Publisher's Description

In Taking Hold of God, you will enter the treasury of the church of Jesus Christ and discover some of its most valuable gems on the subject of Christian prayer. The writings of the Reformers and Puritans shine with the glory of God in Christ, offering us much wisdom and insight today that can make our own prayer lives more informed, more extensive, more fervent, and more effectual. Six contemporary scholars explore the writings and prayer lives of several Reformers and Puritans—among them Martin Luther, John Calvin, William Perkins, Matthew Henry, and Jonathan Edwards—guiding us to growth in prayer and a more grateful communion with God.

Table of Contents:

1. Martin Luther on Prayer and Reformation – Brian G. Najapfour
2. John Calvin on Prayer as Communion with God – Joel R. Beeke
3. John Knox: A Theologian of Prayer – Brian G. Najapfour
4. William Perkins on the Lord’s Prayer — J. Stephen Yuille
5. Anthony Burgess on Christ’s Prayer for Us – Joel R. Beeke
6. John Bunyan on Praying with the Holy Spirit – Michael A.G. Haykin
7. The Puritans on the Help of the Holy Spirit in Prayer – Johnny C. Serafini
8. Matthew Henry on a Practical Method of Daily Prayer – Joel R. Beeke
9. Thomas Boston on Praying to Our Father – Joel R. Beeke
10. Jonathan Edwards on Prayer and the Triune God – Peter Beck
11. Puritan Prayers for World Missions – Joel R. Beeke
12. Prayerful Praying Today – Joel R. Beeke

About the Editors 

Joel R. Beekeis president and professor of Systematic Theology and Homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, and a pastor of the Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Brian G. Najapfour, a pastor from the Philippines, is a recent grad­uate from Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary (Th.M.) and is a Ph.D. student at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Endorsements  

“Taking Hold of God is a veritable gold mine on the subject of prayer. Beeke and Najapfour have brought together in one volume the teaching on prayer of the giants of the Reformation and Puritan eras: Luther, Calvin, Knox, Perkins, Bunyan, Henry, Edwards, and others. I was personally encouraged and stimulated to take my own prayer life to a higher and hopefully more productive level. All believers who have any desire to pray effectively will profit from this book.” — Jerry Bridges, a longtime staff member of the Navigators and author ofThe Pursuit of Holiness

“Together, Beeke and Najapfour have produced a marvelously helpful and instructive volume on prayer drawn from such giants as Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Bunyan, Matthew Henry, and Jonathan Edwards. It is a veritable potpourri of spiritual insight and godly advice. Books on prayer often induce more guilt than help. Taking Hold of God, as the title itself suggests, aims at doing the latter. It beckons us, allures us, into the challenge of prayer itself: laying hold of a gracious Father who longs for our presence and delights to commune with His children. If you aim to read just one book on prayer this year, choose this one.” — Derek W. H. Thomas, John E. Richards Professor of Systematic and Practical Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, Mississippi

 “Here is a master stroke indeed!—a book on the prayer-filled lives and teaching of nine masters of the Christian life (plus others included for good measure). — Richard D. Phillips, senior minister of Second Presbyterian Church of Greenville, South Carolina

“Many of us feel either infants in the school of prayer or intimidated and beaten down by those who accuse us of being prayer-less but do not teach us how to be prayer-full.  But here can be found nourishment, example, instruction, encouragement, and, yes, deep challenge, all in one volume. May these pages serve as a tonic for our weakness, a remedy for our sickness, and an inspiration to greater prayerfulness in our churches!” — Sinclair B. Ferguson, senior minister of First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, South Carolina, and professor of Systematic Theology at Redeemer Theological Seminary, Dallas, Texas

“The Protestant Reformation brought a revolution to the life of prayer. This book opens up the story of how the Reformers like Luther and Calvin, followed by the Puritans like William Perkins and Matthew Henry, teach us a surprisingly new approach to the life of prayer.” — Hughes Oliphant Old, John H. Leith Professor of Reformed Theology and Worship, Erskine Theological Seminary, Due West, South Carolina

“Here is a great vault of spiritual riches for anyone who wants to learn more about prayer and be encouraged to pray whether you consider yourself Reformed or a student of the Puritans or not. But if some of the names in the table of contents are already favorites of yours, you will enjoy this book even more. This is a valuable book, and I am very grateful for those whose work made it possible.” — Don Whitney, associate professor of Biblical Spirituality at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky