"The unfolding of your words gives light ..." (Psalm 119:130a)

Month: January 2012

Helplessness and Prayer

“Your helplessness is your best prayer. It calls from your heart to the heart of God with greater effect than all your uttered pleas. He hears it from the very moment that you are seized with helplessness, and He becomes actively engaged at once in hearing and answering the prayer of your helplessness.” (O. Hallsbey, Prayer, p.19)

Why I Keep Going to Church

My friend John Stumbo has written a wonderful book entitled An Honest Look at a Mysterious Journey. You can purchase it here. It is a must read for anyone experiencing pain and confusion over the ways of God.

Here is a great quote (pp.120-121) from John on why he continued to attend church even when, because of pain and confusion in his life, he did not feel the desire to do so.

“Looking back over the last few months, I realize that by attending church …

…I think thoughts I would not otherwise think

… I hear truths I would not otherwise hear

… I sing songs I would not otherwise sing

… I meet people I would not otherwise meet

… I give offerings I may not otherwise give

… I rejoice in missions’ efforts and in new followers of Jesus that I would not otherwise know about

… I receive encouragement and challenge I would not otherwise receive

… I she tears I would not have otherwise shed

… I receive a blessing I would not otherwise have received

… I pray prayers I would not otherwise have thought to pray

… I meet God in a way that I would not have met Him had I stayed home in my chair

… And, perhaps, my attendance is an encouragement or testimony to someone else.”

 

Life Truly Lived

“The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:10, 12)

“… redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Eph. 5:16-17)

Some live for many years but at the end have little or nothing to show for them. Take out the wasted hours, hours of drowsy lethargy, hours of luxurious sloth and hours of self-indulgence, and only a few hours of real life are left. There are men who will be seventy next birthday but who have only lived six months out of the whole time.

Others live for only a few years, but they have crowded them with strenuous, noble life . . . They have treasured the moments with frugal and miserly care . . . What books they have read! What deeds they have done! What ministries they have initiated! What friends they have made! What characters they have built up! They have lived long. They will be thirty next birthday, but in those few years they have lived the life that most men live in sixty years.” (F.B. Meyer, Joseph, CLC Publications, p.115)

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