A Method for Prayer: Freedom in the Face of God

by Matthew Henry

Edited by Ligon Duncan. True prayer comes from the heart, so why do we need a method? The great devotional commentator and pastor shows here that Christians benefit from discipline just as much as talking freely with God. You will discover the methods Jesus taught, look at styles of prayer, and see helpful examples. Duncan has incorporated some of Henry's other work on prayer.

Genres: Prayer, Christian, Theology, Christian Living, Christianity, Nonfiction, Faith

304 pages, Paperback

First published May 20, 2009

About the author

Matthew Henry was an English non-conformist clergyman. Henry's well-known Exposition of the Old and New Testaments (1708–1710) is a commentary of a practical and devotional rather than of a critical kind, covering the whole of the Old Testament, and the Gospels and Acts in the New Testament.

Reviews

[Mak]

Incredible read. Most highly recommend to anyone who desires closer fellowship with God. Chapters 1-9 contain example prayers taken straight from Scripture (stellar model and resource for anyone leading in corporate prayer). The final 3 sections of the book address morning, midday, and evening prayer- as well as the heart posture of a humble and dependent Christian. Tbh, can’t wait to meet Matthew Henry in Heaven

[megHan]

I want to start off by saying that I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I usually wait to the end to tell people that, but I wanted to say first and foremost that I didn't buy this book - and you shouldn't too.

1) It's for sale for $.99 on Amazon, but according to the description, you can get the e-book and audio free on his website. Leaves me wondering why he has it for sale on Amazon then.

2) It is the exact book written by Reverend Matthew Henry back in 1710, so if you've already read this, then you know what it says. Yeah, this guy went through and did some modern spelling on things. He also added a glossary in the back, a daily Bible reading plan and Psalm 119. According to the description, there's also something called "My Affection," which is described as "a collection of devotional prayers to the Godhead of Jesus Christ." THAT is really just a bunch of sayings with places in the Bible to go read. I guess it could be called a "poem" of sorts, but with the Bible passages, it's just awkward.

I wanted so much from this book. I really did. But the formatting in the e-book I was sent is just plain awful. Things that are from Henry are set up in a somewhat odd outline form while others are just paragraphs. And it's basically ways to praise and pray to him, followed by Bible passages to back up what he's saying. I found myself skimming through the Bible passages to try to get the meaning of what was trying to be said in the first place. This is obviously not a sit-down-and-read book because it comes across more like a reference book. The Bible reading plan is interesting - by the end of this you'll have read the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice - you skip around - but I've seen similar things before online. If the author wanted to fix it up to make it more relateable to modern readers (which is why, I assume, that he used modern spelling of the words), he should have fixed it up to where people could read it and understand the point without being bogged down by so much that is not necessary - maybe have an Appendix in the back.

[Becky Pliego]

Can I give this book more than 5 stars? It is my favorite prayer companion.

How do I use this prayer companion? I blogged about it here: https://beckypliego.me/2011/09/08/how...

[Bambi Moore]

This book is a tool for prayer like no other. If you want to grow in the discipline of prayer, I cannot recommend this one highly enough. The book is also available free online in more modern language. I plan to have my copy spiral-bound because I have been using it so regularly as I pray. This book is right up there with the Valley of Vision.

[Brandi Breezee]

This beautiful book read like one long prayer, and no one prays like Matthew Henry prays. Beautiful, just beautiful.

[Douglas Wilson]

Wonderful.

[Jacolien]

Dit boek bestaat uit twee delen: eerst een methode om te bidden en vervolgens drie preken over het gebed.

Het eerste deel vond ik wat moeilijk om doorheen te komen, omdat het een gebed is van zo’n 200 bladzijdes met wel verschillende thema’s. Ik zou het aanraden om uit het eerste deel bijvoorbeeld elke ochtend een stukje te lezen als leidraad bij het bidden. Dat maakt dat het gelijk toepasbaar is. Ik heb dat namelijk niet gedaan wat denk ik het lezen niet makkelijker maakte.

Het tweede deel vond ik erg aansprekend! De drie preken zijn heel praktisch en toe te passen in het dagelijks leven.

[Mike E.]

This book is not what I was expecting, but I am glad that I have it on my shelf and took the time to read it. The bulk of the book is arranged around the biblical components of prayer (adoration, confession, supplication for our needs, thanksgiving, intercession. For example chapter one takes on the theme of adoration with 15 headings. Under each heading Henry lists various texts of Scripture arranged in a unified way, easily read or prayed. For example heading #14 in chapter 1 says, "We must make the glory of God our highest end in all our prayers."

Perhaps most helpful to me were the chapters at the end of the book and the appendixes. Listen to MH in the "Second Discourse, "In all our comforts we must see His hand giving them out to us, and in all our crosses we must see the same hand laying them upon us, that we may learn to receive both good and evil, and to bless the name of the Lord both when He gives and when He takes."

If you are a pastor or small group leader Appendix 2 is excellent, "Some Principles for Public Prayer." Following Samuel, Miller Ligon Duncan addresses frequent faults and then characteristics of a good public prayer.

I have a long way to go in growing in both my private and public praying. This book will aid that growth.

[Steve]

One of the most thorough and practical guides to the use of scripture in prayer that I have ever encountered and I find myself going back to it again and again for direction and inspiration in my daily prayer life. Matthew Henry encourages prayer that encompasses an approach to God, adoration, confession, petition, thanksgiving and intercession. Praying the words of scripture is one of the best ways to pray and Henry has left us a practical guide to help us pursue this goal.

[William]

Don’t read this like I tried to: looking up each scripture reference as you get to it. I did get better at rapidly finding passages in my Bible, but it robbed me of the joy of reading these prayers as they go. It took me a little over a week to read the last 75% or so of the book after a long hiatus from the glacial pace at which I had been progressing.
On the kindle edition, I wish there had been links or footnotes to the glossary of scriptural terms whenever they came up. That’s my only real criticism.
If you can read a KJV, you can read this. If not, maybe check out the updated-language version “A Way to Pray” (which I have not personally read, yet).

[Douglas Domer]

Excellent book. If I could give it more stars, I would! Based on the number of folks that attend the typical prayer meeting, many have trouble with the topic of prayer. Matthew Henry did an excellent job of walking us through prayer. The Appendixes at the end of the book, by Ligon Duncan, are worth the price of the book by themselves. I can wait until the next time it comes off the read bookshelf and is again on the currently reading bookshelf. That is high praise coming from this reader!!!

[Matt Carpenter]

I appreciate this book. It is a wonderful guide for prayer, both privately and publicly. I am using it as a foundation for weekly prayer meetings, and it is quite practical. The format may be difficult for some to follow, but you'll get used to it after a little bit of use. This would help those who want to learn how to pray, beyond merely asking for God to give us something or another.

[Sarah]

The meditations and prayers are beautiful, but I really find the appendices and shorter prayers so helpful and practical for incorporating into my private prayer time. The prayers are steeped in Scripture and reference passages appropriately. I recommend this as a prayer and Bible reading resource.

[Laurent Dv]

Henry gives us a lot of clues for prayer : different ideas for what praying in what for him are the distinct parts of prayer (adoration, thanksgiving, confession of sins, requests, intercession for others ...)

[Reid]

This is more of a tool/resource than a traditional book, but I highly recommend it as a guide to think more Biblically about our prayers. It wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, but I’m sure it is something that I will refer back to often in the future.

[Clare]

An excellent reference book for those believers who wish to enlarge and improve their prayer life

Put together in a unique and easy to follow way, a volume that will prove invaluable in all Jefferson's lives

[Troy]

This is more of a reference book for prayer. Not something I see myself reading from cover to cover.

[Jorge]

The classic book on prayer by Matthew Henry is now available for the first time for e-readers! This volume will help you, perhaps as never before, pray the Bible.

[Antonette Artiz]

This is a book you will never finish. It's a book I'll constantly pick up.

[Jodi Larson]

A very useful tool for when you need some guidance in prayer!

[Christian Cunningham]

Provides a good outline for your prayers and different ways to adore God, confess sins, etc. Helpful sermons on prayer but nothing incredibly significant or profound.

[Cheyenne Brunet]

Great book- would definitely re-read. It’s aimed towards those who pray in public but I thought it just as beneficial for private prayer as well.

[Martha]

This book will really melt your heart when you read it. It gives a systematic explanation for the proper structure of pray (following the Lord's Prayer, etc.). But the rest of the book is actually Matthew Henry writing down his prayers. At the bottom of each page are the Bible references for direct quotes that he gives. You will be amazed how well this man knows Scripture! And his love for the Lord is extremely evident and very contagious.

[Isaiah Jesch]

I took quite a long time to read through this work. I came to it with some different expectations, but as I read it, I grew to appreciate Henry's work all the more. His sermon on prayer in the morning was particularly good and convicting. That alone was worth the read and would be something I plan to reread and reference to keep my prayer life alert. I felt the book was a little long, though being a number of sermons put together, I understand why it is so.

[Chris Comis]

Anything and everything you ever wanted to know about prayer is in this book. Very valuable tool for any pastor to have. It was kinda tedious to read straight through, but still a blessing nonetheless.

[Brian]

This is the granddaddy of all prayer books. Henry proposes these 5 steps in every day prayer: Adoration, Confession, Petition, Thanksgiving, & Intercession. A fantastic resource, both as devotional and reference.

[Joshua Horn]

The first part of this book Henry goes through various categories of prayers, and pulls out scripture verses related to that topic, and rewrites them as prayers. At the end are three excellent sermons on morning prayer, praying throughout the day, and evening prayer.

[Dirk]

Great. Very devotional.

[Jeremy]

Very helpful.