Tag: pray

Be True to Our Calling

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date October 16, 2011

I just returned from a writers conference. It was a rewarding and informative time in learning about the art—and business—of writing well.

In the closing presentation, our speaker astutely noted that some of us write fiction and some non-fiction; some write for the Christian market and some for the general market—and that’s okay.

As writers, we need to be content with the area and genre that God has provided for us, not wishing to be writing something different and not pining for the success of others or the opportunities afforded them.

The same is true with our spiritual journeys. We are each on our own path and it is unwise to wish for be like someone else instead of who God has called us to be.

We may not pray as much as someone else or comprehend biblical truth like our best friend.

Others may be better at telling others about Jesus or more confident in reaching out to those who are hurting, but if that is not who God created us to be, it is foolish to falsely pursue those things—and disrespectful to God and the person he made us to be.

Whether it is writing or our faith journey, it is not wrong to want to improve and to grow; in fact, it is admirable and advisable.

However, to compare ourselves with others, diminishing who we are or what we do in the process, is little more than dismissing God’s provision and missing his plan for us.

We need to be content with where we are and stay true to our calling.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

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Tags biblical Christianity, pray, spiritual growth, spiritual journey, writing

Christian Living

How to End a Fast Well

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date August 21, 2011

In an earlier post, I talked about fasting. I admitted that despite the spiritual benefits—while tangible and profound—fasting is a mystery to me. I also shared that the most difficult part of my fast was ending it well.

From a physical sense, when that initial morsel of food touches my tongue, I am often filled with a nearly insatiable desire to make up for what was lost.

If I am not diligent and self-controlled, it is easy for me to continue eating far beyond what is needed to fill my belly.

The real challenge, however, is spiritual. I am normally at a spiritual high during my fast and when it ends, the pendulum sometimes swings in the opposite direction, resulting in a spiritual low.

It seems that if the enemy can’t keep me from fasting or deter me from experiencing God during my fast, he will try to discourage me afterwards.

The solution, while simple, has evaded me for years. Just as I prayerfully begin my fast, I need to prayerfully end my fast. By seeking God’s provision to break my fast well, the residual effects can carry into the time that follows it.

Praying is a great way to end a fast—and then I eat!

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Tags fasting, pray

Christian Living

What’s Your Favorite Bible Verse?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date July 31, 2011

What is your favorite verse in the Bible? Is it John 3:16? That seems to be one commonly cited. Or perhaps, it’s commonly cited, only because it is the only one people know.

As a teen, just to be contrary and catch people off guard, I would claim that my favorite verse was John 3:17. It’s a good one, too, and worthy of consideration.

Or how about: “God helps them who help themselves.” That may be a popular and comforting thought, but I can’t find it in my Bible, so that doesn’t count.

My favorite verse, at least for this season of my life, is quite a bit more obscure. It’s the last part of 1 Chronicles 4:10. To save you the effort of looking it up, it simply says, “And God granted his request.”

The back-story, found in that verse and the preceding one, is that a guy named Jabez prays. After he prays, the Bible simply records that God answered his prayer. It’s my favorite prayer in the Bible.

I find that wonderfully comforting and joyfully encouraging to know that God answers prayers. That is why this is my favorite verse.

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Tags pray, Prayer of Jabez

Christian Living

Does Ritual Have Any Value?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date April 17, 2011

A byproduct of my spiritual formation is a disdain for ritual. To me, a ritual is a meaningless religious activity that is mechanically performed; it is an empty ceremony and a mindless habit, devoid of substance.

This perspective is due in part to what I read in the Bible, where God repeatedly criticizes his followers for their meaningless rituals.

I don’t think he was attacking their rituals, however, but their attitude behind them; after all, much of the Old Testament Law prescribed ritual.

The other reason for my dislike of ritual is that I was always repelled whenever I was expected to participate in one.

It may be that I see rituals as a relic of the past, something that Jesus freed me from—or it may be nothing more than a rebellious spirit.

I am even resistant to the traditional mealtime prayer because it is so hard to keep it from becoming a requisite and meaningless habit that must legalistically precede the proper ingestion of food.

However, I also know that, unlike me, many people find a spiritual ritual to be an inspiring and meaningful act. Perhaps this is why some churches have a liturgical service and others do not. Different strokes for different folks.

Despite my dislike of ritual, a friend recently pointed out that I have, in fact, adopted my own rituals, which I call spiritual disciplines.

For example, I usually end and begin each day with prayer; I regularly have a time of daily Bible reading and contemplation, and I generally fast one day each week.

These are my rituals, they aren’t done mindlessly, and they do hold meaning for me.

They have become a significant part of my spiritual formation and growth.

So, when done right, rituals are valuable after all.

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Tags fasting, follower of Jesus, pray, ritual, spiritual discipline

Bible Insights

Forgive Us as We Forgive Others

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date August 18, 2010

When you pray, be careful what you pray—I’m serious, be very careful. In the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples (also called “The Lord’s Prayer” or the “Our Father”), one part says: “Forgive us our debts, as we have also forgiven our debtors.”

Some translations use the word “sins” or “transgressions” in place of debts, but the intent is the same.

The request is that God will forgive us…to the degree we forgive others.

That is, if we forgive fully, we are asking God to forgive us fully. However , if we only forgive partially—keeping grudges, holding onto ill-feelings, or harboring hate—then we are asking God to only forgive us partially.

Our lack of forgiveness towards others could limit the amount of forgiveness we receive. Ouch!

So when I pray that prayer, I do so carefully and with some trepidation; some days, I even want to skip that part!

However, skipping it is not the answer. A better solution is to be steadfast and diligent in forgiving others—then we can likewise expect the same from God.

[Read through the Bible with us this year. Today’s reading is Matthew 5-7, and today’s post is on Matthew 6:12.]

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Tags Heavenly Father, Jesus, Lord’s Prayer, pray

Reviews of Books & Movies

Book Review: Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date October 13, 2009

By Donald S. Whitney (reviewed by Peter DeHaan)

As stated in the book’s title, “Spiritual Disciples for the Christian Life,” this work discusses spiritual disciplines for those who follow Jesus.

Spiritual disciplines are willing and intentional actions that promote spiritual growth, making us more like Jesus.

They should not be thought of actions that earn us anything, get God’s attention, or are an attempt to manipulate God into doing what we want, but rather as training that draws us closer to God and prepares us to better serve him.

Donald Whitney discusses ten such spiritual disciplines in this book: Bible “intake” (that is, reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating on the Bible), prayer, worship, evangelism, serving, stewardship, fasting, silence and solitude, journaling, and learning.

Each is expertly covered in detail and through practical example.

This book is a great primer for anyone who is serious about more fully following Jesus and being his disciple.

[Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, by Donald S. Whitney. Published by NavPress, 1997; ISBN: 978-1576830277; 272 pages.]

Read more book reviews by Peter DeHaan.Save

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Tags evangelism, fasting, pray, spiritual discipline

Bible Insights

Praying For Our Daily Bread

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date May 7, 2009

Jesus Said to Pray For Our Daily Bread

When the Israelites left Egypt, they spent 40 years in the desert before proceeding on to the land God had promised them. During this time, God miraculously gave them food each day, which they called manna.

All they needed to do was go out in the morning and pick it up off the ground.

What is interesting is that they were told not to stockpile it and save it for the next day (except on the sixth day, when they were to gather enough for the seventh day, as well).

Regardless of how much each person gathered, he or she had enough to eat. However, if they tried to save some for the next day it would spoil (Exodus 16:14-21).

Does this daily provision of food sound a bit familiar?

When Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, one of phrases was “Give us today our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11 or Luke 11:3).

Of course, for most of us, the daily provision of food is something that we give little thought to. However, on a spiritual level, we do stand in need of other things on a daily basis.

This might be making God-honoring decisions, using our time wisely, not wasting money and using it for good and not selfish purposes, or making sure we spend time with God.

Regardless of the situation, be our need physical or spiritual, the lesson to be learned is to rely on God for what we need each day.

Rather it be a literal plea or a figurative request, we all need to say, “Give us today our daily bread.”

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Tags desert, Jesus, pray

Bible Insights

Jesus and the Fig Tree

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date March 20, 2009

The One About the Fig Tree

Have you ever heard the story about Jesus and the fig tree?

Jesus is heading into Jerusalem and is hungry. Seeing a fig tree, he searches its foliage for something to eat. Finding nothing, he seems to get a tad irritated, declaring that it will never again produce fruit.

The fig tree withers and his disciples are amazed.

Jesus uses this as an opportunity to teach them about praying in faith. [Matthew 21:18-22, Mark 11:12-14, 20-26]

I agree with that lesson; it is astonishing, remarkable, and encouraging.

However, I also have a secondary thought about this story. The purpose of the fig tree is to produce fruit.

When Jesus finds no fruit, he dismisses it and the tree dies; his disciples say that he cursed it. As followers of Jesus, we are also supposed to bear fruit. If we do not bear fruit, will Jesus dismiss us as well?

This is a sobering thought and one that is reinforced when Jesus says that he is a vine, we are his branches, and he cuts off all branches that don’t bear fruit. [John 15:1-8]

If this leaves you a bit flummoxed, balance this concern with the assurance, found in the next verse, that Jesus loves us. [John 15:9]

So, pray in faith, produce fruit, and know that you are loved!

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Tags faith, Jesus, love, pray

Bible Insights

When You Fast…

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 4, 2009

Fast for the Right Reasons

In the Bible, Jesus tells his followers to fast. It is not optional.He doesn’t say, “If you fast…,” but rather, “When you fast…” Jesus’ teaching applies to us too.

Fasting is intentionally going without something in order to better connect with God, such as to focus on prayer or seek his leading in making a decision.

Typically, fasting is specifically going without food for a period on time. The length of time could be for a few hours, up to several days.

It is important to remember that the focus of fasting isn’t about suffering, but about seeking.

When we fast, we become understandably hungry for food, reminding us of the importance of being hungry for God. Imagine craving time and intimacy with God as much as we crave eating—three or more times a day!

[Read through the Bible with us this year. Today’s reading is Matthew 5-7 and today’s post is on Matthew 6:16-17. See “Fasting for the Right Reasons.”]

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Bible Insights

When You Give, Pray, and Fast

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date August 26, 2008

When, Not If

In the book of Matthew, chapter 6, there is a word that is interestingly repeated by Jesus. It is the word when:

“When you give to the needy…” [Matthew 6:2]
“When you pray..” [Matthew 6:5 and 7]
“When you fast…” [Matthew 6:16]

Notice that Jesus doesn’t say if you give, if you pray, or if you fast.

It seems that Jesus is telling us that giving, praying, and fasting aren’t options, but expectations.

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Tags fasting, give, Jesus, pray