Silent Time

What factors help a person to find living faith and a relationship with the Lord? Apart from the obvious, there are also other things going on in the background: the Holy Spirit is at work. And that is the reason why we are called to intercede and not cease to pray for others.

How do you spend your free days, when you do not need to work? Especially on public holidays, we are invited remember what God has worked throughout history and the relevance of the Lord’s intervention for our lives in these present times.

Someone knocks on your door. Not aggressively, neither a beggar nor a salesperson nor a burglar. The almighty Lord himself friendly knocks on your door offering the most valuable presents of life for free. Do you open to door of your heart to him?

If we put our trust in the Lord, then the word of God and the Holy Spirit can work together to our long term benefit.

Many people might think of Christmas as just a nice story for children. But if we think about the historic contexts of how God has arranged it in combination also with events of the old testament, it becomes clear that it is much more than that. In fact it is part of the few very most relevant events of all times.

Who is the highest authority? Far above all bishops, governments or councils is the almighty, eternal, sovereign God, the creator of the universe. And when he gives a sermon, then we should listen carefully.

Do you have children or young people to take care of? Then you have a great and demanding task to teach them to put their trust in God and to show them the love, hope and faith that can be found in the relationship with the heavenly Father, and to give a good example of walking closely with the Lord, because in the end the young people will copy the behaviour.

Have you got baptised? Whether young children are brought to baptism by their parents, or whether a grown-up persons decides to get baptised or to receive a confirmation, whether the full body is submerged or only small amounts of water be sprinkled, in any case important is the faith involved. Congratulations to all, who got baptised, recently or long time ago.

What takes away your peace? Which subjects do not let you rest? When we remember that Jesus has conquered all misery and won the victory over all evil things, then we do not need to fall into despair, no matter how much we suffer from certain topics, because we can always look to Jesus.

What gives you comfort? If we know that we are lost based on our sinful nature, that we can not live up by our own effort to the standards of God no matter how good works and deeds we try to do, then it is the great comfort that Jesus has won the victory on our behalf that saves everyone who puts one’s trust in him. The great comfort that gives peace here and saves eternally.

To which preachers do you listen? There are many different styles and denominations. How can we find out who is trustworthy? One distinguishing is of utmost importance: Is the message solely based on the Word of God? Is the preaching fully in line with the good news, the gospel as found in the bible? Or is anything added on which the emphasis is put? An honest preacher does not seek the own honour...

How comes that parliaments and governments often debate for many hours, weeks and years but they do not really get to the point? Frequently they miss the topics that would be relevant for the people, whether directly or indirectly. Often time of highly paid politicians is wasted on irrelevant short term side-topics that are then proudly announced via the media, but rarely any major results that wo...

Have you ever reached the limits of your own energy? Worn out and so tired that you cannot accomplish the tasks that you want to do? Tried to do good, but evil is coming out? As long as we rely on our own strength alone, sooner or later we will reach our limits. But if we put our trust in the Lord God Almighty, the Saviour, then he can help us with his eternal power, which is available to everyone...

What gives you guidance? There are so many choices we need to take, in which we cannot know upfront what will be the best for the future, for example: which education, which profession to choose? Few big decisions of life, but also many more small decisions we need to take every day. Of course there is valuable support and experienced people can give good recommendations. But nobody knows everythi...

What will you answer, when one day you have to give account in front of God the judge? By that time it will be not sufficient to refer to our own good works and deeds. But we can refer to Jesus, he has won the victory on our behalf. Whoever believes in him has sufficient to pass the judgment.

What are your circumstances of life? If you can live in peace, then give praise and thanks to the Lord every day. Often however, throughout history and same today, true believers can not live in pleasant conditions and rather face persecution of various kinds. But no need to give up, even among challenging circumstances, the promise of God remains true and valid: “I give you strength to resist. Th...

The brothers of Joseph came in a humble attitude. Therefore, Joseph was kind to them, forgave them and helped them. Every person of any background can come in a humble attitude to God. The Lord offers kindness, forgiveness and help.

Have you ever wondered why – as a believer – you need to go through so much trouble and pain? Often it seems as if those who do not care about God are better off. Still, as children of God, we are best-off, because God educates his children in love and guides us throughout this life towards his kingdom.

Do you know situation in which your mood is not in for praying? You might feel as if it is not a suitable time or you may feel guilty or not skillful or you may worry that you do not find the right words to pray. Do not postpone it. Because exactly that is the best time to pray. And we can even make it a prayer “Lord, teach me to pray. You know all in my heart”.

Do you build your life mainly based on facts or primarily on impressions and feelings? Probably we all need to learn more to base our decisions on facts rather than emotions. The Lord already has won the major victory, let’s remember that fact, no matter what life’s situations may look like, no matter what the feelings may currently tell.

Do you need guidance in any regard? Apart from human teachers and preachers, God can also talk to us via many other ways directly, for example when we study his word. The Holy spirit can guide us like a teacher.

What do you do in times of troubles? How do you handle it? Jonah prayed to the Lord in distress. Even when Jonah had acted against the will of God and travelled in the opposite direction that the Lord wanted him to go: when Jonah was drowning in the sea, he prayed to the Almighty, and the heavenly Father intervened: by the most unlikely way he saved Jonah and brought him back on track. Jonah had d...

Which life’s situation are you in – do you complain or do you trust? There are a lot of situations in life that make us complain or even to give up hope. For example the Israelites did not see any hope when the sea was in front of them and the army of the Egyptian army chased them. The people almost gave up. But Moses did the right thing: he brought the matter to the Lord in prayer. And God made a...

The world is filled with injustice, sometimes we are aware of it, sometimes not. Nobody is perfect. How can anyone be saved? How can justice be restored? Especially if we consider that on the other hand the almighty Lord, the creator of the universe, is holy and nothing unjust can approach him, so how can we approach him? How can justice be restored? We can not do that by ourselves. We can not app...

Which signs and symbols do you use to show that something is important to you? For example the follower of a sports team might dress up in the colours of the team, might buy, show and expose various souvenirs of that team in order to highlight the relevance of following that team. Another sign is to come together celebrating and remembering the team’s victories. A Christian might show and expose t...