Faithful Hearts Kneeling

Joy of Heaven

Written by Robert Elmer Series: Prayer of the Church, Book 4

Published by: Baker Books | Letham Press

Release Date: 03.03.26

Genre: Christian NonFiction, Christian Church History, Christian Prayer Books

5 Stars!

Some books slip quietly onto a shelf; others move in and take up residence beside your Bible and journal. Joy of Heaven is the latter … a fantastic companion for our journey, a gathering of voices who prayed through revivals, heartaches, ordinary mornings, and long sleepless nights.

Each page invites us to echo the longing of believers whose lives were marked by surrender and hope. Reading through these prayers, I found myself whispering, “Let Your love compel us. Let Your name be glorified, and Your will be done by us and in us. Let us count all things loss… for the excellence of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord.” (John Newton). What a rare gift: to borrow the vocabulary of the saints when my own words fall short.

The wisdom and humility of these prayers seep into my heart every day. They call me to a higher, deeper life like Stephen Tyng said: Set a watch before my mouth, and keep the door of my lips. Wean my affections from things below, and let me be eager and fixed upon heaven and heavenly things. I found myself praying the essence of his prayer when my attention so easily drifted or my heart grew restless, so grateful to be reminded that heavenly hope has always been the antidote to earthly distraction.

Susannah Spurgeon’s prayer has reminded me that this life is practice for eternity: “Doing the will of God from the heart must be at least the reflection, the copy, of the perfect obedience of the saints in light. Oh, to begin the service of heaven, while yet on earth! Practicing here, to be made perfect there! Learning the laws, manners, and customs of the land where our eternal inheritance awaits us!”

The prayers are both beautiful and bracing. There’s nothing generic or vague. Only honest heart-felt pleas for holiness, repentance, and truth. I’ve underlined Thomas Chambers’ request, needing it often:

…let me live in holy abstinence from sin, even in the least appearance and degree of it.

And in a world where truth is so easily bent, I’ve lingered over B. F. Westcott’s words: Almighty God, You have sent the Spirit of truth to guide us into all truth. Now rule our lives by Your power in such a way that we may always be truthful in thought, word, and deed.

These prayers do so much more than fill a book, they thread together centuries of faith, sorrow, revival, and perseverance. They offer guidance and companionship for days when my prayers are faltering or my gratitude is overflowing … yet my words don’t flow.

The structure is quietly brilliant: prayers for every season and circumstance, elegantly arranged, and bound in a way that fits the sacred. I’ll return to it daily because these priceless and cherished words help me live more faithfully in the present as I pour my heart, mind, and soul out to Almighty God, my Lord and Savior.

Five stars. Very, very highly recommended! What a treasure and a companion for every believer longing to pray with depth, history, and honesty.

I received a digital ARC from the publisher and NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review nor paid to do so. This is my honest and unbiased review. My thoughts and opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on the writing and story’s content, ensuring transparency and reliability.