Posted in God's Plan, Philip Yancey, Prayer, Quotes, tagged Matthew 06 on August 8, 2011| Leave a Comment »
[Y]our Father knows what you need before you ask Him. — Jesus (Matthew 6:8b)
Philip Yancey has some insight about why God wants us to pray when he already knows it all.
“We do not pray to tell God what he does not know, nor to remind him of things he has forgotten. He already cares for the things we pray about…. He has simply been waiting for us to care about them with him” – Philip Yancey, Prayer pg. 60
— fritz@langgang.com
Posted in Philip Yancey, Prayer, Quotes, tagged Matthew 06 on July 29, 2011| Leave a Comment »
“But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” — Jesus (Matthew 6:7)
“[T]he words I use are the least important part of prayer … Prayer invites me to lower defenses and present the self that no other person fully knows to a God who already knows” – Philip Yancey (Prayer, pg. 30)
Posted in Prosperity, tagged Luke 04, Matthew 06 on October 22, 2010| Leave a Comment »
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“But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon.”” – Jesus (Luke 4:25-26)
Jesus pointed out something that put his whole synagogue in an uproar.
He said the only widow who had food enough for her family during the famine was the one who, first, gave her last to God. They all knew the story from 1st Kings 17 – this widow had one meal left and the prophet had the audacity to ask for it first. By asking her to feed him first Elijah was actually doing her the favor – by keeping him fed she and son never ran out of food while others starved.
Jesus wasn’t asking for money, he was pointing out that putting God first, not just being one of God’s chosen, brings God’s blessing and provision. God’s call to service is for our benefit, not his.
Jesus put it this way,
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” – Jesus (Matthew 6:33)
– fritz
Related link: The Prosperity Gospel, September 24, 2010
Related Link: Waiting, October 20, 2010
Patrikin - Kinship through The Father 