Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance. It is laying hold of His willingness.
Martin LutherRead
Our suffering is not worthy the name of suffering. When I consider my crosses, tribulations, and temptations, I shame myself almost to death, thinking what are they in _x000D_ comparison of the sufferings of my blessed Savior Christ Jesus.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes that our personal sufferings are minor compared to the greater suffering endured by Christ.
Martin Luther reflects on the nature of suffering, suggesting that personal trials and hardships pale in comparison to the immense suffering of Jesus Christ. He points out the tendency for individuals to exaggerate their own tribulations while failing to recognize the greater sacrifices made by Christ, encouraging humility and perspective in our own challenges.
In practice
A pastor might use this quote during a sermon on the power of faith amidst personal struggles.
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.
Hot things, sharp things, sweet things, cold things All rot the teeth, and make them look like old things.
It is worse still to be ignorant of your ignorance.
The only difference between a published and unpublished writer is a tolerance for imperfection.
Additional problems are the offspring of poor solutions.
I think one of the defining moments of adulthood is the realization that nobody's going to take care of you. That you have to do the heavy lifting while you're here. And when you don't, well, you suffer the consequences.
Most writers tend to get worse rather than better. I'm determined to be one that gets better.
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