Ideas and Guidelines for Prayer

 

As I mentioned last week, the post about prayer became so long that I decided to split it up into two posts.  So without further ado…

Prayer

Prayer is so very important.  Most people pray, even non-Christians when they are in a bad situation.  Many others give prayers of thanksgiving when good things happen.  However, we are called to pray “unceasingly” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).  Now, obviously we cannot do that literally.  There would be no way to fulfill the call to go out and make disciples or to eat or anything else.  We are instead supposed to be continually in prayer throughout the day.  One of the habits that I got into was thinking about all the times that I could pray while doing other things.  When I am sitting waiting somewhere, when I am driving, when I am walking from one room to another, when I am crocheting or other projects that do not take much concentration, and at specific times that I can set aside a few more minutes for a longer prayer (like when I wake up, go to sleep, or at meal times).  Many of theses prayers are tend to be very quick; a minute here, a few minutes there.

However, I also have set aside a time each day to come to the Lord in a more meaningful and deeper way.  I have carved out a longer time in order to give precedence to talking to God.  I try to pair this with my Bible study and worship time if I can.  And the easiest way that I have found to be able to remember what to pray about is to create an in-depth prayer list.  I have tried having it on the computer but have found this distracting.  I have also tried to keep a prayer journal, but then I am flipping through it more than need be.  Now, I have a prayer list on my computer that I print off and update every so often.  I am able to change and add to it in the mean time and when it starts getting messy then I write up a new one.

Honey Mustard

 

One of the things that I love to make that most people either don’t know how or just don’t care to do is to make mustard.  It’s one of the simplest things that takes all of 10 minutes to create.  And when you eat it, wow!

I make this about once a year, and it lasts us throughout the summer.  The flavor is a kind of spicy brown mustard with a sweet wisp of honey.

Bible Reading vs. Bible Study

 

I would hope that regardless of whether they do it or not that many Christians would agree that knowing the Bible is important to the overall health of the Christian walk.  If not, that is a whole other blog post.

I have seen and heard of a million different ways to read the Bible.  I have also heard it said by many people that the most important thing is just to get into the Bible, if even for a little bit each day.  And while I agree that something is better than nothing, it should only be the very start if you are not reading your Bible at all.

For me, there are essentially two ways to read your Bible regularly: Bible Reading verses Bible Study.  Both I think have a place in a Christian’s life each and every day and the two accomplish unique and essential roles.

Expand Your Daily Bible Study

In the recent years, polls have shown that Biblical knowledge is at an all time low.  Mainstream Christianity is going towards a humanist-centric religion, based on how we feel, what we think, what others tell us outside our religion, what other religions do, and what popular consensus is with the masses.  Quite honestly, I wish these groups would stop calling themselves Christians because they hold true to almost none of the tenants of Christianity and those that they do, they have seriously twisted.

New Posts Starting Monday!!!

 

Join me next Monday for the start of a new blog series that will last for several weeks.  I also have some other posts that will pop up in the next couple of weeks as well.

See you Monday!

through His grace alone!

Sarah

No, I do not know everything!

If you were to ask me if I am very sure in the beliefs that I have, it would be a resounding “Yes!”  It’s not that I think I know everything, but that I have spent many years reading amazing works by the saints, studying my Bible, and listening to godly men preach the Bible.  I am most assured of the most important doctrines of faith and salvation; I know my salvation is secured.

And if you were to debate me on many other things, you would have to do a mighty job of convincing me with the Bible that your conflicting view is the correct one.  This does not mean that I am not open to admitting that I am wrong, but I have spent much time learning about the things that I speak of to be able to be almost sure that what I believe is correct.

There is a term that you probably haven’t heard: seminoid.  It describes a person who enters seminary.  Their whole focus in life becomes learning about theology and how to accurately argue those points.  However, this particular person becomes so puffed up with pride that they argue and often cause problems based on their attitude of arrogance and condescension.

I don’t think that this just applies to people within seminary but to anyone who makes it a goal to really study theology.  It is a pitfall that must be avoided when trying to learn more about the things of God.

“Never be wise in your own sight” (Romans 12:16b).

While I love, love, love! theology and discussing theology, I am also very aware that I don’t know everything.  There are parts of the Bible that I am not as familiar with as other parts.  Just like most people, there are certain books of the Bible that I gravitate more to than others.  And then there are other books that are harder for me to deeply understand (I’m calling out you, Isaiah and Revelation!).

I also have certain presuppositions that I am not always aware of consciously.  Recently, one of these presuppositions came to my awareness.  Many times when studying theology, you will come across two opposing view points.  The particular ones I came across, I couldn’t understand why each side thought they opposed each other.  I also didn’t understand how either could be correct.  Part of this, I believe was because I didn’t (and still don’t) understand fully what each was trying to purport.  However, as I searched for the answers to my many unanswered questions, I realized that I had some presuppositions that were clouding my very honest search for the truth.

Now, let me be very clear.  I do NOT define my beliefs on what theology is out there.  When I look into and learn about theology, I try to understand how my beliefs fit with what many others have agreed on is the Truth.  This is a way for me to try to “prove” what I believe is true to myself.  If many other true saints have decided that this one truth is the Truth, and I disagree… Well, how do I know what I believe is the Truth?  It’s not that I then change my belief, but I had better be able to back it up with Scripture.  It is a way to check out what I believe, and not to just keep believing something I heard from someone somewhere that I really can’t remember.

Now, this particular presupposition had no affect on my beliefs of salvation, the way I should live, or anything of utmost importance.  However, as I read the Bible, I see now that some areas have more meaning or are more understandable now that I am aware.  So, while I am always trying to provide only the Truth on my blog, I understand that I am not perfect.  I don’t get everything.  I don’t understand everything.  And for that matter, I will never get everything.  It is just a fact of being a human in this fallen world.  This is why discernment is still important.  Please understand that while I try to keep my beliefs and my interpretation of the Bible as pure as humanly possible, I am still that, human.  And that is also why I would love to hear from you if you disagree with me on something!  Please, don’t keep silent if you don’t believe exactly what I believe.  While I expect all comments to be made respectfully and with Scripture to back it up, I welcome what you have to say.  I hope that my blog becomes a place of learning, of challenging, and of understanding.

And for those of you who think that all you have to do is just read your Bible some and that’s it, I challenge you to consider looking into theology.  I challenge you to read some books by the true saints (beware, there are many out there right now that are false teachers, who spin Bible verses to fit what they want or are bringing in beliefs from other religions to affect their version of Christianity).  Yes, you can get everything that you need out of the Bible, but you come with your own culture, your own upbringing, and your own presuppositions that may cloud how you interpret the Bible.  Use it as a way to challenge yourself to know that what you believe is the Truth.

through His grace alone!

Sarah