We all struggle with Paul’s exhortation to “pray without ceasing.” After realizing her days were filled with thoughts that weren’t so much wrong, as they were simply unspiritual, Janet Holm McHenry decided to delve into the lives of eight great “pray-ers” in church history. The result is her book PrayerStreaming: Staying in Touch with God All Day Long, “a life-changing guide to praying through the clutter and clatter of everyday life” (cover).

Eight of ten chapters are devoted to the following historical pray-ers: the Pilgrim, Frank Laubach, Madame Guyon, Teresa of Avila, Andrew Murray, C. H. Spurgeon, E. M. Bounds, and Brother Lawrence. Each figure has a different personality, and therefore touched God differently. Chapter by chapter, the author identifies each pray-er’s heart, that attitude within that allowed him/her to maintain constant communion with God. As you read, you get take bits of each with you, as well as start to develop a personal method of heart to heart communication with God.

I must admit, that at first I found it difficult to “find the writer’s voice,” which can hold me back from getting interested in the book. But the material kept me interested, and I actually took a lot away from the book. For example, the Pilgrim prayed a very simple prayer at every opportunity to help attune himself to the things of God, as well as to keep his life in a state of constant surrender. That prayer, referred to most often as the Jesus Prayer, is simply: Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me (p. 8 ). The following statement from Chapter 5 is filled implications and insight: “Teresa of Avila wrote that we think too much of ourselves and do not wholly give ourselves over to God. We think we’ve given everything to him when instead we’ve only offered the produce or rent the land generates while we retain the title to the deed” (p. 67).

We all know we can pray more, and we hear Paul’s words so very often. But rather than be discourage at our procrastination, inadequacy, and frequent insincerity in prayer, we can find hope in knowing that prayer is from our heart, and doesn’t have to be grandiose or repetitive to be unceasing.

I’ve been inspired to learn more about each of these pray-ers, and to read for myself their writings and encouragements. Thankfully, the author includes an extensive bibliography and recommended reading appendix. Here are a couple:

• The Complete Works of E. M. Bounds on Prayer: Experience the Wonders of God through Prayer
• Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ (Library of Spiritual Classics, Volume 2) (Guyon)

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a theology of prayer, or who desires further insight into make prayer personal, and not just a task to be completed or checked off of our daily routine.

Chris MacKinnon http://chrismac.wordpress.com