Edward McKendree Bounds was an American author, attorney, and member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South clergy. Popularly known as E.M. Bounds, he was born on 15 August 1835 in Shelbyville, Missouri.

He wrote 11 books and nine of them focused on prayer. Only two of his books were published in his lifetime. The rest of his manuscripts were edited and published 90 years after his death.

Edward was the fifth child and his father died when he was 14. At that time, he trekked with other relatives to Mesquite Canyon in California when gold was discovered in the area.

After four unsuccessful years, they returned to Missouri. Edward went on to study law in Hannibal, Missouri. He became the youngest practicing lawyer in the state of Missouri at age 19. In his early twenties, he felt called to Christian ministry during the Third Great Awakening.

He closed his law office and went to Palmyra, Missouri where he enrolled in the Centenary Seminary. Edward was ordained by his denomination two years later in 1859 at age 24. He was named the pastor of the Monticello, Missouri Methodist Church.

Edward married his first wife Emma Elizabeth Barnett on 19 September 1876. They had two daughters and a son before Emma died on 18 February 1886. Edward married Emma's cousin Harriet Elizabeth Barnett in 1887 twenty months later. They had three sons and three daughters.

Edward was regionally celebrated for leading a spiritual revival in Franklin and eventually he started itinerant preaching ministry throughout the country. He was very committed in his prayer life such that he would wake up at 4a.m to pray until 7a.m.

No matter his daily engagements, he would never neglect his early morning prayers. If you are looking for some deep wise words if this prayerful man, here are the best Edward McKendree Bounds quotes, sayings, and captions.