15 best books on prayer for Christians in 2026
Prayer is the heartbeat of the Christian life — our direct line to a loving Father. As we step into 2026, many of us are seeking fresh ways to deepen that intimacy with God, especially amid the noise and hurry of daily life.
If you've ever felt your prayers growing routine or wondered how to experience more of God's presence, you're not alone.
That's why I've curated this list of Christian books about prayer.
I’ve included enduring classics that will guide you to learn how to pray effectively, as well as contemporary works that speak directly to today's challenges.
Whether you're just starting your prayer journey or longing for renewed passion, these books will inspire you, equip you, and draw you closer to Jesus.
➡️ Read inspiring true stories of answered prayer in our testimonies collection.
➡️ Discover 27 Bible verses about prayer (and 5 true stories)
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Top 15 best Christian books on prayer
Discover the best prayer books Christian readers turn to for deepening prayer life and improving prayer habits.
These powerful books offer Christians guidance on prayer, biblical principles of prayer, and spiritual growth from learning to pray effectively.
From practical books to inspiring titles, these Christian books on prayer will transform your daily conversations with God.
Whether you are seeking a stronger connection or renewed focus, the best prayer books will help you build or deepen your relationship with God.
1. ‘A Praying Life’
Many Christians struggle with prayer, feeling it is hard or inconsistent amid busy lives, leading to fear, anxiety, joylessness, or spiritual lethargy. '
"A Praying Life" by Paul Miller demonstrates how prayer is not a duty, but a desperate need for an intimate relationship with a loving Heavenly Father.
Miller emphasizes coming to God like a child — helpless, honest, and dependent — which frees believers from cynicism or self-reliance.
It’s updated and expanded, including new chapters on prayers of lament and further guidance for using prayer cards.
About the author: After teaching in inner-city schools and serving with his father, Jack Miller, in ministry, he earned an MDiv. He began creating interactive Bible studies and seminars on prayer and discipleship.
2. ‘Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God’
Prayer can be a struggle when it becomes rote or feels distant, leading to spiritual dryness or a sense of duty without delight.
"Prayer" by Timothy Keller answers these objections to prayer by showing how it can be a conversation with God.
Keller emphasizes balancing reverence for God's holiness with the closeness enabled by Jesus, freeing believers from superficial "chatting" or mechanical routines.
Drawing richly from Scripture and great Christian teachers like Augustine, Luther, and Calvin, Keller explores the traditional forms of prayer — adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication — as concrete practices.
The book provides biblical guidance, model prayers from history, and practical steps to make prayer more personal, powerful, and consistent, even amid grief, loss, or daily challenges.
About the author: Keller is a bestselling author who’s also written apologetics books.
3. ‘Praying the Bible’
Through clear examples, especially from the Psalms, “Praying the Bible” explains how to pray through any passage of Scripture.
Donald S. Whitney’s approach can help you turn familiar texts into fresh, personal petitions that align with God's will.
The book provides an easy-to-grasp method to make prayer more engaging, God-centered, and consistent, even in busy or dry seasons.
About the author: Whitney is a professor of biblical spirituality at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri, where he also serves in pastoral ministry roles.
4. ‘The Circle Maker’ by Mark Batterson
"The Circle Maker" by Mark Batterson shows you how to stop making timid requests of God and start praying boldly by drawing metaphorical circles around dreams, problems, and fears until God breaks through.
Batterson emphasizes dreaming big, praying hard, and thinking long, freeing believers from small-minded faith or quick surrender.
Using the story of Honi the circle maker, a 1st-century Jewish sage who drew a circle in the sand and prayed boldly for rain during a drought, along with modern examples and his own experiences pastoring in Washington, D.C.
This book helped me see how to seek God with seemingly impossible goals and pray with audacious confidence.
About the author: Batterson serves as lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C., a multisite church recognized for its innovative outreach, including owning coffeehouses and theaters that fund kingdom causes.
5. ‘With Christ in the School of Prayer’ by Andrew Murray
First published in 1885, “With Christ in the School of Prayer” is a classic book on prayer. Andrew Murray shares how prayer is the highest and holiest work — a ministry of intercession where believers partner with Christ to bring down heavenly blessings on the world.
Through 31 lessons drawn from Jesus' teachings and examples, Murray teaches readers how to pray in spirit and truth, persevere boldly, and embrace a life of unceasing prayer.
The book provides scriptural insights, model prayers, and encouragement to view prayer as the root of all Christian work and power.
About the author: Andrew Murray (1828–1917) was a South African pastor, teacher, missionary, statesman, and prolific writer who authored 240 books and tracts.
Born in South Africa to a Dutch Reformed missionary family, he studied in Scotland and the Netherlands before returning to serve in various capacities.
6. ‘Fervent’
In "Fervent,” Priscilla Shirer describes prayer not as casual wishes, but as a targeted weapon — serious, specific, and strategic — to strike back against the enemy's personalized schemes.
Inspired by her role in the film “War Room,” each chapter exposes the enemy's tactics in areas like passion, focus, identity, family, past regrets, fears, and more.
It also provides space to craft personalized prayer strategies on tear-out pages for ongoing use.
The book offers a hands-on guide to practical praying that renews passion, refocuses identity, defeats temptation, and uproots bitterness.
Readers find “Fervent” transformative — igniting a warrior mindset in prayer that counters attacks, restores joy, and draws them closer to Jesus.
About the author: Priscilla Shirer is a Bible teacher, conference speaker, and author of Bible studies. She holds a Master's degree in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary.
7. ‘Power Through Prayer’
If you’ve ever found yourself neglecting prayer in the midst of daily demands, "Power Through Prayer" by E.M. Bounds will help you see prayer as an essential source of power even on the busiest and most stressful days.
In short, provocative chapters, Bounds calls preachers and all Christians to prioritize prayer.
Originally published under the title “Preacher and Prayer” in 1907, this book has become a classic.
About the author: E.M. Bounds (1835–1913) was an American attorney turned clergyman in the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
8. ‘A Simple Way to Pray’
"A Simple Way to Pray" by Martin Luther is another prayer classic. Written in 1535, it teaches how to have a heartfelt, structured conversation with God by using familiar texts like the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Apostles' Creed.
Written as a personal letter to his barber, Luther shares his own prayer habits, demonstrating how to meditate on each phrase slowly, letting the Holy Spirit prompt personal responses.
The book provides a practical framework that emphasizes four elements of prayer: instruction, thanksgiving, confession, and petition.
About the author: Martin Luther (1483–1546) was a German monk, theologian, and professor whose bold stand against church abuses with his 95 Theses, sparking the Protestant Reformation in 1517.
9. ‘The Power of a Praying …’ series
Stormie Omartian wrote “The Power of a Praying …” series to show Christians that prayer doesn’t have to be vague or occasional.
Instead, God invites us into a partnership of intercession.
Readers often find this collection transformative, equipping them with ready-to-pray words that reduce anxiety, build faith, and foster closer walks with Jesus.
Her books are tailored to specific roles we take on, such as “The Power of a Praying Wife,” “The Power of a Praying Parent,” and “The Power of a Praying Grandparent.”
About the author: Omartian overcame a traumatic childhood marked by abuse.
She found healing and purpose in Jesus, which fuels her transparent writing.
She’s married to Grammy-winning producer Michael Omartian since 1973 and has two adult children.
10. ‘The Prayer of the Lord’
One of the most powerful studies I’ve done on prayer was a line-by-line examination of the Lord’s Prayer, which R.C. Sproul tackles with his book, “The Prayer of the Lord.”
I found myself praying the “Our Father” not as a memorized prayer but as a deeply meaningful and relevant prayer.
That’s because Sproul unpacks each phrase, shedding light on topics like God’s will, daily provision, and forgiveness.
The book includes a helpful question-and-answer section.
About the author: R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was a renowned theologian, pastor, and author who taught at various seminaries and wrote over one hundred books, including classics like "The Holiness of God." Sproul drew from a lifetime of studying Scripture to make deep theology accessible.
"The Prayer of the Lord" reflects his gift for explaining profound truths in a simple and accessible way.
11. ‘Experiencing God’
“Experiencing God” was a transformational book, and one that took time to fully digest and apply.
It showed me how to seek God through prayer as part of a daily roadmap.
The authors share how God’s will is not hidden from us, but rather, is readily available if week out an intimate and active relationship with God.
“Experiencing God” is a modern class and has been updated and expanded with new chapters and stories.
The realization that God is active and involved in my daily life — and has left divine fingerprints for me to find — was a foundational truth that influenced my own, “Faith Storytellers: Unleash the Power of Your Story.”
About the author: Henry T. Blackaby (1935–2024) was a Canadian-born pastor and author, and originally coauthored "Experiencing God" in 1990 with Claude V. King.
They later involved Blackaby’s son, Richard, in revisions.
12. ‘Prayer: How to Have a Conversation with God Paperback’
“Prayer: How to Have a Conversation with God" by Rosalind Rinker describes how prayer is simply a dialogue between two people who love each other.
Prayer, simply, is an honest, back-and-forth conversation that fosters intimacy and spiritual togetherness between you and God, he says.
Rinker emphasizes conversational prayer, especially in group settings, freeing believers from stiffness and encouraging short, relevant prayers.
That’s based on Matthew 18:20 (NIV): “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Considered a modern classic, it was No. 1 in Christianity Today’s "Top 50 Books That Have Shaped Evangelicals.”
About the author: Drawing from her personal journey and missionary experiences, Rinker shares how this approach revolutionized her own prayer life, making it natural, joyful, and effective both alone and together.
The book provides practical keys to overcome barriers, increase meaning, and experience God's presence vividly.
13. ‘Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools’
"Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools” by Tyler Staton emphasizes coming to God just as you are, expressing doubts and disappointments openly while embracing prayerful silence, persistence, confession, and more.
Based on biblical teaching and historic Christian practices, Staton invites readers to understand and embrace prayer's wonder in everyday life.
About the author: As author, pastor, and national director of the 24-7 Prayer movement, Staton wants you to discover prayer's beauty, mystery, and value.
14. 'Too Busy Not to Pray'
“Too Busy Not to Pray” by Bill Hybels encourages Christians to stop viewing prayer as “to do” and instead as an essential connection for clarity, energy, and guidance — which we can receive directly from God.
With practical insights from his own life leading a growing church, Hybels covers hearing God's voice, praying with persistence, and overcoming common hindrances like fatigue or doubt.
The book provides straightforward tools to make prayer sustainable and transformative, even in particularly hectic times.
Considered a modern classic, “Too Busy Not to Pray” will encourage you to seek time for honest conversations with God.
About the author: Bill Hybels is the founding and former senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois.
Willow Creek is one of America's most influential megachurches and is known for its innovative outreach and seeker-sensitive ministry.
15. ‘Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?'
"Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?" by Philip Yancey describes prayer as a mysterious partnership with God.
Prayer is an honest conversation that embraces and even encourages questions, pain, and wonder.
Yancey emphasizes viewing prayer as a relationship over a transaction.
He tackles tough issues like unanswered prayer, disappointment, God's silence, and the role of human will.
The book provides encouragement to keep praying authentically, discovering prayer's deeper purpose in transforming the person praying.
About the author: Philip Yancey is an award-winning journalist and bestselling author of more than twenty-five books, including classics like "What's So Amazing About Grace?" and "The Jesus I Never Knew.”
He’s best known for his graceful handling of doubt, suffering, and faith.
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Mackenzie Ryan Walters is the author of “Faith Storytellers: Unleash the Power of Your Story,” which shares Christian testimonies and stories, as well as curated lists about Christian books, gifts, and more. A national award-winning education journalist who’s covered a presidential campaign and been inside NASA, Mackenzie now edits the Faith Storytellers website and is passionate about lifting up and sharing the story God is writing in the world.
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