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Abide, abide, abide. Then abide some more.
Some of the biblical authors use repetition to drive home a point. It is an effective way to keep focusing our attention on something critical. The apostle John does this very well. He uses the word “abide” a lot. This refers to “a close, intimate (and permanent) relationship between the… Listen ⇢
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The Spirit helps us in our weakness
Let me share one of the most comforting verses in the Bible. There are times when we feel as if our prayer life is deflated. In fact, there are times when we feel deflated, generally speaking. Things are not as they should be. We feel as though we can barely… Listen ⇢
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What’s happening in your heart matters
We’ve been talking about prayer. Did you know that when it comes to effective prayer, what is happening in your heart matters? Recently I was struck by Psalm 66:18. The psalmist says: “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” When someone “cherishes” something… Listen ⇢
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He can answer our requests in a better way
Prayer is a significant part of our lives. However, when God doesn’t seem to respond in a way we want or expect, we can start to question him. When that happens—and even when it doesn’t—we need to trust in God’s wisdom and timing. He truly knows better than we do.… Listen ⇢
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If we ask anything according to his will
In 1 John 5:14 the apostle writes: “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” This verse is about prayer. I invite you to notice four words: “according to his will.” John is providing a direct… Listen ⇢
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Following it helps, neglecting it hurts
Let’s say you take some illegal drugs (I hope you don’t be the way, but just hear me out). Let’s say you take some illegal drugs and then ask God to bless your experience. Would you then think that God was bad or negligent if he didn’t bless it? Of… Listen ⇢
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Your three enemies and overcoming the world
“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5) In these verses, John introduces the… Listen ⇢
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And his commandments are not burdensome
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). Did the apostle John just say that keeping God’s commandments are “not burdensome”? Some of them, sure. But all of them? Friends, hear this: The closer you get to… Listen ⇢
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When following God’s commands feels difficult
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments” (1 John 5:3). What if I told you that you had to climb a steep mountain. It would be difficult and take several hours. You probably wouldn’t want to do it. But what if I then told you… Listen ⇢
Meet the producer, Matthew Ruttan.
Matthew is a disciple, pastor, husband, and dad of three who lives in the psalms.
