Prayerfulness: Cultivating a Bible-Enriched Prayer Life

by Peter Adam

How’s your prayer life? Do you pray as often as you’d like to? Does it feel like a chore? Most Christians long for a deep, fulfilling prayer life, but life’s busyness and distractions can make prayer an afterthought or a burden.

In Prayerfulness, experienced pastor and Bible teacher Peter Adam guides you in rediscovering the joy and power of prayer. He uses the Bible, the wisdom of Christians from the past, and down-to-earth examples to help you:

• understand the biblical foundations of prayer and see how the gospel can transform your prayer life
• overcome common obstacles to prayerfulness
• learn how to plead God’s promises, actions, character and reputation—going beyond simply asking God for things
• experience many kinds of prayer—thanks, praise, lament, confession, dedication—and the joy of bringing your requests to God.

Genres: Christian, Spirituality

342 pages, Hardcover

Published May 30, 2025

About the author

Peter Adam's major ministries have included lecturing at St John's College Durham, UK, and serving in Melbourne as vicar of St Jude's, Carlton from 1982-2002, and then as principal of Ridley Melbourne from 2002-2012. He was also chaplain of Melbourne University and archdeacon for parish development in the Melbourne Anglican diocese. Peter is currently vicar emeritus of St Jude's, Carlton, and Canon of St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne.

Reviews

[Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, Peter Adam didn't just teach me about prayer, but he led me into prayer. There are books that are better written or that provide a deeper theological study about prayer, but this book was used by God to change how often I pray and how I pray. This book is particularly well-suited to encourage practice by its combination of Scriptural truth, warm explanations, practical helps, and clear models (this is one way this book stands out from some other books about prayer -- it contains many different written prayers as concrete examples for prayer).

Adam's book emphasizes the benefits of written prayers. This won't work for everyone (and that's okay); but, I think he provides insights and instruction that would benefit any Christian.

Finally, kudos to Matthias Media. The physical copy costs a bit more than your average book but it is a beautiful volume to add to your bookshelf.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was Biblical, thoughtful, and overwhelmingly helpful. It's already changed my prayer life for the better.

This is a book I'll refer to again and again, both in my personal life and in ministry.

[Karen Soole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peter Adams has given us a great gift by putting this book together . It is like a manual which answers the question- teach me to pray. It covers everything a new believer needs to know but it will richly bless the oldest of saints. Full of gems and challenges - is your church known as a praying church? Read this slowly and then use it.

[Jo Drye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always struggled to develop a healthy prayer life. This book has convicted me of my prayerlessness and by extension lack of dependence on God - but at the same time has gently encouraged me to just quite simply, get praying, and talk to God, at any time and in any way that I can. The beauty of this book is its accessibility (so easy to read, easy to take away tangible things to implement into your prayer life), but also the depth to which it covers the different aspects of a healthy prayer life, challenging the depth of my prayers and inspiring a desire to pray.

The many examples of written prayers that are included throughout the book are what set it apart from other books on the topic. I’ve been encouraged to pray through those but also to think about writing my own prayers that I can reference back to and repeatedly pray.

I think every Christian should read this book. It has completely transformed my vision of what a healthy prayer life is/looks like. I know I will be revisiting this book year after year to reset my desire and habits of prayer as I continue in my walk with the Lord!

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Practical. Helpful in a deeply meaningful way. Not destined for the bookshelf. This will stay on my stack for morning reading. Highly recommend.

[Annabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A highly practical and encouraging book.

[Karen McLean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not to be devoured quickly- it is a thoughtful, practical and theologically sound guidebook to help you pray. Highly readable. Very helpful. Have recommended it to many!

[Philippa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book by Peter Adam on prayerfulness is not to be read quickly.
The author is a man of prayer. He shares his prayers having meditated on God’s word deeply for decades. He encourages people to use the Bible as the basis for our prayers and shows how this can be done. He values the great prayers of the past, Thomas Cranmer who helped write the prayer book and John Calvin.

I found this book most encouraging except for one prayer suggesting what a godly woman can pray for her husband. This prayer reflects Peter Adam’s complementarian theology and may not be appreciated by all who read the book. I suggest that this one prayer need not discourage people from reading and gaining from what is a most helpful to guide to deepening your prayer life, what ever stage you are at. Indeed this is the best aspect of the book as it is written for those beginning to pray and those who have been praying for years and shows how, whatever stage we are at, how to grow our prayer life.

[Alastair Gooderham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter Adam’s book encourages us to pray as he shares biblical lessons on prayer across 13 chapters. Sprinkled in among the chapters are sample prayers from the Bible from figures in church history or from his own personal prayers.

I appreciated his gentle encouraging tone as he calls us to pray and helps to shape our prayers in light of God’s word.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m so pleased I read this. It’s full of helpful suggestions that I feel excited to try. I think I will come back to it often. Very much recommended!