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
spiritual disciplines
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
Never out of hope
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13). Going to a resort is really nice. But why? First, it’s a break from your usual routines and stresses. If you’re employed, … Continue reading Never out of hope
A prayer for all Christians
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24). There are different types of prayers. Free-form prayers are prayers you say as the words come into your mind. There are also set prayers. These are where the words are always the … Continue reading A prayer for all Christians
To help you love others
In the previous devotional I encouraged us to think about spiritual disciplines. According to Jeff Loach, they are “historically and biblically rooted ways to deepen your relationship with God.” They are faith-based practices which form you to be more like Jesus. I referenced Bible-reading, prayer, corporate worship, and fasting. These are some of the most … Continue reading To help you love others
God doesn’t expect us to grow on our own
Spiritual disciplines. According to Jeff Loach, they are “historically and biblically rooted ways to deepen your relationship with God.” Although some people can get tripped up by the word “discipline,” they needn’t be. These are faith-based practices which form you to be more like Jesus. (Have you ever noticed that the word “discipline” looks a … Continue reading God doesn’t expect us to grow on our own
Attention to detail
The biblical stories are filled with details. Although some of them may seem curious or confusing, they are significant. Since they are inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16) they are there for a reason. And if they exist to teach us and give us hope—which Romans 15:4 says they are—then we are wise to pay … Continue reading Attention to detail
Vantage Point
“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope” (Romans 15:4). Each of the four Gospels tells us something important about the life and significance of Christ. A common illustration people sometimes use … Continue reading Vantage Point
PRay the long game
The past few devotionals have been focused on perseverance and playing the long game. With that in mind, let me introduce what I think is a helpful play on words: Pray the long game. Playing the long game (without the ‘r’), is about saying and doing things in the here and now which will help … Continue reading PRay the long game
It’s about Jesus
I’m often curious about the day-to-day spiritual practices of famous, faithful people. Did they shine only when others were watching, or was their devotion to God sincere and consistent? Did Saint Francis ever have dry spells in his prayer life? Was Billy Graham gracious to others when he was off the stage? Did Augustine frequently … Continue reading It’s about Jesus
