Power Through Prayer, by Edward M. Bounds, cuts directly to our most basic need in our walk with the Lord--prayer. Bounds demonstrates how our lack of power, dead churches, convictionless preaching, and fruitless ministries all spring from our prayerlessness. Jesus said, "He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). This passages demonstrates that much abiding, or much tarring in prayer with God--will result in us bearing much fruit. In contrast--a lack of abiding, or lack of prayer, results in a lack of fruit. The body of Christ in this hour needs to rediscover the power of secret prayer. As E. M. Bounds writes, the solution to our bareness, fruitlessness, and spiritual decline in the western church, is not more activity, sermons, or accountability groups--but more hours spent in prayer closets encountering the living God.
