The Hidden Life of Prayer and the Prayer-Life of Our Lord

David M'Intyre (1859-1938) was a Scottish, Presbyterian minister whose many books have the rare balance of scholastic care and worshipful writing. He succeeded the famous Andrew Bonar as minister in Finnieston and later became Principal of the Bible Training Institute in Glascow. In this single volume, we present two of his stirring and helpful books on the topic of prayer. The first of these is his most well-known work, the one which seems to have remained in general circulation from its first publication, The Hidden Life of Prayer. The author best describes his own intentions in the preface: "Books on secret prayer are without number; but it seems to me that there is still room for one in which an appeal may be taken, steadily, and from every point, to life to the experience of God's saints." Upon the foundation of biblical teaching, M'Intyre piles example after example of what has been helpful and effective in the prayer lives of many Christians, from Augustine to Spurgeon. The result is a handbook for prayer based both on Scripture and on the time-tested wisdom of God's people through the centuries. Reading this book will, therefore, give you an abundance of counselors (Proverbs 11:14) to help you toward a victorious prayer life. The second book, The Prayer-Life of Our Lord, is not as well-known but is of equal quality. M'Intyre here conducts a study of the prayers of Jesus from the beginning of His earthly life to His present intercession for us. The aim is transparent: to give us a flawless example of genuine communion with God, so that we may go and do likewise. To read this book will allow you to repeat the exchange in Luke 11:1: "It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, 'Lord, teach us to pray....'" The reader may even wish to read this book before The Hidden Life of Prayer, since surely the example of our Lord is far weightier than all the helpful advice of His people combined. We therefore believe that this book will also correct a surprising oversight in our own day: we simply do not have many books on the prayer life of Jesus, though He ought to be our example in all things, prayer included. Together, we hope these two books will renew your commitment to seek God in prayer and even enrich your time with Him. Prayer is one of the few things which we are commanded to do without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and it holds the great promise that, if we will ask, we will receive, even if the request is the Holy Spirit Himself (Luke 11:9-13). Naturally, a volume on prayer is fitting for all Christians. But given its importance and power, newer Christians should begin immediately to cultivate a constant and zealous habit of prayer, and we offer this volume as a real help to them.