Purpose in Prayer

Born on a Missouri farm in 1835, the author spent his early years as a lawyer before answering a call to ministry, enduring imprisonment during the Civil War and later serving as a chaplain. His rugged journey through battlefield hardships, pastoral duties, and personal loss forged a deep, unshakable devotion to prayer that still resonates today. In this collection he shares the raw intensity of his own daily communion with God, rising before dawn and spending hours on his knees, inviting listeners into the same relentless pursuit of divine presence.

The book treats prayer not as a fleeting ritual but as a powerful, contagious force that can cleanse societies and shift history, using vivid analogies that liken prayers to a disinfectant against evil. Readers will find practical counsel for integrating prayer into the rush of modern life, alongside heartfelt testimonies that illustrate its tangible impact. Delivered in clear, earnest prose, the work challenges listeners to move beyond busyness and rediscover a simple, steadfast dialogue with the divine.