Praying with the Wesleys: Foundations of Methodist Spirituality

Prayerful living results in a grace-filled life.

Richly illustrated with prayers, hymns, and reflective writings from John, Charles, and Susanna Wesley, this book looks at the roots, impact, and trajectories of early Methodist spirituality, hoping that this exploration will help us chart new a course for the people called Methodist as we sail the rough seas of our time. Every Christian knows that prayer is foundational. It is a way we communicate with God and grow into a deeper relationship with God. In prayer, at our listening post, God speaks with us. In our Methodist tradition, we believe, as did the Wesleys, that prayer a means of grace.

Given the importance of prayer for discipleship and leadership, it behooves us to regularly pray with discipline and intentional methods. In this book, we will examine how John, Charles, and Susanna Wesley prayed; what theological and practical concerns motivated them in their own prayer and Christian pilgrimage; and how we too can become more faithful witnesses for Christ.