A Guide to Prayer

A Guide to PrayerTo Isaac Watts, prayer was more than a duty required in the worship of God. It was the conversation which God allows us to maintain with himself above, while we are here belowin which the soul of a saint often gets near to God, experiences great delight and, as it were, dwells with his heavenly Father for a short time before he comes to heaven. But Watts knew that most Christians need help in the use of this great privilege, so that our prayers should

To Isaac Watts, prayer was more than a duty required in the worship of God. It was ‘the conversation which God allows us to maintain with himself above, while we are here below…in which the soul of a saint often gets near to God, experiences great delight and, as it were, dwells with his heavenly Father for a short time before he comes to heaven.’ But Watts knew that most Christians need help in the use of this great privilege, so that our prayers should be both acceptable to God and ‘a delightful and profitable exercise to our own souls and to those that join with us’. In this helpful and practical guide, Watts deals in turn with the nature of prayer, prayer viewed as a gift which can be developed, prayer as dependent on the fruits of divine grace, and the assistance of the Spirit of God in prayer. In his final chapter he brings forward several arguments to persuade all Christians to develop and use ‘this holy skill of conversation with God’.

Publisher: Banner of Truth
Type: Hardback
ISBN: 9781848719491

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Isaac Watts, the English hymn-writer, theologian and logician, was born in Southampton in July 1674, and educated at King Edward VI School, where he learned Latin, Greek and Hebrew. He suffered from ill health during his adult years and was cared for by his benefactors. Watts died in Stoke Newington in November, 1748, and was buried in Bunhill Fields, where a tombstone was erected to his memory by Sir John Hartopp and Lady Abney. A prolific and popular hymn-writer, he is recognised as the ‘Father of English Hymnody’, credited with some 750 hymns. His book A Guide to Prayer is published by the Trust.

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‘I would thoroughly recommend this book. I don’t think Brother Watts intended for this book to be followed mechanically but it offers a very helpful guide if you are struggling with prayer and are going through a period of spiritual depression. It is not a heavy read: the style is simple and engaging. The book is also presented as a handsome and strong small format hardback so should last a lifetime.’ matteob