Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance. It is laying hold of His willingness.
Martin LutherRead
I compare it with a lie, which like to a snowball, the longer it is rolled the greater it becomes.
Interpretation
A lie grows larger over time and can become more damaging as it spreads.
Martin Luther's quote illustrates the nature of lies, comparing them to a snowball that gains size and momentum as it rolls. This metaphor emphasizes how dishonesty can escalate if not confronted early, leading to more complications and consequences as the falsehood is perpetuated.
In practice
During a discussion on ethics, one might use this quote to highlight the dangers of dishonesty.
Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance. It is laying hold of His willingness.
Now if I believe in God's Son and remember that He became man, all creatures will appear a hundred times more beautiful to me than before. Then I will properly appreciate the sun, the moon, the stars, trees, apples, as I reflect that he is Lord over all things. ...God writes the Gospel, not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.
It is the part of a Christian to take care of his own body for the very purpose that, by its soundness and wellbeing, he may be enabled to labour, and to acquire and preserve property, for the aid of those who are in want, that thus the stronger member may serve the weaker member, and we may be children of God, and busy for one another, bearing one another's burdens, and so fulfiling the law of Christ.
Reason is the greatest enemy that faith has; it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but more frequently than not struggles against the divine Word, treating with contempt all that emanates from God.
We will win our freedom because the sacred heritage of our nation and the eternal will of God are embodied in our echoing demands.
In a mouse we admire God's creation and craft work. The same may be said about flies.
We give advice, we do not inspire conduct.
As the Japanese Zen masters say, “Don't seek the truth; just drop your opinions”. Drop your theories; don't seek the truth.
I think people read the tabloids because they want to see you eating a burger, or out of your makeup or doing something stupid because they just want to see that you're like everyone else. And that's okay. I don't want to catch myself anymore saying that my life is hard, because the good far outweighs the bad in my life. And it's easier to focus on those things, on the things that are important.
The mark of a master is to select only a few moments, but give us a lifetime.
Thaw with her gentle persuasion is more powerful than Thor with his hammer. The one melts, the other breaks into pieces.
Genius is the ability to put into effect what is on your mind.
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