PHall | September 3, 2018
Yahweh is a universal God (v.1) because He created the universe: the earth, its inhabitants, and the heavens. Notice this beautiful imagery – “You have covered the heavens with Your majesty” (v.1). Reminds me of Romans 1:20 – “For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since […]
Category: Psalms |
Comments Off on Psalm 8 – Praying through the Bible – #172 – A Prayer of Praise About Mankind
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PHall | September 3, 2018
An ex-convict, hoping to keep the “ex“ current, became a Christian. The problem was the judge was still deliberating his case and punishment. Part of the crime consisted of illegal drug use. He approached me to write a letter to the judge on his behalf. I did. To this day I don’t know if the […]
Category: Psalms |
Comments Off on Psalm 7 – Praying through the Bible #171 – A Prayer of Innocence Against the Guilty
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PHall | December 23, 2015
Before a psalm is taken apart and analyzed, each needs to be experienced, even felt, as our emotions overflow and overtake our minds. We need to allow the Psalms to take apart our lives as it takes part in our lives. To experience Psalm 6 we have to experience the pain and the praise. To […]
Category: Psalms |
Comments Off on Psalm 6 – Praying through the Bible #170 – A Prayer of Pain Before Praise
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PHall | December 22, 2015
My morning prayer: “Dear Lord, thank you for two layers of covers (it is winter), a bathroom close to my bed (I am getting old), and a hand to hold while I sleep” (I am still very much in love). You might be thinking this prayer’s contents are first mundane, then TMI, and finally sweet. […]
Category: Psalms |
Comments Off on Psalm 5 – Praying through the Bible #169 – A Morning Prayer of Changing Emotions
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PHall | December 10, 2015
We all care what others think of us. Some admit it. Some are controlled by it. Others react against it. We can pretend we don’t care; but other’s words and opinions often hurt. The cloaked emotional crisis is what others think can lead beyond thoughts and words; dangerous actions can result, sometimes by “me.” Psalm […]
Category: Psalms |
Comments Off on Psalm 4 – Praying through the Bible #168 – A Prayer for Freedom from Self
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PHall | December 8, 2015
The best French fries are at Ollie’s Trolley. I got to eat these growing up when my father would take me to his workplace. One Saturday he did not take me, so I gathered my friends, and we stormed his office. My father’s friends looked out the window. Seeing us on the march they warned […]
Category: Psalms |
Comments Off on Psalm 3 – Praying through the Bible #167 – A Prayer of Help, Honor, and Hope
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PHall | December 1, 2015
Scratched into a wall in Germany during World War II by someone hiding from the Nazi’s are these faithful words: I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when I am alone. I believe in God even when He is silent. Nothing may be more frightening than […]
Category: Job |
Comments Off on Job 38-42 – Praying through the Bible #166 – A Prayer Finally and Frightfully Answered
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PHall | March 23, 2015
Silence. A silent stare. A turned back. Aggression. Resignation. Contempt. Confusion. Disappointment. Restlessness. Disease. Ignored. Cast out. Which of these hurts the most? The answer might depend upon the definition and direction of hurt. Job is praying. Again. “Again” is painful knowing that if he had been answered the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth […]
Category: Job |
Comments Off on Job 30:20-31 – Praying through the Bible #165 – A Prayer of Felt Betrayal
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PHall | February 24, 2015
“Why do bad things happen to good people;” is the inverse of “Why do good things happen to bad people?” Most of the rich are unbelievers. Many shadowed by “bad luck” are believers. How do we reconcile this reality with a good God? Something strange happens in Job’s second response to Zophar. He repeats the […]
Category: Job |
Comments Off on Job 21 – Praying through the Bible #164 – A Prayer from the Wicked
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PHall | February 14, 2015
Was Satan right about Job? Satan’s challenge is this: Would Job be more adversely affected by the ravaging loss of his health (Job 1.22), than the loss of his children (1.11)? Hearing Job talk, it isn’t until the second round of speeches that this godly man even mentions his children: “Surely He has now exhausted […]
Category: Job |
Comments Off on Job 16-17 – Praying through the Bible #163 – A Prayer About His Children Dying
Tags: Prayer, Praying through the Bible