Sunday Leftovers (3/1/09)

In his book Victorious Christians You Should Know, Warren Wiersbe tells of the letter Andrew Bonar wrote to his brother during the Kilsyth Revival of 1839-40. Bonar lamented that there had not yet been significant change among the people, “…and I believe I am to blame. I work more than I pray.” Later he would […]

Praying for your pastors

Every pastor is asked on a somewhat regular basis, “how can I pray for you?” Keith and I are no exception. Recently, pastor Ligon Duncan put together a list of seventeen things to pray for your pastor(s). Pray — That [your pastor] would know and love the living God, would have a saving interest in […]

Today’s Quote – Prosperity (Calvin)

John Calvin, Commentary on Zechariah, Malachi: It is therefore necessary that we should be subject, from first to last, to the scourges of God, in order that we may from the heart call on him; for our hearts are enfeebled by prosperity, so that we cannot make the effort to pray. (HT: John Piper)

Having trouble praying?

At the beginning of a new year, we are wont to make resolutions. This will change. This time. It really will. Yet statistics I came across a few years ago have said that within one month, 45% of all people have not kept their resolutions. And only 19% keep their resolutions for as long as […]

On the power of prayer

Speaking of prayer… In studying for my sermon for last Sunday, I came across these three statements about the value, importance, and power of prayer: Thomas Lyle: “I had rather stand against the canons of the wicked than against the prayers of the righteous.” Thomas Watson: “The angel fetched Peter out of prison, but it […]

How to love your enemy

Do you ever wonder how to love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you (Mt. 5:44)? John Piper, contemplating that command of Christ, relates it to the familiar pattern for prayer that follows in Mt. 6 — It would be unwarranted to think that the loving prayer for our enemy should ask for […]

Books and transformation

In a recent post, Bob Kauflin wrote, “I once heard someone say that books don’t change people — sentences do. If I glean two or three sentences from a book that affect the way I think and the way I live, that’s time well invested. So I read.” I find it virtually impossible to read […]

Trouble Arising Early to Pray?

Do you have trouble arising early in the morning to pray? This word of encouragement and exhortation from John Calvin is a good encouragement to continuance in the discipline of prayer: “Although we ought always to raise our minds upwards towards God, and pray without ceasing, yet such is our weakness, which requires to be […]

A prayer for a lack of prayer

This is from Adolphe Monod’s book, Living in the Hope of Glory. It is a fitting preparation for our worship for Sunday, and for our preparation of our service today (and any day): My God, forgive the way in which your church, which alone in the world knows enough to pray, does pray. Forgive the […]