Review: Joy of Heaven

Joy of Heaven book cover on blue background

It's been such a gift to revisit the period of the Great Revival through Joy of Heaven, a collection of prayers edited by Robert Elmer.

It certainly is a joy to echo the prayers of historic Christians such as Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, Charles Wesley, D. L. Moody, F. B. Meyer, Amy Carmichael, George Müller, Charles Spurgeon, Susannah Spurgeon, William Wilberfoce, and Robert Murray M'Cheyne.

Many thanks to Baker Publishing Group for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Book Synopsis

"Let me fall again to prayer and praise." - William Wilberforce

Covering a span from the early 1700s to the early 1900s, Joy of Heaven captures prayers from dedicated believers who lived out their faith in a rapidly changing world. In the midst of upheaval there also came a spirit of revival, particularly during the times we call the First and Second Great Awakenings. The early evangelicals prioritized holy living, seeking God in his word, and sharing their faith. Their prayers are arranged by topic and time―whether praise or petition, morning or evening―so that your prayer life can be interwoven with the rich tapestry of prayers of faithful Christians from the past. By praying along with Amy Carmichael, Charles and Susannah Spurgeon, Jonathan Edwards, John and Charles Wesley, and many others, we learn from those who came before us and build a stronger connection with our heritage—as well as to the Lord who spans the centuries.

Source: Amazon

Book Thoughts

This is such a beautiful collection of words uttered by faithful Christians from around the time of the Great Revival. What an encouragement to pray the same words that these spiritual giants themselves prayed regarding the circumstances they faced. These prayers are truly timeless as many of the issues the revivalists encountered mirror the ones we see today in our world. There is delight in knowing that we can echo the pleas of people such as William Wilberforce, Amy Carmichael, and C.T. Studd who were pivotal to different spiritual movements throughout history, believing that God will hear the same prayers.

Part of a greater collection that highlights the prayers of Christians throughout church history, this is a volume that is not to be missed. With Joy of Heaven broken down into themes such as obedience, worship, and persecution, it is refreshing to know that others have gone before us as the great cloud of witnesses, leaving behind precious words that reflect their walks with God. Readers looking for inspiration and heartfelt devotion will find this book to be comforting and joyful in lifting our hearts to Jesus through these earnest prayers.

Book Summary

Format of book: 📱
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recommendation: 👍

Comments

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