Rumination Journal

“Moreover when you fast, don’t be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.” ––Matthew 6:16-18 Technical definitions aside, religious fasting is, at its heart, the act of denying something your body enjoys in order to concentrate on something your spirit needs, like a deeper relationship with God. What could you do during a fast? You might read your Bible. You could pray. You might even spend time with your family. Of course, you might be doing all these already, and that's great. But if you are having difficulty finding the time, or if you want to do more than you are now, you might consider a fast. What would you fast? Well, that depends on what y...

How I love your law! It is my meditation all day.  —Psalm 119:97 In 2008, the UK financial firm Lloyds TSB released the results of a study on attention spans. The results showed that the average attention span had reduced over the previous decade. Around 1998, the average attention span was twelve minutes in length. The 2008 study indicated it had been reduced to just five minutes. Of the 1,000 people surveyed, 25% said they regularly forgot the names of close friends or relatives, and 7% even admitted to momentarily forgetting their own birthdays. Pots and pans were forgotten on the stove. An estimated £1.6 billion (approximately $2.67 billion) of damage was caused by lack of concentration. But those over age 50 were able to concentrate for longer periods than younger people. This suggested that busy lifestyles and modern technology, rather than old age, were to blame for mental decline. The fact that this study is over ten years old (as of this writing) suggests that t...

He said to them, “Which of you, if you go to a friend at midnight, and tell him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him,’ and he from within will answer and say, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give it to you’? I tell you, although he will not rise and give it to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence, he will get up and give him as many as he needs. “I tell you, keep asking, and it will be given you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened.” —Luke 11:5-10 What is intercessory prayer? Simply put, to intercede is to stand between. That is the core of intercessory prayer. Those who intercede put themselves between God and the person or thing for which they are praying. Why do w...

This model of prayer incorporates the four components seen in the prayer that Jesus taught to His disciples (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4). To aid in remembering the model, it was given the acronym ACTS, the letters representing the components: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. Adoration Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, and bless his name.  —Psalm 100:4 We should praise God for several reasons. First, God is worthy of our praise. Second, praise sets the proper tone for our prayer. Third, praise reminds us of who God is and His inclination toward us. And fourth, praise purges us of other concerns and softens our hearts for prayer. Many Scripture passages in the Bible remind us of the importance of praise. For example, we are called to praise God, in recognition of what God has done for us (1 John 3:1; 1 Peter 2:9-10; 1 John 5:14). Through our praise we show our respect and fear—reverential a...

Whether you call it the Lord's Prayer, the Disciples' Prayer, the Pater Noster, or the Our Father, it is a prayer given by Jesus to His followers. Jesus gave an example, which was recorded in two gospels. “Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’ ”  —Matthew 6:9-13 He said to them, “When you pray, say, ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ ”  —Luke 11:2-4 But how are we to use the prayer?...

On December 1, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln sent to the Congress of the United States the president's annual message. At that point, the War between the States had waged for 19 months. Lincoln's message was largely routine. But it also proposed controversial measures regarding slave emancipation. And while it was not known at the time, Lincoln was one month away from signing the Emancipation Proclamation. Below are the concluding remarks to that message. The passage includes some of Lincoln's most famous statements. If you are familiar with the expressions "rise with the occasion," "rise to the occasion," or "last best hope," this inspiring passage may be their origin. Washington, D.C. December 1, 1862 I do not forget the gravity which should characterize a paper addressed to the Congress of the nation by the Chief Magistrate of the nation. Nor do I forget that some of you are my seniors, nor that many of you have more experience ...

If you haven't read anything by Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931), I encourage you to try some of his writings. Here is some from his 1923 book,  The Prophet . Then said Almitra, Speak to us of Love. And he raised his head and looked upon the people, and there fell a stillness upon them. And with a great voice he said:  When love beckons to you, follow him, Though his ways are hard and steep. And when his wings enfold you yield to him, Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you. And when he speaks to you believe in him, Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden. For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning. Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun, So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth. Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself He threshes you to make you...

Jesus taught about prayer in three ways: indirectly, directly and through a model prayer. Jesus’ indirect teaching came through the example of His daily living. Jesus’ direct teaching came through His statements to His disciples and followers. And Jesus’ model prayer gave His disciples a foundation on which to build their relationship with God. While these observations on Jesus are not exhaustive, they do provide great insight into the prayer life that we should emulate. Indirect Teaching – Through His indirect teaching, Jesus demonstrated the importance of prayer. Jesus valued prayer , even above sleep (Matthew 26:40-41; Mark 14:37-38; Luke 9:32; Luke 22:44-46). Jesus prayed at the beginning of His day (Mark 1:35). Jesus often slipped away to pray , even when He was very busy (Matthew 14:22-23; Luke 5:15-16). Jesus prayed over critical decisions , sometimes praying all night (Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 6:12-13; Luke 22:39-46; John 17). Jesus prayed with oth...