Norman P. Madsen

Madsen sees prayer as a major topic in the letter to the Hebrews in the New Testament and does a good job giving excellent insights to not only the life of prayer but more into the underlying spiritual aspects of prayer in relation to Christ, God, and the Spirit.

The chapters are:
1. "Prayer and the Letter to the Hebrews," which forms the introduction to prayer as it relates to the epistle.
2. "Approaching Prayer by First Hearing God."
3. "The Substance of Prayer."
4. "The Cloud of Witnesses: The Gift of Faith."
5. "The Life of Prayer."
6. "Hebrews and the Theology of Prayer."

Madsen takes on a unique approach to the subject of prayer by using the book of Hebrews. I have found it to be thoughtful and enlightening; also giving a better understanding of Hebrews. He shows that Christ is not only the center of the epistle to the Hebrews but also central and absolutely necessary to the Christian prayer life. He emphasized Christ taking upon Him our humanity and representing Humanity to God, that "Christ enters the inner sanctuary through the outer sanctuary of his humanity... Taking our humanity... he offers his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption" (p.79).

For anyone wanting to know about prayer and dig a little deeper in both prayer and the book of Hebrews, this is the book to read.… (mer)