Daring to Draw Near

Prayers are windows—windows on eternity. Through the prayers in the Bible we look into the profoundest issues of life and death, and the deepest longings of our own hearts. And we learn about the God to whom we pray, the one who wants to talk with us, the one who takes the initiative in our relationship with him.

In this classic book on prayer, John White helps us listen to Abraham plead for Sodom and Gomorrah. We watch Jacob wrestle with the Angel of the Lord. We hear David confess his sin. We also see him dance before the ark of the covenant. We hear Hannah ask for a child. Finally, John White shows how Jesus' prayers on the cross present a model for facing our last hours as well.

The ten prayers in this book will take you near to the holy one of the universe, the personal God of each person in the world.

Author John White takes us on a journey through ten of the most significant prayers in history, all recorded in the Bible. We listen in as Abraham pleads for Sodom and Gomorrah, as David confesses his sin, as Hannah prays for a child, as Paul intercedes for others, and as Jesus poured his heart out to his heavenly Father. White explores the prayers of Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Job, Daniel, David, Hannah, Paul, and Jesus, giving us a window on prayer and the God to whom we pray--a God who is interested in "two-way" communication.

John White was born in Liverpool, England, on March 5, 1924, and grew up in Manchester. After serving as a reconnaissance photographer in the Fleet Air Arms during World War II, he completed medical training at Manchester University. He later participated in a variety of short-term missions efforts (including Bible smuggling!) and capitalized on many opportunities to encourage Christians behind the Iron Curtain during the beginning of the Cold War.
On June 25, 1955, White married Laureate May O'Hara. From 1955 to 1964 he served as a medical missionary with New Tribes Mission. Later he was appointed associate general secretary of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students of Latin America.
White emigrated to Canada with his family in 1965 and later completed his residency in psychiatry in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He next filled the post of associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Manitoba and also served locally as pastor of Church of the Way.
He wrote 25 books as well as numerous articles and study guides. A much sought-after speaker, he lectured around the world at churches, conferences and leadership events. During his later life, White moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, helping to plant a Vineyard church there (Surrey Vineyard) and becoming involved in the larger Vineyard Christian Fellowship.
John White died in 2002, but his written ministry lives on, with over 1.5 million of his books in print.

Marva J. Dawn (Ph.D., Notre Dame) is a theologian, author, educator and teaching fellow in spiritual theology at Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia. Some of her books include Joy in Divine Wisdom, The Sense of the Call, Talking the Walk, Keeping the Sabbath Wholly and Unfettered Hope: A Call to Faithful Living in an Affluent Society.