More often than not, taking time out for spontaneous prayer is like opening the cap on a bottle of cola — disconnected ideas and concerns flitting from one topic to another without any real substance or peace.
But if I take more than just a few moments and let the “fizz” dissipate an inner calm makes real contact with my Heavenly Father.
How long does it take?
Depends on how shaken up I’ve been; usually not less than half an hour.
– fritz
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Before meeting Christ, Saul (who later became the Apostle Paul) “breathed” anger and murder against Christ’s early followers.
When he had his own encounter Jesus told him an interesting fact still true today.
“I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks” – Jesus (Acts 9:5b)
The word translated, “pricks”, literally means a “stinger” — like on a bee or scorpion.
Abusing Christ’s followers is seen by God as personal assault against himself and the one really getting hurt is the abuser.
fritz
Posted in Bitterness, Christ, Paul, Prejudice | Tagged Acts 9, encounter jesus, personal assault | Leave a Comment »
Simon Peter … to them that have obtained like precious faith with us … Add to your faith … virtue…knowledge …temperance … patience … godliness … brotherly kindness … charity. For if these things be in you … ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful … but he that lacketh these things is blind…” — 2nd Peter 5:1-10
Faith in Christ, alone, makes us his but it isn’t all he wants to accomplish. God’s intent is not to just take us to heaven, he wants to do something with us here.
There are several additives listed but one that gets easily overlooked is “Brotherly Kindness”. It can’t be done when alone. Being kind to brothers, sisters, neighbors, or anyone can’t be done from the prayer closet.
Isolation is the goal of our culture and time in history — living in our own world the way we want, content to be left alone, perturbed when others try to enter. That’s the flow of the river we swim in and the current carries us along without us realizing…its not spiritual it’s cultural, just going with today’s flow.
We must choose to come out and interact with people, especially people of faith.
If regular church attendance, mingling and interacting with people who are different, is not on the agenda; if letting people we don’t know well in is not our style then it will blind us to God’s purposes and stunt our growth!
Don’t let the stream of our culture prevent the embracing of God’s desires and blessing. Reach out and show brotherly kindness.
— fritz.
Posted in Christ, Faith, Maturity | Tagged 2nd Peter 1 | 1 Comment »
Patrikin - Kinship through The Father 