“The prayer of the humble and the contrite heart is a delight to God.” (3.5 stars)
D. L. Moody’s PREVAILING PRAYER is an engaging and worthwhile read, particularly for the mature Christian who desires a deeper understanding of the nature and practice of prayer. It’s not a light devotional or an introductory book on prayer; rather, it’s a thoughtful and sometimes challenging work that rewards those who bring spiritual depth and reflection to it.
The structure of the book is straightforward. Moody identifies nine elements essential to true prayer, and then dedicates a chapter to expanding on each one. This clear organization makes the text easy to follow, and the nine elements themselves form a helpful framework for understanding prayer in its fullness. The nine elements Moody identifies as essential to true prayer are: adoration, confession, restitution, thanksgiving, forgiveness, unity, faith, petition, and submission. Each chapter offers insight into these disciplines, often drawing from Scripture and from examples in Christian history.
One of the strongest chapters is the opening one, called “The Prayers of the Bible.” Here, Moody examines the Lord’s Prayer and explores patterns of prayer found throughout Scripture. He notes that in the Bible most public prayers are brief, while private prayers are often longer. An ironic reversal of what is often seen in modern Christian life. It’s a simple but striking observation.
Quotes:
• “Ingratitude is about the hardest thing we have to meet with.”
• “It is well to bear always in mind, that the object of faith is not the creature, but the Creator; not the instrument, but the Hand that wields it.”
• “The voice of sin may be loud, but the voice of forgiveness is louder.”
• “We may sing our hymns and psalms, and offer prayers, but they will be an abomination to God, unless we are willing to be thoroughly straightforward in our daily life.”
• “Too often we knock at mercy’s door, and then run away, instead of waiting for an entrance and an answer.”
One of my few critiques is that Moody frequently references writers and figures from his own era, often without context. He assumes his readers will recognize them, but most modern readers will not. After a while, the continual references to obscure names and quotations can become a bit wearying. Many of these citations are also wrapped in the formal “thee” and “thou” language of the 18th and 19th centuries, which can make the reading feel somewhat distant or stilted today.
Nevertheless, despite these dated aspects, PREVAILING PRAYER remains a valuable and convicting work. It’s not ideal for someone who has only recently entered the Christian faith (you need a bit of spiritual depth and biblical grounding to fully appreciate it) but for the seasoned believer, it’s a book well worth engaging with. Moody’s call to earnest, continual prayer still resonates powerfully. A key theme throughout the text is the necessity of persistent prayer. Moody reinforces the biblical command to “pray without ceasing,” showing that all nine elements ultimately point toward that continual communion with God. Keep praying, keep praying.