GROWING IN THE LIFE OF PRAYER

This is not a manual of devotion, although it contains prayers. Nor is it a dissertation on how to pray, although it says a great deal on that subject. Rather, Harold Wiley Freer assumes that the way toward growth in the devotional life is to pray under guidance. The book sets forth a prayer to be used every day for a week. It also includes an exercise, to be read during each week, either in a prayer group or privately, and that exercise has some suggestions for the content of additional prayers during the following week. The prayers are universal in their scope and have in mind all sorts and conditions of men. They are very personal. The exercises deal with the various aspects of prayer, -- thanksgiving, confession, forgiveness, intercession, adoration and commitment. The growth consists partly in praying regularly, and partly in being guided through the various phases of the devotional life by the exercises, so that faithful adherence to the pattern for thirty-two weeks is bound to make a difference. The author warns against merely reading the book. Its positive contribution depends upon its being used as the author intended. The prayers are challenging; the exercises are apt and interesting. Any adult layman who follows the discipline will reap the reward implied in the title.