Category Archives: Faith

Martin Luther on Prayer

In reading about Martin Luther, I was impressed with his perception of the Bible and his appreciation of prayer. He loved the Bible and loved prayer.

Martin Luther declares that all Christians can appear before God and pray just as the Bible says. He is echoing Peter in the Bible, so prayer is not reserved to a certain class of people.

Here is a quote from Martin Luther where he is talking about every believer being a king and priest to God. Think about the two place in 1Peter in the Bible where Peter talks about every believer being a priest before God. 1 Peter 2:5, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Nor are we only kings and the freest of all men, but also priests for ever, a dignity far higher than kingship, because by that priesthood we are worthy to appear before God, to pray for others, and to teach one another mutually the things which are of God. For these are the duties of priests, and they cannot possibly be permitted to any unbeliever. Christ has obtained for us this favour, if we believe in Him, that, just as we are His brethren, and co- heirs and fellow kings with Him, so we should be also fellow priests with Him, and venture with confidence, through the spirit of faith, to come into the presence of God, and cry “Abba, Father!” and to pray for one another, and to do all things which we see done and figured in the visible and corporeal office of priesthood.

But the principle went still further; for it vindicated for the laity the possession of spiritual faculties and powers the same in kind as those of the clergy. All Christian men are admitted to the privilege of priesthood, and are “worthy to appear before God to pray for others, and to teach one another mutually the things which are of God.”

— from First Principles of the Reformation (95 Theses) by Martin Luther a resource from Olive Tree.

My Top Prayer Blogs

Abide in me, and I in you — Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach, Oregon

Here are my top or recommended prayer blogs:

Morning Prayer – Encouraging Bible Verses

Prayer is Talking and Connecting with God

Awesome Morning Prayer Time Video

John 15:4-7. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches:He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Loving the Lord

Psalm 116:1 I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. 2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. Psalm 116:13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.

Psalm 116:13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.

Morning Scripture Verse – Revelation Chapter 11

God always wins and the Bible story has an encouraging happy ending. So God in His word, the Bible, the scriptures looks forward to the day where every evil thing is subdued on the earth. At that future time the earth is returned to the original creator and owner, which is God.

Spokane River – the Bible story has an encouraging happy ending

Revelation 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. 16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, 17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. This is a wonderful encouraging Bible verse.

Spokane River – God always wins

God Sees Tears, Pain and Disappointment

Purple Flower

When we or others cry, go through pain or disappointment, we have to remember God is here. God actually remembers all our tears and pain. Look at the Bible verse in Psalm 56:8 … you(God) know my wanderings: you(God) put my tears into your bottle: are they not in your book?

We may think God is remote or does not care, but He does. At the end of the Bible is a promise in Revelation 21:4 God will wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there will be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither will there be any more pain: for the former things are now passed away. There is also Psalm 34:18 “The Lord God is very close to the brokenhearted and saves everyone who is crushed in spirit.” God is always with us in our pain. Notice, the verse says the Lord is close to the brokenhearted. He is not far away, but right there and with us.

Tribulation

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; See my blog God Feels Pain, Tears and Disappointment.

Cannon Beach Sunset

God Feels Pain, Tears and Disappointment

When we or others go through pain and disappointment, we have to remember God is here. We may think God is remote or does not care, but He does. Remember the promise at the end of the Bible – Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

And God actually remembers all our pain and tears. Look at Psalm 56:8 … thou know my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?

The there is Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” God is always with us in our pain. Notice, the verse says the Lord is close to the brokenhearted. He is not far away, but right there.

Prayer that Works

James talks about Elijah, who had learned how to pray “prayer that works“. God answered his prayers. But Elijah had to learn to pray.

Cannon Beach, Oregon

The Bible scripture is James 5:16-18
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.