"Revival Praying" by Leonard Ravenhill

The voice of Leonard Ravenhill is greatly missed in two ways. One, he has gone home to be with the Lord. Two, many Christians and churches have never been exposed to his piercing books and stirring sermons. He is a much-needed teacher for us today. In reading this book (much like "Why Revival Tarries"), every page seemed to be a condemning description of my heart and habits. It is impossible to read Ravenhill and not be convicted. The Holy Spirit used the man so powerfully.

As the title suggests, this book is about prayer. And what pitiful excuses for prayer we are usually engaging in, when we should be laboring constantly and enduringly before the Throne of God. While the book brings much conviction, it is also not without encouragement. True revival-bringing prayer is within the ability of each of us, if only we should be willing to pay the price (and there is a price). The greatest reward will not come from reading this book - but from heeding it. And I believe that reward would be nothing less than revival.

I love the stories that Ravenhill includes concerning men who were mighty prayer warriors. Many of them I did not recognize, but I will be sure to learn more of them. Other names I knew, but my respect for these men only grew by hearing of their dedication to the work of prayer.

If you are like me, praying has been (for most of my life) a necessary thing along the lines of brushing one's teeth every day. It is necessary - but I am not desperate to do it. Prayer needs to be more like breathing: we dare not cease breathing, or else we will die. Can we be any less serious about the business of prayer?

Please read this book. And let the Christians hold each other accountable for our praying.

"Why Revival Tarries" by Leonard Ravenhill

The author of this book had the power of God behind his words. Not infrequently while reading its pages was I deeply convicted and ashamed. In fact, hardly a chapter could go by without my pondering how perfectly the words written apply to my life.
Do not make the mistake of assuming this is a work strictly about revival; it is a call to holy living and prayerfulness and preaching the truth of God's Word without fear. It is a mandate for all believers to embrace the Spirit of the Living God and to continue the mission that was started by those amazing Christians of the book of Acts.
While I must admit that a few statements and cultural references were dated, the bedrock truth remains as fresh and as needed today as it was when Christ walked the earth. Sprinkled throughout each page of the book are wonderful nuggets of inspired wisdom, worthy of remembering and telling others - and Ravenhill had a remarkable talent for phrasing things in such a way to be easily recalled later. ("Catchy phrases" we would call them; but that title does not diminish the power and truth of the statements he makes).
Leonard Ravenhill's preaching echoes the power of many of the ancient men of God whose voices are lost in time but whose words and lives still impact Christianity today. I have a feeling that this book will only GAIN influence and reach MORE people as the days go on, unlike many of the thousands of books churned out by Christian authors each year. READ THIS BOOK, and read it on your knees with the mirror of God's Word exposing your own heart; and be changed.