Purpose in Prayer

Purpose in Prayer emerged from E. M. Bounds' conviction that the church of his era had lost sight of prayer as the central engine of Christian life and ministry. Writing in the early twentieth century as a Methodist minister who had served as a Confederate chaplain and later as a pastor on the frontier, Bounds observed what he saw as a troubling decline in serious prayer among Christians. This work, published posthumously, represents his attempt to restore prayer to its rightful place as the foundation of all spiritual vitality and ecclesiastical effectiveness.

Bounds argues that prayer is not merely one spiritual discipline among many, but the fundamental means by which God accomplishes his purposes through his people. He contends that every great movement of God in history has been preceded and sustained by earnest prayer, and that the church's power rises and falls in direct proportion to its commitment to prayer. The book examines prayer as both personal communion with God and the essential work that enables all other Christian ministry. Bounds emphasizes that prayer requires deliberate cultivation, sustained effort, and unwavering faith in God's willingness to act in response to believing petition. He presents prayer not as passive resignation but as active partnership with God in bringing about his kingdom purposes on earth.

Purpose in Prayer has remained influential in evangelical and Pentecostal circles for over a century, helping to shape modern prayer movements and spiritual awakening efforts. Bounds' passionate, sometimes hyperbolic style and his absolute confidence in prayer's efficacy have inspired countless pastors and laypeople to take prayer more seriously. Who should read this: Christians seeking to deepen their prayer life and those interested in the theological foundations of prayer ministry will find Bounds' fervent advocacy compelling, though readers expecting nuanced theological reflection or practical prayer techniques may find his approach too singular in focus.