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A Call to Prayer
J.C. Ryle was well known for his warm, plain-spoken candor, the kind which appeals to all souls regardless of rank or title, and this booklet is no different. Bold, encouraging, and affectionate, A Call to Prayer is just as the title says—an earnest invitation for all children of God to come before Him in prayer. Read it, be edified, and have you have access to the Maker of heaven and earth who can do all things.
36 pages, Paperback
First published January 20, 2002
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1136 people want to read
About the author
J.C. Ryle
825 books481 followers(John Charles Ryle) Ryle started his ministry as curate at the Chapel of Ease in Exbury, Hampshire, moving on to become rector of St Thomas's, Winchester in 1843 and then rector of Helmingham, Suffolk the following year. While at Helmingham he married and was widowed twice. He began publishing popular tracts, and Matthew, Mark and Luke of his series of Expository Thoughts on the Gospels were published in successive years (1856-1858). His final parish was Stradbroke, also in Suffolk, where he moved in 1861, and it was as vicar of All Saints that he became known nationally for his straightforward preaching and firm defence of evangelical principles. He wrote several well-known and still-in-print books, often addressing issues of contemporary relevance for the Church from a biblical standpoint. He completed his Expository Thoughts on the Gospels while at Stradbroke, with his work on the Gospel of John (1869). His third marriage, to Henrietta Amelia Clowes in 1861, lasted until her death in 1889.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
December 2, 2022
Read again. Please fellow believer, buy this. It’s 2 bucks on Amazon. It will be worth every last penny and more. The Bishop takes 32 short pages to ask the question DO YOU PRAY? He reminds and asks in different manors. This is it. This is where the rubber meets the road. And he’s not merely describing prayer before a meal or before going to bed. But DO YOU PRAY? Convicting, challenging, encouraging, and a wonderful reminder that the most critical work we will ever do as Christians is to come before the Lord everyday and pray to Him. This is undoubtedly the first step that has to happen for the conquering and discipling of the world, prayer. It starts with one person at a time.
April 16, 2008
April 16, 2008
Title: A Call to Prayer
Author: J.C. Ryle
No. of Pages:33
Genre: Christian Living
Level of Reading (out of 5): 3
Outline:
I.Reasons for asking you, “do you pray?”
A.Prayer is absolutely needful to a man’s salvation
B.A habit of prayer is one of the surest marks of a true Christian
C.There is no duty in religion so neglected as private prayer
D.Prayer is an act in religion to which there is great encouragement
E.Diligence in prayer is the secret of eminent holiness
F.Neglect of prayer is one great cause of backsliding
G.Prayer is one of the best means of happiness and contentment
II.Parting words to different audiences
A.Those who do not pray
B.Those who have real desires for salvation
C.Those who do pray
1.Commending the importance of…
a.Reverence and humility
b.Praying spiritually
c.Making prayer a regular business of life
d.Perseverance
e.Earnestnes
f.Praying with faith
g.Boldness
h.Fullness
i.Particularity
j.Intercession
k.Thankfulnes
l.Watchfulness over your prayers
Key Quotes:
•“I believe there is a vast neglect of private prayer. It is one of those private transactions between God and our souls which no eye sees, and therefore one which men are tempted to pass over and leave undone” (7)
•“You may be very sure men fall in private long before they fall in public. They are backsliders on their knees long before they backslide openly in the eyes of the world” (18)
•“How tame and lukewarm they [our prayers] seem by comparison [to those fervent prayers in the Bible]. How truly might God say to many of us, ‘You do not really want what you pray for’” (28)
•“I am afraid the private devotions of many are most painfully scanty and limited; just enough to prove they are alive and no more. They really seem to want little from God. They seem to have little to confess, little to ask for, and little to thank Him for” (30)
•“This is the highest charity. He loves me best who loves me in his prayers” (32)
•“Here it is that true religion begins; here it flourishes and here it decays. Tell me what a man’s prayers are, and I will soon tell you the state of his soul” (33)
Evaluation:
Short, but sweet. I like how it addresses a variety of audiences and aspects of prayer.
Recommendation:
•Who: Those who find it hard to develop the discipline of prayer and those who are content with their prayer life and think they’ve got prayer under their belt
•Buy or Borrow: Borrow
•Worth My Time: This is a very short tract that has some pithy sentences and sober reminders that are well worth the few minutes it will take for you to read it
Title: A Call to Prayer
Author: J.C. Ryle
No. of Pages:33
Genre: Christian Living
Level of Reading (out of 5): 3
Outline:
I.Reasons for asking you, “do you pray?”
A.Prayer is absolutely needful to a man’s salvation
B.A habit of prayer is one of the surest marks of a true Christian
C.There is no duty in religion so neglected as private prayer
D.Prayer is an act in religion to which there is great encouragement
E.Diligence in prayer is the secret of eminent holiness
F.Neglect of prayer is one great cause of backsliding
G.Prayer is one of the best means of happiness and contentment
II.Parting words to different audiences
A.Those who do not pray
B.Those who have real desires for salvation
C.Those who do pray
1.Commending the importance of…
a.Reverence and humility
b.Praying spiritually
c.Making prayer a regular business of life
d.Perseverance
e.Earnestnes
f.Praying with faith
g.Boldness
h.Fullness
i.Particularity
j.Intercession
k.Thankfulnes
l.Watchfulness over your prayers
Key Quotes:
•“I believe there is a vast neglect of private prayer. It is one of those private transactions between God and our souls which no eye sees, and therefore one which men are tempted to pass over and leave undone” (7)
•“You may be very sure men fall in private long before they fall in public. They are backsliders on their knees long before they backslide openly in the eyes of the world” (18)
•“How tame and lukewarm they [our prayers] seem by comparison [to those fervent prayers in the Bible]. How truly might God say to many of us, ‘You do not really want what you pray for’” (28)
•“I am afraid the private devotions of many are most painfully scanty and limited; just enough to prove they are alive and no more. They really seem to want little from God. They seem to have little to confess, little to ask for, and little to thank Him for” (30)
•“This is the highest charity. He loves me best who loves me in his prayers” (32)
•“Here it is that true religion begins; here it flourishes and here it decays. Tell me what a man’s prayers are, and I will soon tell you the state of his soul” (33)
Evaluation:
Short, but sweet. I like how it addresses a variety of audiences and aspects of prayer.
Recommendation:
•Who: Those who find it hard to develop the discipline of prayer and those who are content with their prayer life and think they’ve got prayer under their belt
•Buy or Borrow: Borrow
•Worth My Time: This is a very short tract that has some pithy sentences and sober reminders that are well worth the few minutes it will take for you to read it
October 28, 2022
This is a wonderful little book about the importance of prayer. It was very impactful to me, and I'm reading it again a year later. Definitely a go-to recommendation and reference on my bookshelf!
July 27, 2024
“Bibles read without prayer; sermons heard without prayer; marriages contracted without prayer; journeys undertaken without prayer; residences chosen without prayer; friendships formed without prayer; the daily act of private prayer itself hurried over, or gone without heart; these are the kind of downward steps which many a Christian descends to a condition of spiritual palsy, or reaches the point where God allows him to have a tremendous fall.
Prayer will consume sin, or sin will choke prayer. - JC Ryle
Prayer will consume sin, or sin will choke prayer. - JC Ryle
August 8, 2017
Hard words that were needed to be said then -and now. I only wish Rev. Ryle would have appealed more to the powerful persuasiveness of all the pleasures found in a life lived under the riches of God's Word.
March 3, 2024
Go ahead and repent NOW, before you read this. There's no reason to pick it up if you're not willing to have JC bring all the smoke. I need to pray more and JC made it clear with smoke and hope. Enjoy.
June 18, 2019
This was an extremely well done little book about the importance to prayer with insights from the author which will leave you astounded in places on the importance of prayer in a Christian's life.
September 15, 2023
The best short book I have ever read. I recommend it for all Christians, especially young ones.
1st read: 2021
2nd read: 2023 with Missional Community
1st read: 2021
2nd read: 2023 with Missional Community
April 6, 2023
This book was an incredibly convicting reminder to have a habitual habit of prayer, and that it is the mark of a true believer. I appreciated his exhortations to those who are in Christ, and also his words to those who do not have a habit of prayer and might not be in Christ. I loved the candor language of his words, that prayer isn't something to take lightly!
March 8, 2023
Não é um tratado, é um monumento!
February 18, 2019
This book packs in loads of wisdom and encouragement to keep your prayer life sparked for seasons to come. It does so in a concise and hard hitting 25 pages.
November 21, 2022
So good.... Will be rereading many times.
September 16, 2023
“There is everything on God's part to make prayer easy if people will only attempt it. All things are ready on His side. Every objection is anticipated. Every difficulty is provided for. The crooked places are made straight and the rough places made smooth. There is no excuse left for the prayerless person.”
Ryle writes with clear and direct language that really speaks to the heart. I especially appreciate how he uses his role in the Church of England to challenge people who are merely following liturgical rituals without real heart involvement.
Many books on prayer sidestep the point and share too many “miracle” stories. Ryle doesn’t do this; he focuses on what the Bible says and what he sees in human behavior.
Ryle writes with clear and direct language that really speaks to the heart. I especially appreciate how he uses his role in the Church of England to challenge people who are merely following liturgical rituals without real heart involvement.
Many books on prayer sidestep the point and share too many “miracle” stories. Ryle doesn’t do this; he focuses on what the Bible says and what he sees in human behavior.
March 25, 2020
Full to the brim of godly admonition and wise, gentle counsel, this brief little book is one I really ought to read every year, if not every quarter. I truly cannot recommend it heartily enough.
November 8, 2024
Four-and-a-half stars because I wish it was longer. Rounded up to five anyway.
March 19, 2025
This little booklet is wonderful and challenging at the same time. "Tell me what a man's prayers are, and I will soon tell you the state of his soul" (p. 32).
January 6, 2025
What a powerful little book! Filled with amazing insights and reminders of the power of prayer. Potentially the most neglected area of many Christian lives, yet it is the most important duty we must fulfil.
This is a book to be constantly read and cherished!
This is a book to be constantly read and cherished!
July 28, 2016
I appreciate this short work on prayer by J.C. Ryle that exhorted Christians to pray. Ryle delineates the reason why prayer is important and he goes so far as to say that an individual who doesn’t pray isn’t a Christian. As uncomfortable as that thought is, Ryle’s certainly has a legitimate point that a Christian who is not communing with God is missing the whole point of why Christians are saved by God’s grace in the first place. I think Ryle is also nuanced when he said that prayer in of itself does not save someone to go to heaven, but at the same time a non-praying person might be someone who does not understand God’s grace.
The big question that is echoed throughout the book is “Do you pray?” It is convicting and yet encouraging. Readers should be prompted to pray as a result of reading this book. I appreciated some of the points made throughout the book including the idea that prayer is the simplest of Christian duty and everyone can pray like how a child can cry out to their parents in need. Ryle also dealt with people’s excuses about not praying by using the example of Daniel who had the responsibilities of an empire on his shoulders and yet He always made time for prayer. I also thought Ryle had a helpful analogy that drives the point home of being particular in one’s prayer to God in the same way a patient would be specific with a doctor.
There’s several memorable quotes from the book. For instance in talking about the importance that prayers are not done with a cold and apathetic heart towards God J.C. Ryle said it so memorably, “Let us settle it down in our minds, that cold prayers are a sacrifice without fire.” Another memorable quote from the book was Ryle’s line that “He loves me best who loves me in his prayers.” There were many other memorable quotes and points that I think it is actually helpful to read this booklet from time to time preferably once a year.
The big question that is echoed throughout the book is “Do you pray?” It is convicting and yet encouraging. Readers should be prompted to pray as a result of reading this book. I appreciated some of the points made throughout the book including the idea that prayer is the simplest of Christian duty and everyone can pray like how a child can cry out to their parents in need. Ryle also dealt with people’s excuses about not praying by using the example of Daniel who had the responsibilities of an empire on his shoulders and yet He always made time for prayer. I also thought Ryle had a helpful analogy that drives the point home of being particular in one’s prayer to God in the same way a patient would be specific with a doctor.
There’s several memorable quotes from the book. For instance in talking about the importance that prayers are not done with a cold and apathetic heart towards God J.C. Ryle said it so memorably, “Let us settle it down in our minds, that cold prayers are a sacrifice without fire.” Another memorable quote from the book was Ryle’s line that “He loves me best who loves me in his prayers.” There were many other memorable quotes and points that I think it is actually helpful to read this booklet from time to time preferably once a year.
June 16, 2022
Quick read but also encouraging read if you feel that you need to work on your prayer life.
One good quote: “Tell me what a man’s prayers are, and I will soon tell you the state of his soul. Prayer is the spiritual pulse.”
He admits that believers often need to be reminded of prayer. The section geared toward believers toward the end is very motivational.
Tell God about your exact needs and wants. Be sure to glorify Him, but approach His throne boldly!
A few other good quotes:
“We should try to bear in our hearts the whole world, the heathen, the Jews, the Roman Catholics, the body of true believers, the professing Protestant churches, the country in which we live, the congregation to which we belong, the household in which we sojourn, the friends and relations we are connected with. For each and all of these we should plead. This is the highest charity. He loves me best who loves me in his prayers.”
And:
Is it not the true account of many that they have little because they ask little?
32 Robert Traill (1642-1716) – English Puritan; Presbyterian minister and author. 33 divine – respected theologian.
22
“The cause of their weakness is to be found in their own stunted, dwarfish, clipped, contracted, hurried, narrow, diminutive prayers. They have not, because they ask not (Jam 4:2). Oh, we are not straitened in Christ, but in ourselves. The Lord says, “Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.” But we are like the King of Israel who smote on the ground thrice and stayed, when he ought to have smitten five or six times (2Ki 13:18).”
One good quote: “Tell me what a man’s prayers are, and I will soon tell you the state of his soul. Prayer is the spiritual pulse.”
He admits that believers often need to be reminded of prayer. The section geared toward believers toward the end is very motivational.
Tell God about your exact needs and wants. Be sure to glorify Him, but approach His throne boldly!
A few other good quotes:
“We should try to bear in our hearts the whole world, the heathen, the Jews, the Roman Catholics, the body of true believers, the professing Protestant churches, the country in which we live, the congregation to which we belong, the household in which we sojourn, the friends and relations we are connected with. For each and all of these we should plead. This is the highest charity. He loves me best who loves me in his prayers.”
And:
Is it not the true account of many that they have little because they ask little?
32 Robert Traill (1642-1716) – English Puritan; Presbyterian minister and author. 33 divine – respected theologian.
22
“The cause of their weakness is to be found in their own stunted, dwarfish, clipped, contracted, hurried, narrow, diminutive prayers. They have not, because they ask not (Jam 4:2). Oh, we are not straitened in Christ, but in ourselves. The Lord says, “Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.” But we are like the King of Israel who smote on the ground thrice and stayed, when he ought to have smitten five or six times (2Ki 13:18).”
June 28, 2025
"There are few children of God who do not often find the season of prayer a season of conflict. The devil has special wrath against us when he sees us on our knees. Yet, I believe that prayers which cost us no trouble, should be regarded with great suspicion. I believe we are very poor judges of the goodness of our prayers, and that the prayer which pleases us least, often pleases God most. Suffer me then, as a companion in the Christian warfare, to offer a few words of exhortation. One thing, at least, we all feel: we must pray. We cannot give it up. We must go on."
P.S. Sorry to say that the Benediction Classics version is fraught with typographical errors, some of them quite embarrassing.
P.S. Sorry to say that the Benediction Classics version is fraught with typographical errors, some of them quite embarrassing.
April 20, 2024
In this booklet, the eminently edifying 19th century Bishop of Liverpool, JC Ryle, exhorts his readers to go to the Lord in prayer. Ryle elaborates on this subject for a number of potential readers: unbelievers, backsliders, weak saints, and mature believers. The effect is an encouraging and convicting tract. While Ryle’s Anglicanism comes through in his lack of clarity between the world and the church, as always, the bishop is instructive and worth one’s time.
May 31, 2022
A challenge to pray, pray in private and to pray regularly! We are to pray boldly and with confidence. We have so many examples of godly men and women of prayer in the scriptures - to think it possible to life a godly life otherwise is foolish.
March 11, 2025
GOLD … Ryle argues for the importance of prayer, reminds us of how the Bible encourages us to pray, warns those who do not pray, and offers direction to those who do pray. We will use this little booklet in our forthcoming men’s study on prayer.
June 13, 2018
Excellent. A tiny little book, but definitely worth reading slowly and, well, praying your way through!
December 31, 2019
What a little gem! Short and sweet but packs a punch!
July 7, 2020
If you need encouragements in prayer, this book is for you! If you desire to deepen your will to pray, this book is for you. It is short but convicting for God's only glory and by His grace.
September 10, 2020
I remember it was good but I need to read it again.
I have The Banner of Truth Trust edition, it is a different cover, I think just a newer cover.
I have The Banner of Truth Trust edition, it is a different cover, I think just a newer cover.
September 28, 2020
Convicting. Encouraging. Inspirational. Biblical. Hard-hitting. Will be giving this book out to many people I know.
January 23, 2021
Read and you will be blessed. Such a great little book! Very highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews