Silent Time

Life’s circumstances give us a lot of unrest, such as persecution, hatred, stress and many more such things try to ham us, especially believers in the holy eternal creator God get such external pressure. Yet, all who love the Lord have deep inner peace by the grace of the heavenly Father.

Is it ok to enjoy life? We do not need to seek suffering. God knows what is best for us, and he will bring into our life everything in a way, timing and dosis that serves to our best in the long term, both, good luck and bad luck, pleasant times and unpleasant times will be sorted into our life by the right time by the all-knowing God, who has a far better long term plan than we can ever have. Our...

As adults we might be proud of our wisdom and intellect, and at times we may look down to the simple-mindedness of children. But the almighty creator God rejects such arrogance, and rather he loves those who have the type of faith that children have. We can learn from them.

The “daily bread” is much more than food alone. Interestingly, the Lord’s Prayer does not give a long list of things that we think we need, in the way that we might request for our wishes to be fulfilled. The request for all that we need is summarized in the one aspect of “daily bread”. In addition, the Lord’s Prayer gives a lot of other aspects of prayer (that we easily tend to forget).

Is suffering good or bad? Pains are never pleasant; still it is to be distinguished: e.g. pains from exercise might help to build up a muscle.

There are many different kinds of temptations – each person gets attacked in one’s weak areas.

Which efforts in life are useless and in vain? Which efforts in life are useful and worth the pain?

Evil often comes in not so obviously; matters are turned around, people get confused, so that it appears as if good is bad and vice versa. Let’s pray for clarity, so that God may give us wisdom in all big and small decisions considering that in the background the permanent war is going on in the spiritual world between good and bad.

What does “the Father’s only begotten Son” have to do with your life nowadays?

“The word became a human being” – what do you think about that statement? It sounds like a strange combination of words. But St. John explains and points well towards the saviour Jesus Christ.

Judge justly – or even better: do not judge others at all. Better to show mercy to others and to offer them new beginnings if someone has done wrong, because with the same measure we judge others, we will be judged as well.

Who can expect good things to happen in the long term future?

Who is really sovereign?

Since God has all power and is at the same time merciful, does it not mean that we should be free of trouble? Far from that. God does not promise a trouble-free life. In fact the word of God prepares the believers for difficult times, e.g. in the Psalms in the prayer “you let people ride over our heads, we go through fire and through water, yet you will bring us out into a safe place”.

What do you hope for? To pass an exam or to graduate? Or looking forward to a promotion in the job? Or do you look for health or for peace in the family? Whatever it might be, the biggest hope is in the Lord, the creator God almighty. “On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us”. That is not just a vague hope but a firm future for all who put their trust in the heavenly Father.

A record of misery - a strange title, isn't it? After all, why would anyone talk about a record misery? Hardly anyone wants to talk about it, and yet, if we look back in our life, how many miseries have been there? Let’s not get depressed by thinking about those times, rather let’s hand it all over to God in prayer.

Have you spent recent days in sorrow or in joy? Whatever the current circumstances are, there are many things to be thankful for to the Lord, most of all for the great victory that he has won on the cross, that saves all who put their trust in him. That is the firm foundation throughout good as well as bad times.

A lot of resources are wasted in the world by rivalry, as people try to be relatively better-off than others. Envy, selfishness and peer-pressure destroy, but the ways of the Lord build up lives.

The top of the mountain.

Receiving power – what a great promise! The word of Lord tells us for example in the book of Acts that we can receive the power of the Holy Spirit, courage and energy even for the most difficult situations. And that was not only applicable 2000 years ago but still today.

Even throughout the toughest times of life, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. Do not give up your confidence and the trust in the Lord God Almighty.

Throughout history and sadly still today there have been cases where many need to suffer because a few leaders or rulers egoistically try to increase their own influence and power.

In which mood do you turn to the Lord, specifically for communion? In whatever mood and with all kinds of emotions we can turn to the Lord – important is that we turn to him at all. The communion can be a particularly effective reminder of what is really important in life and can help us to readjust our mind to the right humble attitude towards the holy eternal God. In his grace he always welcomes...

“I know whom you are looking for” – is it not strange to say that? How can you know whom someone else is looking for? Sometimes we may guess by the circumstances. But in the original context of those words spoken it was known for sure. Whom do you look for?

We tend to have in mind the things that we lack in life. But considering that there have been times when people had barely enough to survive, and still today many have to live under severe conditions lacking basic needs, let’s not forget to give thanks to God every day for all that he provides. Let’s not forget how kind and merciful the Lord is, worthy of all praise.