Prayer is as necessary to the Christian as breathing is to the human body—but it often doesn't come quite as naturally.

In fact, prayer in the church often gets subtly pushed to the side in favor of pragmatic practices that promise tangible results.

Rather than being a hallmark of churches, dependence on prayer is usually emphasized only in times of major crisis—if at all.

The latest book in the 9Marks: Building Healthy Churches series focuses on the necessity of regular prayer as a central practice in the local church. Examining what Jesus taught about prayer, how the first Christians approached prayer in the early church, and what steps can be taken to prioritize prayer in churches, this book is intended to awaken readers to the need and blessing of prayer in their personal lives and in the life of their local church.