ChosenRebel's Blog

Friday is for Heart Songs

Luther on the Christian Life: Cross and Freedom, by Carl Trueman (Crossway, 2015)

First, when I feel that I have become cool and joyless in prayer because of other tasks or thoughts (for the flesh and the devil always impede and obstruct prayer), I take my little psalter, hurry to my room, or, if it be the day and hour for it, to the church where a congregation is assembled and, as time permits, I say quietly to myself and word-for-word the Ten Commandments, the Creed, and, if I have time, some words of Christ or of Paul, or some psalms, just as a child might do (119-120).

I love that Luther encourages a lack of toleration in his (and our) spirit concerning “cool and joyless” prayer. Let us follow his model and “hurry to our rooms” and drive the chill from our spirit by seeking God in the warmth of His word and the testimony of those who have gone before us.