Prayer

by George A. Buttrick

This is a 333 page hardback authored by George Arthur Buttrick and published by Abingdon-Cokesbury Press. This old Presbyterian pastor gives us a great treatise on the subject of prayer. Contents JESUS AND PRAYER - The Great Roundabout - The World, Jesus and Prayer. PRAYER AND THE WORLD - Some Defective Theories of Prayer, Jesus' Assumptions in Prayer, The Problem of Petitionary Prayer, Petitionary Prayer and Natural Law, The Problem of Intercessory Prayer, & The Bounds and Boundlessness of Prayer. PRAYER AND PERSONALITY - Prayer and Our Wandering Attention, Prayer / Suggestion and Faith, Prayer / Instinct and Motive, Prayer / Memory and the Subconcsious, Prayer / Imagination and Thought, Prayer and Conscience, Personality and Prayer's Moods, Personality and Prayer's Forms, Personality and Corporate Prayer. A WAY OF PRAYER - A Way of Private Prayer, A Way of Corporate Prayer, & Prayer and the New World.

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.