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Intentional Prayers — Part 2 of 2
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Pray Intentionally
The Christian’s Prayer Library — Part 2 of 2
Four enduring classics and twelve modern resources for a faithful, informed, and world-embracing prayer life
Part 1 introduced six influential prayer books that teach believers to worship, confess, listen, and remain attentive to God. Part 2 completes the library with four more historic works and then turns to modern resources that help Christians organize prayer, hear Scripture, pray for the nations, and continue learning through trusted Bible ministries. The purpose is not to collect tools for their own sake, but to use them wisely as guides back to God’s Word and God’s presence.
OPEN IT
The New Testament presents prayer as personal, congregational, persistent, watchful, thankful, and outward-looking. Jesus taught His disciples to pray for God’s kingdom, daily provision, forgiveness, and deliverance. Paul urged believers to pray continually and to intercede for all people. The church in Acts prayed when choosing leaders, facing persecution, sending missionaries, and seeking courage.
The remaining four classics emphasize persistence, structure, rhythm, humility, and imitation of Christ. The modern resources that follow extend those same concerns through digital organization, audio Scripture, biblical teaching, missions research, and church-based discipleship.
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” — Colossians 4:2
EXPLORE IT
7. The Prayer Works of E. M. Bounds
Author: Edward McKendree Bounds
Major works: Power Through Prayer, The Necessity of Prayer, Purpose in Prayer, and The Weapon of Prayer
Prayer emphasis: Persistence, faith, spiritual power, holiness, ministry, and dependence upon God
Bounds writes with urgency. Prayer is not a preliminary exercise before the “real” work of Christian service; it is central to that work. His books challenge believers to resist hurried, mechanical devotion and to seek God with faith, vigilance, and perseverance.
Prayer introduction: Approach prayer as a living encounter with God, not a routine to complete. Ask largely, wait faithfully, and let dependence upon God shape every ministry decision.
8. The Hour That Changes the World
Author: Dick Eastman
First published: 1978
Prayer emphasis: A practical twelve-part framework for sustained prayer
Eastman divides an hour into twelve five-minute movements such as praise, waiting, confession, Scripture praying, watching, intercession, petition, thanksgiving, singing, meditation, listening, and praise. The structure helps believers move beyond a narrow list of requests.
Prayer introduction: Begin with praise, move through confession and Scripture-shaped intercession, and allow periods of waiting and listening to keep prayer relational rather than rushed.
9. The Divine Hours
Author and compiler: Phyllis Tickle
Published: Major seasonal volumes appeared from 2000 onward
Prayer emphasis: Fixed-hour prayer, Psalms, Scripture, hymns, and daily rhythm
The Divine Hours adapts the ancient daily offices for contemporary readers. Morning, midday, evening, and night become recurring appointments with God, reminding believers that time itself may be offered to Him.
Prayer introduction: Stop at a regular hour, receive the words of Scripture and the Psalms, and let a repeated rhythm re-center the day around God.
10. The Imitation of Christ
Traditionally attributed to: Thomas à Kempis
Written: Early fifteenth century
Prayer emphasis: Humility, surrender, interior devotion, obedience, and communion with Christ
Although not exclusively a prayer manual, The Imitation of Christ has led generations into reflection and prayer. Its concern is not religious reputation but inward conformity to Jesus.
Prayer introduction: Ask not merely for knowledge about Jesus, but for a heart willing to follow His humility, obedience, and love.
Modern Prayer and Bible Resources
GotQuestions.org
Concise biblical responses to questions about prayer, theology, and Christian living.
Enduring Word
Chapter-by-chapter Bible commentary useful for studying prayers, Psalms, promises, and New Testament teaching.
BibleProject
Animated overviews, themes, podcasts, and reading tools that present Scripture as a unified story leading to Jesus.
Blue Letter Bible
Free translations, original-language aids, dictionaries, commentaries, and cross-references.
Logos Bible Study
A digital platform for Scripture, commentaries, theological works, sermon preparation, and research.
YouVersion Bible App
Scripture reading, audio Bibles, plans, highlighting, notes, and sharing in many languages.
PrayerMate
An organizing app that rotates people, churches, ministries, and causes for faithful, wide-ranging prayer.
Dwell Audio Bible
An audio Bible resource supporting attentive listening, Scripture meditation, and daily engagement.
Operation World
Country profiles, praise reports, and informed requests for the church and mission around the world.
Joshua Project
Research and prayer profiles focused on unreached people groups, including daily prayer prompts.
OBCC Rabbit Trail Podcast
Conversations that extend sermon themes through biblical discussion and discipleship application.
OBCC Media Library
Sermons, series, and teaching resources for personal study, prayer, and small-group conversation.
GET IT
- Prayer needs freedom and form. Spontaneous prayer expresses the immediate heart; written prayers and patterns expand what the heart learns to express.
- Prayer should be saturated with Scripture. The richest vocabulary comes from God’s Word.
- Prayer forms holy attention. Fixed hours, reminders, journals, and apps can interrupt distraction, but renewed attention to God is the goal.
- Prayer stretches beyond personal needs. Mature intercession includes the local church, leaders, persecuted believers, missionaries, nations, and unreached peoples.
- Tools must remain servants. Books, podcasts, apps, and AI may organize study, but cannot replace faith, Scripture, the Holy Spirit, or genuine communion with God.
APPLY IT
- Choose one classic. Read slowly from Bounds, Eastman, Tickle, or Thomas à Kempis for one season.
- Choose one Bible-study resource. Use BibleProject, Enduring Word, Blue Letter Bible, or Logos to understand the passage you are praying.
- Choose one organizing tool. A notebook, PrayerMate, or a calendar can rotate people and concerns.
- Choose one global resource. Pray with Operation World or Joshua Project.
- Stay connected to the local church. Use OBCC sermons, Rabbit Trail, group questions, and ministry updates.
- Review monthly. Record answered prayer, changed circumstances, lessons, and continued needs.
Lord Jesus, teach us to pray with persistence, humility, biblical understanding, and compassion for the world. Keep every book, method, and digital tool in its proper place. May each one lead us back to Scripture, deeper dependence upon Your Spirit, and faithful participation in Your mission. Amen.
DO • KNOW • EXPERIENCE
Build a prayer rhythm rooted in Scripture and sustained by faithful practice.
God hears His people and invites them to pray for the church, the world, and the gospel.
Greater attentiveness to God, broader compassion, and deeper participation in Christ’s mission.
Footnotes
- Colossians 4:2 joins steadfast prayer with watchfulness and thanksgiving.
- E. M. Bounds wrote multiple books on prayer; several were compiled or published after his death.
- Dick Eastman’s twelve-part model is presented in The Hour That Changes the World.
- Phyllis Tickle described The Divine Hours as a contemporary breviary for fixed-hour prayer.
- The Imitation of Christ was composed in the early fifteenth century and is traditionally attributed to Thomas à Kempis.
- PrayerMate is designed to help Christians pray consistently for people and causes.
- Dwell is an audio Bible platform intended to support regular listening to Scripture.
- Operation World provides country-based prayer information.
- Joshua Project provides profiles and prayer resources focused on unreached people groups.
- The OBCC Rabbit Trail Podcast extends church teaching through conversational application.
- Descriptions of commercial or ministry resources are informational, not endorsements of every interpretation, feature, subscription, or policy.
Hyperlinked Bibliography
- Colossians 4:2–4
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
- E. M. Bounds at CCEL
- Dick Eastman prayer guide
- Phyllis Tickle on fixed-hour prayer
- Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ
- GotQuestions.org
- Enduring Word
- BibleProject Psalms Guide
- Blue Letter Bible
- Logos
- YouVersion
- PrayerMate
- Dwell
- Operation World
- Joshua Project
- OBCC Rabbit Trail Podcast
- OBCC Media Library
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