What is prayer? How does one pray? How does one communicate with a higher power about the things that really matter in life?

In his twenty-five years as a pastor, Joe Jewell has heard these questions more than any others. The Elements of Prayer is Jewell's answer. With the understanding that prayer, like writing, is something everyone can do but that many struggle to do well, Jewell uses Strunk and White's classic guide, The Elements of Style, as a model for his exploration of prayer.

Through rules of usage, form, composition, and approach, along with a playful glossary, the book bolsters our understanding of, and confidence in, the art of prayer. Forgoing strict religious doctrine, Jewell's method seeks to “outline rather than fill in,” trusting readers to find their own authentic voice in this essential element of spiritual life.