Over the past few months, there have been increasing numbers of articles about pandemic induced frustration. People from all walks of life are finding that their emotional resilience is just not where it normally is and the silliest of things is triggering them. This is not surprising after the year that we have been through and is quite understandable. For many of us, we’ve been … Continue reading I feel frustrated (there, I’ve said it!)
“Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2) Eugene Peterson, writing about this verse says “Forgetfulness atrophies [wastes away] the muscles of praise and leaves them flabby and passive.” Forgetfulness, for the Christian, is similar to me not lacing up my running shoes. The effects may not be seen straight away, but the inevitable creep of flabbiness and lethargy will eventually become … Continue reading A Prayer for the Spiritual Flabby
This prayer was first published on our church website here HERE IS A PRAYER IF YOU ARE FEELING PARCHED BY THIS CURRENT PANDEMIC: Sovereign Lord, with parched hearts, caused by the disruptive effects of this pandemic, we turn our eyes to you and pray. We long for the days when hands can be shaken, hugs can be administered, coffee cups can be slurped (and on occasions, … Continue reading Feeling Parched?
How do we pray for spiritual renewal in our communities? There is a link between the renewal of the individual and community-wide transformation we often dream of in revival type situations. Here is a prayer that joins the two together… Dear Father, I know that salvation belongs to you and so I pray for the awakening and enlightening of hearts in ever expanding circles from: … Continue reading A prayer for spiritual renewal
Here are a few reasons why I journal almost every day. 1. It slows me down2. It helps me to think more clearly about the Bible3. It helps me to pray in light of what I have just read.4. It helps me to be more honest about the inner motivations of my heart.5. It works as a gauge for reading the inner health of my … Continue reading Why I Journal
Today, as part of my prayer time, I used ‘The Valley of Vision’, a wonderful book of reformed prayers. In it I read and prayed these words: “Thou art all my good in times peace, my only support in days of trouble, my one sufficiency when life shall end. Help me to see how good thy will is in all, and even when it … Continue reading God’s good and perfect will
“A person with hope does not get tangled up with concerns for how his wishes will be fulfilled. So, too, his prayer is not directed toward the gift, but toward the one who gives it. His prayer might still contain just as many desires, but ultimately it is not a question of having a wish come true but of expressing an unlimited faith is the … Continue reading The Prayer of Hope
A couple of days ago I started reading ‘Serious Times‘ by James Emergy White. I should have read this book years ago but it sat languishing on my shelf. I’m so glad I have finally got round to reading it as it is a really thought-provoking and challenging book. The following quote, on the nature of prayer, was especially helpful: Prayer is not … Continue reading Prayer is Relationship in Action
I’m currently re-reading Tim Keller’s excellent book on prayer. When you end up underlining a whole page in a book, it is a pretty good indication that the author has nailed something! That happened to me on page 20. Listen to what Tim Keller had to say about the Apostle Paul’s Prayers: It is remarkable that in all of his writings Paul’s prayers for his … Continue reading Praying like the Apostle Paul
I’m just starting to re-read Tim Keller’s Book on Prayerand was amazed (again) and the challenging and beautifully written quote from Flannery O’Connor on page 11: “Dear God, I cannot love Thee the way I want to. You are the slim crescent of the moon that I see and mt self is the earth’s shadow that keeps me from seeing all of the moon … … Continue reading Prayer when preoccupied with self
