Prayer

by George A. Buttrick

George Arthur Buttrick (March 23, 1892 – January 23, 1980) was an English-born, American-based Christian preacher, author and lecturer. Buttrick served as a pastor in Quincy, Illinois, Rutland, Vermont, Buffalo, New York, and in 1927 he succeeded Henry Sloane Coffin as minister of the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City.[4] Buttrick gave a lecture series at Yale University. From 1955 to 1960 he was Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Preacher to the University at Harvard University. He was then a guest professor at the Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York and went on to teach at Garrett–Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. He later taught at Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina, Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, and the Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

Genres: Prayer, Christian, Nonfiction, Theology

382 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1942

Reviews

[David Clifton · Rating 5 out of 5]

George Buttrick gives some clear "hints" on prayer, warning there are no binding rules. His intervals of prayer (Thanksgiving, Confession, Intercession, and Petition) are not unique, but they help me practice prayer. 

Buttrick challenges us to be specific in our individual prayers. Examples:
"If we are 'thankful for everything,' we may end up by being thankful for nothing."
"Genuine love sees faces, not a mass: the good shepherd 'calleth his own sheep by name.' Intercession is more than specific: it is pondered: it requires us to bear on our heart the burden of those for whom we pray."

I was encouraged by, and grateful for, this book and his thoughts on prayer.