Tag Archives: discipleship
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
A Disciple’s Full-Bodied Prayer
Humility and gratitude flow through prayer in Psalm 40, grounded in a full-bodied devotion to the Lord God. The psalmist recognizes his helplessness without God; he recalls how God not only rescued him previously, but also provided for him: “I … Continue reading
A Prayer for Vindication When Enemies Surround
He prays earnestly. He cries for justice. He insists that he is innocent: “Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not … Continue reading
Praying During a Pandemic
As news about the COVID-19 virus grew ever more ominous, I went out for my customary walk the other day. As I began my walk, a song being played on a neighbor’s device caught my attention. It was a song … Continue reading
A Prayer that We Will Shout for Joy
King David served God with passion. He badly wanted to build a place for worshipping God that would honor his Lord appropriately. David did not get to see his dream come to fruition. Nathan the prophet conveyed to him a … Continue reading
A Prayer for Focus
The prayer of the first stanza or strophe of Psalm 119 begins with beatitudes that echo Psalm 1: “Blessed are those who way is blameless, who walk in the way of the LORD!” These blessings introduce us to the intense … Continue reading
Does Our Faith Inspire Others to Pray?
Does our faith inspire others to pray? That unusual question popped into my mind when I read recently about Abraham’s sending his servant Eliezer of Damascus to find a wife for Abraham’s son Isaac as part of my daily Bible … Continue reading
The Empty Pews Sing Softly
The empty pews sing softly, echoing back melodic tones Wafted by faithful worshipers scattered in erratic zones Through a hall reserved for moments of joy and grief, Exultation and lament, fervor and hopeful belief In Messiah Jesus, Son of God, … Continue reading
Prayer When Planning for the Journey
I spoke yesterday about “Budgeting for the Journey” as part of a sermon series entitled “The Way of the Cross Leads Home.” When we embark on a journey, whether a holiday excursion or a work-related trip, pre-travel resource assessment … Continue reading
