Ruth Myers - Thirty-One Days of Prayer

31 DAYS OF PRAYER
published by Multnomah Books

1997 by Warren and Ruth Myers
eISBN: 978-0-307-81544-6

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from:
New American Standard Bible 1960, 1977 by the Lockman Foundation. Other Scripture quotations: The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV) 1973, 1984 by International Bible Society, used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. The Holy Bible, New King James Version (NKJV) 1984 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV) Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT) 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. The Holy Bible, New Century Version (NCV) 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing. Used by permission. The New Testament in Modern English, Revised Edition (Phillips) 1958, 1960, 1972 by J. B. Phillips.
The Amplified Bible (AMP) 1965, 1987 by Zondervan Publishing House. The Amplified New Testament 1958, 1987 by the Lockman Foundation. The New Testament: An Expanded Translation Kenneth S. Weust (Weust). copyright 1961 by Wm. B. Eerdmans.

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v3.1

During a time of illness and severe testing for my first wife, Billie, and me, a dear friend sent us a book of praises. 31 Days of Praise by Ruth Myers turned out to be a gracious gift from the Lord. As we prayed together through the daily praises, our spirits were lifted into the presence of our loving, caring God. Time and again, we found ourselves refreshed and strengthened. We saw Gods hand at work in many ways we might have missed.

Ive been blessed by many inspirational books throughout my fifty-two years of ministry around the world with Billy Graham. But in the months before my wife Billies homegoing in 1994, those praise-filled prayers were one of Gods most memorable kindnesses to us. Ive been recommending 31 Days of Praise to friends ever since.

I believe the book that you are now holding, by Ruth and her husband, Warren, has been touched by God for the same type of ministry. 31 Days of Prayer is meant for you if you want to become more effective and fulfilled in your praying. Its for you if you long, as I do, to know God better, to treasure in your heart and life what He treasures.

In Gods mercy and extravagant grace, He has recently brought Ann Prince into my life to be my wife. As we read the manuscript together, we both remarked what a tremendous source of help and encouragement the Myerses new book will be in our walk with the Lord.

Isnt it a relief to discover that getting your sentences to come out right isnt what prayer is about! Rather, prayer is simple, ongoing conversation with our heavenly Father that is honest and heartfelt. How exciting it is when we begin to discover that, through prayer, His goodness and power are changing livesours and those weve been praying for around the world.

Some books are meant to be read and laid aside. 31 Days of Prayer is meant to be read and taken along through many months ahead in your journey with the Lord. I hope youll do just that. This book will meet you right where you are and lead you closer to the Lord you love. May the Lord bless you on every page!

In His joy and peace,

Cliff Barrows

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

Some time ago our friends at Multnomah Publishers asked my husband, Warren, and me to work with them on a new projecta companion to my book 31 Days of Praise. Saying yes came easily, both to the subject and to the opportunity to write on prayer with Warren. Prayeralong with praisehas been a foundational emphasis in our lives and ministries for many years.

Besides the usual needs for prayer, I had been a widow with two young children for eight years. I cant imagine getting through those years without prayerwithout talking with my Father, my Beloved. How often I brought to Him my deep inner needs and my perplexities. How often I prayed for my children and for the young women I was discipling and mentoring. Many of my most dramatic answers to prayer came during those years.

By the time I met Warren, he had long been known as a man of prayer. His time in the Word and in prayer was the highlight of his day. As his missionary work took him around Asia and the U.S., he would faithfully seek out a prayer partner. Or several. Sitting or kneeling, walking or driving, they would pray together about personal matters, about ministry opportunities, and about Gods exciting worldwide purposes. Ive sometimes thought that one of the many reasons he wanted to marry me was to have a permanent, almost-always-available prayer partner!

Together we wrote Pray: How to Be Effective in Prayer and Praise: A Door to Gods Presence. And Warren was all-but-coauthor of 31 Days of Praise. So the opportunity to work together on another prayer-mentoring book strongly appealed to us.

Our goal in 31 Days of Prayer is to walk with you into a richer experience of prayingfor yourself and othersand a growing closeness to God. To do this, we have written Scripture-based prayers for each day, similar to the praise portions in 31 Days of Praise.

Youll notice the almost-daily presence of Andrew Murray, a favorite writer on the deeper life from a hundred years ago. (Our copy of his book Abide in Christ is dog-eared from use.) Weve gleaned many ideas for prayer topics, along with a wealth of how-tos and other quotations, from Murrays works, especially his little gem on intercession, Pray Without Ceasing.

We trust this book will help your praying to grow deeper in faith, richer in content, and greater in breadth. It is our belief and experience that prayer changes our worldbeginning, first of all, with the one who prays!

Were deeply grateful to the people of Multnomah Publishers who have helped make this book possible. Weve been immensely helped by our editor, David Kopp, who did an excellent job of updating Murrays English as well as editing our material; its been a joy to work with him. If we could, we would also express our thanks to Andrew Murray and the other men and women of God whom we have quoted.

Ruth Myers

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