If God is completely sovereign, then why should I pray? That important question is answered by God in Scripture. We’ll take a look at the first instance of prayer mentioned in the Bible because it helps us answer a very important foundational question about whether we should even pray if God has already ordained everything that comes to pass.

Despite having lived with Jesus his entire life, James failed to recognize Jesus’ true identity, message, or mission. But once his heart was changed by grace, the record of James’ failure became the foundation of a fruitful ministry to God’s people. So it is with everyone who knows the grace of Christ. He uses even our past failures for His glory!

The world, the flesh, and the devil all conspire to fill our lives with triviality, fear, pride, and restlessness. But the God of thunderous glory fills us with awe, confidence, humility and peace, ultimately through His Son through whom His voice has been most powerfully heard.

In the opening section of Colossians, Paul teaches us that our prayers should include thanksgiving for the way our brothers and sisters respond to God’s work in their lives, as well as intercession that they would know and do God’s will, so that He would be pleased with our walk that is worthy of the Lord Jesus.

From our earliest days we are taught to evaluate the thoughts and actions of others and not merely go along with the crowd. Yet when it comes to the inward chatter of our own fearful and panicky hearts, we often accept our own folly uncritically. Psalms 42 and 43 show us how to search our own thirsty souls and redirect them to the One in whom life-giving water is found.

David was having a really bad day. Burdened by guilt, afflicted by suffering, and pursued by enemies, it felt as if the whole world was collapsing on top of him. In his sin and helplessness he cried out to God for mercy and found it in the One who would one day deny mercy to His own Son so that He might lovingly grant it to us by grace.

Developing an effective prayer life is challenging, but Paul’s faithful fellow-minister, Epaphras, shows us by his own prayer life that true intercessory prayer for our fellow Christians’ sanctification can be achieved through persistence and endurance.

The book of Philemon is a biblical case study showing us how to apply the reconciling grace of Christ to the lives of others. Through an amazing example of godly diplomacy and sacrificial love, the apostle Paul shows us how individual lives and even entire communities can be transformed through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, `Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God’ (Matt. 5:9). But how do you help fellow believers achieve reconciliation once significant damage has been done? The book of Philemon is a biblical case study showing us how to apply the reconciling love of Christ to the lives of those whom we love.