Tag: Prayer

Monday Q&A 4: Foundations of Christianity pt.2

On By Elisha McFarlandIn Blog Posts, Q&A5 Comments
Monday Q&A 4: Foundations of Christianity pt.2

Hey, and welcome back to another Monday Q&A! Today’s topic is “The Foundations of Christianity”, the second and last discussion here. Last week, we talked mostly about the depravity and utter sinfulness of man, but this week, our focus turns to Jesus and His effect upon man and sin.

So, without any further ado, let’s dive in!

8: What does the term “fall of man” mean and why is it important?

The term “fall of man” refers to the introduction of sin into the world. Described at the very beginning of the Bible, the Fall took place soon after the creation of the first man (Adam) and woman (Eve). The two lived in paradise and in perfect harmony with God, cherishing Him and fully submitting to His commandment- to not eat of “The tree of the knowledge of good and evil”, located in the middle of their Garden home.

Eventually, a fallen angel named Lucifer took on the shape of a serpent/snake and tempted Adam and Eve to break God’s commandment and eat the fruit. Lead by Adam, Eve took and ate the fruit, sinning for the first time in history and introducing sin into the very bloodstream of humanity.

Since then, man has been born in a fallen state, unable to not sin. We bear Adam’s curse and punishment for his failure, a punishment only removed by Jesus and His sacrifice.

Continue reading “Monday Q&A 4: Foundations of Christianity pt.2” →

Does God Hear Me When I Pray?

On By Elisha McFarlandIn Blog Posts, Christian Posts20 Comments
Man praying in pew does God hear me when I pray

Prayer is one of the key foundations of Faith. Much of our Faith, as Christians, hinges upon it, and without it, we are rendered completely unable to grow in relationship with Christ. Many would describe such a man as a “dead Christian”, having Faith but lacking fruit.

A Christian’s spiritual walk involves prayer from the beginning to the end. From praying the classic “sinner’s prayer” as a teenager or adult to praying our last words on our deathbed, prayer is deeply rooted within the life of every Christian. A Christian with a healthy prayer life can expect to see his relationship with Christ grow, and in direct relation to this, the strength of his Faith will grow also.

Continue reading “Does God Hear Me When I Pray?” →

Avoiding Passivity in a Time of Crisis

On By Elisha McFarlandIn Blog Posts, Christian Posts27 Comments
Prayer and Pacifism

Four days ago, I published a post talking about the Universal Sabbath. The post was well received, but one of the comments stuck with me. A woman gracefully reminded me of the fact that this is a crisis, not a vacation. While many of us are stuck in our houses, there are others out there fighting this battle, and while the outward battle is serious, the spiritual battle rages also, mimicking the battles on earth.

Continue reading “Avoiding Passivity in a Time of Crisis” →

God’s Fulfillment Through Man’s Insufficiency

On By Elisha McFarlandIn Blog Posts, Christian Posts9 Comments
Praying christian hands

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:7

One of the most fulfilling experiences as a Christian is to discover the full measure of Christ’s grace. Not only does His grace encompass all sin, death, and hatred, but it also covers our weakness. After all, it is within our weakness that our true hearts are revealed.

Christ shows His perfection through our imperfection. In times of pain and trial, he is the one most glorified through us, His servants. And even though he brings trials for a reason, he does take a measure of that pain and anger and sorrow upon himself.

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Current Events: Hurricane Dorian’s Effect “Total Devastation”

On By Elisha McFarlandIn Blog Posts, Current Events4 Comments

Hurricane-PixTeller

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the last week, you’ve been hearing numerous reports of Hurricane Dorian. News of death counts and destruction are sweeping the nation (Oh, sorry. Bad pun.), with stories of massive swaths of devastation. Currently, the death count stands at thirty but is expected to nearly triple over the course of the next few days. According to BBC News, The International Red Cross predicted that over 40% of the homes in the Bahamas and Abacos were seriously damaged or demolished. Not only have many government buildings been destroyed, but the only International Airport in the area was also destroyed, potentially grounding flights for the next few months.

Continue reading “Current Events: Hurricane Dorian’s Effect “Total Devastation”” →

The Power of Prayer

On By Elisha McFarlandIn Blog Posts1 Comment

Recently I have started a “prayer list”. This, while starting small, has grown into something quite large, as I write down the prayer requests given to me by my family, friends, and acquaintances. This, by itself, has no real meaning- after all, writing down the prayers does not solve them.

What many of us do not realize is the power of prayer. Throughout history, millions of afflictions, fears, doubts, and more have been healed through God’s power. Now, because God already knows the desires of our heart (see Jeremiah 29:11), He already knows the problem before we even pray it. It is by His eternal grace that he listens to us and our complaining 🙂

But if prayer has no power, then what hope do we have? The answer: EVERY HOPE! Even though prayer in itself has no power over God, as He doesn’t have to listen to us, prayer is a way of showing God that we love Him so much we are willing to talk to him. Talking to God is one of the best ways we can build our relationship with Him. In the same way a child babbles to its father, so too must we talk to God. This communion with God is holy and precious, and should never be underestimated.

 

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Friday!

On By Elisha McFarlandIn Blog Posts4 Comments

Friday. The last day of the week. The whole world breathes a deep sigh as people leave work and prepare for the weekend. Friday is a day that everybody celebrates because now it’s time to relax! Right?

Hold on a second. You were probably reading that last paragraph and nodding your head, “Yeah, that’s exactly what I do on Fridays!” But then I asked: Right? And now you are confused. What’s wrong with Friday?

Nothing! *gasp* There is nothing wrong with Friday! Personally, it’s my favorite day of the week, because I can actually take a break from school and writing these annoyingly difficult blog posts. However, there is one thing that must remain in our mind as we start the weekend: Jesus. Many of us are tempted to become completely lax as they enter the weekend. There are no thoughts of Bible reading or prayer. Instead, all attention turns to the fun that can be gained out of the weekend. After all, isn’t that what the weekend is for?

Not exactly. God created the weekend with the intention for us to use it. Yes, he did create Saturday and Sunday as days of rest. However, there was another purpose behind the creation of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. God also intended for the weekend to be used as a time of worship to Him. Not just on Sunday, when many go and fulfill their “churchly obligation” by attending church, but also Friday and Saturday. These days are intended for us to use in His worship.

So, what do you do? Go home on Friday with your heart towards Him. Sing a little, even dance, if it makes you feel more relaxed. But do NOT forget to thank him for the weekend, pray to Him, and spend time worshiping him.