Great Resource for Biblical Prayer


Matthew Henry is famous for his commentary. Now, however, thanks to Ligon Duncan, Henry's work on prayer may begin to gain some more widespread attention. Matthew Henry wrote A Method For Prayer in 1712, and now Ligon Duncan has updated it into an ESV version. How can you have an ESV version of a book? Well, that's the whole point of Henry's Method For Prayer; Henry's point was that better prayers were biblical prayers, and so much of the language comes straight from the Scriptures (hence the possibility of an ESV update).

The idea behind the website is to help Christians learn to pray in a more biblical way. Currently only an ESV version is available, but KJV, NIV, and NASB versions are coming soon, along with translations into French, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Korean (with future plans for further languages). The site also gives the option of choosing between 'Corporate' or 'First Person' prayer, providing versions to be used by congregations or individuals.

Anyway, its not all that easy to explain, so the best thing is to visit the site.

And, if you don't trust my recommendations, here's what D.A. Carson and Michael Horton have to say:

"When a tool that has helped teach Christians to pray with biblical fidelity and spiritual integrity, across a span of three centuries, is being distributed again and in fresh ways, thoughtful believers can only applaud and give thanks to God for the grace that has brought forth this fruit."

D. A. Carson, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois

"Prayer is an amazing privilege, but it’s also a discipline for which we need direction and instruction. Like a trellis, Henry’s Method for Prayer helps us to grow up in a Godward direction, not only to think more biblically, but to pray more biblically as well."

Michael Horton, Westminster Seminary California

(You can read some more recommendations on the site.)