6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6 – 7, New International Version)
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. (1 John 5:14, New International Version)
Theme: Discipleship
Context:
Thanks for your profound thoughts about how you deepen your relationship with God in prayer. As we continue to fan the flames of passion for prayer by exploring the thoughts of disciples of Jesus across two millennia, we turn today to Martin Luther. As a reminder, we started the week in the 4th century AD and reflected on Saint Augustine’s thoughts on prayer and faith. Next, we moved ahead to the Middle Ages and reflected on Saint Anselm’s prayer to seek and find God. Today we advance to the Early Modern era.
Martin Luther (1483 – 1546) was a pivotal player in the Protestant Reformation. He is also known for being very thoughtful about prayer. In one of his major doctrinal statements, Martin Luther references God’s promises in Scripture and gives the following advice for praying:
“You can hold such promises up to him and say, ‘Here I come, dear Father, and pray not of my own accord nor because of my own worthiness, but at your commandment and promise, which cannot fail or deceive me.’”
Bible Passages:
Our Scripture passages today describe how we should approach God in prayer, without anxiety and with confidence.
Questions:
- What did Martin Luther suggest we should rely on to be confident in prayer?
- Is there a particular Scriptural promise that you utilize in prayer that you would be prepared to share?
Sharing your thoughts could be a big help to someone else. Please leave a comment on the blog.