#Perseverance in prayer

[galahadresearch]

"Amen, amen I say unto you, that the hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live." John 5:25 DRC

How many of us come into close contact with others who are spiritually dead?

When Jesus comes to Martha and Mary following the death of Lazarus, He asks her if she believes that He is the resurrection and the life, and she confesses her belief that He is the Son of God. It is her faith that plays an integral role in Lazarus' resurrection.

"Did not I say to thee, that if thou believe, thou shalt see the glory of God?" John 11:40b DRC

It can be hard to worship in smaller parishes, with less reverent parishioners. Where ugly red bricks abound, and the desire for fellowship is nonexistent. But I realized when reading these passages that when we truly believe in the power of Christ, He can bring the spiritually dead in the pews next to us back to life.

[markmcole]

Paul's Prayer Principles: Insights for a Powerful Prayer Life

The Apostle Paul, in his various epistles (letters to churches and individuals) in the New Testament, offered several teachings and insights on prayer. Here are some powerful and key teachings on prayer from the writings of the Apostle Paul: 1. Pray without Ceasing: In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul encourages believers to “pray without ceasing.” This doesn’t mean constant vocal prayer but…

[apenitentialprayer]

The desolation will certainly come. Prepare for it, not only by laying up a store of comfort, but also by laying up a store of strength to carry you through the dark hours of the storm. Train yourself now to a rule of life, to exactness in prayer, to good methods of performing your several duties, to patience and charity, so that when the storm breaks, you may gather in all your sails, pull your ship together, and hold on bravely and faithfully through darkness and dryness and disgust and despair. Fidelity is the great virtue of the time of desolation; fidelity to God, fidelity in faith, fidelity in hope, fidelity in charity, fidelity to your own good resolutions of the time of consolation, and fidelity to prayer, the sacraments, and all the outward helps of a holy life.

George Porter, S.J., future Archbishop of Bombay, in a letter to a young nun dated April 27th, 1882

[momentsbeforemass]

Wednesday

Perseverance. It’s a word that carries a certain of power. When we hear someone say perseverance, we think of great crises. Of sacrifice. Of rising to the moment. Of heroic virtue.

Perseverance is one of the hallmarks of our Faith.

Time after time, God tells us that He will never leave us or forsake us. We hear that message again in today’s Gospel. That in His strength, we will persevere.

But when we hear it couched in terms like today’s Gospel, it kind of leaves us with the idea that God is the god of amazing things. And not much else.

Well, what if we’re not doing amazing things right now? What if it’s just Wednesday?

Does that mean that God’s not really with us, not right now?

Not at all. Knowing this in your heart is one of the many graces of regular prayer and worship.

As we spend time with God, and grow in closeness to God, we find that God isn’t just the god of special occasions. God isn’t just here for us in our dry seasons and darkest hours.

God is here for us. Even when we’re not doing amazing things.

God is here for us. Even when we’re not sure that He is.

God is here for us. Even on Wednesday.

Today’s Readings

[wiirocku]

Ephesians 6:18 (NKJV) - praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

A Warning and a Call to Persevere

4 For there are men who have surreptitiously entered the Church but who have for a long time been heading straight for the condemnation I shall plainly give them. They have no real reverence for God, and they abuse his grace as an opportunity for immorality. They will not recognise the only master, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Forewarned is forearmed

17-19 Now do remember, dear friends, the words that the messengers of Jesus Christ gave us beforehand when they said “there will come in the last days mockers who live according to their own Godless desires”. These are the men who split communities, for they are led by human emotions and never by the Spirit of God.

Look after your own faith

20-21 But you, dear friends of mine, build yourselves up on the foundation of your most holy faith and by praying through the Holy Spirit keep yourselves within the love of God. Wait patiently for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ which will bring you to the life eternal. — Jude 1:4, 17-21 | J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS) The New Testament in Modern English by J.B Phillips copyright © 1960, 1972 J. B. Phillips. Cross References: Acts 6:7; Acts 11:23; Acts 20:29; 1 Corinthians 2:14; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 2:4; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 2:7; 1 Timothy 4:1; 1 Timothy 5:8; 2 Timothy 3:1; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 2:3; Hebrews 9:28; 2 Peter 3:2; James 3:15; Jude 1:1; Jude 1:3

[bluesidedown]

🎁

[craigtowens]

Links & Quotes

Some links and quotes that caught my eye this week.

Stop praying to yourself! God isn’t impressed with your “powerful” prayer! Jesus tells an interesting story about two men: one thought very highly of his spiritual status and the only could barely lift his eyes. Jesus said that the proud man’s prayer received no help from God, but only the humble man’s prayer was heard. This is a short clip from my series called Kingdom Praying. I have lots of…

[rockingthegraveyard]

Save me Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time save me

[tinyshe]

[rapha-reads]

I finished my thesis and submitted it.

My country has lived a catastrophic event and the tragedies are piling up.

I still haven't found a flat and staying up in a hostel.

Some countries are burning, others are flooding, others are shaking.

I haven't had a real meal in two weeks, living off sandwiches and take out because I don't have access to a kitchen.

The inequalities between rich and poor, well-off and miserable are getting bigger and bigger.

I've had little sleep and little stability in weeks or even months.

Solidarity and kindness must prevail. It must.

[nersumandela]

"Não se preocupa. As coisas são assim mesmo, uma hora dá certo e a outra não. Mas do nada a felicidade chega e você até esquece que já deu errado um dia, é só ter paciência e fé." #faith #prayer #peace #love #patience #perseverance #live (em Praia Grande - Arraial Do Cabo) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnmCesvOmmF/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[bylertruther]

entering the sleepie phase of this all-nighter. Help

[momentsbeforemass]

50% of God’s love

One of the promises you make at Ordination is to pray the Divine Office. Morning prayer and evening prayer. Every day.

If you’ve tried to do it, you know that some days are easier than others. Some days it just flows. Other times, not so much.

There are distractions. Intrusive thoughts. All kinds of things can turn quiet time with God into anything but.

But none of that is really about the Divine Office. That stuff happens with every kind of prayer.

The good part? Even when it’s not easy, or even particularly coherent, God is listening, taking it all in. None of it is ever lost or unheard.

Just as important? What God is not doing.

God’s not evaluating our prayers, figuring out whether they’re worth His time. God doesn’t grade our prayers. God has never said to anyone after prayer,

“That was a mess. Truly one of your worst. You were all over the map. Half the time, you were distracted. When you weren’t, it was all about you. And all the stuff you’ve got going on.

Really, it doesn’t even deserve a response.

But, because I’m Me, I’ll meet you halfway. I’ll give you 50% of My love, some of My grace, part of what you need.

Next time, pray better.”

God’s not looking for perfection. And prayer isn’t a performance.

Prayer is all about talking with God. Drawing closer to God. Being with God.

What God really wants is for us to persevere in prayer.

Even if we’re distracted. Or if we don’t feel God’s presence right now. For us to keep trying.

Even when it’s not easy. For us to keep coming back to God.

To persevere in prayer. Until our hearts rest in Him.

Until we are able to receive 100% of His love, all of His grace, and everything we need.

Today’s Readings

[madewithonerib]

5.] Experience of Meditation

And there you go, I don't know what else to say other than that—but this is about experiential engagement with the Scriptures.

So I would say go to the Book of Psalms or go to a passage that you already are familiar with because the point is not learning.

—the point is to to read this text slowly & aloud to yourself & then to engage in the second step that's called meditation, which the point is not to get far

…………………………………………………………. the point is to focus in on some key words key ideas/themes in this particular passage ………………………………………………………….

& then when there's something that strikes you or that resonates with you, this is important to stop.

The point does not progress

The point is this, they begin to reflect on this & say why is this significant right now? What does this word tell me about JESUS's character

How does this word illuminate some area in my own life or area in my own flaws or character failures or something like that.

What is this word?

What does this concept mean for the things that are ahead of me? That I know are coming later today…

What is the significance of this in light of what JESUS did for me on the Cross?

I have a whole bunch of questions like that on the handout & then the next step is not to keep on reading your Bible, it's to stop & actually use the very words from the particular passage.

To turn that into a prayer that uses the same words that you just read & reflected on & to turn that into your own prayer to GOD

*********************************************** Then contemplation is basically to go live your life but go live your life shaped by the reflections and meditations that you've done from the day ***********************************************

And for a while, you know at least for me it took time it kind of felt like going through the motions, but you know after a while of doing it—it just becomes pretty even brief

Meaningful practice of a daily prayerful engagement with the Scriptures—& I'm certain that this is exactly the kind of thing that JESUS is doing..

And it's precisely the kind of thing that JESUS called HIS followers to be doing it's this it's meditating it's haggai on the Scriptures—not to learn something

& not just to tell GOD what I need

But to stop & focus & not feel the need to have to do or say anything—but just reflect on the Scriptures & how they lead me into this engagement with the Living GOD WHO is the SAVIOUR of all people, especially those who believe

5.1] The Difficult & Eventual Hiccup

So let me just let me just conclude:

   [1]  Train yourself, strive in labor here we are            as a Sunday gathering hurray, we're gonna            go do this & then let's have a conversation            in the month

            —like you're tired because you like lost             some sleep because you woke up earlier             or whatever & then you're like is it really             worth it & I don't know

             —then I went to a concert on Sunday & it was              too early to wake up & then whatever & then              a month from now you're just like this never              even happened you know what I'm saying??

So this is true of no one in the room right?

All right, that's true of all of us.

So again the question is: How do you gain the motivation to see that I need this & it's not just a matter of like feeling guilty or JESUS did it so I need to do it?

Power up, it's about a change of my desires & affections

it's about me coming to actually believe that I can't live adequately if I don't have this practice in my life. I need it & I want it—so that I'm going to focus in on it & say no to other things that are going to get in the way of that..

Prayer Lead to Maturity P1,2,3,4,5,6 | Tim Mackie [Psalm 1:1-5]

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The Armor of God

17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. — Ephesians 6:17–18 | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide. Cross References: 2 Samuel 22:36; Isaiah 49:2; Isaiah 59:17; Hosea 6:5; Zechariah 4:6; Mark 13:33; Luke 18:1; Acts 1:14; Romans 8:26; Ephesians 5:26; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 1:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:8