Many people are confused about why it is important to pray. There is a misconception that when we pray we can bend God’s will to ours. Even if it goes unspoken this seems to be the manner in which many people approach God.
Somewhere in their mind they have created an idea of what could be or perhaps what should be. Then they go to God and ask him to make it happen. This presupposes that we know better than God. Continue reading
Many writers long ago were paid by the word. There may be some who still are today. But the practice of rewarding every written word monetarily worked very well for certain writers. Actually it worked so well for them personally because some would intentionally stretch out sentences just to make a little more money.
Far be it from me, myself, personally to practice such a grandiose endeavor, such an obvious attempt to profit financially, such an egomaniacal… See what I was doing there. Continue reading
When we stop to pray we are not just having a conversation with our next door neighbor. We are talking with and listening to the one that created the very earth that we walk on. Not only that, he created the sun, the stars, the moon, the universe, the oceans, the trees, the mountains, beautiful flowers, fish, birds, animals, volcanoes, waterfalls, and every human being throughout all history.
He is a God that is all knowing, all seeing, and and always present. Nothing takes him by surprise, he sees what is done in secret, and he is not limited by time or space. He holds the past, present, and future in his hands. Continue reading
Whether you realize it or not, consistency will be a major factor in the quality of your prayer life. A solid prayer life is just like anything else in life. You get out of it what you put into it.
When Jesus walked the Earth he gave us a great example for consistency in prayer. These versus record him getting away so that he could speak to and hear from his father in heaven. Continue reading
A man attended a church on Sunday, like he has his whole life. That morning after the sermon on “Five Keys to an Abundant Life” he gave his offering and went to the altar.
There he prayed “Father, thank you that I walk in the favor of God, you give me health, wealth and even a great parking spot at the mall, thank you that I am not like my friends who sin, you know I’m special and favored above others”
Another man pulled his truck into the parking lot of a church for the first time in decades. Feeling nervous about going in he laid his head on the steering wheel, clinched his fist and whispered “God have mercy on me, I’ve fallen short in every way, I need you Jesus, I’m in desperate need of your grace, change my heart.” He started his truck and pulled away without even going in the building.
One man left justified before God…
Questions To Consider
1. What does this parable say to you?
2. Is this a fair interpretation of the parable found in Luke 18?
3. What can you learn from both men represented in this story?
Based on Luke 18:9-14
Written by Tom Wise. © Finding Wonder 2013