Romans 4:21 says, “...because he was fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.” It might not be in every detail, in the form that we expect it. But that is an important point, because the road to something being accomplished is often shorter and simpler than we think. God … Continue reading Sooner and Simpler
Tag: faith
Atoned For
It is possible to be so devout that it is counter-productive... probably about where the line blurs between 'serving God' and gratifying your own impulse to feel like you are being or doing good enough. See Also: Manifest Forgiveness Effective Humility
Show Me Your Glory
Recently, there was some Jesus Culture in the playlist at work. As Kim Walker-Smith sang "show me Your glory," my fiancè appeared from around the corner. The lesson was like God saying, "Do you want to worship me? Do it by loving this person I have put before you. Practically, to you, she is My … Continue reading Show Me Your Glory
What You Already Have
I was talking with a friend of mine about seeking God in the context of a romantic relationship. In the course of that, he told some of his story about the woman who is now his wife. At some point he said, "we prayed together", and though he was not placing any special emphasis on … Continue reading What You Already Have
Answers to Prayers
My girlfriend and I were discussing the dynamics of praying for God's direction in our lives, and the changes and growth happening in our lives. One thing she said about her prayer life is how God is changing how her approach to prayer, God is changing what she prays for and how she prays for … Continue reading Answers to Prayers
Finding Your Way
If I were to paraphrase Isaiah chapter 58 in one sentence, it would be something like, “You need to evaluate your practices and discern what is pointless versus what is actually conducive to the truth of God blossoming in your lives.” Roughly speaking, that is the context of the quote which came to mind recently … Continue reading Finding Your Way
A Path for Miracles
"A voice of one crying out: Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert. Every valley will be lifted up, and every mountain and hill will be leveled; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of … Continue reading A Path for Miracles
To Give Meaning
"In the beginning was the Word..." -John 1:1 "What makes us sick are those things we cannot see through..." - Alice Miller, 'The Drama of the Gifted Child' "Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life, and you will call it fate" - Carl Jung Recently, I was considering the mystery of … Continue reading To Give Meaning
I am the Pharisee
The topic of conversation was the process of head-knowledge becoming real at the heart-level. Then the person I was talking with asked me, “How do you know when that change has occurred?” Unprepared to answer that question, I briefly paused and then gave the first answer that came to mind: “When I no longer feel … Continue reading I am the Pharisee
The Wrong Question
"What does the Bible say?" That is the wrong question. Looking for the divine, tradition misses the humanity, misses the incarnation of God's Spirit, misses the Spirit dwelling among us. So, the real question is, "What did God say to this person in that instance?" or "What did this person say to those people in … Continue reading The Wrong Question
Andrew K. Banks 