Special Notes for the Reader
1. All books on Prayer books are found here
at the bottom of the page.
(A "prayer book" or "book of common prayers" is a written book of prayers that
are recited on the proper occasion).
2. All books which have to deal with hymns, songs, etc and prayer are
found here, at the bottom of the page.
3. The works listed here (41.00 General
Works on Prayer) may or may not be dual listed in the rest of this page. Some
are when they fit into the topics below, and many do not clearly fit, and they
are only referenced in the section 41.00.
4. Please don't forget to check our page
42 Devotional Literature &
Practice.
Jumps to Books: A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T V W X Y Z Sermons Prayer Book Hymns
Alleine, Richard (1611-1681) -
Instructions
about Heart-Work, and a Companion for Prayer
flipbook
(1845)
Aquinas, Thomas St (1225-1274) -
On Prayer
and the Contemplative Life
flipbook
(1914)
Anderson, Galusha -
Science and
Prayer and other papers
flipbook
(1915)
Anonymous -
A Book of
Family Prayer, Christian Duty of Family Worship
flipbook
(1839)
Anonymous -
A Book of
Prayer for Church and Home
flipbook
(1894)
Anonymous -
A Book of
Public Prayer from Authorized Formularies of Worship
flipbook
(1857)
Anonymous -
A Manual of
Intercessory Prayer
flipbook
(1828)
Anonymous -
Concerning Prayer, its nature, its difficulties and its value.
flipbook
Anonymous -
God's Own
Testimony to Prayer, the Prayers of Holy Scripture and Answers thereto
flipbook
(1874)
Anonymous -
Horae
Canonicae, Devotions for 7 stated hours of prayer (from Roman Breviary)
flipbook
(1841)
Anonymous -
The Altar of
Incense, Every Day Sanctified by the Word of God and prayer
flipbook
(1839)
Anonymous -
The Book of
Prayer and Praise
flipbook
(1871)
Anonymous -
The Kneeling
Christian
Anonymous -
The Daily
Round, Meditation Prayer and Praise adapted to Christian Year
flipbook
(1894)
Augustin -
The
Augustinian Manual, A Practical Prayer Book
flipbook
(1885)
Austin, Mary Hunter (1868-1934) -
Can Prayer be answered?
flipbook (1934)
Austin-Sparks -
Discipline unto Prayer
Jumps to Books: A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T V W X Y Z Sermons Prayer Book Hymns
Bachus, Samuel -
The Prayer
Meeting Assistant
flipbook
(1852)
Banks, Louis Albert (1855-1933) -
A Year's Prayer
Meeting Talks
flipbook(1899)
Barnes, Albert -
A Manual of
Prayer, Designed to Assist Young Christian
flipbook
(1838)
Beecher, Henry Ward (1813-1887) -
Aids to Prayer
flipbook (1866)
Beecher, Henry Ward (1813-1887) -
A Book of Prayer from
public ministrations
flipbook (1892)
Bellingham, C. -
A Manual of
Family Prayer
flipbook
(1870) Irishman
Benson, Richard Meux (1824-1915) -
Manual of
Intercessory Prayer
Flipbook
(1889)
Bickersteth, Edward
-
A Treatise on
Prayer, Designed to Assist in Its Devout Discharge
flipbook
(1822)
Biederwolf, William Edward (1867-1939) -
How can God
answer Prayer, Exhaustive Treatise of the Nature, conditions, and
difficulties of Prayer (1906)
flipbook
Blanchard, Charles Albert (1848-1925) -
Getting
things from God, a Study of the Prayer life
flipbook
(1915)
Bourdillon, Francis -
Alone with
God, or Helps to Thought and Prayer
flipbook
(1893)
Bounds
-
Essentials of Prayer
PDF
(b)
185K
(72 pages).
e-SwordTOP
Bounds
-
Necessity of
Prayer (b)
277K
(53 pages).
e-SwordTOP
Bounds -
Possibilities of
Prayer (b)
182K
(68 pages).
e-SwordTOP
Bounds -
Power Thru
Prayer (b)
214K
(57 pages).
Bounds -
Prayer and Praying
Men (b)
157K
(64 pages).
e-SwordTOP
Bounds -
Purpose in Prayer (b)
174K
(64 pages).
e-SwordTOP
Bounds -
Reality of Prayer (b)
166K
(60 pages).
e-SwordTOP
Bounds -
Weapon of Prayer (b)
191K
(69 pages).
e-SwordTOP
Bounds
- The Preacher and
Prayer flipbook
(1907)
Brooks, Charles -
A Family
Prayer Book and Private Manual
flipbook
(1853)
Brooks, Frank Lester -
Prevailing
Prayer
flipbook (1909)
Broadhurst, Cyrus Napoleon (1856-) -
Wireless
Messages, Possibilities through Prayer
flipbook
(1910)
Brown, William Adams (1865-1943) -
The Life of Prayer in a
World of Science
flipbook (1927)
Buswell, James Oliver (1895-1977) -
Problems in the Prayer
Life from a Pastor's question Box
flipbook (1928)
Jumps to Books: A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T V W X Y Z Sermons Prayer Book Hymns
Campbell, John (1840-1904) -
New Light on the Old Prayer
flipbook (1895)
Campbell, James Mann (1840-1926) -
The Place of
Prayer in the Christian Religion
flipbook
(1915)
Carpenter, William Boyd (1841-1918) -
Thoughts on
Prayer
flipbook (1881)
Chamberlain, Leander Trowbridge (1837-1913) -
The True Doctrine of
Prayer
flipbook
(1906)
Cheung, Vincent -
Prayer and Revelation
(b)
(c) (77 pages).
Christian Science Publishing Society -
Prayer and
Healing, His Presence, Effectual Prayer, Unbelief and Faith
flipbook
(1910)
Clark, Francis Edward (1851-1927) -
Young People's Prayer
meetings in theory and practice 1500 topics
flipbook (1887)
Clarke, Bella -
A Prayer for Guidance
flipbook (1888)
Clarke, James Freeman
(1810-1888) -
The Christian Doctrine of Prayer, an
essay
flipbook
(1886)
Coats, Robert Hay (1873-1956) -
The Realm of
Prayer
flipbook (1920)
Cohu, John Rougier (1858-)
Oremus, or
Place of Prayer in Modern Religious Life
flipbook
(1908)
Compton, Berdmore -
The Armoury
of Prayer, A book Devotion
flipbook (1877)
Congregational Publishing Society -
The Prayer-Gauge Debate
flipbook (1876)
Conrad, Thomas K -
Thoughts on
Prayer
flipbook (1874)
Constable
-
A Biblical Theology of Prayer
(b)
124 pgs
Cowan, John Franklin -
New Life in the Old
Prayer-Meeting
flipbook (1906)
Coxe, H.O. -
Forms of
Bidding Prayer
flipbook
(1840)
Jumps to Books: A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T V W X Y Z Sermons Prayer Book Hymns
Davis, William -
Family Religion especially as exemplified in Family Prayer
flipbook
(1847)
Dawson, George (1821-1876)
Prayers with a Discourse
on Prayer 1st Series
flipbook (1892)
Dawson, George (1821-1876)
Prayers with a Discourse
on Prayer 2nd Series
flipbook (1892)
Dawson, Marshall -
Prayer that Prevails,
A Psychological Approach to the Practice of Personal and Public Prayer with
Examples flipbook
(1924)
Deane, William John -
A Manual of
Household Prayer for Morning and Evening
flipbook
(1857)
Dillon, J.J. -
Devotional
Readings for Family Prayer
flipbook
(1885)
Douglas, A.F. -
Prayer A Practical
Treatise flipbook
(1901)
Douglas, James -
Errors
Regarding Religion and Thoughts on Prayer at the Present Time
flipbook
(1831)
Dowden, John (1840-1910) -
Further
Studies in the Prayer Book
flipbook
(1908)
Dumont, C.J. -
Approaches to
Christian Unity Doctrine and Prayer
flipbook(1959)
Jumps to Books: A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T V W X Y Z Sermons Prayer Book Hymns
Episcopal Church - The Treasury of Devotion, a Manual of Prayer for General and Daily Use flipbook (1880)
Jumps to Books: A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T V W X Y Z Sermons Prayer Book Hymns
Farr, Jonathan -
Forms of
Morning and Evening Prayer, Composed for the Use of Families
flipbook
(1836)
Faunce, Daniel Worcester (1829-1911)
Prayer as a
Theory and a Fact
flipbook
(1890)
Fincher, Joseph -
The
Achievements of Prayer, from Holy Scriptures
flipbook
(1828)
Flecker, W.H. (Anglican) -
The
Student's Prayer-Book, morning and evening prayers
flipbook
(1903)
Fleming, Patrick Henry (1862-) -
Mother's
Answered Prayer
flipbook(1905)
Fleming, G. Granger -
The Dynamic of All-Prayer
flipbook (1915)
Fosdick, Harry Emerson (1878-1969) -
The Meaning
of Prayer
flipbook(1915)
Fox, Selina Fitzherbert -
A Chain of
Prayer Across the Ages 2000BC - 1912 AD
flipbook
(Church of England) (1913)
Frere, Walter Howard (1863-1938) -
The
Primitive Consecration Prayer
flipbook
(1922)
Frere, Walter Howard (1863-1938) -
The Anaphora, or Great
Eucharistic Prayer
flipbook (1938)
Frost, Bede (1877-) -
Prayer for All Christian
flipbook (1939)
Frost, Bede (1877-) -
The Art of Mental Prayer
flipbook (1935)
Jumps to Books: A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T V W X Y Z Sermons Prayer Book Hymns
Giles, Chauncey
(1813-1893) -
Perfect Prayer: How Offered, how
answered
flipbook
(1833)
Girardey, Ferreol (1839-1930)
-
Prayer, its necessity, its power, its
conditions
flipbook(1916)
Gordon, Samuel Dickey (1859-1936) -
Quiet Talks on
Prayer
Groat, W.H. -
The Ideal Prayer
Meeting, hints and helps towards its realization
flipbook
(1896)
Guyon, Madame Jeanne de la Mothe -
The Worship of God in Spirit and in Truth (1775)
Jumps to Books: A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T V W X Y Z Sermons Prayer Book Hymns
Hallam, Robert Alexander (18078-1877) -
Lectures on the Morning
Prayer flipbook
(1856)
Hamilton, James (1814-1867) -
The Mount of
Olives and other lectures on Prayer
flipbook
(1875)
Hastings, James
-
The Christian
Doctrine of Prayer
flipbook
(1915)
Heiler, Friedrich -
Prayer: A
Study in History and Psychology of Religion
flipbook
(1932)
Henry, Matthew -
An Abridgement
of Henry on Prayer
flipbook
(1805)
Herman, Emily -
Creative
Prayer
flipbook (1921)
Herschell, Helen Skirving -
The
Children's Help to Self Examination and Prayer
flipbook
(1848)
Hiffernan, John Michael -
Watch unto
Prayer 1 Pet 4:7
flipbook
(1839)
Hinds, Samuel -
Christian's
Prayer
flipbook (1831) (Church of England)
Holmes, Ernest Edward (1854-1931) -
Prayer and
Action
Flipbook (1911)
Hodge, Alexander J -
Prayer and its Psychology
flipbook (1931)
Hopkins, Mark (1802-1887) -
Prayer and the Prayer
Gauge flipbook
(1874)
Hügel, Friedrich Freiherr von (1852-1925) -
Life of Prayer
Flipbook (1929)
Jumps to Books: A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T V W X Y Z Sermons Prayer Book Hymns
James, John
-
Family Prayer
(a)
40K
(11 pages)
Jellett, John Hewitt (1817-1888) -
The Efficacy of Prayer, being the Donnellan Lectures
flipbook
(1880)
Jones, Rufus M -
The Double
Search studies in Atonement and Prayer
flipbook
(1906)
Jowett, John Henry (1864-1923) -
Come ye Apart,
Daily Exercises in Prayer and Devotion
flipbook
(1920)
Jumps to Books: A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T V W X Y Z Sermons Prayer Book Hymns
Karslake, William Henry -
The
Englishman's Churchman's Companion to the House of Prayer
flipbook
(1874)
Ken, Thomas -
Approach to
the Holy Altar, from Manual of Prayer and Practice of Divine Love
flipbook
(1852)
Ker, John (1848-)
Family
Prayer for Busy People
flipbook
(1902)
Kinsley, William Wirt (1837-1923) -
Science and Prayer
flipbook (1893)
Kinsley, William Wirt (1837-1923) -
Does Prayer Avail?
Flipbook (1911)
Knight, Samuel -
Forms of
Prayer, For the Use of Christian Families
flipbook
Knox, John -
A
Treatise on Prayer
Knox, Ronald Arbuthnott (1888-1957) -
Bread or
Stone, 4 conferences on Impetrative Prayer
flipbook
(1915)
Jumps to Books: A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T V W X Y Z Sermons Prayer Book Hymns
Landels, W -
The
Saviour's parting prayer for his disciples
flipbook
(1872)
Law, William -
Spirit
of Prayer (b)
337K (204 pages)
Lee, Frederick George -
The Christian
Doctrine of Prayer for the Departed
flipbook
(1872)
Lerrigo,
Peter Hugh James (1875-1958)
(Baptist) -
God's Dynamite, or Changing the world by
Prayer
flipbook
(1925)
Liguori, Alfonso Maria de -
A Short
Treatise on Prayer (Catholic Clergyman)
flipbook
(1834)
Löhe, Wilhelm (1808-1872) -
Seed-Grains of
Prayer, a Manual for Evangelical Christians
flipbook (1914)
Jumps to Books: A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T V W X Y Z Sermons Prayer Book Hymns
MacDuff, John Ross -
Gloria Patri,
A Book of Private Prayer for Morning and Evening
flipbook
(1890)
Mackbeth, Abraham -
A Discourse
upon Wandering Thoughts in Prayer, shewing the Causes and Remedies thereof
flipbook
(1713)
Manning, Jacob Merrill (1824-1882) -
Helps to a Life of Prayer
flipbook (1875)
Mant, Richard -
The Book of
Daily Family Prayer, for Every Morning
flipbook
(1836)
Matthews, Basil Joseph (1879-)
Fellowship in thought and
Prayer flipbook
(1921)
Maumigny, René Father (Catholic) -
Practice of
Mental Prayer
flipbook (1915)
Mead, William -
Family
Prayers
flipbook (1834) (Episcopal Church)
Mell, Patrick Hues (1814-1888) -
The Doctrine of Prayer,
its Utility, and Its Relation to Providence
flipbook (1876)
McClure, James Gore King (1848-1932) -
A Mighty Means of
Usefulness, a Plea for Intercessory Prayer
flipbook (1902)
McComb, Samuel
(1864-1938) -
Prayer, What
it is and What it Does
flipbook
(1913)
McCosh, James (1811-1894) -
Certitude,
Providence, and Prayer
Flipbook (1883)
McGaw, Francis
-
Praying Hyde
Mell, Patrick Hues
(1814-1888) -
The Doctrine of Prayer,
Its Utility, and Its Relation to Providence
flipbook (1876)
Miller, H.W. -
The Golden
Chain, a Manual of Intercessory Prayer
flipbook
(1884)
Miller, Samuel (1769-1850) -
Thoughts on
Public Prayer
flipbook
(1849)
Mitchell, Charles Anderson (1864-)
The Model
Prayer, other NT studies expository and devotional
flipbook
(1918)
Montgomery, Carrie Judd -
Prayer of Faith
flipbook
(1894)
More, Hannah -
Moral
Sketches of Prevailing Opinions and Manners, with Reflections on Prayer
flipbook
(1821)
Müller, Michael (1825-1899) -
Prayer the key
of Salvation
flipbook
(1868)
Murray, Andrew -
With Christ is the School of Prayer
(b)
630K
(148 pages)
Murray,
Andrew
-
The Prayer Life
(1912)
Murray, Andrew
- The
Ministry of Intercession, A plea for more Prayer
flipbook
(1898)
Jumps to Books: A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T V W X Y Z Sermons Prayer Book Hymns
Nicoll, William Robertson, Sir (1851-1923) -
Prayer in War
Time
flipbook (1916)
Nowack, William H (1874-) -
My Ebenezer, a personal
Testimony to the Faithfulness of a prayer-hearing God
flipbook (1946)
Jumps to Books: A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T V W X Y Z Sermons Prayer Book Hymns
Overholtzer, J. Irvin - The Seven Laws of Prayer flipbook
Jumps to Books: A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T V W X Y Z Sermons Prayer Book Hymns
Parker, William R -
Prayer can
change your Life, Experiments and Techniques in Prayer Therapy
flipbook
(1957)
Paterson, W.P -
The Power of Prayer (1920)
Patrick, Simon (1626-1707) -
A Discourse
concerning Prayer, frequenting daily public prayers
flipbook
(1841)
Pink,
Arthur -
Fervent Prayer
(b)
421K (89 pages)
Pink,
Arthur -
Gleanings from Paul (On Prayer)
(b)
931K (265 pages)
Pollock, Thomas Benson -
The Daily
Round, Meditation, Prayer, and Praise
flipbook
(1882)
Pope, Alexander
-
Essay on Man,
Universal Prayer
flipbook
(1821)
Porter, David Richard
(1882-) -
The Enrichment
of Prayer
Flipbook (1918)
Potter, H
-
A Remarkable
Answer to Prayer
flipbook
(1885)
Prime, Samuel Irenaeus
(1812-1885) -
Fifteen years of Prayer in the Fulton Street Meeting
flipbook(1872)
Puente, Luis de la
(1554-1624) -
A Treatise on Mental
Prayer flipbook
(1929)
Pusey, E.B.
- Familiar
Instructions on Mental Prayer
flipbook
(1856)
Jumps to Books: A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T V W X Y Z Sermons Prayer Book Hymns
Rees, Paul Stromberg
- Prayer and
Life's Highest
flipbook
(1956)
Richards, Thomas Cole
(1866-) -
Young men and Prayer
flipbook (1918)
Richards, Samuel
-
The Christian
Householder, Guide to Family Prayer
flipbook
(1830)
Romanes, George John
(1848-1894) -
Christian
Prayer and General Laws, Physical Efficacy of Prayer
flipbook
(1874)
Rowe, Elizabeth Singer
(1674-1737) &
Watts, Isaac
-
Devout Exercises of the
heart in meditation and soliloquy, prayer and praise
flipbook (1855)
Ryle, J.C. -
A Call to Prayer (s)
Jumps to Books: A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T V W X Y Z Sermons Prayer Book Hymns
Sadler, Michael Ferrebee -
The
Communicant's Manual, a book of self-examination, prayer, praise, and
thanksgiving
flipbook
(1874)
Simpson, Bertram Fitzgerald (1883-) -
The Prayer of Sonship
flipbook (1932)
Smith, Matthew Hale (1810-1879) -
Marvels of
Prayer, illustrated by Fulton Street Prayer Meeting
flipbook
(1875)
Steere, Douglar Van
(1901-) -
Prayer and Worship
flipbook (c1938)
Stewart, George S
-
The Lower
Levels of Prayer
flipbook
(1939)
Stewart, George
(1892-) -
The Sanctuary, Services
of Prayer and Praise
flipbook (1928)
Strong, Anna Louise
(1885-1970) -
The Psychology of Prayer
Flipbook
(1909)
Sutton, J. Wilson
-
Our Life of
Prayer
flipbook (1938)
Jumps to Books: A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T V W X Y Z Sermons Prayer Book Hymns
Talling, Marshall P (1857-) -
Extempore
Prayer, Its Principles, preparation and Practice
flipbook
(1902)
Teissier, George Frederick de -
The House of
Prayer
flipbook (1866)
Tertullian (160-230) -
Treatises
concerning prayer, baptism
flipbook
(1919)
Thompson, Lewis O -
The Prayer
Meeting and its Improvement
flipbook
(1878)
Thorne, James A -
Prayer for the
Oppressed
flipbook (1859)
Tileston, Mary Wilder (1843-1934) -
Great Souls at
Prayer 14 centuries of Prayer, Praise, and Aspiration from St Augustine to
Christina Rossetti and Robert Louis Stevenson
flipbook
(1898)
Torrey, RA -
How to
Pray
213K
(54 pages).
Tyrrell, George (1861-1909) -
Lex Orandi or
Prayer & Creed
flipbook (1903)
Jumps to Books: A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T V W X Y Z Sermons Prayer Book Hymns
Vaughn, Charles John (1816-1897) -
Voices of the
Prophets, or Faith, prayer, and human life
flipbook
(1867)
Vincent, Boyd (1845-1935) -
God and
Prayer, Discussion on the Reasonableness of Prayer
flipbook
(1897)
Vincent, Nathanael (1639-1897) -
The Spirit of
Prayer flipbook
(1825)
Jumps to Books: A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T V W X Y Z Sermons Prayer Book Hymns
Ward, William Thurman (1871-) -
Variety in the Prayer Meeting, Manual for Leaders
flipbook (1915)
Watts, Isaac (1674-1748) -
A Guide to
Prayer, Free and Ration Account of the Gift, Grace, and Spirit of Prayer,
with plain directions how every Christian may attain them
flipbook
(1800)
Whyte, Alexander -
Lord Teach us to
Pray
(b)
753K
also here
flipbook (144 pages).
Wigle, Eli -
Prevailing
Prayer or the Secret of Soul Winning
flipbook
(1900)
Wishart, John Elliott (1866-) -
The Fact of Prayer, its problems and possibilities
flipbook (1927)
Worden, T. -
The Psalms
are Christian Prayer
flipbook
(1961)
Worlledge, Arthur John (b1848)
Prayer
Flipbook (1902)
Jumps to Books: A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T V W X Y Z Sermons Prayer Book Hymns
Young, John C - The Efficacy of Prayer flipbook (1858)
Jumps to Books: A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T V W X Y Z Sermons Prayer Book Hymns
Zwemer, Samuel Marinus (1867-1952) - Taking Hold of God, Studies in Prayer flipbook
Chapters in Books on Prayer
Chafer - Chapter 40 Prayer
See Bible Dictionary Entries on Prayer
General Editor Comments on this Page: In general, the Reformed-Calvinist end of the spectrum knows little about passion nor about intercession, having their faith in election instead of the Savior. It is typical among the strongest examples of Reformed-Calvinists to see no desire nor passion nor real sacrifice for (1) evangelism, (2 missions, (3) life changing preaching, nor (4) prayer. I would attribute this to a false gospel they have concocted because most of the election-predestination comments come from Paul which devoted his entire life for spreading the gospel instead of staying at home. The biblical characters which heard and understood more of Jesus' teachings than we have available gave their lives to reach the unsaved. For them the gospel was that Jesus died for you, to save you from eternal punishment. Election and predestination were never at the heart of the gospel, which the gospel is a presentation of the great truth of God's salvation of humanity. The Calvinist cannot accept that, because he believes God only died to save a few.
Everywhere we turn in the Old Testament and the New Testament we see a constant presentation of the Gospel as an offer from God to individuals, with the clear understanding that if they change their minds and hearts, they will enter into that salvation, and before doing so, they are destined to hell. This presentation by Christ, the Apostles, and all the Bible characters we can see in Scripture is a presentation which places the determining factor of going to heaven or going to hell on the decision the person makes while on this earth. That decision is influenced by other men, by God through His Word, and by the Holy Spirit, but the stress is on listened and yielding to the good influences and rejecting the bad influences, as if the war is hot and heavy, very much decided at the moment of waging the battle. In this war Christians have an obligation to enter into this battle through presenting the gospel, and through their prayers, as if their prayers, their preaching, their one on one witnessing will be influential, and it will make an impact, a difference in some way.
This is the great burden the Christian bears. If you pray, somebody may change their heart and accept Christ and go to heaven instead of hell. It is ludicrous to try and hold any other position than that this is what God presents us in the Scriptures as reality. Prayer then is destroyed when the Calvinist refuses to burden his heart and knees with the "possible" salvation of others. His refusal to take seriously how God has presented reality to us, to obey God's commands to pray for the unsaved, for the open door of the gospel preachers, is a defection to Satan's purposes. His changing of the gospel from "God will save you if you repent" to the "doctrines of Grace" is another Gospel. Nowhere in any place is election presented to the unsaved as the gospel. Yet Calvinistic missionaries everywhere they go preach this. Since even they understand that this is a doctrine for the already saved, they "evangelize" or really "proselytize" among the already saved, looking for haughty and arrogant people like themselves and their old predecessors, the Jews, so as to infect them with a doctrine that will destroy their soul.
Those in the Bible and first centuries of Christianity understood prayer in such a way as to completely transform the life, and to identify prayer as a very strong power that allows a person to impose his will on God. Admittedly our will sometimes asks for things that are not the best for us, but none the less the lesson of the importune widow for example shows us the power of prayer over a sovereign God. This is an impossible concept for a Calvinist-Reformed to accept. For them no man has any sway over God, especially in matters of salvation. God has "predecided" in such a way that man is elect and absolutely saved without his will entering into the mix at all. Man is not responsible for his own sin and eternal damnation (the Calvinist-Reformed doctrine of "perdition" as believed by John Calvin and most all major Calvinist theologians through history but which is commonly hidden from the general public).
In fact most Calvinists have totally ripped the gospel from the evangelism, and for them, when they speak of evangelism or missions, it is spreading the "doctrines of Grace". Grace and mercy is one thing, but grace is a totally different doctrine from election. I never once find any biblical character (much less Christ) bringing up election and predestination in preaching to the unsaved. They speak of God's love, of God's sacrifice, of the evil of our sins, and God through his human servants always offers the sinner a choice of salvation if the sinner will decide to receive salvation. Nothing is preset and unchangeable. This sets the precedent of offering salvation to sinners, and previous prayer for the sinner by the servant of God a key part of evangelism.
The fatalistic unbiblical view of Calvinism extends into the prayer life, making it useless to pray because God has already decided everything, and you cannot change it (that would violate the TULIP, that man is impotent when dealing with God, to influence Him in any way,. especially regarding choosing salvation or rejecting it). For those who are Calvinist-Reformed "bent" (and I use that word on purpose here), you probably have little interest in prayer to change life, even less for prayer to open a person's heart to salvation. This page will probably be useless for you. Sorry. Go grab a TULIP and cuddle instead of praying. It is remarkable that such famous Calvinist-Reformed theologians have made extensive and detailed theologies, and they universally either totally leave out prayer, or only briefly mention it, while writing hundreds of tombs on election.
Prayer as the Bible presents it to us is a vital part of our spiritual life, which nobody can live the fullness that God wants us to have without it. So many good men are spiritually handcuffed in their ministries by Calvinism because they shunt prayer to a mere formality.
Therefore we must go to the other end of the theological spectrum (the Armenian-Holiness-Higher Life-Deeper Life Movements) to even find material about passionate prayer as that which our Lord showed us by the example of his own life. These people likewise have their intense problems, but at least they write intensively about prayer.
To be frank, the Holiness Movement (which I abbreviate a lot of different groups in this term) is an emotions based group that appeal to the emotional side of man. Having ripped the Calvinist-Reformed side above, I must observe (to be fair) that they appeal to the logic side of man to the extreme of not understanding the "person" element of God, which is emotional and social as much as logical.
In reading the literature below, the student of Scripture must find balance between the two extremes, coldness based in logic, and hotness based in emotion. Neither extreme is the biblical position. An understanding of both, and an embracing of both is necessary for a balance position. We must act and feel because of what we know because God has said it. At the same time, poor is the Christian who is so cold and hard hearted that he cannot feel the burden and problems of others to pray for them, especially for their salvation. God usually loads great emotional strain on these kinds of cold hearted Christians.
Likewise the Christian who is living a roller coaster life of extreme emotions will be up one moment and down the next, and this is no life in reality. It is a torture. This Christian must learn to be stable and control his emotions because his God is so good, and God is not in emotional instability and this emotional chaos.
So if the majority of these reference works are by Holiness types this is why. It is not that I am Holiness-Deeper Life, mostly Holiness type works like E.M. Bounds works on Prayer (he was part of the Higher Movement). The information on the other side of the spectrum is sparse.
To properly understand prayer, the student must properly understand God's working in our lives. It is recommended that in studying prayer, you include a thorough study of theodicy. Theodicy is the study of how a good and benevolent God that is totally sovereign can allow "bad" things to happen to his beloved children. The key point in this is when the bad stuff happens and the child of God has done nothing wrong, but everything right, for example, the situation of Job. Without a proper understanding of theodicy, you will never get a firm grip on the doctrine of Prayer.