Grace from Heaven: An Interview with Robert Elmer

Robert Elmer is the editor of Grace from Heaven: Prayers of the Reformation. In this newest volume in the Prayers of the Church series, Elmer collects prayers from influential Protestant voices of the Reformation that express deep longings, theological richness, and a burning desire for God’s grace.

In our interview below, Elmer reflects on the deeper history lesson researching for the book provided.

Robert Elmer is editor of Piercing Heaven: Prayers of the Puritans and author of over fifty books of Christian fiction, devotion, and apologetics.

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Lexham Press: Can you tell us the story behind Grace from Heaven?
Robert Elmer: Grace from Heaven is the third book in Lexham’s “Prayers of the Church” series, featuring updated prayers from many well-known (and some not so well-known) voices in the Protestant Reformation. Like other books in the series, this one offers us a unique opportunity to pray along with believers whose lives and faith influenced our own spiritual walk in ways we may never have before considered.

LP: What contribution do you hope to make with your book?
Elmer: The book of Hebrews describes a “cloud of witnesses,” heroes of the faith who have gone before us. We’re not in this alone! And we may have much in common with these saints, if we think about it. So I hope in that context that this collection will shine light on a path toward a deeper walk with Christ, through prayer. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus…” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

LP: Can you tell us a particularly surprising or enjoyable aspect of writing your book?
Elmer: One of the things I especially enjoyed with this book was the deeper history lesson it provided. In researching Grace from Heaven, I was reminded that the river of Reformation flowed much deeper and wider than we might think. So the prayers in this book reflect not only the faith of well-known men like Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli, but also of brave English reformers caught in turbulent politics, as well as lesser-known Anabaptist, French, Italian, or even Danish believers. They all had something to offer. I learned much from them.

LP: Last of all, can you share something surprising about yourself that only your friends would know?
Elmer: I’m a (very) casual kayaker, and own two small kayaks. To me, there’s nothing better than the peace of an early morning paddle across a local lake or bay. The Pacific Northwest is a great place for that. I love bobbing around on the water.