"Prayer is a very precious medicine, one that helps and never fails" Martin LutherThere is no monotony in the prayer salutations of Luther. He is as one in continual conversation with God. It is clear that Luthers faith and confession became devotion and prayer, and his interpretation was rooted and strengthened and nourished in this. Luthers powerful prayers are on topics spanning all of life: the soldier, employer, politician, pastor, sick person, parent, newlywed, teacher. Five hundred years later, these prayers still ring true today, calling us into an ever-closer relationship with God. This is a collection of 185 prayers by Martin Luther arranged topically with a few brief comments by the editor, Herbert Brokering. The best guide to its use is in Luther's advice to his barber on how an ordinary person could pray without distraction: "I do not want you to recite all these words in your prayer. That would make it nothing but idle chatter and prattle. Rather do I want your heart to be stirred and guided concerning the thoughts which ought to be comprehended in the Lord's Prayer." This may look like a handy collection of prayers for every occasion, but it is more properly an introduction to Luther, for whom life itself was a prayer, and through Luther to a conversational style of prayer "without ceasing." The indexes will prove useful for those who take the editor's suggestion and read the prayers as a commentary on Luther's catechism. The collection itself is a good introduction to Luther's style and the rhythm of his language; he was an ordinary person with an extraordinarily undistracted approach to prayer. Steve Schroeder There is no monotony in the prayer salutations of Luther. Some are lengthy. He is as one in continual conversation with God. To him the name of God is the presence of God. Many of the prayers end as abruptly as they begin. Some close with several Amens, like a hallelujah chorus. It is clear that his faith and confession became devotion and prayer. The chief parts of the Small Catechism, so well known as statements of faith, as seen here, are natural avenues of prayer for Luther. His interpretation was rooted and strengthened and nourished in prayer. Doctrine was his way of life. It was the topic for each of his prayers. A credal statement was always in need of meditation and devotion. It was no end in itself. The prayers are on topics spanning all of life. The soldier, employer, politician, pastor, sick person, parent, newlywed, teacher. One might wish to retain in these translations the rhythm and meter and mental images of this 16th century Saxon preacher and poet. It may be that the prayers find some of their poetry in this day as they are prayed aloud. Herbert Brokering was a pastor, hymn writer, poet, and popular speaker who authored numerous books. He lived in Bloomington, Minnesota. "Dear Father in heaven, for the sake of your dear Son Jesus Christ grant us your Holy Spirit, that we may be true learners of Christ, and therefore acquire a heart with a never ceasing fountain of love. Amen." (from a prayer for increasing love) "Almighty God, through the death of your Son you have destroyed sin and death. Through his resurrection you have restored innocence and eternal life. We who are delivered from the power of the devil may live in your kingdom. Give us grace that we may believe this with our whole heart. Enable us, always, to steadfastly praise and thank you in this faith, through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen." (from a prayer for the right faith and its strengthening power)