A Practice for Pastoral Endurance
For the pastor, a life of piety can sometimes become a professional hazard. We are expected to be the most “spiritual” person in the room, yet we are frequently the most depleted. When the work of the ministry becomes a barrier to the God of the ministry, we fall into a subtle but soul-crushing trap: […]
A Prayer for Students
Editor’s Note: The following prayer was offered by John D. Meade, Professor of Old Testament at Midwestern Seminary, as the benediction at the spring 2026 chapel convocation. Our Father and our God, we come before you today to ask for your blessing on these students and the semester ahead. I pray for our students that […]
What the Early Church Knew About Prayer
Series: Growing in Prayer
What would it mean for us to be more mindful of God’s presence in our prayer lives? What would a more Spirit-filled prayer life look like?
The Boldest Prayer in the Bible
Series: Growing in Prayer
Intercessory prayer begins with an acknowledgement of God’s greatness and compassion then calls on God to apply his character and power to someone who needs it most. In this way, we’re seeking to compel our good Father to action not by our own credibility but by his.
Why It’s Good to Be a Needy Person
Series: Growing in Prayer
To be “a needy person” is one of the great insults of our performance-based, success-oriented culture. But the truth is that we are creatures of need. There will never be a time when we are no longer in need.
And believe it or not, that’s a good thing.
The Real Reason We Struggle to Pray?
Series: Growing in Prayer
A few weeks ago, my friend pulled me aside after our community group gathering. We had finished our discussion time with about 20 minutes of prayer together, and he was both challenged and encouraged. He said, “I’ve been a Christian for decades, but I’ve never learned to pray.” He continued, “I know I’m supposed to […]
Praying Psalm 62 with Charles Spurgeon
Series: Growing in Prayer
“If God is real, I’m sure He’s too busy to care about the details of my life.” A friend said this to me years ago with exasperation and resignation in his voice. Perhaps you’ve heard some version of this yourself. Maybe you’ve even heard it inside the church. “You should only pray for really big […]
Episode 2: Prayer
The first wisdom practice to explore is prayer. But why do pastors often find it so difficult to practice? And why is it so vital? What are some practical ways to think about prayer so that it comes from a place of delight over duty? In this episode Jared Wilson and Ronnie Martin discuss the crucial rhythm of prayer in the life of the pastor.
Prayer, A Sweet Communion
The Beginning of Prayer In the beginning, God breathed His breath into humanity. According to both Moses and Paul, this breath (or Spirit) caused Adam and Eve to be living souls (see Gen 1:7; 1 Cor 15:45). What does it mean to be a living soul? At the very least, it means that we were […]
Prayer and Evangelism Reinforce One Another
Editor’s Note: The following excerpt is by Joe M. Allen III, published with permission from Before You Go: Wisdom From 10 Men on Serving Internationally, edited by Matthew Bennett and Joshua Bowman. Copyright 2024, B&H Publishing. Available now from B&H and wherever Christian books are sold. Prayer and evangelism go together like chocolate and peanut […]