The great masters of prayer have compared the spiritual
life to an ocean. On the surface life may be roiled by wind and tides. Yet
beneath the surface, even amid a stormy sea, the water is calm. Deep contentment and inner peace are anchored in these depths - the truth behind, "Be still, and know that I am God." »more
Recently in Prayer Category
The great masters of prayer have compared the spiritual
life to an ocean. On the surface life may be roiled by wind and tides. Yet
beneath the surface, even amid a stormy sea, the water is calm. Deep contentment and inner peace are anchored in these depths - the truth behind, "Be still, and know that I am God." »more
Henry David Thoreau wrote, "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." Most of us exist in a state of desperation, but we are afraid to admit it. Strangely enough, we will not pray as we ought unless we are willing to admit our weakness, brokenness, and desperation. We need God in our lives. It is for this reason that we pray. »more
God is greater than a reluctant friend. God is better than the most caring parent. God wants to share a deep, intimate, and mutually reciprocal relationship with us. Our challenge is to possess the holy boldness to approach God at all times and for all things, trusting God to provide what we need most. »more
According to the Christian tradition, the greatest sin is that of spiritual pride. Spiritual pride mimics righteousness but its fruit is evil - hatred, intolerance, and division - and leads us to look down on others and hold them in contempt. We must be ever mindful of the danger of spiritual pride, especially in the midst of our greatest spiritual advances. »more
For the sake of public perception, Christians are good at recounting stories about answered prayer. But we are not so good at sharing our disappointments. Yet, we must make some sense of unanswered prayer. Why? “It’s precisely because we believe so passionately in the power of prayer that we must also make sense of unanswered prayer.” »more
If you learn one thing from my experience, I hope it is this: Don?t wait to go through the dry valley of prayerlessness before you avail yourself of the rich prayer resources the Church has to offer. Scot McNight?s book, Praying with the Church, is an excellent resource to begin your journey into these beautiful treasures of the Christian tradition. »more
In our consumeristic society, it is easy to confuse our needs with our wants. This confusion often extends to our prayer life. The Lord's Prayer calls us to remember that daily bread is a divine gift and not to be taken for granted. Our hunger - indeed, our demand - for more is a dangerous trap. »more
The Lord's Prayer constantly reminds us of the weight of glory that surrounds us and seeks to invade and transform us and the entire world. To see this glory is a tremendous joy and yet a great burden. We dwell in theater of glory, haunted by glory, looking for glory in everything; and yet, so rarely in God. Our sin is that we settle for so little. »more
Praying the Lord's Prayer regularly transforms our view of God, self, and others. Through continual use, we learn to think of God primarily as Father, ourselves as children, and others as members of God's family. This is a much needed corrective to our stern views of God,
self, and others. No matter how mature we become we will always need to pray like a child. »more
The immediate context of the Lord's Prayer sheds insight into its divine purpose. Before Jesus calls us to "pray, then, in this way" (Mt. 6:9a), he exposes two erroneous ways of praying. He offers his prayer - the Lord's Prayer - as a remedy to wrong praying. Before Jesus teaches us how to pray, he teaches us how not
to pray. »more
We often turn to God at our most vulnerable moments, when all seems
lost unless God steps in. Why does God remain distant, silent, and hard when we call on him? If God doesn't respond when we need him most, then why pray at all? »more
Contrary to contemporary opinion, confession of sin is a positive practice that bears rich fruit. To neglect confession is the "negative" and depressing way to live, leading to misery, inner turmoil, and unending sorrow. »more
If the Psalms are our guide, then we must embrace and express not only gladness, but also anger, sorrow, and fear. To close part of ourselves to God is to fail to worship God truly and fully. »more
We need to stop "chatting" so much. God calls us to solitude and silence - to rest in his love. Our most beautiful experiences are experiences that go beyond words. »more
God's
"yes" and "no" are both motivated by His love and wisdom! »more
