Author Archives: Michael Summers
A Review of Timothy Keller’s Prayer
Timothy Keller has written a useful survey of writings about prayer. He aims to enable a Christian to know both awe and intimacy with God. I greatly appreciated his references to writers throughout history who have written concerning the spiritual … Continue reading
Prayer for the Abused
Originally posted on Call for Fire Seminar:
In Luke 4, Jesus reads in Nazareth’s synagogue from what we call chapter 61 of Isaiah. He affirms that the reading reveals his mission, that his presence and his ministry fulfills the words…
Prayer when Lying in the Dust
You, like I, may have experienced times when your world fell apart. How did you pray? At times, I found it hard to pray at all. I have learned that such times require prayer, that we talk to God when … Continue reading
Prayer of a Stranger
Travelers and immigrants seek accurate direction. In Psalm 119:17-24, the Psalmist confesses that he, a stranger, desires that God will reveal the wonders of his law. He contemplates the statutes of God’s word as carefully as a modern traveler might … Continue reading
A Lament for Afghanistan
Impressions of Afghanistan included, for me, a sense of a people traumatized by decades of armed conflict in their nation – wrecked buildings, landscapes stripped of trees and vegetation in an attempt in previous decades to get rid of hiding … Continue reading
Prayerful Preparation for Christ’s Return
Originally posted on Call for Fire Seminar:
Paul’s prayers for the Thessalonians identify faith, hope, love and habitual prayer as essential means of preparing for the return of Christ. After saying that he always thanked God’s for the Thessalonians’ faith,…
Praying when Blessed by Jesus
Several months ago, I memorized the Beatitudes. Since then, each morning I have included meditation on their meaning with reflection on my daily Bible reading and what I plan to write about next on this blog. According to Matthew, Jesus … Continue reading
How Shall the Young Secure Their Hearts?
How shall the young secure their hearts? Throughout my life I have sung lyrics by Isaac Watts that ask that question. Watts drew his inspiration from Psalm 119:9-16, the second division of that psalm’s 176 verse anthology of prayer. Concern … Continue reading
Moving Forward after Prayer
All seemed lost. News that not one but three armies were moving towards the national capital frightened the nation. King Jehoshaphat responded. As I noted in a post in 2013, “A leader’s spiritual life affects the moral climate of those … Continue reading
Thoughts about The Lord and His Prayer
British professor N. T. Wright has written a book, The Lord and His Prayer (published in 1997 by Wm. B. Eerdmans), about the model prayer that Jesus used to teach his disciples to pray. The prayer, recorded in Matthew 6:9-13 … Continue reading
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