Promises for the Battle
Doug Knighton
I Was Just Thinking … Faith In Prayer
A famous hymn opens with the words, “What various hindrances we meet, in coming to the mercy seat.” Farther on the hymn gives some indication of why we find it so hard to pray: Restraining prayer, we cease to fight; Prayer makes the Christian armor bright. And Satan trembles when he sees The weakest saint … Continue reading
I Was Just Thinking … Pumping Iron — Spiritually
Today I want to emphasize Paul’s command to Timothy, where Paul said, “Keep on exercising yourself in godliness, pastor Timothy, because godliness holds promise both for this present life and for that which is to come” (4:7–8). The English word “godliness” represents a Greek word used to characterize someone who was very concerned to respect … Continue reading
Christmas Sonnet 2013
Here’s this year’s Christmas sonnet/prayer. It comes from thinking about the two sentences below (from Paul’s letter to the Christians at Ephesus), and from an objection to the typical rhyming pattern found in Christmas carols: child – mild, as in “meek & mild;” meek, yes; but mild? I never perceive Jesus as “mild;” rather he … Continue reading
2013 Thanksgiving Sonnet
Everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. 1 Timothy 4:4 I will praise the name of God with song and magnify him with thanksgiving, and it will please Yahweh. Psalm 69:30-31 The grace of God magnificently shows Us how completely satisfied his heart Must … Continue reading
I Was Just Thinking … Persistent Fervent Prayer
Jesus once said, “In praying do not heap up empty phrases, as those do those who think they will be heard for their many words” (Matthew 6:7). And yet in his parable of the widow and the unjust judge, Jesus clearly taught that we should keep on making the same request to God “day and … Continue reading
I Was Just Thinking … Beating the If Only Blues
How distressed my heart can become when, after having committed myself to one course of action, hindsight indicates that another would have been wiser. Regret — this is a very painful difficulty we often face in life. John Greenleaf Whittier, in his poem “Maud Muller,” captured its pain in these words, “For of all sad … Continue reading
Thoughtfulness #1 — Transforming Thoughts
Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8 Transformation occurs when we renew our minds as well as the hearts. God gives us … Continue reading
I Was Just Thinking … About “Christmas Joy”
The angel said, “I bring you tidings of great joy … For to you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is the Christ, the Lord.” Christmas marks the day when God sent a Savior for me, so that I might have great joy forever. If Christmas merely marked the … Continue reading
Thanksgiving Sonnet 2012
To help us express the joy of our gratitude for the joy of God’s grace, this year’s sonnetic prayer restates the praises of Psalm 136 To you, O God, we lift a grateful voice; For floods of goodness pour forth from your throne, Immersing us in reasons to rejoice, In words and deeds that point … Continue reading
I Was Just Thinking … About “The Foundation of Marriage”
I Was Just Thinking … Our daughter, wanted me to say something regarding the significance of the marriage vows, just before she and husband made them to each other during their ceremony. She had been greatly impressed by what C. S. Lewis said about marriage in his book Mere Christianity. So with his thoughts as … Continue reading
Promises for the Battle 