As Timothy Keller concludes Chapter 10 of Prayer, he notes that British theologian John Owen (1616-1683) believed there were three distinctive movements or stages within meditation. Owen first distinguished meditation from Bible study and from prayer proper: “It is distinguished from the study of the Word, wherein the principal aim is to learn the truth […]
“That we may obtain that which thou dost promise, make us to love that which thou dost command.”- Thomas Cranmer “For my heart’s desire unto Thine is bent; I aspire to a full consent.”- George Herbert Timothy Keller continues his discussion of the Lord’s Prayer in Chapter 6 of Prayer by considering the next two […]
Timothy Keller concludes Chapter 6 of Prayer by expanding on Luther’s four strands of meditation on a text from Scripture: instruction, thanksgiving, confession, and prayer. 1. Instruction. We begin by discerning the instruction of a text. Luther called this the “school text” part of meditation, where we interpret the biblical passage by distilling its essential […]
“For we who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit […]
“To encounter the words of the Scripture is to encounter God in action.”- Timothy Ward, Words of Life (2009) In Chapter 5 (“Encountering God”) of Prayer, Timothy Keller states that although prayer is a conversation with God, such conversations can remain at a superficial level, never rising to true personal encounter and relationship. It’s the […]
“I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.”- 1 Corinthians 14:15 As Timothy Keller continues Chapter 4 of Prayer, he reminds us that while prayer does have a mystical quality, St. Paul calls Christians to […]
“For through him (Christ) we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.”- Ephesians 2:18 As Timothy Keller concludes Chapter 3 of Prayer, he emphasizes that prayer can be much more than superficial conversation (where there isn’t much self-disclosure) with God. Some conversations go deep. That happens when we reveal not just information but our very […]
“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part, then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”- 1 Corinthians 13:12 “However difficult it may sound, the hearing really precedes the asking. It is the basis of it. It […]
Timothy Keller concludes Chapter 2 of Prayer with a detailed discussion of the richness of prayer, specifically citing the rich word pictures written by poet George Herbert (1593-1633) in his “Prayer (I)”. Pastor Keller considers this poem “one of the greatest descriptions of prayer outside of the Bible.” Pastor Keller notes that there is a […]
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened . . .”- Ephesians 1:17 In Chapter 2 (“The Greatness of Prayer”) of Prayer: […]
“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry,’Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”- Romans 8:15-16 In Chapter 1 (“The Necessity of Prayer”) of […]
Max Lucado references and discusses Mark’s account where Jesus heals a sick woman and Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:25-34) in Chapter 4 (“The Hand God Loves to Hold- Desperate People”) of Next Door Savior. Both the woman and Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, find themselves on the same path in the village, even though they […]