Category Archives: Prayer

Psalm 46:10 – ‘Be still and know that I am God’

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NET: “Stop your striving and recognize that I am God!”

NIV: ‘Be still and know that I am God’.

The text misunderstood

In popular piety and Christian song, this injunction is often (mis)understood to be a call to quiet meditation.

The following well-known worship song (whose author and composer are unknown) is based on Psa 46:10, and is described here as a ‘meditative, chant-style hymn’:

Be still and know that I am God,
Be still and know that I am God,
Be still and know that I am God.…

Where is the Holy Spirit in the Lord’s Prayer?

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This is the title of a recent post by Ian Paul.  What follows is based on that article.

We might well think that prayer, if it is to be regarded as distinctively Christian prayer, should be Trinitarian.

But what, then, are we to make of the Christian’s model prayer, which does not mention the Holy Spirit at all.

Ian Paul suggests that the Holy Spirit is indeed ‘present’ in the Lord’s Prayer, even though not mentioned.…

The Aaronic Blessing

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‘The LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: “‘”The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face towards you and give you peace.”’ (Numbers 6:22-26, NIV)

The Aaronic Blessing is very ancient. ‘In 1979, two small silver scrolls from the seventh century BC were unearthed in Jerusalem.…

Orthodox writers on transcendence, mystery, paradox

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From Christian History Magazine, Issue 54 – Eastern Orthodoxy

The transcendence of God

‘God cannot be grasped by the mind. If he could be grasped, he would not be God.’

—Evagrius of Pontus (d. 399)

‘One day some of the brethren came to see Abba Antony, and among them was Abba Joseph. Wishing to test them, the old man mentioned a text from Scripture, and starting with the youngest, he asked them what it meant.…

Ryle on encouragements to prayer

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God has provided us with powerful encouragements to prayer (writes J.C. Ryle in Practical Religion).

I summarise.

  1. We have a way opened up for us by Jesus Christ.  ‘The name of Jesus is a never-failing passport to our prayers. In that name a man may draw near to God with boldness, and ask with confidence. God has engaged to hear him.’
  2. We have an advocate and intercessor presenting out prayers to the throne of grace. 
…

Perspectives on union with Christ

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The term ‘union with Christ’ sums up the relationship between Christ and his people.

The church has understood this in various ways.

1. Incarnational union.  This view, which was held my many of the early Fathers and continues to be held in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, is that in incarnation God in Christ became one with us in order to make us one with him.  He took on our human nature in so that we might partake in his divine nature. …

Miracles and the purposes of God

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The next section of Tim Chester’s book, Do Miracles Happen Today? that I would like to summarise is that part of chapter 5 which deals with ‘miracles and the purposes of faith.’

Chester believes (with John Stott) that miracles are certainly possible, but not as common as they were in, say that time of Jesus and the apostles, because one of the main purposes for miracles – attesting to God’s unfolding revelation – no longer applies.…

Wait

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It is often said that God always answers prayer, and when he does so it will be with one of three answers: ‘Yes’, ‘No’, or ‘Wait’.

That’s too simplistic.  In particular, it leaves out the possibility that God may not answer prayer.

Psalm 66 teaches us to take a more realistic approach:

66:18 If I had harbored sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.
66:19 However, God heard;
he listened to my prayer.…

Resting, waiting, delighting

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These three words (writes Jan Johnson) take us to the heart of what contemplative prayer is all about.

Resting in God

‘The shadow of the Almighty is a safe place to rest for a soul that is scattered, parched, guilt-ridden, or uncertain.’

Psa 4:4 – ‘When you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.’

Psa 37:7 – ‘Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;.’

Psa 62:5 – ‘ Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.’…

Christ’s prayer for his people

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A summary of ch. 20 of John Flavel’s The Fountain of Life.

“And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to you. Holy Father, keep through your own name those whom you have given me, that they may be one, as we are.” John 17:11

This scripture contains the first preparative of Christ for death, whereby he sets his house in order, prays for his people, and blesses them before he dies.…