John Calvin (1509–1564) was not only a theologian par excellence and Reformer of the church, he was a pastor that loved God and sought His glory. His systematic theology The Institutes of Christian Religion is evidence of that; not only does Calvin powerfully elucidate his understanding of Scripture’s teachings, he does it in a devotional […]
Prayer
5 Onramps to Joyful Prayer
If you had to describe your prayer life in one word, what would you choose? Fulfilling? Effective? Joyful? Or do words like irregular, inconsistent, or blah ring truer? I’ve been there. And up until fairly recently, I haven’t been concerned, thinking it was normal, and thus OK. What I soon realized is that being content […]
Spurgeon’s 15 Tips for a Deep and Effective Prayer Life
Spurgeon knew the power of prayer and his need for prayer. When asked the secret of his influential preaching ministry, Charles Spurgeon frequently responded, “My people pray for me.” The following tips and quotes on praying effectively come from a new volume called Encouraged to Pray: Classic Spurgeon Sermons on Prayer. 15 Tips for a […]
How George Mueller Fought Distraction in Prayer
In The Marks of a Spiritual Leader, John Piper shared the example of George Mueller (the great man of faith and advocate for orphans in England) overcoming distraction in prayer. I have found these words from his autobiography helpful in framing my daily pursuit of God and avoiding distractions myself. I hope they bless you […]
Spiritual Warfare Prayer: A Prayer to Put on the Full Armor of God
The following prayer is pieced together from the concluding chapter in the book Spiritual Warfare: A Biblical and Balanced Perspective (read my review) that follows the full armor of God passage from Ephesians 6:10-20. May God strengthen you in as you battle your spiritual enemies for His glory! A Prayer to Put on the Full […]
