8 keys to a more powerful prayer life

I love Luke 5:16 because it shows that just like you and me, Jesus needed a break from the demands of his busy life to recharge His batteries and spend time with His Heavenly Father. The life of Christ is intended to give us examples we can follow and learn from. So, even though He was God incarnate, Jesus didn’t draw on his superpowers as the Son of God when it came to facing life’s challenges. Instead, when He was exhausted or burdened or in need of spiritual refreshment, He would “slip away” to spend time praying — plugging into the power, perception, and purpose that can only be found in God’s presence.

But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray. —Luke 5:16 (AMP)

Prayers to God are one of the most powerful weapons He has given us, and looking ahead, I believe it has never been more important for God’s people to be on our knees. But knowing how to pray or even how to start a prayer is not always easy. Jesus’ disciples felt the same confusion. They were familiar with the oft-repeated prayers of the Torah. But Jesus prayed with a kind of authority and power they had never seen before — as though God was listening! So when they came to Jesus, as told in Matthew 6, they didn’t say, “Teach us another prayer.” They said, “Lord, teach us to pray.”

Full story at World Vision ORG

A Biblical Look at God’s Punishment and Discipline

In my last post, we looked at the topic of pruning. Today I want to take a biblical look at God’s punishment and discipline.

We shared how pruning benefits the vines in the vineyard. I also meandered into how God disciplines us.

Does God punish us? Is God’s discipline punitive or preventative? My meditations channeled over into chastisement, and chastening.

Have you ever been confused about how the Lord disciplines his children? I sure have, and I still don’t have all the answers, but I want to weigh in on the topic.

By Thomas McDaniels

Full story at Thomas McDaniels

Can God fail a man?

 

Whether God can "fail a man" depends entirely on how you define failure and what you expect from divine providence. Theologically and philosophically, the answer has several distinct perspectives.

1. The Theological View: God Does Not Break Promises

In orthodox theology—such as within the Christian, Jewish, and Islamic traditions—God is seen as omnipotent, faithful, and incapable of failing. [1, 2, 3, 4]

• The Scriptural Stance: Sacred texts often emphasize that God is not a man that He should lie or alter His plans. Therefore, from a divine perspective, God does not fail man. [1, 2]
• The Human Perspective: When a man feels God has failed him, theologians often attribute this to a misalignment between human desires and divine purpose. What a man wants may not be what God deems best for his ultimate spiritual journey or greater good. [1]

2. The Experiential View: Silence and Unanswered Prayers

On an emotional and human level, many individuals undeniably feel that God has failed them in times of deep distress, grief, or trauma. [1]

• Discussion surrounding divine failure often peaks during personal crises, unanswered prayers, or when people witness prolonged suffering. [1, 3]
• Forum discussions reveal mixed opinions regarding this; some perceive God's silence as abandonment or failure, while others view it as a transformative process or a "blessing in disguise" that becomes clear only in hindsight. [1, 2]

3. The Philosophical View: Human Free Will and Divine Limits

Some theologians and philosophers, notably proponents of the "Open Theism" perspective or those who view God as self-limiting, suggest that God operates within the parameters of human free will.

• If a man chooses to make destructive decisions, God may allow him to fail to honor human free will, rather than micromanaging or forcing specific outcomes. [1]

Ultimately, whether God can fail a man is a deeply subjective question. Many find peace in the belief that God's plan is absolute, while others wrestle with the reality of human suffering and unmet expectations. [1]

If you are currently wrestling with this question, it helps to narrow down the context. Would you like to share:

• Are you reflecting on this from a philosophical/theological standpoint, or a personal experience?
• What specific event or concept is making you question whether God fails us?

Remembered by God

When God remembers me!

The God Who Remembers 

“But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth and the waters receded.” Genesis 8:1

I want to tell you a personal story from the closing days of the Second World War. I was seven years old at the time, and my father was stationed with the Air Force at Barksdale Field, Louisiana — with the family. We knew that the war was ending. Many servicemen had been discharged and sent home. We were looking forward to a discharge too and had even begun to pack so we could leave quickly if the papers came through. I remember my father explaining that when we were discharged we would have to leave quickly or run the risk that other orders might come through canceling the discharge.

When our discharge did come, school was in session, so I was told that we would leave as soon as I got home that afternoon. I was so excited! I could hardly wait to get on the school bus, get back to the base, and then get off at our corner. When the bus stopped I ran up the sidewalk and the steps to our front door. It was locked. Surprised and a bit subdued, I went around to the back door and found that it was locked too. At last I found a window that I knew could not be locked and after prying it up with a nail I crawled over the sill into a room adjoining the kitchen. It was empty. So was the entire house. I will never forget making my way slowly from room to room with the sinking sensation that in the rush of packing and the need to “leave quickly lest our orders be canceled” I had somehow been left behind. Actually, my parents had only gone off briefly for a last-minute errand. While I was wandering through the empty house they had returned and were waiting outside in the car for the school bus, which they thought had not yet dropped me off. But it was a sad little boy they saw backing out of the window of the room next to the kitchen after my tour of the empty house was completed.

By Dr. James Boice

Full story at One Place.

Are You Ready For When the Lord Shall Come?

In the Gospel for Tuesday of the 29th Week, Jesus reminds us to be ready, but what does that mean? Let’s consider four ways that the Lord describes.

READY to WORK – Jesus says, “gird your loins,” which is the ancient equivalent of saying, “roll up your sleeves.” The Lord has a work for us and wants us to get to it. He’s not thinking of a worldly career, but rather things such as raising children in godly fear, pursuing justice, and growing in holiness. The Lord wants us to work in His Kingdom.

We must commit to prayer, Sunday worship, reception of the sacraments, obedience, and holiness. The Lord has a particular work for each of us based on the gifts He has given us. Some can teach, others work well with senior citizens, still others have a good head for business and can provide employment at a just wage. Some are called to priesthood or the religious life. Some are called to suffering and to offer that suffering for the salvation of souls. Some serve in strength, others in weakness. In some way, all are called to serve, to work. So, work with what the Lord gave you to advance His Kingdom. Part of being ready means doing our work.

By Msgr. Charles Pope

Full story at ADW ORG