Tag: temptation

Prayer on a President’s Desk

“O, God, thy sea is so great and my boat is so small.” —An Old Breton Fishermen’s prayer, from a plaque on President John F. Kennedy’s desk

God can seem dark and vast, stormy, dangerous and overwhelming—like the churning sea. But like the sea, He’s also encompassing—unpredictable at times—but His love and grace fill the deep, endless expanse of all He is. The sea is always bigger than the storm. Even on the waves He comes to us walking, reminding us, “Fear not—it is I,” and calms the storm.

We are surrounded and we are safe.

Awesome.

—j

Be Careful Out There

“I am tempted to think that I am now an established Christian—that I have overcome this or that lust so long—that I have got into the habit of the opposite grace so that there is no fear that I may venture very near the temptation—nearer than other men. This is a lie of Satan. One might as well speak of gunpowder getting [in the] habit of resisting fire, so as not to catch spark. As long as powder is wet, it resists the spark; but when it becomes dry, it is ready to explode at the first touch. As long as the Spirit [like water, fills] my heart, He deadens me to sin so that, if lawfully called through temptation, I may reckon upon God carrying me through. But when [I am not filled with the Spirit], I am like dry gunpowder. Oh for a sense of this!” —Robert Murray M’Cheyne (1813-1843)

Be careful playing with sparks.

Blessings,
—j