Tag: prayer

Posted on

Prayer 231126

Prayer is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that varies widely across different religious, spiritual, and cultural traditions. It is a form of communication with a higher power, often perceived as a deity or the divine, and serves various purposes depending on individual beliefs and practices.

Here are some perspectives on prayer:

1. **Communication with the Divine:**

– In many religious traditions, prayer is seen as a way to establish a connection with a higher power. It is a means of expressing gratitude, seeking guidance, requesting assistance, or simply conversing with the divine.

2. **Spiritual Reflection and Contemplation:**

– Prayer is not only about making requests or seeking intervention; it can also serve as a time for self-reflection and contemplation. It provides individuals with an opportunity to examine their thoughts, actions, and values.

3. **Cultural and Tradition:**

– Prayer is deeply embedded in the cultural and traditional fabric of many societies. It often plays a role in rituals, ceremonies, and rites of passage, contributing to a sense of community and shared identity.

4. **Meditative Practice:**

– Some view prayer as a form of meditation or mindfulness. It can be a way to achieve a state of inner peace, focus, and serenity. The act of prayer may involve calming the mind and finding a sense of centeredness.

5. **Expressing Gratitude:**

– Many prayers include expressions of gratitude for the blessings and experiences in one’s life. Gratitude is considered a positive emotion that can enhance well-being and foster a sense of contentment.

6. **Seeking Guidance and Support:**

– People often turn to prayer in times of difficulty, seeking guidance, comfort, or support. It can be a source of solace and a means of coping with life’s challenges.

7. **Intercessory Prayer:**

– Some individuals pray on behalf of others, engaging in intercessory prayer. This form of prayer involves requesting divine intervention or blessings for the well-being of others.

8. **Personal Transformation:**

– For some, prayer is a tool for personal transformation. It is a process through which individuals aspire to become better versions of themselves, aligning their actions with their values and spiritual beliefs.

9. **Diverse Interpretations:**

– The interpretation and practice of prayer vary widely among different religions and spiritual paths. While some emphasize formalized rituals, others prioritize spontaneous and personal communication with the divine.

10. **Skepticism and Atheism:**

– It’s important to note that not everyone engages in prayer, and some individuals, particularly those with atheistic or agnostic beliefs, may approach life’s challenges and questions through different means such as reason, science, or philosophy.

In summary, prayer is a deeply personal and culturally influenced practice that can serve various functions, ranging from communication with the divine to self-reflection and community bonding. Its meaning and significance are diverse and shaped by individual beliefs, cultural contexts, and religious traditions.

For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26

TEACH US TO PRAY (PDF)

Posted on

Psalms 19

A Psalm of David

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament sheweth his handywork.

2 Day unto day uttereth speech, And night unto night sheweth knowledge.

3 There is no speech nor language, Where their voice is not heard.

4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: And in keeping of them there is great reward.

12 Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults.

13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me: Then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

The end of all things is at hand. What we have done must not be allowed to place the period to our work.

Many are losing the right way, in consequence of thinking that they must climb to heaven, that they must do something to merit the favor of God. They seek to make themselves better by their own unaided efforts. Heaven p. 11.

Posted on

EGW Dev 211111

EGW Dev 211111

You cannot atone for your past sins; you cannot change your heart and make yourself holy.

But God promises to do all this for you through Christ. When you believe that promise. When you confess your sins and give yourself to God. When you will to serve Him. Just as surely as you do this, God will fulfill His word to you.

If you believe the promise,–believe that you are forgiven and cleansed.

Those who are the partakers of the grace of Christ will be ready to make any sacrifice, that others for whom He died may share the heavenly gift. Steps to Christ, p.78

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD ABOUT JESUS?

The apostle Paul dealt with this question when writing to the church at Rome. In speaking of the light of the law as clearly given in the Old Testament, he says, “For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law” (Romans 2:12). In other words, we will be judged by the light we are given.

Then Paul goes on somewhat of a tangent to discuss the deeper purpose of the law and how even the Gentiles have been given some light. “For not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness” (v. 13–15). So even if the small impulse to do good is planted in the heart of every person, and such a person responds to this divine light, they are keeping the law because “love is the fulfillment of the law” (13:10).

In the same way that every person has physical life because of the power of Christ, so also does each person have spiritual light, a perception of what is right. That divine light might not be very bright and that desire to do good can be snuffed out by evil choices, yet it has been given in some measure to every person.

Earlier Paul explains that “since the creation of the world [God’s] invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). Each person is given some capability to see and understand God through nature and through the mind. Though limited, it is sufficient to provide a stepping-stone toward the Creator.

Those who have been allied to the world should heed the invitation of the Lord. He says, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing.” … The bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness are to shine upon you, that you may be beautified with holiness.

The Covenant

The book of Hebrews, in all its depth and sublimity, is, in many ways, just one long exhortation to Jewish believers in Jesus. And what it exhorts them to do is: Stay faithful to the Lord!

This faithfulness, of course, should stem from our love of God, of who He is and of His character and goodness, most powerfully expressed at the cross of Christ.

Posted on

A Praying Heart

A Praying Heart

USA Kansas senate session opening prayer:

This interesting prayer was given in Kansas, USA, at the opening session of their Senate. It seems prayer still upsets some people.

When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:

Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says: “Woe to those who call evil good”, but that is exactly what we have done.

  • We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.
  • We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it Pluralism.
  • We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism.
  • We have endorsed perversion and called it alternative lifestyle.
  • We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
  • We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
  • We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
  • We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
  • We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.
  • We have abused power and called it politics.
  • We have embezzled public funds and called it essential expenses.
  • We have institutionalised bribery and called it sweets of office.
  • We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition.
  • We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
  • We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, Oh GOD, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!”

ith the LORD’S help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and WHOLEHEARTEDLY become our desire so that we again can be called “ONE NATION UNDER GOD.”

Leaders are to see in every difficulty a call to prayer