My Favorite Books for Model Prayers

In chapter 1 of D. A. Carson’s book “A Call to Spiritual Reformation: Priorities from Paul and His Prayers”, Don Carson explains 8 lessons he has learned from scripture and from more mature Christians.  One of these lessons is learning to listen to some good model prayers. Here are some excerpts from that section of chapter 1.

“Most of us can improve our praying by carefully, thoughtfully listening to others pray. This does not mean copying everything we hear. . . . Not every good model provides us with exactly the same prescription for good praying, exactly the same balance. All of them pray with great seriousness; all of them use arguments and seek goals that are already portrayed in Scripture. Some of the seem to carry you with them into the very throne room of the Almighty; others are particularly faithful in intercession, despite the most difficult circumstances in life and ministry; still others are noteworthy because of the breadth of their vision. All are characterized by a wonderful mixture of contrition and boldness in prayer.”

Models prayers have different personalities.  Some are chatty others formal, some use a simple vocabulary while others are erudite and others reflect the geography or time period they were written. However, good model prayers will in some reflect the priority of scripture. Learn from these prayers, not to copy, but to inform and shape your own praying.

1. The Pastor in Prayer: A Collection of the Sunday Morning Prayers of Charles Spurgeon
2. My Grandmother is … praying for me: daily prayers and proverbs for character development in grandchildren by March, Ferris and Kelton
3. The Lutheran Book of Prayer: 1951 edition
4. Everyday Prayers: 365 Days to a Gospel-Centered Faith by Scotty Smith
5. The Collects of Thomas Cranmer by Barbee and Zahl
6. Great Souls At Prayer: Fourteen centuries of Prayer, Praise and Aspiration, from St. Augustine to Christina Rossetti and Robert Louis Stevenson selected and arranged by Mary W Tileston
7. The One Year book of Personal Prayer by Tyndale House
8. Prayers from Plymouth Pulpit by Henry Ward Beecher
9. A Diary of Private Prayer by John Baillie
10. The Book of Common Prayer – The Anglican, Episcopal and Presbyterian churches all have one.
11. A Simple Way to Pray by Archie Parrish
12. New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional by Paul David Tripp
13. A Method for Prayer by Matthew Henry
14. Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions by Arthur Bennett
15. Face to Face: Praying the Scriptures For Spiritual Growth by Kenneth Boa
16. Prayer Portions Sampler for the Family by Sylvia Gunter
17. The Divine Hours: Prayers For Summertime by Phyllis Tickle
18. God is No Stranger by Sandra Burdick