One of the ironies of prophecy is that when it comes to pass there are people who refuse to believe its fulfillment. Sometimes we construct a warm and comfortable nest of ideas around a prophetic hope without realizing that those ideas have become more precious than the hope itself. Fulfillment requires the dismantling of what […]
Until recently, I had no idea that Abraham was the first prayer warrior. Unless we count the generic phrase, “call upon the Lord,”1 the first two mentions of prayer in the Bible are of healing prayer for barrenness. The story of Abraham’s prayer time is quite the eye opener.2 After watching Sodom and Gomorrah vanish […]
For a paralytic whose world was limited to a poolside in a bustling city there was only one way to receive healing. His faith focused on the rippling of the pool that indicated an angelic visitation. The winner of the race to the wavy water won the prize of restored health.1 A few years later, […]
Following Jesus through the changing circumstances of life is an art, not a science. In science, there are rules and equations. If we repeat the steps we have taken in the past, we will get the same results. The art of following Jesus requires us to adjust to His every move. What He had us […]
The last few weeks have been unusually busy for me. Excessive busyness produces stress. We all have twenty-four hours in a day in which to accomplish all our tasks, enjoy relationships, and catch a little sleep. Sometimes life demands too much of our time and energy. So, I was glad for a reminder of God’s […]
My prayer list is scrawled on six daily pages in an old Daytimer. I have friends who use Smartphones or iPads. No doubt some people are prompted to pray every time they pass the magnetic prayer cards on the refrigerator. Whatever form they take, most lists include other believers and Christian organizations. Paul’s prayer list […]
There are many reasons to pray. The most important is to understand God’s will and ways better. But we’d like our prayers answered too, wouldn’t we? Elijah is known for effective prayer. He’s a great example to us. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Elijah was a man with a nature […]
I suspect that every human dream can ultimately find fulfillment in God. What do you long for? Is it a fabulous windfall of wealth, a brilliant inventive mind able to devise technologies to conquer world-wasting problems, or social influence to change the way whole segments of humanity behave. In a prayer for the Thessalonians Paul […]
One of the most awkward jobs I ever did was when I worked for a partnership. Each morning, the first partner I met would issue me his instructions and I would set off obediently. The problems began when I met the second partner. He would ask what I was doing and why, and give different […]
What do you pray for people who are already strong in the Lord? Paul gives us an example in his prayer for Christians in Philippi. As he introduces his letter, he speaks fondly of the church—he joyfully thanks God for them because they have embraced the gospel with all its implications. They are a good […]