. This book offers practical helps on for active, honest, prayer that involves our whole selves that will move God’s people to deeper obedience, joy and intimacy with the Father.
As with all of Dr. Packer’s writing, he writes not to state something new on the topic but rather to point people to the rich paths of those who have gone before us. As he does so, he opens the biblical record while providing a window into church history thus helping God’s people to learn from the rich history of the Church’s teaching on prayer. Many of us need encouragement to pray. Some of us know how to pray but may be experiencing a lull in our prayer at present. Praying: Finding Our Way Through Duty to Delight will provide the needed boost to your prayer life.
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.