In continuing with this theme of this post resurrection waiting, we seek help from Paul’s writing to the Romans where he gives some good advice, “Base your happiness on your hope in Christ. When trials come endure them patiently, steadfastly maintain the habit of prayer.” (12:12 J B Philips paraphrase)
It is how we wait that is important; patiently, steadfastly and prayerfully. What Paul is talking about here is to remain the kind of abiding Jesus spoke about to remain in him even is facing misfortunes and trials by holding fast to one's faith in Christ. It could be said that the very essence of staying focused is the avoidance of distractions. The culprit is not the obvious, but the subtle. The diversions we most easily rationalise are the most dangerous.
Martin Luther, a sixteenth-century monk, and a deeply pious man, led Christ’s Church into the Protestant Reformation. The collection of conversations he had with his students, entitled Table Talk, includes this quote about praying with ceasing as we are commanded in scripture. Martin Luther tells us that even the busiest of us can bolster our faith by remaining in God’s presence, even while working.
Luther said, “There is no Christian who does not have time to pray without ceasing. But I mean the spiritual praying, that is; no one is so heavily burdened with his labor, but that if he will, he can, while working, speak with God in his heart, lay before Him his need and that of other men, ask for help, make petition, and in all this exercise and strengthen his faith.”
Loving Father, thank You for the Word of God and the godly instructions that are laid out for the Church in the epistles of Paul. Please help me to rejoice in hope, endure in tribulation, and persevere in prayer, as I wait in the your presence. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
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