Contemplative Bible Reading

Romans 12:12 (Christian Standard Bible)

12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.

This short statement is from Paul in the letter to the church in Rome. Many of today’s Bibles attach a heading to this section titled “Christian Ethics.”

One Internet definition of ethics is: Ethics is based on well-founded standards of right and wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do, usually in terms of rights, obligations, benefits to society, fairness, or specific virtues.

Hence, Paul is writing about actions Christians ought to do. One is to be persistent in prayer.

Let’s go to another Internet definition, this time for persistence: firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.

In spite of difficulty or opposition, pray. Pray, pray, and pray some more. No one can stop me from praying. I guess if someone saw me kneeling with folded hands on a street corner, they could clobber my noggin. If I stood erect with eyes open and prayed, no one could stop me.

My only opposition is myself. Hmmm, odd how that is. Whey would I stop myself from speaking to God? We are an odd lot as that is what I do to myself sometimes. Please God, help me in my unbelief.