Tag Archives: confession
Prayer, Confession, and Forgiveness
Guilt weighs heavily. Fear that accountability will be required or that forgiveness will be denied creates stress. In Dostoevsky’s classic novel Crime and Punishment, the primary character plans and commits a crime which no one seems to connect to him. … Continue reading
Preparing to Pray
How well do we prepare to worship God? How do we prepare to pray? I have heard many stories of families arguing bitterly on the way to a place of worship, only to emerge from their vehicles with smiles and … Continue reading
Praying with Integrity
When we are hurting, we want to lash out. In anger, or in despair, we abandon love. We flee from trust, even as we crave to trust and long to be trusted. In Psalm 7, a psalmist under attack prays … Continue reading
Learning to Pray
How do we learn to pray? Prayer is not an innate skill. Although you might argue that we are born with a desire to communicate with our Creator, even the disciples of Jesus had to ask him to teach them … Continue reading
In Him
This past Sunday evening, I challenged the assembly to listen for the words “in him” or “with him” as I read Colossians 2:6-15. Those phrases reverberate through the passage, confirming the Christian’s dependence on Christ, in whom “the whole fullness … Continue reading
Prayer in Midst of Catastrophe
I have taken a break from posting for several weeks to concentrate on work and academic requirements as I continued to adjust to the recent death of a son. During those weeks, much has happened in the world. Outrage … Continue reading
Learning to Trust When We Pray
“For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken” (Psalm 62:1-2). Inspiration for prayer dries up when events shatter our … Continue reading
