Author: Tim Challies

A La Carte (December 27)

A La Carte: Should pastors encourage secular therapy? / Top 10 YouTubes of 2023 / We didn’t expect you to come this way / Sinclair Ferguson on devotional habits and resources / Prayers for when Bible reading is hard / and more.See AlsoA La Carte (November 22)A La Carte (8/27)A La Carte (8/27)

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A La Carte (December 26)

A La Carte: A theology of getting fired for your faith / Free eBook / Reading Scripture rightly / What’s the real cost of our giving? / Cultivating honesty / What’s the point of waiting? / and more.See AlsoWeekend A La Carte (April 8)A La Carte (December 19)A La Carte (06/15)

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“The Lord sent…”

This sponsored post was provided by Burke Care, and written by Cameron Woodall , which invites you to schedule care today with a certified biblical counselor. “But the thing David had done displeased the Lord.” – 2 Samuel 11:27b  This verse comes after one of the most famous stories in the Bible. King David abuses his authority and privilege by bringing a married woman, Bathsheba, in his palace with the intention of committing adultery. Then, after learning she is pregnant, he orchestrates the murder of her husband to cover his sins. Once Bathsheba mourns the death of her husband, she is brought into David’s house to become his new wife. This, collectively, is the “thing” that displeased the Lord; indeed, it was pure evil (Psalm 51:4). And based on God’s justifiable displeasure, the verdict we would expect from His judgement seat might sound like, “The Lord sent ruin to David.”  But something unexpected follows… “The Lord sent Nathan to David.” – 2 Samuel 12:1a Unless we linger, it is easy to overlook the profound grace that is in this sentence. God sent an advocate, the prophet Nathan, to reveal something in David’s heart he could not see himself; he was no longer chasing the Lord, he was chasing idols. Nathan uses a clever story to function as a mirror, reflecting the sin in David’s heart in a way David could not see prior. But God’s goal here was restorative, and in six Hebrew words, the heart of a heavenly Father is put on display. It truly was God’s exposing…See AlsoHow We Worshipped One Sunday in May31 Days of Purity: The Joy of the LordWho Incited David?

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A La Carte (December 25)

Christmas A La Carte: Puppy points and God’s free gifts / Peace on earth: Middle East? / Dreaming of a white Christmas, or heaven / When every day is Christmas no day will be / The larger longing / Advent and expectations / and more.See AlsoA La Carte (12/15)A La Carte (11/16)A La Carte (12/12)

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A Prayer for a Christian Husband and Wife To Pray Together

It is one of the most important habits that any married couple can form. Unfortunately, it is also one of most rare. For a husband and wife to live well together before the Lord, they must pray together. For a couple to honor God in their marriage, they must be as intimate spiritually as they are physically. At times it can be difficult to know what to pray or how to pray. This prayer by George Swinnock is a wonderful model of a prayer a couple can (and perhaps should) pray together. Lord, who are the guide of all relationships, may our marriage befit those married to the Lord Christ. Like Abraham and Sarah, may we be famous for faith; like Isaac and Rebecca, may we live in dearest love; like Zachariah and Elizabeth, may our walk be blameless. May the meditation of each other’s frailty spur us to greater fidelity. May you be our guide, and Scripture our compass. Whatever stony paths we walk on earth, may we enjoy a comforting sunshine from heaven. And since you have tied this knot between us, may we do nothing which might loosen it through angry thoughts or quarrelsome deeds. May our thoughts of each other be sweetened with love; may our words to each other be seasoned with love; and may our actions towards each other be given a relish and savour by love. May love be the strength with which we bear one another’s burdens. May love be the mantle with which we cover one…See AlsoWell-Planned, Hard, Sweat-Inducing Prayer and WorkThe Main Lesson About PrayerTeach Me to Pray!

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