Posted on by Kurt Bodling

the third article of the creed is the most important

“The Creed is divided into three main parts, each telling about one of the three persons of the holy and divine Trinity. The first–the Father; the second–the Son; and the third–the Holy Spirit. The latter is the most important article of the Creed; all the others are based on it.” (page 24)

Luther, Martin. “Personal Prayer Book” (1522) Luther’s Works Vol. 43. (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1968), page 24.

{I was surprised that he doesn’t say here that the 2nd article on Jesus is the most important; this must be because it is the Holy Spirit who has called us by the Gospel, enlightened us with His gifts, sanctified and kept us in the true faith [his Small Catechism on the 3rd article of the Creed] — that’s what makes the objective justification won on the cross and in the empty tomb meaningful to each and every one of us, that is, subjective}

Posted on by Kurt Bodling

the Lord’s Prayer is more than adequate

“I am convinced that when a Christian rightly prays the Lord’s Prayer at any time or uses any portion of it as he may desire, his praying is more than adequate. What is important for a good prayer is not many words, as Christ says in Matthew 6 [:7], but rather a turning to God frequently and with heartfelt longing, and doing so without ceasing [I Thess. 5:17].”

Luther, Martin. “Personal Prayer Book” (1522) Luther’s Works Vol. 43. (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1968), page 12.

Posted on by Kurt Bodling

setting conditions for your prayers

“Your trust must not set a goal for God, not set a time and place, not specify the way or the means of his fulfilment, but it must entrust all of that to his will, wisdom, and omnipotence. Just wait cheerfully and undauntedly for the fulfilment without wanting to know how or where, how soon, how late, or by what means. His divine wisdom will find an immeasurably better way and method, time and place, than we can imagine. In fact, even miracles will take place, as in the Old Testament.”

Luther, Martin. “On Rogationtide Prayer and Procession” (1519) Luther’s Works Vol. 42. (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1969), page 89.

Posted on by Kurt Bodling

Every word of God has Law and Gospel in it

“The second petition [Thy Kingdom Come], like the others, does two things: it humbles us and it raises us up. It humbles us because it compels us with our own lips to confess our great and pitiable misery. But it raises us up because it shows us how to conduct ourselves in such abasement. Every word of God terrifies and comforts us, it hurts and heals; it breaks down and builds up; it plucks and plants again; it humbles and exalts [Jer. 1:10].”

Luther, Martin. “An Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer for Simple Laymen” (1519) Luther’s Works Vol. 42. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1969), page 37.

Posted on by Kurt Bodling

lift up your heart

“All teachers of the Scriptures conclude that prayer is nothing else than lifting up the heart or mind to God. But if the lifting up of the heart constitutes the essence and nature of prayer, it follows that everything else which does not invite the lifting of the heart is not prayer. Therefore, singing, talking, and whistling, when devoid of the sincere uplifting of the heart, are as unlike prayer as scarecrows in the garden are unlike human beings. The essence is wanting; only the appearance and name are present.”

Luther, Martin. “An Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer for Simple Laymen” (1519) Luther’s Works Vol. 42. (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1969), page 25.

Posted on by Kurt Bodling

who prays most?

“First, concerning the manner, that is, how we should pray. Our prayer must have few words, but be great and profound in content and meaning. The fewer the words, the better the prayer; the more words, the poorer the prayer. Few words and richness of meaning is Christian; many words and lack of meaning is pagan.”

Luther, Martin. “An Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer for Simple Laymen” (1519) Luther’s Works Vol. 42. (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1969), page 19.

Posted on by Kurt Bodling

prayers, long and short

“First, concerning the manner, that is, how we should pray. Our prayer must have few words, but be great and profound in content and meaning. The fewer the words, the better the prayer; the more words, the poorer the prayer. Few words and richness of meaning is Christian; many words and lack of meaning is pagan.”

Luther, Martin. “An Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer for Simple Laymen” (1519) Luther’s Works Vol. 42. (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1969), page 19)

Posted on by Kurt Bodling

Many words or few in prayer

“It is impossible for one who prays spiritually and sincerely to be verbose. When the soul becomes aware of what it is saying, and in its awareness tries to muster both the words and he ideas, it will be compelled to dispense with the words and cling to the thoughts, or, conversely, to lose sight of the thoughts and stress the words. Such oral prayers are to be valued only insofar as they spur and move the soul to reflect on the meaning and he desires conveyed by the words.”

Luther, Martin. “An Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer for Simple Laymen” (1519) Luther’s Works Vol. 42. (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1969), pages 20-21.

Posted on by Kurt Bodling

Yet here we are . . . .

“It really should not be necessary for my sermons and words to be circulated widely throughout the country. Certainly there are other books that might properly or profitably serve as sermons for the people. I do not know why God destines me to be involved in this game in which people pick up and spread my words, some as my friends, others as enemies. This has induced me to publish this Lord’s Prayer, previously published by my friends, and to exposit it further in the hope that I may also do my adversaries a favor. It is always my intention to be helpful to all and harmful to none.”

Luther, Martin. “An Exposition of the Lord’s Prayer for Simple Laymen” (1519) Luther’s Works Vol. 42. (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1969), p. 19.

This month I intend to post some of the notes I have taken through the years from Luther’s writings and posting them here as commonplaces. Perhaps they will interest you, or surprise you, or bore you, make you wonder, make you go “Huh!”