WHY WE PRAY
By William Philip
IVP. 112 pages. £7.99
ISBN 978 1 783 591 961
Here is another great little book that can join the ranks of resources which really help us in our prayer relationship with the Triune God.
Why add it to your reading list? Because: ‘Approaching the subject of prayer from the perspective of explanation – what prayer actually is, why prayer exists, and why it is possible to pray at all – is much more encouraging than merely exhortations to pray, because instead of focusing on ourselves, we focus on God’ (p.61).
Philip does this masterfully in his opening chapters. He first looks at God being a speaking God and at how this creates relationships. These were spoilt by man’s rebellion, but a gracious Lord responded by still speaking to us, and initiating a restoration, coming to fulfilment at the cross of Christ.
Jesus the true son
He then, and so helpfully, spells out the implications of Jesus being the true Son and how this assures and encourages us in prayer when we believe the gospel and become sons of God ourselves by adoption. This is a neglected issue, and he gives us much nourishing food for thought here.
‘We pray because God is a Sovereign God’ is a toe-dip into the theological issues that get raised around the issue of prayer and God foreordaining all things. Helpful, but perhaps leaving questions such as ‘Is unanswered prayer real prayer?’, and ‘May I ask for specific lost people to be saved (Romans 9.1-3 and 10.1)?’ to one side. Now that’s not surprising in a short book, but it left prayer feeling a little one-dimensional as he seemed to argue that real prayer is [mainly?] aligning myself with God’s sovereign will.
The final chapter looks at the ministry of the Holy Spirit – for us, to us and in us. This is searching, humbling stuff which should strip away any self-righteousness and lurking pride (see the two pray-ers of Luke 18.9ff). Yet the Holy Spirit’s ministry can also make us into pray-ers of real prayers.
Each chapter has helpful discussion questions. Warmly recommended.
