PERSISTENT

PRAYER

GUY M. RICHARD

P.O. BOX 817 • PHILLIPSBURG • NEW JERSEY 08865-0817

© 2021 by Guy M. Richard

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—except for brief quotations for the purpose of review or comment, without the prior permission of the publisher, P&R Publishing Company, P.O. Box 817, Phillipsburg, New Jersey 08865-0817.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Italics within Scripture quotations indicate emphasis added.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Richard, Guy M., author.

Title: Persistent prayer / Guy M. Richard.

Description: Phillipsburg, New Jersey : P&R Publishing, [2021] | Series: Blessings of the faith | Summary: “Informative, encouraging, and practical, this short book will serve as a helpful primer for pastors, elders, study groups, and Christians who seek encouragement and instruction on prayer and its blessings”-- Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2021015016 | ISBN 9781629958729 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781629958736 (epub) | ISBN 9781629958743 (mobi)

Subjects: LCSH: Prayer--Christianity.

Classification: LCC BV210.3 .R53 2021 | DDC 248.3/2--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021015016

BLESSINGS OF THE FAITH

A Series

Jason Helopoulos

Series Editor

For Tim Murr and Al Chestnut, fellow elders in the

Presbyterian Church in America and faithful brothers in

Christ, who have encouraged me and set before me an

example of heartfelt and heart-filled prayer. I am grateful

for your influence in my life.

CONTENTS

Foreword by Kevin DeYoung

Introduction: The Blessing of Prayer

1. The Nature of Prayer

2. Prayer Works

3. Prayer Is Necessary

4. Growing in Prayer

Questions and Answers on Prayer

Recommended Resources

FOREWORD

It has often been said—sometimes with a sense of humor and sometimes in annoyance—that Presbyterian and Reformed churches love to do things “decently and in order.” I can understand both the humor and the frustration that lie behind that sentiment. We love our plans, our minutes, our courts, and our committees. Presbyterian and Reformed folks have been known to appoint committees just to oversee other committees (reminding me of the old Onion headline that announced “New Starbucks Opens in Rest Room of Existing Starbucks”). We like doing things so decently that we expect our church officers to know three things: the Bible, our confessions, and a book with Order in its title.

But before we shake our heads in disbelief at those uber-Reformed types (physician, heal thyself!), we should recall that before “decently ...