Spiritual Growth / Prayer

  • Godly and Dignified Lives

    1 Timothy 2:1-2

    John Calvin says that if “we are at all moved by solicitude about the peace of society, or godliness, or decency, let us remember that we ought also to be solicitous about those through whose agency we obtain such distinguished ...Read More

  • Asking, Seeking, Knocking

    Matthew 7:7–11

    We persevere in prayer knowing that our Father in His goodness will never withhold from us what we really need. We also need to recall, Matthew Henry says, that “we often ask that of God which would do us harm ...Read More

  • The Disciples’ Prayer

    Matthew 6:9–15

    Lack of forgiveness, we learn in today’s passage, may prove a lack of faith. No matter how hard it may be to forgive others, we simply cannot call ourselves followers of Christ if we do not forgive those who ...Read More

  • Praying Without Preaching

    Matthew 6:5–8

    We pray “not to inform God or instruct him but to beseech him closely, to be made intimate with him, by continuance in supplication; to be humbled; to be reminded of our sins” (John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of ...Read More

  • How to Pray

    James 5:16

    As an illustration of Luther’s advice, take some time today to pray through the Ten Commandments. Take each stipulation and confess how you have violated that particular law. Worship Him for the perfection of His character revealed in each ...Read More

  • Providence and Prayer

    James 5:16b–18

    Divine providence should not hinder prayer. Instead it should make us eager to intercede for ourselves and others, because we know God makes use of our prayers to accomplish His will. Consider this example: If my wife is ill, how ...Read More

  • A Servant’s Prayer

    Genesis 24:10–14

    Matthew Henry writes, “Those who would have good success must pray for it.” Prayer is essential for determining the will of God, but the Lord will never lead us to make a choice contrary to the clear teachings of Scripture ...Read More

  • Unceasing Prayer

    1 Thessalonians 5:17

    In today’s passage the apostle Paul tells us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). Many people find it hard to maintain a consistent prayer life, and so they neglect this important means of grace in the Christian ...Read More

  • Bow to the King

    1 Samuel 8

    Man might think he can replace God as master, but the Lord reigns whether or not we ever acknowledge His sovereignty. Furthermore, while sinners may assume they can reject God with impunity, Yahweh will not forever tolerate those who defy ...Read More

  • The Fatherhood of God

    John 1:12–13

    Far from the universalism at the core of Harnack’s definition of Christianity, true, biblical faith is essentially exclusivistic. There is only one God, and the only way to Him is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14 ...Read More

  • Our Father

    Luke 11:2a

    Some people reading this study today may have difficulty calling God “Father” because their own earthly fathers were cold, abusive, or neglectful. But the One to whom we pray does not share the imperfections of our earthly fathers, no matter ...Read More

  • Whatever We Ask

    1 John 3:21–22

    As we spend time in the prayerful study of Scripture, we will know better what pleases God and thus be able to pray more effectively. As we learn Scripture, our prayers should become less self-centered and more in line with ...Read More

  • Righteous Prayer

    James 5:16–18

    In 4:4, James warns us against seeking friendship with the world partly because friendship with the world produces ineffectual prayer (vv. 1–3). Instead, we must be friends of God. Elijah was such a friend of God that he ...Read More

  • The Prayer of Faith

    James 5:13–15

    James’ confidence that prayer brings healing occurs in a context looking toward the restoration of all things at the day of judgment (5:7–9). Not until the new heavens and the new earth will our bodies be in perfect ...Read More

  • Pray for Us

    Hebrews 13:18–19

    Everything that ever happens has been ordained by God before the foundation of the world. But we do not know the decrees of God, and His ways are past finding out (Rom. 11:33). Therefore, we must live by His ...Read More