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A Treasury of Prayer

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Rev. E. M. Bounds was overwhelmingly devoted to his beloved Lord. There are few who have lived since the days of the Apostles who have surpassed him in the depths of his marvelous research into the life of prayer. This American clergyman of the twentieth century wrote seven books on prayer, many of which have frequently been unavailable to the general reading public.

Rev. Leonard Ravenhill has done the Church a great service in preparing this compilation of these seven marvelous books:

Power through Prayer

Purpose in Prayer

The Necessity of Prayer

The Essentials of Prayer

The Weapon of Prayer

The Possibilities of Prayer

The Reality of Prayer

In the Foreword, David Otis Fuller says that this book "is worth its weight in diamonds." The compiler encourages you to keep this book at hand, read it often, and practice it always! It is truly A Treasury of Prayer.

192 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1981

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About the author

E.M. Bounds

327 books225 followers
Edward McKendree Bounds was a Methodist minister, revivalist, author and lawyer.

Unsuccessful in the California gold rush of 1849, E.M. Bounds returned home to Missouri and became the state’s youngest practicing attorney at age 19. In his early twenties he was deeply impacted by the Third Great Awakening, and at age 24 he was ordained for ministry. During his lifetime he pastored churches, traveled as an evangelist, served as a Civil War chaplain, edited a Christian periodical and was a devoted husband and father. But E.M. Bounds is best known for prayer. His daily habit was to spend the time between 4 am and 7 am praying. His writings on prayer are widely acclaimed to be among the finest of any author before or since.

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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Profile Image for Alisa.
35 reviews
March 22, 2022
Prayer is the most marvellous act of a Christian yet the hardest one to practice and understand. This book will reveal some treasures about the effects and meaning of prayer, but be aware, it's not a book to read in one sitting but rather to digest slowly since it is a collection of Bound’s quotes. If we could just transfer what we read in this book in our daily lives we would constantly rejoice in the goodness of God instead of worrying about earthly matters. The carefully chosen words, imaginary and explanations by the author get you on your knees, wishing for an intimate relationship with our Creator. To know him more, perceive Him better and have Him closer to our hearts can be achieved only through prayer. I'll leave the last pages of this book with a greater desire for my prayers to receive wings and find their way to heaven, before the throne of the Almighty who cares for us and can work mightily through the intermediate of a sincere, faithful and holy prayer.
Profile Image for Rachel Ekberg.
117 reviews2 followers
June 22, 2024
This book is a sweet summons to prayer and a sharp rebuke to those who attempt to live lives with little or no prayer.

I love to be constantly doing and the humility needed for prayer doesn’t come naturally to me, so this book was deeply challenging and convicting and reveals the pride that lays at the root of my lack of love for prayer.

This particular work is actually Leonard Ravenhill’s compilation of 7 different works by EM Bounds and they were all incredible. I’ve never heard someone speak with such a high view and deep love for prayer. It might seem like a shorter book but will take a long time to read because it is impossible read more than a paragraph or two without feeling compelled to put the book down and pray.

Every paragraph Bounds writes on prayer is dynamic, fervent, and potent. I highly recommend this book. Fantastic.
Profile Image for Brian.
345 reviews22 followers
March 24, 2014
"To be little with God is to be little for God"

Leonard Ravenhill takes from seven works by the late great man E.M. Bounds, a man whose books will no doubt be on the shelf until there is no shelf. A man who walked with God, whose words where of great value to those who read or were within earshot, no doubt those whom he prayed for gathered much from his presence in their lives and prayers from him for their lives.

The nuggets of this book are too many to mention but the constant theme is that mans main goal should be increasing faith through prayer, trusting God to work in your life and the life of those whom you pray for. To pray until hell feels the ponderous stroke of your prayers, till the iron gates of difficulties are opened, till the mountains of obstacles are removed, till the mists are exhaled and the clouds are lifted, and the sunshine of a cloudless day brightens, this is hard work, but it is God's works and man's best labor.

Bounds remarks that Prayer is humbling work, it abases intellect and pride, crucifies vain glory, and signs our spiritual bankruptcy and all these are hard for flesh and blood to bear, so we come to one of the crying evils of these times, maybe of all times, with little or no praying. Of these two evils perhaps little praying is worse than no praying. Little praying is a kind of make believe, a salve for the conscience, a farce and a delusion.

We are told to pray without ceasing, but how can we, we have a job, a family and plenty of TV to catch up on, what about Bible Trivia night with the boys at work. Will any of these things sharpen the Christian for the days offenses more than an hour on your knees in focused Christ centered prayer, E.M. Bounds offers a big fat NO!

There is a lot I underlined in each of the 7 chapters but Chapter 3 Power Through Prayer was a standout as it expanded upon the Power of Prayer and the duty of the Preacher and the duty of the beloved in his congregation toward him. There is a section in this chapter also where he lists some men of faith and their daily prayer regimen, countless hours spent with God, these men were not averse to using the weapon of prayer to change the world or their local. I was encouraged immensely and without ceasing will be petitioning the Lord upon all Preachers behalf. Prayer is important stuff I believed going in, more important than anything I believe upon finishing this faith infused work.

The fact that E.M. Bounds was Methodist casts a tiny shadow on some of his views about God and man, but it could be me making something out of nothing. Nothing negative could come out of reading this book for that I'm certain.

Spurgeon said "one night alone in prayer might make us new men, changed from poverty of soul to spiritual wealth, from trembling to triumphing.
Profile Image for Joshua Caraway.
11 reviews
November 16, 2025
Concise and to the point devotional on prayer. Convicting yet faith-building. Prayer has been on my heart lately, and this book stirred it inside me even more. Very grateful for this read.

“The closet is not an asylum for the indolent and worthless Christian. It is not a nursery where none but babes belong. It is the battlefield of the Church; its citadel; the scene of heroic and unearthly conflicts.”
Profile Image for Allison.
21 reviews8 followers
May 17, 2012
Absolutely one of my TOP FIVE favorite books EVER. Bounds is simply brilliant. I read this book a year and a half ago and my prayer life still has never been the same. I honestly think I could read it every year of my life until I die and learn something vitally important every time. I wouldn't be surprised if I did read it every year from here on out...

The primary themes: the function of prayer within the Kingdom (bigger picture), the incredible power of prayer, the importance of letting the Holy Spirit guide your prayer, persistence in prayer
Profile Image for Daniel Longwe.
2 reviews18 followers
July 23, 2018
This Book is my favorite and its a top five books on my list on prayer. You have to be a serious person with God to read this... Its a book for mature believers. If you read this book you will go on another level spiritually. Leonard Ravenhill did a great job writing this book. "Holy Prayer can only come from Holy Men" one of his quotes in this book. My rank on this book is top 5 list on books of Prayer.. Powerful book-Highly Recommended for anyone who wants to be grow and serious with God.
Author Of Your Place of Destiny - Daniel Longwe
Profile Image for Annette.
905 reviews26 followers
October 12, 2021
I admire people who rise in the wee hours of the night or morning to begin their day in prayer. I pray off and on during the day and night, but I do not get out of the bed to pray, at least not as a daily habit.

Some themes in A Treasury of Prayer: purpose and dedication in prayer, God’s glory and His purposes, trust, faith, humility, thanks, and praise.

A Treasury of Prayer is a compiling of Bound’s quotes for each of the chapter’s subjects. It makes it difficult to write a review based on a book of quotes. I can express that I enjoyed the book. I am a collector of quotes especially on prayer. There are several that stood out to me and I’ve written them in my quote collection journal.

What stands out to me the most, besides the prayer quotes, is the man who lived a life of prayer. He was more than dedicated. His every breath centered around prayer. Prayer for him was not an event to engage in once a day or when someone asked him to pray. Prayer was his life. It was more important than anything else.
7 reviews
April 7, 2022
Probably one of the best books on prayer ever written. It’s his collective works condensed into one volume. Absolute must read for any serious Christian. One of the few books I have read where while reading it I was 100% sure I would read it again. It will revolutionize your prayer life. God smacked me over the head with awe and wonder with some of these sentences.
15 reviews
May 28, 2025
What would the state of the Church in America look like if we truly committed to prayer? This is a must-read that will open your eyes to the often unexplored depths of prayer and call you into a deeper relationship with the Lord through it.

PSA: The Kindle version of this book contains several typos due to issues during the scanning process. So if you’re reading on a device, just be prepared.
Profile Image for Mwansa.
211 reviews26 followers
October 18, 2021
We don't pray enough, what more can be said. We must believe in the power of prayer and encourage one another to do the same. There can be no passion for the glory of God outside of the increase in ones prayer life
84 reviews19 followers
December 20, 2018
Inspiring & Incredible

This is by far the most impacting book on prayer I’ve ever read! A page a day for a year really gets the richness deep in your soul.
27 reviews
January 22, 2021
Pray now!

Excellent collection of EM Bounds on prayer. The proof is in your praying, and the changes to your inner being while thus engaged.
Profile Image for D L Kusky Services.
2 reviews
July 12, 2022
A great compilation of EM Bounds' works on prayer. It is also a good resource for anyone in the ministry needing encouragement and discipline.

Dominic
73 reviews
May 6, 2023
A “fire-hose” of truth and conviction. Both Bounds and Ravenhill have that prophetic voice the church needs so dearly. The voice that says, “Get back to God.”
Profile Image for Ross Heinricy.
256 reviews1 follower
February 18, 2022
Very powerful work on prayer especially as it relates both in and through our lives on a personal level. Numerous key thoughts and I was moved in the greatest way to pray persevering. the idea of Jacob wrestling with God by the brook Jabbock is especially instrumental in seeing what it means to pray all night and labor and wrestle in prayer.
he also deals explicitly with the pastor and church leader and their responsibility to pray. Many a church that is dying and struggling - no life, no power, no zeal no vision...and I know its because we do not pray.
"The devil fears nothing from prayer-less studies, prayerless work, prayer-less religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray." Samuel Chadwick
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews

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