I don’t want to jump too quickly to the “happy side” of unanswered prayers and to ignore the pain of what feels like silence from God. What I do want to hear from the wisdom of the Church and Scriptures, though, is the truth that God is faithful and active despite what my perspective may reveal.
***
Q.
1 What is your only comfort in life and in
death?
A. That I am not my own,1
but belong— body and soul, in life and in death—2
but belong— body and soul, in life and in death—2
to
my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.3
He
has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood,4
and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.5
He also watches over me in such a way6
that not a hair can fall from my head
without the will of my Father in heaven;7
in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.8
and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.5
He also watches over me in such a way6
that not a hair can fall from my head
without the will of my Father in heaven;7
in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.8
Because
I belong to him,
Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life9
and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready
from now on to live for him.10
Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life9
and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready
from now on to live for him.10
1 1
Cor. 6:19-20
2 Rom. 14:7-9
3 1 Cor. 3:23; Titus 2:14
4 1 Pet. 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:2
5 John 8:34-36; Heb. 2:14-15; 1 John 3:1-11
6 John 6:39-40; 10:27-30; 2 Thess. 3:3; 1 Pet. 1:5
7 Matt. 10:29-31; Luke 21:16-18
8 Rom. 8:28
9 Rom. 8:15-16; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; 5:5; Eph. 1:13-14
10 Rom. 8:1-17
2 Rom. 14:7-9
3 1 Cor. 3:23; Titus 2:14
4 1 Pet. 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:2
5 John 8:34-36; Heb. 2:14-15; 1 John 3:1-11
6 John 6:39-40; 10:27-30; 2 Thess. 3:3; 1 Pet. 1:5
7 Matt. 10:29-31; Luke 21:16-18
8 Rom. 8:28
9 Rom. 8:15-16; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; 5:5; Eph. 1:13-14
10 Rom. 8:1-17
Q.
2 What must you know to live and die in the
joy of this comfort?
A. Three things:
first,
how great my sin and misery are;1
second, how I am set free from all my sins and misery;2
third, how I am to thank God for such deliverance.3
second, how I am set free from all my sins and misery;2
third, how I am to thank God for such deliverance.3
1 Rom.
3:9-10; 1
John 1:10
2 John 17:3; Acts 4:12; 10:43
3 Matt. 5:16; Rom. 6:13; Eph. 5:8-10; 2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Pet. 2:9-10
2 John 17:3; Acts 4:12; 10:43
3 Matt. 5:16; Rom. 6:13; Eph. 5:8-10; 2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Pet. 2:9-10
Q.
117 What is the kind of prayer that pleases
God and that he listens to?
A. First, we must pray from the heart to no other than
the one true God, revealed to us in his Word, asking for everything God has
commanded us to ask for.1
Second,
we must fully recognize our need and misery, so that we humble ourselves in
God’s majestic presence.2
Third,
we must rest on this unshakable foundation: even though we do not deserve it, God
will surely listen to our prayer because of Christ our Lord.
That
is what God promised us in his Word.3
1 Ps.
145:18-20; John
4:22-24; Rom.
8:26-27; James
1:5; 1
John 5:14-15
2 2 Chron. 7:14; Ps. 2:11; 34:18; 62:8; Isa. 66:2; Rev. 4
3 Dan. 9:17-19; Matt. 7:8; John 14:13-14; 16:23; Rom. 10:13; James 1:6
2 2 Chron. 7:14; Ps. 2:11; 34:18; 62:8; Isa. 66:2; Rev. 4
3 Dan. 9:17-19; Matt. 7:8; John 14:13-14; 16:23; Rom. 10:13; James 1:6
Q. 129
What does that little word “Amen” express?
A. “Amen” means:
This
shall truly and surely be!
It
is even more sure that God listens to my prayer
than that I really desire what I pray for.1
1 Isa. 65:24; 2 Cor. 1:20; 2 Tim. 2:13
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