Everyday Prayer with John Calvin

Donald K. McKim has served as a pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA), a professor of theology and academic dean at Memphis Seminary, a professor at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, and an editor for Westminster John Knox Press. He is an award-winning author and editor.

Title: Everyday Prayer with John Calvin

Author: Donald K. McKim

ISBN: 9781629956701

Publisher: P&R Publishing

Pages: 136

Binding: Hardcover
 

“Donald McKim draws on Calvin’s prayers to help us with our own. . . . This guide breathes spiritual passion, energy, and wisdom. If, like mine, your prayer life could use a little help, this book will be of immense value to you.”

—Michael S. Horton, Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics, Westminster Seminary California

“Everyday Prayer with John Calvin offers a helpful and thought-provoking guide to better understanding the purpose and practice of prayer in the Christian life. . . . There’s no better way to encounter Calvin at his best than in the reverence that he showed for the practice of prayer.”

—Jennifer Powell McNutt, Franklin S. Dyrness Chair of the School of Biblical and Theological Studies, Wheaton College; Author, Calvin Meets Voltaire

“Calvin’s emphasis on the ministry of the Holy Spirit led him to engage with and encourage believers’ daily prayers. Donald McKim . . . gathers choice practical texts on prayer from Calvin’s writings and integrates them into digestible and uplifting biblical meditations. Everyday Prayer with John Calvin affords rich nourishment for your soul.”

—Peter A. Lillback, President, Westminster Theological Seminary

Contents
Preface 11
Using This Book 15
Prayer: “Thou art pleased kindly to invite us” 18
Pray and Proceed 19
Pray to the God Who Is True 20
Tongues Break Forth into Speech 21
Conversation with God 22
Prayer Lightens Care 23
Praying God’s Promises 24
Prayer: “Thou hast been pleased to adopt us” 25
Commit Your Cause to God 26
No Calamities Hinder Us from Praying 27
Hidden Faults 28
Faith in God’s Word in Prayer 29
God Gently Summons Us to Pray 30
Praying for the Whole Church 31
Prayer: “We are . . . tossed . . . by so many troubles” 32
Wait for the Lord 33
Afflictions Lead Us to Pray 34
God Is Always Willing to Meet Us 35
Call on Me 36
God Pardons 37
Rely on God’s Providence in Prayer 38
Prayer: “Thou hast once stretched forth thy hand” 39
God Does Not Forsake or Disappoint Us 40
God Never Frustrates Our Prayers 41
Quietly Watch for God 42
Untiring Earnestness 43
Times for Prayer 44
Calling on God’s Name 45
Prayer: “We have already entered in hope” 46
God Deals in Great Tenderness toward Us 47
Promises Granted through Prayers 48
As Children Unburdening Their Troubles 49
Faith Is Lifeless without Prayer 50
Anxiety Leads Us to Pray 51
In Adversity, Pray! 52
Prayer: “Thou settest before us so clear a mirror” 53
Prayer Shows God Is Our Faithful Guardian 54
Those Whose Cause Is Just 55
Opening Our Hearts before God 56
How God Listens to Us 57
Prayer Is the Fruit of Repentance 58
Grounded in God’s Promises 59
Prayer: “Every perfect gift comes from thee” 60
Praying in Faith and Humility 61
Out of Our Despair Comes Hope 62
Prayer: Our Adoration and Worship of God 63
Prayer Is the Chief Exercise of Faith 64
Put Away All Self-Assurance 65
Touched with True Penitence 66
Prayer: “Thou hast given us thy only begotten Son” 67
No Distresses Should Keep Us from Praying 68
The Spirit Raises Our Hearts to Heaven 69
Unburdening Our Cares, Griefs, and Anxieties 70
Seek a Corner, Not a Crowd 71
Why Pray? 72
Praying for the Glory of God 73
Prayer: “We want so many aids while in this frail life” 74
The Goal of All Our Prayers 75
Ask for What Accords with God’s Will 76
Our Prayers Are Never Rejected 77
Our Daily Prayer 78
The Treasures of Prayer 79
Begging from God 80
Prayer: “Thou hast not only redeemed us” 81
Entering into Prayer 82
Faith Breaks into Prayer 83
Prayers for Daily Needs 84
Persistence in Prayer 85
Praying from Need and Desire 86
Fly to Him 87
Prayer: “We are so scattered in our pilgrimage” 88
Don’t Be Wearied by Delay 89
Without Ceasing 90
The Spirit Stirs Prayers 91
The Spirit Is Our Teacher 92
True Faith Brings Forth Prayer 93
Persevere in Prayer 94
Prayer: “We have been united together in . . . thy
Church” 95
Reconciliation—by God’s Gratuitous Favor 96
We Don’t Prescribe the Ways that God Answers 97
The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven 98
Continuing Our Prayers 99
When We Are Cold in Prayer 100
When Tempted, Pray! 101
Prayer: “Thou hast deigned to make thyself known
to us” 102
Assiduity and Alacrity 103
Give Thanks 104
Pray for Us 105
Pray for Unknown Persons 106
We May Safely Call on God 107
Unapparent Answers to Prayers 108
Prayer: “Almost the whole world breaks out into such
excesses” 109
Christ’s Intercession Consecrates Our Prayers 110
Looking Hopefully for God’s Grace 111
God Calls Us to Prayer All the Time 112
Touched by the Needs of Others 113
Praying in Faith and Hope 114
Pray According to God’s Will 115
Gifts Given by the Spirit 116
Prayer: “Thou hast made us a royal priesthood” 117
Notes 119
Works Cited 123
Selected Resources for Further Reflection 127