Prayer and Praying Men

by E.M. Bounds

The Old Testament saints and the Apostle Paul provide burning examples of what prayer should become in the heart given wholly to God.

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

115 pages, Paperback

First published July 27, 1980

About the author

Edward McKendree Bounds was a Methodist minister, revivalist, author and lawyer.

Unsuccessful in the California gold rush of 1849, E.M. Bounds returned home to Missouri and became the state’s youngest practicing attorney at age 19. In his early twenties he was deeply impacted by the Third Great Awakening, and at age 24 he was ordained for ministry. During his lifetime he pastored churches, traveled as an evangelist, served as a Civil War chaplain, edited a Christian periodical and was a devoted husband and father. But E.M. Bounds is best known for prayer. His daily habit was to spend the time between 4 am and 7 am praying. His writings on prayer are widely acclaimed to be among the finest of any author before or since.

Reviews

[Benhur Congo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book worth reading and I Highly recommend it (Not only men).

[William Schrecengost · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of his best books on prayer. In it he describes the impact of prayer on several Biblical characters.

[Nicholas Maulucci · Rating 4 out of 5]

the last book in bounds' series on prayer. every christian servant should read this series at least once in his life. convicting, doctrinal sound, impassioned. walking with God should be our passion as servants and these books foster that passion like very few others. highly recommended.

[Ryan Rench · Rating 4 out of 5]

One reviewer of Bounds' first book, PURPOSE IN PRAYER (1920), said that it was good, but lacked Scripture. Perhaps Bounds felt the same, so in 1921 he wrote this book, which is entirely Scripture.

Each chapter is a Bible study of a man through the lens of his prayers. It was quite interesting to see how much each man prayed as a way of life. I plan on teaching a Bible study through this book and using PURPOSE IN PRAYER as supplemental material because it includes some inspiring stories of prayer.

This is my second BOUNDS book, and I appreciate his style and content. Even the intro of this book (comparison between Wesley and Bounds) was fascinating.

[Solomon Weisgerber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book on prayer by E.M. Bounds! In this book, Bounds aims to show stories of praying men throughout the Bible and throughout the church age, and it seems to me that there is almost no great move of God or anything great in general, without lots of prayer preceding it.

[Robert Dallmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read... better to put into practice.

[Rev Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I doubt that I am capable of speaking highly enough of Rev. Bounds classic on praying men. He powerfully and beautifully displays the traits of the Saints who changed history through the power of Prayer to God. The book is highly quotable and filled with golden nuggets to challenge God's people to live in a continual and fervent spirit of prayer. This short book should be required reading for every prayer warrior. As Bounds wrote, "We must die in our closets before we can die on the cross. The prayerful saint will be a suffering saint, and the suffering prayerful will be a sweet saint."

[Kyle Pettit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing that though it was written so long ago is so completely applicable today. Prayer hasn't changed. Bounds uses Old Testament examples to show the power of prayer in their lives and in ours. My favorite quote from the book "They were not leaders because of brilliancy of thought, because they were exhausted in resources, be user of their magnificent culture or native endowment, but because, by the power of prayer, they could command the power of God." Holds so powerful in my life day to day.

[Chuck Shorter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Working through EM Bounds' complete work on prayer. This book, as noted in the title, examines many of the biblical saints of God and their specific prayers. I have been teaching about prayer at NTBC during our mid-week service and was greatly encouraged by what I've read. Each of us should devote some time to read and study what great men and women of the bible prayed. Lots of lessons to be learned.

[Christopher Crentsil · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly inspirational book on the subject on prayer, our relationship with God and our relationship with what is around us.

[Kurt Michaelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book by E.M. Bounds and how important it is that men, Christian men should be men of prayer, following the example of Jesus.

[Steve Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book inspires the reader by examining the prayer lives of several people from the Bible, mainly from the Old Testament, but including a significant examination of the apostle Paul's prayer life.

[Cassie Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book on prayer by E.M. Bounds, this time focusing on the praying men of the Bible. Having read two other books by Bounds, I was confident that I would find this book to be a powerful incentive to prayer. I was not wrong.

Bounds begins by talking about the praying saints of the Old Testament. From Abraham to Moses, he talks about the power these men had because of their prayers to God and their assurance that He is good and faithful to answer prayer. There is no doubt that the saints of the Old Testament had the power to move mountains because of their fervent prayers, and Bounds explores this in depth.

After thoroughly discussing the prophets and saints of the Old Testament, Bounds takes a chapter to discuss the faith of sinners in prayer before moving on to one of the most influential pray-ers in the entire Bible. The apostle Paul is the subject of the last part of this book, and there is much to say on the topic of prayer and Paul.

Paul not only taught prayer, he lived what he taught. Prayer was so important to Paul and in every letter he wrote, he exhorted people to pray for him in all he did. Bounds dissects the elements that made Paul such a powerful teacher, apostle, and man of God, and he proved that prayer was the key of his success with the Gentiles.

This book is a fantastic look at the power of prayer in the lives of the men and women of the Bible. From Hannah’s desperate prayer for a son to the prayers of Paul for grace and his ministry, this book shows the true power of prayer if you consistently apply it. I recommend this book for Christians who want to know more about the saints of both the Old and New Testament and how prayer affected their lives and the lives of others.

[Tom Brennan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of the eight volumes Bounds wrote on prayer, this is the weakest. It lacks the convicting punch of his other books. What's curious about this is I expected to like it a lot, not just because I think he is a tremendous writer on prayer but because of his approach. I have previously done something similar as a teaching series and found it most profitable. But somehow, in Bounds' hands, it comes across mostly as a mere recitation of events. Hezekiah did this, then he prayed this, then this happened, then he prayed this, etc.

The little book is not a waste by any means. As a sourcebook to spur one on to examine what we can learn from biblical examples in the area of prayer it has value. But it doesn't belong with his other works, really. Bounds' works on prayer make my heart burn. This one struggled to hold my attention, taught me very little, and did nothing to warm me up.

[James Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick read chock full of Biblical references of prayer and examples of praying men. In fact, all of the praying men referenced in this book may be found in the Bible. Each chapter is introduced with a quote from a modern member of the Christian church. This book is encouraging and should stir the reader into a desire to pray more and with intensity.

[Tiffany Chatman · Rating 5 out of 5]

If prayer has been a mystery or a spiritual skill with no sharpness, this book unpacks how powerful prayer is & was to those in the Bible. E.M. Bounds gives practical language to scripture that may have been overlooked or misunderstood.

Bounds is able to elevate the importance of prayer & spark readers to engage in a spiritual practice that so many think of lately.

[Chris Helmkay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book that will inspire you to pray. Like only EM Bounds can, he highlights the praying men of scripture, such as David, Daniel and the apostle Paul. This is a good easy read it inspires pray-er within.

[Alejandro Ramírez Badillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bounds, el mejor autor escritor sobre la oración
La traducción muy buena
El contenido invita mucho a la reflexión y si , a orar
Quizás los últimos capítulos se sienten muy forzados y repetitivos
Pero bien
Siempre es muy bueno leer sobre la oración

[Stephen Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

So religious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[B-right · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth reading. Very insightful. 👌

[Chase Cohee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent little survey of the praying saints in the Old and New Testaments.

[Asha McDd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is about some of the great men of the Bible and their prayer life. He makes the need for prayer so clear and the description of the men and their prayer life attainable.

[Benjamin Emmanuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

i can't read some books