I’ve been thinking a lot over the past 24 hours about prayer (again!). I’ve been wondering whether one of the primary reasons we get discouraged in prayer relates to what we pray about—and what we remember praying about. Because we typically pray a few ongoing prayers that feel super important, but that haven’t yet been … Continue reading Answers to Prayer: Small Prayers
Tag: Prayer
What Does it Mean to Do Things “in the Spirit”?
Frequently in the Bible, and especially in the letters of the Apostle Paul, we come across the expression “in the Spirit”—or similar such expressions. This kind of expression is used in various ways in the Bible, but the one I’m drawn to today is when people do things “in the Spirit.” What kinds of activities … Continue reading What Does it Mean to Do Things “in the Spirit”?
Eight Things I Learned from David Needham
Earlier this week, David Needham, my former teacher at Multnomah Bible College, passed into the presence of the Lord at the age of 94. During the past few days, I have been reflecting upon his profound influence on me. Here are eight things I learned from my beloved teacher. 1. Awe in the Presence of … Continue reading Eight Things I Learned from David Needham
70 Great Bible Passages for Group Prayer
For the past five years, I have been leading twice-a-week prayer times at The Berdhouse, a residential Christian discipleship community that Trudi and I lead for college students. We normally spend the first 15 minutes of each prayer time reading through a passage from the Bible and responding to that passage with dozens of short … Continue reading 70 Great Bible Passages for Group Prayer
14 Problems with Humility
There are multiple problems with humility. Here are 14, in no particular order: Problem #1: Humility is difficult to write and talk about because the moment someone starts talking (or writing…) about the need for humility, that person’s own pride begins to appear—like I’m facing right now as I write. I wonder if this is … Continue reading 14 Problems with Humility
Pray Like Polycarp
I was scheduled for part two of a root canal. (Woo hoo!) I realized I needed a better strategy entering round two than I had going into round one. I needed to be prepared to manage more than two hours of needles, whirling machines, grinding teeth (my teeth!), and a gag reflex akin to drowning. … Continue reading Pray Like Polycarp
Should You Pray to the Holy Spirit?
The short answer, I believe, is that there is nothing wrong with offering a prayer to the Holy Spirit since God the Spirit is, of course, fully God, just as is God the Father and God the Son. However, most prayers in the New Testament and in the church of the second and third centuries … Continue reading Should You Pray to the Holy Spirit?
How to Change from a Prayer Worrier into a Prayer Warrior
Are you a Prayer Worrier or a Prayer Warrior? What’s the difference? Prayer Worriers only pray about things that they’re worried about. The only items that some people pray about are the matters that make them anxious. A person who only prays about their worries is a classic Prayer Worrier. Prayer Warriors, in contrast, battle … Continue reading How to Change from a Prayer Worrier into a Prayer Warrior
Does Your Mind Wander in Prayer?
This past weekend I participated at a conference on prayer with my colleague David Talley. One of the questions I was asked during a Q & A time had to do with mind-wandering during prayer. Does your mind ever wander when you’re trying to pray? Here are ten suggestions that might help you when your … Continue reading Does Your Mind Wander in Prayer?
One Thing You Can Do to Improve the Way You Pray for Other Christians
Do you ever struggle to know how to pray for other Christians? One possible (and common) approach is simply to pray for whatever people ask you to pray. That’s fine, as far as it goes, and we do see the Apostle Paul sometimes asking people to pray for him (Col 4:3; 1 Thess 5:25). Another … Continue reading One Thing You Can Do to Improve the Way You Pray for Other Christians
Kindle Afresh 