We know that God answers prayer. We know that he is near to those who call on him in truth (Psalm 145:18). We know that he hears us when we ask things according to his will (1 John 5:14). We know that when we draw near to him he draws near to us as well … Continue reading Delays are not denials
prayer
Pulling up a chair for Jesus
"And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words" (Matthew 6:7).A man was nearing death. A priest went to visit him in the hospital a few days before he died.The priest noticed that the man had pulled an empty chair up … Continue reading Pulling up a chair for Jesus
How did Jesus pray day by day?
"Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children..." (Ephesians 5:1)If you think someone is inspiring and want to be more like them, you probably pay attention to what they do and how they do it.How do they live their life? What makes them different? What can I learn from them and incorporate into my own … Continue reading How did Jesus pray day by day?
As wings burden the bird in flight
It’s no secret that God’s people are to be a people of prayer.Jesus taught us to pray with the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13).In the book of Acts the early church devoted themselves to it (Acts 2:42). Paul taught to “pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and to be “faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12). Another translation of that … Continue reading As wings burden the bird in flight
Call out to God. Don’t wait.
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).A man named Abba Elias told an old story about a man who was living in a temple. Demons came to pester him, trying to get him to leave. To some of you that might seem shocking. Perhaps you’ve been told … Continue reading Call out to God. Don’t wait.
Spiritual muscle matters
Motivation matters. For example, people who do better in surgery are people who have a reason to live afterwards. It’s a matter of motivation.Or consider the 17-year old girl who didn’t want to go to soccer practice. But then her mom told her that the scout for the university soccer team would be there. “Why didn’t … Continue reading Spiritual muscle matters
Tuning your instrument after the concert
“Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice” (Psalm 55:17).Hudson Taylor was a British missionary. He was known to say this: “Don’t have your concert first, and then tune your instruments afterward.”*That makes sense. There’s no point of tuning your instrument after the concert is already over. You have … Continue reading Tuning your instrument after the concert
Closing the gaps
Hypocrite.It’s a heavy, negative word. It means “pretender”—someone who says and does things which aren’t harmonious with what they say they believe. Richard Baxter says: “As fencers upon a stage differ from soldiers fighting for their lives, so hypocrites differ from serious Christians.”*In Mark 7:6 (ESV) Jesus took issue with some Pharisees who were criticizing his … Continue reading Closing the gaps
Praying on the fly
The early Christians prayed. A lot.In 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Paul famously says to “pray continuously.” Does he mean that we should never stop uttering words to God? What about when we’re sleeping or eating? His point, of course, is that we should make a regular habit of prayer. Some have argued that many of the early … Continue reading Praying on the fly
Time for you is also time for others
In Mark 6 Jesus taught and fed thousands upon thousands of people. Afterward he sought some alone time with his heavenly Father. That makes sense. He had a big day and was also preparing for the next task. “And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray” (Mark … Continue reading Time for you is also time for others
