Are your hearts hardened?

Jesus sure knows how to ask tough questions! When his disciples were arguing over who forgotten the rest of the picnic lunch, Jesus was probing to see if they had made any spiritual connection between the leaven and the Pharisees. Of course, they hadn't! Like most of us, they only saw what was physically before them, without truly comprehending the spiritual depth of Jesus question.

So, when he asks the disciples, "Are your hearts hardened? (Mark 8:17)", I wonder what actually went through their minds? 

This is a great question for us to mull over during Lent? Is there a part of our own hearts that has become calloused? Hardened? Dull? 

What kind of things can turn our once vibrant hearts into hearts of stone?

Will we allow the Spirit of Christ the opportunity to soften our hearts?

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” - Ezekiel 36:26

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Prayer is hard - prayer is easy! Which one is it?

Katie Savage makes me feel a little more at ease when she shares this honest confession about her prayer life: 

"Prayer is easy; prayer is hard. It is both of these together. Sometimes words tumble out, one after another and on top of each other, and then sometimes prayers come only in groans and silence."

How is your prayer life at the moment? Easy - hard?

No matter how we feel our prayer life is going, we all need some encouragement to keep going. In my opinion, prayer is not something you ever get 'good' at, but rather we slowly learn to tune into the rhythm of the father's grace. Once this happens, so we are freer to express ourselves in prayer and communion with the Lord. Perhaps the correct word would be 'more natural!' - Prayer becomes more natural for us as we persevere in prayer. 

What are your thoughts on this?

Colossians 4:2 - Don’t be weary in prayer; keep at it; watch for God’s answers, and remember to be thankful when they come. (Living Bible) 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

No easy matter

How easy do you find Prayer? 

I admit that on some days I find it incredibly tough and this is usually because of outside circumstances. Yet, on other days the words seem to flow from deep inside me. Although prayer can be simple, it can also be hard. I am consoled by the words of many great saints who have paved the way for us, and of course from the pages of the Scriptures. It all helps me tremendously. 

"Praying is no easy matter. It demands a relationship in which you allow someone other than yourself to enter into the very center of your person, to see there what you would rather leave in darkness, and to touch there what you would rather leave untouched." - Henri Nouwen

Matthew 6 (The Message)

“The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this: Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what’s best— as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You’re in charge! You can do anything you want! You’re ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes."

Observation: Prayer is not an easy matter, but it is one of our deepest necessities. 

Living in Grace

D3LM3