Taking Hold of God: Reformed and Puritan Perspectives on Prayer

by Joel R. Beeke; Brian G. Najapfour

Publisher:

Reformation Heritage

, 2011

Overview

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.

Key Features

• Explores the writings and prayer lives of several Reformers and Puritans
• Offers wisdom and insight for more effectual prayers
• Guides readers to a more grateful communion with God

Contents

Top Highlights

“The second rule is a heartfelt sense of need and repentance” (Page 34)

“Prayer includes every pursuit of the soul, in meditation, reading, listening, [and] praying.’^{2” (Page 1)}

“The third rule is to have a heartfelt sense of humility and trust in God” (Page 34)

“ final rule is to have a heartfelt sense of confident hope” (Page 35)

“The sin of prayerlessness is not less sinful than the sin of theft. They incur the same guilt, for they both violate God’s sacred law.” (Page 47)

Praise for the Print Edition

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, First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, SC, and professor of systematic theology, Redeemer Theological Seminary, TX

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, Second Presbyterian Church of Greenville, SC

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, author, The Pursuit of Holiness

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, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Product Details

• Title: Taking Hold of God: Reformed and Puritan Perspectives on Prayer
• Authors: Joel R. Beeke, Brian G. Najapfour
• Publisher: Reformation Heritage
• Print Publication Date: 2011
• Logos Release Date: 2014
• Pages: 267
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Prayer › Reformed Church--History; Reformed Church › Doctrines--History; Prayer › Puritans--History; Puritans › Doctrines--History
• ISBNs: 9781601781208, 1601781202
• Resource ID: LLS:TAKINGHOLDOFGOD
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T03:16:38Z

About the Authors

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

Joel R. Beeke is president and professor of systematic theology and homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, pastor of the Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, editorial director of Reformation Heritage Books, and editor of the Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth. He has written, coauthored, or edited over 70 books.