Topic > Christian Living > Prayer >
Discover how God faithfully responds to our requests
Today on Discover the Word, the group continues their series this week about Psalm 13 titled, “A Song of Lament and Hope.” It’s all about how lament and hope are not opposites, and how God faithfully responds to our requests, especially when we need Him most! It’s an encouraging truth for anyone and everyone, so be […]
Discover how God handles our complaints
“Your call is very important to us, please stay on the line.” Don’t you hate hearing that automated response? Do you believe it when you hear it? It can actually make you feel that your concerns will never be heard. Well, today on Discover the Word, we discuss how God handles our complaints and what’s […]
Crying out to God can give us hope, peace, and a renewed life
Today on Discover the Word, the group goes back to the Psalms for this week’s series of conversations! It’s a Psalm with seemingly contradictory themes. How can a “Song of Lament” also be a “Song of Hope”? Listen as the team explores how our cries to God can deliver hope, peace, and renewed life. Be […]
Our Father’s Face
I remember my father’s face. It was hard to read. He was a kind man, but stoic and self-contained. As a child, I often searched his face, looking for a smile or other show of affection. Faces are us. A frown, a sullen look, a smile, and crinkly eyes reveal what we feel about others. Our faces are our “tell.”
Asaph, the author of Psalm 80, was distraught and wanted to see the Lord’s face. He looked north from his vantage point in Jerusalem and saw Judah’s sister state, Israel, collapse under the weight of the Assyrian Empire. With her buffer…
God Makes the Impossible Possible
“So, what are you going to do now that you’re done with your Master’s?” That was a question I was repeatedly asked after completing my Master’s in International Relations in China.
Privileged Access
Even though it was just a replica, the tabernacle set up in southern Israel was awe-inspiring. Built life-size and as close as possible to the specifications laid out in Exodus 25–27 (without actual gold and acacia wood, of course), it stood tall in the Negev desert. When our tour group was taken through the “Holy […]
Approaching God
A woman desiring to pray grabbed an empty chair and knelt before it. In tears, she said, “My dear heavenly Father, please sit down here; you and I need to talk!” Then, looking directly at the vacant chair, she prayed. She demonstrated confidence in approaching the Lord; she believed He was sitting on the chair and listening to her petition.
A time with God is an important moment when we engage the Almighty. God comes near to us as we draw near to him in a mutual involvement (James 4:8). He has assured us, “I am with you always” (Matt. 28:20). Our…
Living lives of worship
Every culture on earth expresses itself through music! Today on Discover the Word, we welcome Nicole Unice back to the table one last time to talk about how God can even turn our lives into songs. They’re not talking about singing through life, but how God’s resounding glory reverberates in everyone who encounters Him. Living […]
Five-Finger Prayers
Prayer is a conversation with God, not a formula. Yet sometimes we might need to use a “method” to freshen up our prayer time. We can pray the Psalms or other Scriptures (such as The Lord’s Prayer), or use the ACTS method (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication). I recently came across this “Five-Finger Prayer” to use as a guide when praying for others:
• When you fold your hands, the thumb is nearest you. So begin by praying for those closest to you—your loved ones (Phil. 1:3–5).
• The index finger is the pointer. Pray for those who teach—Bible teachers and preachers,…
Time Together
On the two-hour drive home from a family member’s wedding, my mom asked me for the third time what was new in my job. I once again repeated some of the details as if telling her for the first time, while wondering what might possibly make my words more memorable. My mom has Alzheimer’s, a disease that progressively destroys the memory, can adversely affect behavior, and eventually leads to the loss of speech—and more.
I grieve because of my mom’s disease but am thankful she is still here and we can spend time together—and even converse. It thrills me that whenever I…
How can you be sure you’re following God’s will?
Today on Discover the Word, we’ll conclude the series titled, “Standing at the Crossroads”! When you’re faced with a difficult choice, are you confident in choosing the way to go? And more importantly, can you be sure you’re following God and that it’s “His will”? Join us today for a thought-provoking discussion on making tough […]
Asking for help can revitalize your walk with God
Have you ever been reluctant to ask for help? Maybe you thought you’d be a burden, so you held back. But could a refusal to seek assistance actually be rooted in a self-centered pride? Today on Discover the Word, we look to the prophet Jeremiah to see how humbly asking for help can revitalize your […]
Postures of the Heart
When my husband plays the harmonica for our church praise team, I have noticed that he sometimes closes his eyes when he plays a song. He says this helps him focus and block out distractions so he can play his best—just his harmonica, the music, and him—all praising God.
Some people wonder if our eyes must be closed when we pray. Since we can pray at any time in any place, however, it might prove difficult to always close our eyes—especially if we are taking a walk, pulling weeds, or driving a vehicle!
There are also no rules on what position our…
Less-than-perfect friends are also loved by God
Today on Discover the Word, we are back in the book of Job as we close in on the end of the series called “Job and Jesus.” And they’re talking about Job’s, well, less-than-perfect friends. But even they were part of God’s plan, and they are greatly loved by God. Listen today on Discover the Word!
