PRAYER: Talking to my Father
I can relate to the reasoning of Matthew 5:43. I love hanging out with neighbors. That’s a good time. Joking around. Laughing. Investing in the lives of people you like. I can handle that. And my enemy?
PRAYER: Talking to my Father
The apostle Peter had a question about forgiveness. When he asked Jesus how many times a person should be forgiven, Jesus told the story of a king who wanted to settle his accounts.
PRAYER: Talking to my Father
Living in real life means inevitable issues with people in our lives. When those issues arise, and they will, Jesus gives us specific instructions.
PRAYER: Talking with my Father
The great author C.S. Lewis says that everybody loves the idea of forgiveness …until they have to forgive someone, that’s true, isn’t it? Forgiveness is a tremendous spiritual truth! What could be better?
PRAYER: Talking with my Father
If there was ever a verse torn apart by being ripped out of context so often, today’s passage is it. A popular scriptural reference from the world of “Christian” pop psychology, this verse is to be memorized and written on your bathroom mirror with a permanent marker.
ENGAGE: Talking to our Father
As much as I enjoy the stretching experiences of mission trips, I love getting back home. I looked forward to packing up and heading to the airport to begin the marathon journey back to Pittsburgh. But then, something caught my attention.
ENGAGE: Talking to our Father
When I was growing up, a plaque hung on a wall in our house that read, “Don’t worry. It may never happen.” I passed that saying many times each day, and those words became branded on my brain. So, of course, I never worry. (I wish!)
ENGAGE: Talking to our Father
Some of you are reading this at a difficult economic time. Your business has shrunk. Your sales are down. Your customers are cutting back. Your salary has been reduced. Your job has gone away.
ENGAGE: Talking to God
Prayer is a personal conversation with our Father. It should not be filled with clever Christian clichés or worn-out prayer phrases. It is fresh, real, and raw—like any meaningful conversation in our lives.
ENGAGE: Talking to God
When Jesus taught us how to talk to the Father, he instructed us to pray, “your kingdom come.” Why did Jesus tell us to include this in our prayers? For an explanation, let’s consider 1 Corinthians 15:24-25.
ENGAGE: First Things First
How do you make sure your priorities are straight? How do you put first things first? How do you know for sure that you are not chasing the wrong things? In today’s passage, Jesus answers those questions.
ENGAGE: Humility
Jesus humbled himself in obedience. What will it mean for us to humble ourselves before God?
ENGAGE: Real Talk
Prayer is simply talking with God. A conversation with the Creator. Who better to learn from than Jesus?
ENGAGE: Your Will Not Mine
Some even teach that praying with real faith is telling God what you want, when you want it, and that you will not take no for an answer. So…is praying, “Your will be done,” a cop-out? Let’s learn from Jesus.
ENGAGE: Glory to God
For those who follow hard after Christ, things are (or should be) different. It really is not about us. Really, it’s not. Our lives should be like a mirror—not absorbing but reflecting the glory of God.
ENGAGE: Consuming Fire
The writer of Hebrews describes God as a “consuming fire.” What does he mean by that?
ENGAGE: Filled with Awe
Far too many Christians today are all about wanting the awe. They just don’t have much interest in the Scripture, fellowship, communion, and prayer part. Today’s passage reminds us that God leads us to awe…through the basic disciplines of the faith.
ENGAGE: Praise
No wonder the people were filled with awe and praised God! You’d have praised God right along with them had you been part of the crowd. But wait … you are a part of that crowd today. So don’t get stuck in thinking God’s praiseworthy power and authority is limited to physical healing.
ENGAGE: Passionate Conversations
Big decisions call for big times of conversation with God. Many disciples were following Jesus, but he needed to reduce the number. He desired to pour into those who would pour into others and pour themselves out with lives of sacrifice. He chose twelve to teach, train, and mentor.
ENGAGE: From Your Heart
Every believer needs a time of refreshment. The journey is long with many uphill climbs. Like the psalmist says, our soul thirsts for God “as in a dry and weary land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1). There are days when we need renewal.