This week in “How to Lose Your Faith in 4 Easy Steps” we talked about the role of prayer in the life of a Christian. There are two primary reasons why people don’t pray. The first is simply ignorance. Many feel like they don’t know how. They wonder, “Am I saying the right things, folding the right things?” And not wanting to feel as if they’re doing it wrong, they just don’t do it at all.

The second reason is arrogance. And what I mean is that in 21st century, Western culture, we are a people that tend to pray only when we have a major crisis. You know, when disaster strikes or death is looming. And in our part of the world life is pretty comfortable, life is pretty good. And when we’re feeling successful we’re far less prone to call out for a Savior. So we don’t pray.

And yet if you were to poll 1,000 people and ask them if prayer should be a priority, I’d bet the remaining hair on my fast-balding-head that the majority would say “sure.” Below are links to some books and resources that I believe to be very helpful in cultivating a life of prayer. Some are teachings on prayer, others are devotional books that will help get your heart ready to pray and even provide you with the words to say. Enjoy.

- Pastor Matt

Prayer Resources:

• Portals of Prayer | An online daily devotion. Short and to the point. Just like it’s supposed to be.
• A Year with Jesus; Daily Readings and Meditations | By Eugene Peterson. An excellent book of daily devotions and prayers. Buy. It. Now.
• Praying with the Psalms; A Year of Daily Prayers and Reflections | By Eugene Peterson. Again, a wonderful book.
• A Simple Way to Pray | Free - in pdf format.  A teaching on prayer by Martin Luther. It teaches how to pray through the Lord’s Prayer, 10 Commandments and more.
• Little Visits with Jesus; A Family Devotional | This family devotional is perfect for those with elementary age children and lower. It offers short family devotions and prayers.