Topic > Christian Living
Sweet Rest
Try as we might—tossing, turning, fluffing the pillow, pounding the pillow—sometimes we just can’t fall asleep. After offering some good suggestions on how to get a better night’s sleep, a news article concluded that there really is no “right way” to sleep.
There are numerous reasons why sleep eludes us, many of which we can’t do much about. But sometimes unwanted wakefulness is caused by anxious thoughts, worry, or guilt. It’s then that the example of
Let’s explore Jesus’ instruction about choosing the right path in life
Jesus said we have two doors open to us. One is wide and welcoming. The other is narrow and unassuming. Which do you choose? The answer may not be what you expect! More from the Sermon on the Mount.
A Neighbor On The Fence
The fence around the side yard of our home was showing some wear and tear, and my husband, Carl, and I decided we needed to take it down before it fell down. It was pretty easy to disassemble, so we removed it quickly one afternoon. A few weeks later when Carl was raking the yard, a woman who was walking her dog stopped to give her opinion: “Your yard looks so much better without the fence. Besides, I don’t believe in fences.” She explained that she liked “community” and no barriers between people.
As Below, So Above
The Roman paganism of Jesus’ day taught that the actions of gods in the heavens above affected the earth below. If Zeus got angry, thunderbolts shot out. “As above, so below,” went the ancient formula.
Jesus, though, sometimes inverted that. He taught: As below, so above. A believer prays, and heaven responds. A sinner repents, and the angels rejoice. A mission succeeds, and God is glorified. A believer rebels, and the Holy Spirit is grieved.
The Hidden Life
Some years ago, I came across a poem by George MacDonald titled, “The Hidden Life.” It tells the story of an intellectually gifted young Scot who turned his back on a prestigious academic career to return to his aging father and to the family farm. There he engaged in what MacDonald called, “ordinary deeds” and “simple forms of human helpfulness.” His friends lamented what they saw as a waste of his talents.
Discover the value of persistent prayer
There are days when it feels like our prayers never make it past the ceiling, and our patience starts to run thin. When talking with God becomes difficult, we need to take a lesson from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
Why we should be persistent in prayer
It can be discouraging to continually bring a need to God, only to have that request go unanswered. Some may even question why we should keep praying at all. More from our study in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
Why unanswered prayers may be the very thing we actually need
Even though we love our kids, as parents we’re smart enough not to give our children everything they ask for! When it comes to prayer, our heavenly Father has a similar practice. A biblical perspective on prayer.
Situation Excellent
At the First Battle of the Marne during World War I, French lieutenant general Ferdinand Foch sent out this communiqué: “My center is giving way, my right is retreating. Situation excellent. I am attacking.” His willingness to see hope in a tough situation eventually led to victory for his troops.
Discover why perseverance is so important when it comes to prayer!
It can be annoying when kids pester us with the same questions over and over again. But our heavenly Father welcomes such tenacious persistence from His children! An insightful lesson from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
No Appetite
When I was battling a bad cold recently, I lost my appetite. I could go through an entire day without eating much food. Water would suffice. But I knew I couldn’t survive long on water alone. I needed to regain my appetite because my body needed nourishment.
Jesus’ claims about prayer in context of the entire Sermon on the Mount
Jesus said, “Ask and you shall receive.” So why do some prayers seem to go unanswered? Will we receive everything we ask for?
31 Days Of Thanks
January, according to many US calendars, is National Thank You Month. This, of course, is easily transferable everywhere, so perhaps it should be Global Thank You Month.
In His Grip
When we cross a busy street with small children in tow, we put out our hand and say, “Hold on tight,” and our little ones grasp our hand as tightly as they can. But we would never depend on their grasp. It is our grip on their hand that holds them and keeps them secure. So Paul insists, “Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me” (Phil. 3:12). Or more exactly, “Christ has a grip on me!”
Our Moral Compass
When Abraham Lincoln was introduced to author Harriet Beecher Stowe, he reportedly said that she was “the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war.”
Although President Lincoln’s comment wasn’t entirely serious, Stowe’s novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin was instrumental in abolishing slavery in the US. Its graphic depiction of racism and the injustice of slavery helped lead to the start of civil war. Ultimately, Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation declared that all slaves “shall be free.” Thus, Stowe’s novel helped to change a nation’s moral compass.
