Malankara World

Suffering - Overcoming The Storms of Life

Storms
"When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone,
but the righteous stand firm forever." - Proverbs 10:25

Facing Trials and Tribulations in Life with God

If God is Good, Why Do I Hurt? by Dr. Ray Pritchard
Of all the questions that trouble the people of God, none is greater than the question posed in our title. Sometimes it is asked in other ways: Why is there so much suffering in the world? Or why do bad things happen to good people? Or why do the wicked prosper while the righteous take such a beating? ...

Where is God At Times Like These? A Meditation in The Wake of a Violent Atrocity by Msgr. Charles Pope
One of the great mysteries to believer and non-believer alike is the mystery of evil and suffering. If there is a God who is omnipotent and omniscient how can he tolerate evil, injustice, and suffering of the innocent? Where was God yesterday when the shootings in Connecticut occurred? Where is God when a young girl is raped, when genocide is committed, when evil men hatch their plots? ...

Where Is God When I am Hurt? By Timothy Paul Jones
In Jesus Christ, God lived among us. God experienced from our perspective. And, on the cross, God was violated, humiliated, abandoned, abused (Isa. 53:3-7). In the words of the Apostles' Creed, "He descended into hell." And, with God's people in every age, Christ cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34). ...

How Can a Holy God Ordain Evil to Exist? by James Pruch
When the Virginia Tech shootings occurred, people asked, "Where was God?" When the shooting happened in Omaha, people asked, "Where was God?" My belief is that God was right there, in the midst, crying with the victim's families and friends and justifiably angry at the shooters. That is but one level of God's emotions. On another level-outside of our capacity to understand-there was God, willing everything that happened on those days according to the counsel of his will. ...

There is No Growth Without Struggle by Dr. Ray Pritchard
When hard times come, when trials fall upon us, or we seem to fall upon them, when the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune knock us to the ground, what should we do? Remember these two words. Pray and stay. .. Our trials are not sent to make us fall. They are sent to cause us to soar by grace. They are not meant to defeat us but to be the means to a greater spiritual victory. They are not intended to make us weaker but to make us stronger...

How To Get Up When You're Down by Adrian Rogers
Don't let Satan blow out the candle of hope in your life. Not a sparrow falls to the ground without His notice. Though Christians are not immune to trials, tribulation, pain and suffering, take comfort in knowing God will see you through. ...

The Property of Tears by Jill Carattini
It is impossible to hear stories like this, of heinous murders, of calculated school shootings, without retreating to the deepest whys and hows of life. The abrupt ending to these lives is another wretched symptom of a sick and desperate world. The problem of evil is a problem that confronts us, sometimes jarringly. The problem of pain is only intensified by the personal nature of our experience with it. ...

The Sacrifice of Suffering by John Piper
Biblical thinking proceeds on the assumption that we are all called to follow Jesus outside the camp where there is reproach and danger. It may be the risk of ostracism and scorn at your work. It may be the pain of misunderstanding from an unbelieving relative. ...

The Boys of Bethlehem by Dr. Ray Pritchard
I want to ask a question that I can't fully answer, but it is one that we all think about in different ways and at different times. If the angel knew about the impending massacre at Bethlehem, why did he warn Mary and Joseph and not the others? What shall we say about the other boys of Bethlehem? And what about their parents? Were not those babies precious to the Lord also? Does the Lord hear the wails that arise from the little town of Bethlehem? ...

Tragedy at Newtown by Ravi Zacharias
The Bible only speaks of one remedy for this: the transformation of the heart by making Christ the center. Those who mock the simplicity of the remedy have made evil more complex and unexplainable. ...

Jesus Calms The Storm by Metropolitan Mor Eustathius Matta Roham
The Gospel narrates that after a long day of ministry, Jesus wanted to cross the Sea of Galilee. While traveling He fell asleep. .. When Jesus rises from His sleep, He does not at first speak to the disciples, but to the winds and the waves, telling them to be quiet and to be still. By doing so, Jesus eliminates their reason to be afraid. ...

It is I; do not be afraid by Archbishop Cyril Salim Bustros
We often ask: why God does not save us from the storm? Storms are part from our human nature and from the changing conditions of this world. Jesus did not come to change the weakness of the human nature or the physical conditions of this world, but to change the hearts of men and women. He does not always stop the storms, but he is always present with us in the storms to give us the inner strength to weather the storms.

How to Face Life's Storms by Dr. Stephen Felker
I have gone through several storms in my life. At times God allowed the storm or defeat to get my eyes back on Jesus. At times I believe God was just strengthening my character, and teaching me some important lessons. But through it all, I can say that none of those storms really hurt me, but only made me a better person.

What Should I Do When Trials Come? by Steve Brandon
I hope that you would get beyond, "survival mode," which simply seeks to endure until the trial is done. Such a response, though natural for us, fails to see God's purpose for you within your trials. My heart is that you would see God's purposes in the trials in your life and respond appropriately when they come.

Bearing Life's Burdens by Rev. James Mattek
I'd like to have you picture the burdens of life as being like stones. Every time we don't deal well with life it's kind of like we're adding another stone to our burlap sack—before you know, we've got quite a burden.

Who's to Blame for Human Suffering?
I daresay that if the innocent suffer they do so because one of us -- you or me or some other thug -- now or in the past has set their pain in motion. If the innocent continue to suffer they do so because we have yet to take responsibility for their pain; we have yet to take sufficient responsibility for their relief.

Dealing with Suffering by John MacArthur
The primary question you need to ask yourself as you think about the possibility of facing trials and persecutions is "How will I react?" Either you will react with a positive attitude and enjoy positive benefits, or you will react negatively and compound the trouble.

Broken and Shattered in Order to be Made Whole by Dr. Jeffrey F. Evans
Trials produce patience, and perseverance, and humility, and meekness. Never is a person more teachable than when they want to get out of a painful situation! Never are they more attentive and more willing to listen.

Is Suffering Inevitable? by Shawn McEvoy
Suffering. It's not standard daily devotional fare, because let's face it, usually we want to begin or end our day being uplifted, or even better, lifting up God, rather than focusing on our pains and problems... Suffering is very real, and there's certainly no reason any Christian would expect life to be otherwise. We purport to follow a "Suffering Savior." ...

To Be a Mother Is a Call to Suffer by John Piper
How do you handle the setbacks, the disappointments, the abuses, the heartaches, the calamities, the bitter providences of your life? And I ask it specifically to mothers, because to be a mother is a call to suffer. When Jesus looked for an analogy of suffering followed by joy, he said (in John 16:21), "Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world." ...

Asking Why When Tragedies Hit by Greg Laurie
What God wants you to do is to call on Him. When people come to me and are suffering, when they ask me for answers, I tell them, "I don't have an answer. But here is what I have: Turn to God. Lean on Jesus. Cling to Him. Pray." ...

Troubles in Life?
There are so many people who are in trouble. We face so many problems in our daily life. Why do we suffer? Are they the trials given by God because we have committed sins? But Why God allows these trials and hardships?

A story for those who are discouraged
A woman was having heart bypass surgery, and it was time to take her heart off the machine that was keeping her alive during the procedure.

Tough Times
Life is never easy. We have times of joy and happiness but after that there are the times of disappointment and sorrow. There are storms and earthquakes. Christians are not immune to the often terrifying storms of life. The label is not a 'fix' for the fear. Where is there a source of continued security and of courage?

Faith versus Fear by Charles Spurgeon
Not only in prayer, but in duty, the man who has great faith in God, and whom God has girded with strength, how gigantic does he become! Have you never read of those great heroes who put to flight whole armies, and scattered kings like the snow on Salmon?

Are You There God?
Whether divorce has touched you in some way or not, all of us have been through some sort of trial that has shaken us to the very core. That has turned our lives upside down. Whether it be a broken relationship, the death of a loved one, the dashing to pieces of a dream, childlessness, defeat in your career or prolonged singleness . .

There Is a Way to Be Happy, Even in Sadness by John Piper
Let us embrace whatever sorrow God appoints for us. Let us not be ashamed of tears. Let the promise that joy comes with the morning (Psalm 30:5) sustain and shape our grief with the power and goodness of God. ...

Joy, Joy, Joy by Ryan Duncan
How are we supposed to have joy when our cars break down, when bills pile up, when bad days just get progressively worse? For me, it's almost insulting for someone to tell me things like, "count your blessings" or, "things could have been worse" when I'm in the middle of cleaning up a crisis. ...

A Mystery! Saints Sorrowing and Jesus Glad! by Charles H. Spurgeon
But, alas! affliction cometh everywhere; virtue may sentinel the door, but grief is not to be excluded from the homestead. "Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward;" if the fuel be a log of sweet-smelling sandal wood, yet the sparks must rise, and even so the best of families must feel affliction. ...

A Time of Darkness by Ralph Bouma
If you ever talk to a Christian who says he has never been forsaken by the Lord, that he has never felt the Lord withdraw Himself, then he is very shallow. He has never really understood the refiner's fire.

Suffering with the King by Fr. Daren J. Zehnle
We are not made for pain; we are made for happiness. But recoiling from the cross, as it natural, we can yet rejoice in the carrying of it, but it must be for his sake, I mean, to be like Christ, and so we with him, he in us and we in him.

Others have suffered too
One of the things the devil delights to do is to persuade us that the trial we are going through is unique. When you come in contact with others in the family of God you begin to see that it is just not true. You rub shoulders with people you know suffered extremely painful experiences - experiences more distressing than you have ever faced. Yet they still continue to sing God's praises.

11 Ways Jesus Speaks into Your Sorrow
Many experiences can leave you struggling with deep sorrow. You may often find that the people around you simply don't know what to say to you in your sorrow. But Jesus does.

Suffering is the Christian’s Path to Glory by Wil Pounds
The only suffering that fulfills the condition is, "suffering with Christ.” Only those who share in Christ's sufferings now will share in His glory hereafter. In order to share in that glory we must share in His sufferings here and now.

An Assurance of God's Love
God loves you completely and absolutely and He is never too busy, too distracted, too distant, too limited.

How to Change a World in Chaos
If you had a magic pill that could cure any disease, would you bury it in your backyard? Jesus is the only answer for the world’s ills. So stand firmly for Jesus and allow His light to shine through you and give hope to a world searching for hope!

When All Means Fail
This is the last devotional written by David Wilkerson. He posted it on his blog just before leaving for a fatal trip. He died in a traffic accident on April 28, 2011.

Be Happy With What You Have
It is easy to think "If I could just get a new car, a bigger house, a better job, or more money, then I'll be happy." We tend to view happiness as a commodity attainable by wealth. However, as the old saying goes, "money cannot buy happiness."

Finding True Happiness: Part One
What does it take for man to find true happiness in the world that we live in? How can a person be content in this fast-paced, drive-thru society that we are a part of?

Finding True Happiness: Part Two - Four Sources of Divine Contentment
There are four sources from which we can experience true divine contentment. Contentment, as defined in part one, is a plateau of the Christian life that every believer must reach in order to be fulfilled spiritually, mentally and emotionally. That being said, let’s look at these four sources of divine contentment in which are sure to provide ways to reach a state of fulfillment.

Sickness and Disease: The Bible’s Perspective
What is sickness? What is disease? Why are both of these ailments extremely prevalent in a society that is more technologically advanced than ever before? Why has sickness and disease remained an issue since biblical times?

Is It Really An Act Of God?
Most insurance forms have a clause for an "act of God." That is a legal term for events outside of human control, such as sudden floods or other natural disasters, for which no human being can be held responsible. But why are those things attributed to God, and why do so many people think that those things are punishment from God?

The Paralytic and His Four Friends by Edward F. Markquart
Today, Jesus wants to heal our hearts and our habits. Jesus wants to say to us, "Your sins are forgiven. Rise, get up, stand up and walk. Get moving. It is time for you and me to be healed."

Forgiveness, Healing and Wholeness by John Jewell
The gospel story from Mark points out how it is that there is a tightly woven relationship between healing, forgiveness and wholeness. We are physical, social, intellectual, emotional and spiritual beings. If any of these five dimensions are neglected or disturbed, there is a resulting loss of the sense of wholeness we were designed to have. Jesus focused on the issue of sin and sickness in the story from Mark.

"Do Not Fear"

Fear Not! - A Message for Uncertain Times by Linton Smith
Don’t yield to fears.. but hear what God says.. I created and formed you.. I redeemed you.. I summoned you by name.. I love you.. I will be with you.. and trust Him.. press on.. with courage and faith.

What do you fear?
Fear can be debilitating. Fear cripples many, limits abilities to enjoy even the simplest things in life and in some cases stops people from having medical procedures that could prevent major health issues.

Don't Worry, Be Happy! by Fr Munachi E. Ezeogu
In every situation, in every difficulty or problem, in all circumstances, Paul knows one thing we should do rather than worry, and that is: take it to the Lord in prayer. Paul does not ask us to deny that we've got problems or to pretend as if they are not there. He urges us rather to face our problems squarely, not with worry but with prayer. Turn worries into prayers.

God's love is always available
Fear arises from the absence of God's love in a person's life. Of course, God's love is always available to anyone who wishes to receive it. But many times, we ignore the hand that God lovingly holds out to comfort, encourage and guide us into his family circle.

How Am I Handling My Fears? by Dr. Foley Beach
The most often used words of Jesus in the New Testament are: "Do not fear." He did not mean that we should not be aware of our fear. He meant that we should not live in our fear. Fear can terrorize one's life. He wants us to know that God is with is in all our circumstances and will guide us and direct us regardless of what we face.

Anger, Selfishness, Vengeance, Judging Others

To Live, We Must Die
When I say, "To live, we must die," it cannot be in the physical world, for we know that in the physical world, we live until we die. But then, we may ask, "How must we die, that we may live forever?" The answer is that we must die to our pride and to our other sins.

How to Control Anger Before It Destroys Your Future
Anger is destructive and is a destroyer of destinies. Many people have lost jobs, relationships, and opportunities, all because of anger.

Judge Not
We judge people and conditions by appearance, by demeanor, by expression, by every sense and faculty. Every judgment is an exultation of "I" - "ego" over the "other" and the "whole."

Selfishness and Consequences
Let us have a re-examination of our own hearts. Let us see whether we are influenced by the pride of the heart. The pride plays a key role in the spiritual lives of the faithful making distractions from God.

Forgiveness

Forgive and Forget
Jesus was a man of intense action. He was active in defending the innocence of others. He preached to turn the other cheek when we are attacked individually. He taught to forgive your enemies.

I know God has forgiven me, but I can't forgive myself
You start believing the Lord. If He says your sins are gone, that they're underneath the blood of Christ and buried in the deepest sea and separated from you as far as the east is from the west, that you accept that they are gone. Forgive yourself, put the sin behind you, and get on with your life.

Forgive Others As God Has Forgiven You
Forgiving others for deep hurts seems to be one of the hardest things a human being can do. In fact -- very few are successful in forgiving. Yet, in the Bible God commands us to forgive. Is God overly demanding, or...?

Forgiveness, Confidence, and Other Spiritual Tools
There have been a lot of things I've learned throughout the 30 weeks of this amazing Spiritual Study program that it is difficult to know where to start. The first things that impressed me regarding the classes was that there now were a way to express what I had been experiencing.

The Seven Simple Ways To Forgiving
Forgiveness is, basically, about letting go. Releasing the wrong done to you, or by you. This is really a quite uncomplicated principle, but typically extremely tough to achieve. Forgiveness is often a decision.

Anger and Forgiveness by Rev. Fr. George C Mathew
We come to Church and to Christ to be healed. As part of our therapy and recovery plan, then, we are called and expected by God to love and "forgive those who trespass again us" if we too want to be forgiven. If we are angry with another (for whatever reason), let us be mature and tender-hearted and forgive and be willing to forgive.

Letting Go of the Past

Letting Go - Simple tips to staying in balance
An important part of becoming healthy and staying in balance is letting go of tension, stress and deeply buried or surface negative emotions such as anger, frustration, fear, hurt, pain and hate. I mentioned these so-called negative emotions because I have not yet found anyone who was ill or out of balance because he or she was living in or holding onto an abundance of joy and love. However, people are often ill because of the loss of joy and love from their lives; some have never known either of these emotions.

Let Go
Align yourself with God's plan. Listen for the still small voice within. By rejecting ego you open yourself to the Holy Spirit, to the divine plan. Let go of the weights that hold you back and journey once more, free.

Letting Go of Past and Frustrations by Joel Osteen
There is power in letting go of the past and the frustration of trying to figure everything out. When you release your questions, you are saying, "God, You are in control. I trust You." And when you put your hope in God, that's when He can heal your heart and lead you forward into His path of blessing. ...

The Trouble Tree
Don't take your troubles home. Hand them over to God and let Him tackle it.

In The Valleys I Grow
Sometimes life seems hard to bear,
Full of sorrow, trouble and woe
It's then I have to remember
That it's in the valleys I grow.

A Beautiful Flower In A Broken Pot
An inspirational, must read story. How a family learned what it was to accept the bad without complaint and the good with gratitude to God.

From Failure to Gratitude
A great inspirational story. Read it when you think life had been cruel to you and when you are  trying to dig out of difficulties faced in life. Even in the midst of great tribulation and hardship, there is much to be thankful for.

Some Useful Scripture Texts for Prayer and Meditation/Reflection in Time of Suffering

Holy Bible for Our Rescue
Important Bible Passages for emergency use.

Answers to Commons Questions from the Bible
All of the following are important questions. Would you be able to provide an accurate, scriptural answer?

Read The Bible
The words of God recorded in the Bible are containers. They contain ideas from God. They contain life. When those words enter us through our eyes, ears, or our thinking, they impart life and faith.

My ways not your own!
Surrender to Me everything you are that I may "rise up" in you as your Spring and Living Waters yes, but these waters must flood your mindset "that My Kingdom may Come" into the all of you that I may translate your spirit, mind and soul into the "All of Me" "The Manifold Wisdom of The Father" but "you must" make me your door and key you walk through in all you do for I AM your eternal light to the knowledge and wisdom of The Father and it is this you "must" understand . ...

Reaching Perfection Through Suffering
Human character must have a plus attached to it. The world does not forget great characters. But great characters are not made of luxuries, they are made by suffering. ...

Quicken Us Through Troubles
God shows us the troubles. Sometimes, as this part of our education is being carried forward, we have to descend into "the lower parts of the earth," pass through subterranean passages, lie buried amongst the dead, but never for a moment is the cord of fellowship and union between God and us strained to breaking; and from the depths God will bring us again. ...
 

The Problem of Universal Suffering by Doug Focht, Jr.
Suffering is both universal and personal. Nations at war, mass starvation and disease, these are examples of universal suffering. To be precise, all suffering is universal in that it happens to all, but when it happens to me it becomes personal.

The Problem of Personal Suffering -Part 1 by Doug Focht, Jr.
The understanding of suffering does not necessarily ease the pain, but it tends to shorten it, because we see our lives in a different and broader perspective. In this article, we will consider the relationship between universal and personal suffering. We will do this by seeing personal suffering as a microcosm of universal suffering because, after all, that's what it is!

The Problem of Personal Suffering - Part 2 by Doug Focht, Jr.
We all know of righteous men and righteous women who seem to have known little but suffering and sorrow most of their lives. Perhaps they have lost their spouses in tragic and sudden ways, or they may be suffering from debilitating diseases that waste away the body. In general, we know about them not because they succumb to their situations but because, like Job, they prevail.

God of All Comfort by Rev. Bryn MacPhail
The stark reality of Scripture is that the Christian is called to suffer. Because Christ suffered, and because Christ bids us, 'follow Me', we can expect to suffer.

Where Is God When It Hurts? by Rev. Bryn MacPhail
Where is God when it hurts? God, through His Holy Spirit, is in every Christian ministering to those in need. We are called "the Body of Christ" for good reason. We are to be the physical presence of Christ in this suffering world.

Draw Near to God and He Will Draw Near to You by Linton Smith
Today I invite you to consider three people who drew near to God.. and see how drawing near to God impacted their lives and the lives of others.

Purposeful Suffering by Rev. Bryn MacPhail
Suffering is something every person experiences. There are no exceptions. Some, admittedly, suffer more than others, yet, the fact remains, that every human being experiences suffering.

A New Perspective on Suffering by Rev. Bryn MacPhail
This message is concerned with the suffering that comes as a direct result of being a Christian. Peter does not address the suffering caused by painful, life-threatening, diseases, rather he addresses the persecution that is likely to follow the heralding of the Christian Gospel.

How Could a Loving God...Send Anyone to Hell?
Have you ever heard this question asked? Perhaps you've asked it yourself? "How could a loving God send someone to Hell?" It seems contradictory, doesn't it? Well, your right! It is! Contradictory, I mean!

When God Hurts Your Feelings by Lysa TerKeurst
Asking why is perfectly normal. Asking why isn't unspiritual. However, if asking this question pushes us farther from God rather than drawing us closer to Him, it is the wrong question. Too often, we tend to question God. ..

Comfort, Challenge by John Ortberg
Apparently there is something about all living creatures, even amoebas, that demands challenge. We require change, adaptation and challenge the way we require food and air. Comfort alone will kill us.

Joy Through Christ by Dr. Michael Youssef
One of the greatest threats to our joy is disobedience to God's Word. When we live in disobedience, we become a fruitless and joyless Christian. Jesus warned against fruitlessness.

Peace Without a Pill by Thomas Lindberg
Is it possible to enjoy real, lasting peace? If so, where can it be found? I believe Isaiah 26:3 is God's answer to how to enjoy peace without a pill. Those words are some of the most profound in all of literature. They are so simple, yet so true.

God's Love
We are living in a time where the love of many are going cold. Due to lack of love many problems are happening in family, in society and even in churches. It may be easy to love our own family or our own church members. But to love others it may be difficult.

The Old Rugged Cross - The Proof of God's Love by Selwyn Hughes
I often wonder to myself what was happening that was good when my wife was dying with cancer. I couldn't see anything, but because I know God is good I accept that something good was being worked out. A good God was in charge, and I am prepared to wait for the clarification of that until I get home.

The Day All Suffering Will End by Dr. Jack Graham
There will come a day when Jesus will take away the tears. There will be no more crying. There will be no more death. Everything that has gone wrong since Adam sinned so long ago will be made right as the curse of sin is reversed and real life is restored to this fallen world.

God is Good Even When Things Go Bad by Selwyn Hughes
Anyone can believe when there are explanations and answers. The person who goes on to know God in a deep and intimate way is the one who can affirm that God is good even though there may be a thousand appearances to the contrary.

Changing Destinations ... Universal Detours for a Better Life
I recently worked with several people who are in the lowest points in their lives. It seems that everywhere they turn and everything they do creates a new avalanche of loss. Some of these people were, at one time, wealthy individuals, but, because of changes around them, they suddenly lost everything. The others were living comfortable lives and it seemed like everything just stopped working for them. In all cases, they were slowly sinking into despair because they couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Christmas in Heaven
This is how heaven celebrated the first Christmas. On this holy night, in effect, heaven momentarily came to earth. Heaven and earth are always co-existing, but sometimes they can seem worlds apart and other times separated by only a thin veil. When tragedy hits, when illness prevails, heaven can sometimes seem distant. ...

The Perfect Heart
What makes a heart perfect is not by its shape or its condition. It depends on how it is used. A flawless heart does not make it perfect. To be perfect, you should share your love and accept love from others.

Take Hold Of Every Moment
"Never save something for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion". Those words changed my life.

It all depends on the way you look at things.
If you have love, friends, family, health, good humor and a positive attitude towards life, you've got everything! You can't buy any of these things. You can have all the material possessions, but if you are poor in spirit, you have nothing.

Positive Attitude
Jerry was the kind of guy you love to hate. He was always in a good mood and always had something positive to say. He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator.

Our God Is Awesome
Amazing Story that illustrates that with God everything is possible.

The Heart of a Humble Parent
When you make a decision that negatively affects your life or the lives of others, be the first to admit it. Admit your mistake and resolve to handle any resulting consequences of your actions.

Peace of God
A Christian Perspective. In those stressful times when we feel like we just need a break, could it be that we are really looking for peace? What about when we awake in the middle of the night and can't sleep, what are our thoughts then? Isn't the cry of our heart really to find peace?

Blessings & Difficulties
In the world we live in today, it is very easy to get so incredibly caught up in all of the demands that culture places on us that we don't have any time to spend with God.

Letting God’s light shine through you
Being a Christian is more than just lip service. It’s living your life in such a way that others see a difference in you. So as you go throughout your life, let others see God’s grace and love in you!

Prayers/Meditations

Suffering and Orthodox Prayer
Everyone faces suffering at different points in their life. The more important question is how we will react to our sufferings. The prayers of the Orthodox Church offer answers to this question.

Prayer for Anger

Prayer for Anxiety

Prayer for Employment

Prayer in time of Debt

Prayer in time of Need

Prayer for a Sick Child

Prayer for a very sick person

Prayer for Healing

Prayer for the Disabled

Prayer of the Elderly

A Sinner's prayer

Consolation Prayer

Disturbed Prayer

Prayer in Defense of Marriage

Hedge Prayer for Return of a Wayward Spouse

Prayer for a Person Undergoing Persecution

The Good Prayer by Beinsa Douno

Prayer for Peace in Church

God Cares About You
Prayer for a personal relationship with God.

Prayer for Forgiveness of Sins by St. Gemma Galgani

A Humble Prayer in Distress: Turn Us Again
This psalm (Psalm 80) written by Asaph denotes a humble prayer in distress. The context is a deplorable condition Asaph sees that has come upon the church of God. The church of God in times past was so blessed with God’s nearness and the shining of His face.

More Prayers

Why My Prayers Are Not Answered?

Unanswered Prayer by Philip Yancey
The unsolved mysteries and unanswered prayers all fade to gray against the panorama of God's plan for the ages.In the end, unanswered prayer brings me face to face with the mystery that silenced Paul: the profound difference between my perspective and God's.

Sweet Irony' - Be Grateful for Unanswered Prayers
We want God to answer our prayers. Hopefully, we will thank Him after He answers our prayers. Now, can we thank god when he does not answer our prayers? Read Jim's article and we may have a different perspective on unanswered prayers.

Answers for Unanswered Prayer by Gary E. Yates
We have all had the experience of unanswered prayer. We pray for God's healing for a loved one. We pray for God to bring revival and renewal to our churches. We pray for the suicide bombings to end and for our troops to come home. Why does nothing seem to change when God has promised us, "Ask and you will receive"?

When God Says, 'Not Now' by John Piper
Luke emphasizes the praying of Jesus more than any other gospel. He records nine prayers of Jesus, and seven of the nine are only in his gospel. So let's let Jesus teach us about prayer. He knows about it from both ends: he prayed as a full human; and he receives and mediates prayer as God himself. There is no better teacher on prayer.

The God Who Delights In Answering Prayer by Rev. Bryn MacPhail
Prayer is an institution of God. Over and over again, the Bible commands us to pray. And yet, I suspect that many of us, having prayed, have wondered about whether our prayers will actually change anything. The importance of persistence in prayer; why some of our prayers may not answered; what should we pray for? These are some of the topics covered in this article.

Prayer – Guaranteed To Succeed by Charles Spurgeon
We find a powerful reason for expecting prayer to be effective in the fact that it is an institution of God. In God’s Word we are, over and over again, commanded to pray. God’s commands and means of fulfillment are not foolishness. Can I believe that the infinitely wise God has ordained for me an exercise which is ineffective, and is no more than child’s play? Does he command me to pray, and yet has prayer produce no more result than if I whistled in the wind, or sang to a bunch of trees? .. Heaven and earth will pass away, but while God lives, prayer must be heard. While God remains true to his word, supplication is not in vain. The Lord give you grace to exercise it continually.

Thy Kingdom Come: The Prayer that Changes the World
The Lord's Prayer can be rote and without thought or true petition of the heart, or it can become a divine force unleashing God's glorious blessing. One may pray "Thy kingdom come" without any regard for the intent of Jesus, or one may pray "Thy kingdom come" and the world itself begins to change.

God has not forgotten you
Have you ever thought that God has forgotten you? You may have been serving faithfully for a long time. It isn’t that you want to be paid for your Christian service but a little recognition would be nice. Have you wondered whether you will ever get the blessings you long for?

God’s Generous Response to Boldness in Prayer by John MacArthur
But our God is absolutely available, absolutely approachable, gracious, merciful, compassionate, kind and you can go into His presence boldly and ask for whatever you want. You can go into His presence any time and not interrupt Him. In fact, He desires you to do that.

A Daily Time Alone with God
For many people this time of year brings more activities and  personal obligations. When this occurs, a person's devotional times get squeezed out of their daily schedule, and soon their relationship with the Lord becomes distant. Having a daily Time Alone with God is vital to keeping a strong, vibrant, relationship with the Lord.

 
 

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