How Can I Change?/Tools of the Trade (I)/es

From Gospel Translations

Dejar de fumar no era el problema - lo había hecho una docena de veces. Pero cuando el deseo de fumar se hacía muy fuerte, yo comenzaba otra vez. Así que decidí dejar de comprar cigarrillos. Eso tampoco dio resultado. Sólo me convirtió en una molestia para mis amigos, ya que siempre estaba pidiéndoles cigarrillos. En mi punto más bajo, me encontré sacando del cenicero colillas medio fumadas.

Por este tiempo me di cuenta de que el Espíritu Santo me estaba redarguyendo de mis pecados y acercándome a Jesús. Aunque mi fumar era solamente una de las evidencias de mi estado interno, parecía simbólico de mi vida entera. Estaba atrapado. Cada vez que había intentado dejar de fumar había fracasado. No podía ver cómo jamás podría vencer este hábito. Ni tan siquiera estaba seguro de que quería hacerlo.

Sabía que Jesús iba principalmente tras mi corazón, no mi hábito. Con todo, no me podía imaginar seguirlo y fumar al mismo tiempo. Así que una noche pregunté a Larry, un creyente a quien acababa de conocer, si un tipo podía ser cristiano y seguir fumando. Esa era mi versión de la pregunta de los fariseos para atrapar a Jesús sobre el pago de los impuestos al César. Pensaron que podían atraparlo de cualquier manera que contestara.

Mi estrategia era algo como esto. Si Larry contestaba, “No - nadie puede ser cristiano y fumar,” yo solemnemente pronunciaría su respuesta como legalista y contraria al principio de que Dios mira el corazón. Por otro lado, si decía, “Sí, no hay problema”, entonces yo podía despedir el cristianismo como un conjunto sin significado de creencias que no tenían ningún poder. Pero la pregunta no era totalmente cínica. Parte de mí desesperadamente quería creer - y ser libre.

Bueno, Larry me dio una respuesta con la que yo no había contado. “Supongamos”, dijo, “que tú quisieras animar a alguien a confiar en el Señor. ¿Crees que tendrías más efecto como testigo con un cigarrillo en la mano o sin uno?”

Hmmmm...buena respuesta. De repente el asunto no era el fumar, sino si yo quería que mi vida glorificara a Dios o no. En realidad era un asunto de motivo.

No soy de la opinión de que a la persona con verdadera fe en Jesucristo se le negaría la entrada al cielo por tener un paquete de cigarrillos en su bolsillo. Pero eso no tiene nada que ver con el asunto, pues el propósito de Dios en la santificación es que seamos conformados a la imagen de Jesucristo. Y yo no puedo imaginarme a Jesús acercarse a la mujer samaritana (Jn 4:7-18) y decir, “¿Tienes fuego? Gracias. Ahora, hablemos de tu pecado. ¿Cuántos esposos has tenido?”

Por cierto, yo ya no soy un tipo regular al estilo Chesterfield. Dios tenía medios disponibles para ayudarme a dejar el vicio - los mismos medios que examinaremos en estos dos próximos capítulos. Pero, de primera importancia era mi motivo. Dios siempre ayudará a aquel cuyo motivo es correcto, que en realidad quiere glorificarlo y hacer su voluntad. Pero no nos dejará usarlo simplemente para mejorar la calidad de nuestra vida o cambiar nuestras circunstancias. El no busca nada menos que nuestro corazón. En la santidad, el motivo siempre precede a los medios.

Antes de ahondar más en la próxima sección, repasemos rápidamente lo que hemos aprendido hasta aquí sobre el plan de Dios para la santificación. Somos nuevas creaciones que gozamos de una viva unión con Jesucristo. Pero todavía estamos en una batalla. Experimentamos tanto guerra como paz interior; luchamos con el pecado y reposamos en Cristo.

Un claro entendimiento de esta tensión entre el “ahora y el todavía no” te guardará de ciertas serias mal interpretaciones. Por ejemplo, sólo porque te encuentras con severas tentaciones y batallas espirituales no quiere decir necesariamente que has cometido algo malo. Una persona santa no es la que nunca tiene ningún conflicto espiritual, ni que ya ha alcanzado la perfección. Más bien, una persona santa es la que se está haciendo más como Cristo a través del proceso de obedecer a Dios en medio de las luchas cotidianas de la vida.

Aprendamos del Maestro

Como la mayoría de los hombres, yo tengo gran afición por las herramientas. Todavía puedo recordar mi emoción cuando mis amigos me dieron una caja de herramientas nuevecita, completamente equipada en la fiesta de mi despedida de soltero. No me aguantaba porque terminara la fiesta para poder jugar con mis nuevas herramientas. De hecho, estaba tan ansioso que me herí el dedo tratando de abrir la caja.

Cualquier cristiano genuino admitirá que tiene seria necesidad de reparación espiritual. ¡Qué seguridad tenemos en saber que el Espíritu Santo tiene las herramientas correctas para hacer esas reparaciones - para santificarnos! Todavía más importante, él personalmente tiene la responsabilidad de enseñarnos cómo usar esas herramientas para que maduremos y cambiemos. Y Él nos puede enseñar cómo usarlas sin que nos hagamos daño a nosotros mismos.

Como la tercera persona de la Trinidad, el Espíritu Santo es quien cambia nuestra vida. El Espíritu de Dios participa en nuestra salvación de principio a fin. Ser regenerados (nacidos de nuevo) es nacer del Espíritu. Tanto el arrepentimiento como la fe - los dos lados de la conversión - son dones que da el Espíritu.^[2] Él está activo en nuestra justificación y en nuestra adopción. Él nos llena, intercede por nosotros, nos sella en Cristo para el día de la redención, y al final nos glorificará.

Pero ahora nos ocupamos con el Espíritu Santo en su papel como santificador. Somos los que han sido “elegidos...según la previsión de Dios el Padre, mediante la obra santificadora del Espíritu, para obedecer a Jesucristo y ser redimidos por su sangre” (1P 1:2). A través del resto de este capítulo y el próximo, examinaremos algunas de las herramientas con las que Él tan eficazmente obra en nosotros.

La Palabra de Dios

La Biblia es la singular revelación de Dios al hombre. Nos dice verdades que jamás podríamos encontrar en ninguna otra fuente, como la manera en que comenzó el mundo, lo que sucede después que morimos, y así por el estilo. También nos dice algunas cosas que jamás hubiéramos querido saber: somos nacidos en pecado, estamos en necesidad de redención, y somos incapaces de agradar a Dios por nosotros mismos. ¡Alguien ha dicho que la Biblia debe ser la Palabra de Dios porque el hombre jamás escribiría algo tan desaprobante de sí mismo!

La Biblia no nos adula, ni tampoco enseña - como lo hacen virtualmente todas las religiones - que el hombre puede perfeccionarse a sí mismo. De hecho, la Escritura es pesimista hasta el extremo respecto a la innata habilidad del hombre. Es por eso que es una herramienta tan valiosa y esencial en la santificación del hombre. Jesús mismo confirmó esto cuando oró al Padre, “Santifícalos en la verdad; tu palabra es la verdad” (Jn 17:17).

El libro clásico de Paul Bunyan, El Progreso del Peregrino empieza cuando el héroe, Cristiano, encuentra “el libro”...y ese fue el comienzo de sus problemas. Pero también fue el comienzo del final de sus problemas. El Espíritu Santo y la Biblia conspiran juntos para convencernos de nuestra gran necesidad de Dios. Pero tal como descubrió Cristiano, ellos nos convencen para poder convertirnos, y nos convierten para poder transformarnos:

Pero tú, permanece firme en lo que has aprendido y de lo cual estás convencido, pues sabes de quiénes lo aprendiste. Desde tu niñez conoces las Sagradas Escrituras, que pueden darte la sabiduría necesaria para la salvación mediante la fe en Cristo Jesús. Toda la Escritura es inspirada por Dios y útil para enseñar, para reprender, para corregir y para instruir en la justicia. (2 Ti 3:14-16)

Como Pablo hace claro en esta carta a Timoteo, la Escritura tiene un singular poder para producir cambio en el cristiano. Nos enseña las leyes y los caminos de Dios, luego nos reprende cuando no cumplimos con esa instrucción. Pero también nos corrige. No sólo nos dice que estamos equivocados; sino que nos vuelve a levantar y nos pone en el camino recto. Finalmente, nos instruye en justicia, enseñándonos cómo vivir.

¿Alguna vez has notado que se usan muchas vívidas metáforas para describir la Palabra de Dios?

Es nuestro alimento y bebida espiritual. “No sólo de pan vive el hombre, sino de todo lo que sale de la boca del SEÑOR” (Dt 8:3). La escritura es leche para los pequeños y comida sólida para los maduros (Heb 5:12-14).

Es un espejo. “El que escucha la palabra pero no la pone en práctica es como el que se mira el rostro en un espejo y, después de mirarse, se va y se olvida en seguida de cómo es” (Stg 1:23-24). La Biblia nos muestra a nosotros mismos tal como Dios nos ve. Es una verificación de la realidad, que revela quién y qué en realidad somos.

Es una luz. “Tu palabra es una lámpara a mis pies; es una luz en mi sendero” (Sal 119:105). La Escritura nos muestra la manera en que debemos vivir y lo que debemos evitar.

Es semilla. “Un sembrador salió a sembrar...La semilla es la palabra de Dios” (Lc 8:5,11). Cuando se siembra en el buen terreno de un corazón receptivo, da mucho fruto.

Es una espada.“Ciertamente, la palabra de Dios es viva y poderosa, y más cortante que cualquier espada de dos filos. Penetra hasta lo más profundo del alma y del espíritu, hasta la médula de los huesos, y juzga los pensamientos y las intenciones del corazón” (Heb 4:12).

Lo que todas estas figuras tienen en común (y hay más) es la absoluta necesidad y utilidad de la Escritura. Nada sobre la Biblia es superfluo, y no necesita suplemento. Es suficiente para todas las cosas que tienen que ver con la salvación y la santidad, “a fin de que el siervo de Dios esté enteramente capacitado para toda buena obra” (2 Ti 3:17).

En generaciones pasadas, la inspiración e infalibilidad de la Santa Escritura ha sido atacada repetidamente. Hoy la suficiencia de la Biblia es puesta en duda por los que sugieren, abierta y sutilmente, que es incapaz de tratar con algunos de los interrogantes más profundos y necesidades más fundamentales de la humanidad. Pero la Biblia de ninguna manera depende de ninguna fuente externa de conocimiento. Es más que suficiente. Este maravilloso libro es la herramienta principal del Espíritu Santo para cambiarnos.

¿Cómo ocurre ese cambio? Cuando oímos y aplicamos la Palabra de Dios, que también se conoce como obediencia. Eso sólo sucederá consistentemente a medida que nos comprometemos con las siguientes disciplinas:

Apartar un tiempo regular para leer la Biblia...y cumplir con la cita. Lo primero por la mañana es para muchos el mejor momento. Por supuesto que eso quizás signifique acostarte más temprano para dormir lo suficiente. Si no estás leyendo tu Biblia regularmente, y no pareces poder ponerlo en tu horario, es porque algo menos importante se ha hecho muy importante. Averigua lo que es y haz cambios. Sé despiadado.

Una distracción mayor son las noticias y la información. En esta edad de comunicación instante y global, muchos cristianos pasan más tiempo con los periódicos, revistas de noticias, y noticieros que con el Señor. Ahora hay más cosas que nunca para sobresaltarnos, airarnos, asustarnos, y robarnos tiempo precioso. Pero no hay manera posible para poder controlar o responder a todo lo que está sucediendo. Por supuesto que no estoy sugiriendo ignorancia o inacción, pero si el periódico o las noticias de la noche invaden tu estudio de la Biblia, entonces es tiempo que hagas ajustes mayores.

Comprométete a un plan de estudio específico.Leer a través de la NIV Study Bible me ha dado buen resultado a mí. De esta manera me veo obligado a leer esas porciones de la Escritura que podría considerar menos importantes o menos interesantes. Se toma una lectura completa de la Biblia para desarrollar una imagen completa de Dios. Como dijo una vez el difunto A.W. Tozer, “Podemos tener una opinión correcta de la verdad solamente al atrevernos a creer todo lo que Dios ha dicho de sí mismo”.^[5]

Hay un buen número de buenos recursos que pueden mejorar tu tiempo diario con la Palabra. Hemos puesto unos cuantos en la sección “Lectura recomendada” al final de este capítulo. Variar tu método de vez en cuando hará más placentera y beneficiosa esta disciplina.

Find someone who will help you. Your study of the Bible will be greatly accelerated as you interact with a Christian mentor. You’ll learn lots simply by asking, “How do you study Scripture?” You’ll also benefit (though not without some squirming) when he or she asks, “So...are you actually doing it?” Accountability is a great asset. Just make sure the person holding you accountable doesn’t have similar shortcomings—or the gift of mercy.

Hide God’s Word in your heart by memorizing Scripture. Paul points out the inner transformation that occurs as we begin letting the Bible shape our thoughts and attitudes: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Ro 12:2). Memorization may not come easily, but as you weave the Word into the fabric of your life, you’ll be well prepared when temptation or adversity strikes.

A Clear Conscience

Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise...my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen.^[7]

Luther’s famous defense before the Diet of Worms (that was the name of the official council that tried him, I kid you not!) indicates what an important place conscience occupies in the life of the Christian. It also plays a major role in our sanctification.

Each of us has undoubtedly encountered this mysterious faculty called conscience. When, as a sixth-grader, I shot a rubber band into a group of students by the schoolroom door, I didn’t expect it to hit anyone in the eye. But it did. And when my classmate screamed out in pain, neither she nor any of the others knew what had happened. My conscience knew, however, and insisted that I take responsibility for what I had done. I fought against it, trying every possible excuse, but to no avail. My conscience refused to let me off the hook. The only way to silence it was to admit my guilt and face the consequences.

This incident illustrates the most remarkable feature of conscience—the judgments it renders are completely objective and unbiased.^[8] In other words, you can never win an argument with your conscience. It’s always on the job, even in dreams. It can act as witness, telling what it sees or hears. It can act as attorney, prosecuting us for misdeeds or, on rare occasions, defending us. It may also act as judge, issuing categorical verdicts which cannot be appealed.

“You lied,” proclaims conscience.

“I did not! I was just stating the truth in a certain way so as not to cause any unnecessary conflict.”

“You lied.”

Conscience doesn’t argue the point. It just states it. This is why conscience drives some people to distraction and why they will go to great lengths to stifle it, or deaden it with alcohol and drugs.

The word itself means “to know together with.” Theologian Ole Hallesby explains the significance of this definition:

It is, then, not merely a knowing, a consciousness, but a knowing together with something or someone. Nor need we be in doubt as to what it is that man in his conscience knows together with. Among all races...it is a characteristic of man that he in his conscience knows together with a will that is over and above his own...This will, which is the will of God, is what men call the law or the moral law, that is, the law according to which man’s life should be lived.^[10]

Though unbiased, conscience is not infallible. It may be misinformed. It may be overly sensitive. Or, if it has been routinely repressed, it may no longer be sensitive at all. A person who ignores his conscience is headed for disaster. He will soon lose the ability to distinguish right from wrong, good from evil. This explains a lot about our society...and about my initial exposure to drugs.

When I was eighteen years old a friend gave me a joint of marijuana. It was 1968 and drugs had just started to filter into the suburbs of Washington, D.C. where I lived. I knew it was illegal. I knew it was wrong. My conscience was screaming at me...but I did it anyway. A couple of days later I smoked another joint, and again the siren of my conscience went off. Only this time it wasn’t quite so loud. After a half dozen times, I could hardly hear it at all. As a result, I gradually lost my moral compass. On those rare occasions when I could faintly detect the voice of conscience, I regarded it as a nuisance and a killjoy.

If a man sears his conscience he will soon come to view it as a curse. But God endowed us with conscience in order to bless us. It’s not always the bearer of unpleasant news. It can excuse as well as accuse, congratulate as well as condemn. And as Paul told young Timothy, conscience is an essential safeguard of the Christian life:

Timothy my son, I give you the following charge. And may I say before I give it to you, that it is in full accord with those prophecies made at your ordination, which sent you out to battle for the right armed only with your faith and a clear conscience. Some, alas, have laid these simple weapons contemptuously aside and, as far as their faith is concerned, have run their ships on the rocks. (1Ti 1:18-19 Phillips)

Conscience may be a simple weapon, but it is highly effective in the battle against sin. To lay it “contemptuously aside” is akin to spiritual suicide.

A clear conscience is one of the most precious benefits of the new birth. “Since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,” says the writer of the book of Hebrews, “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience” (Heb 10:19,22; cf. Heb 9:14). How gracious of Christ to scour away the foul stains of our past sins with his blood! Now that we have a clean conscience, we must put forth the effort to keep it that way.

Conscience acts as a warning light on the dashboard of our lives, and we need to heed its flashing. The procedure is the same as any auto mechanic would follow: determine the source of the difficulty and then set about to correct it. Usually the solution involves confessing sin and asking forgiveness.

After committing adultery with Bathsheba and murdering Uriah, King David chugged along for months ignoring the red light of his conscience. He recounts his experience for us in Psalm 32:

Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”—and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. (Ps 32:1-6)

will serve as a daily reminder. As long as David was silent, his conscience wasn’t. Unconfessed sin led to spiritual and physical affliction. But as soon as he acknowledged his deeds and repented, forgiveness and deliverance came. David’s testimony shows that a clear conscience could cure a lot of the problems we have, including many labeled “mental illness” or “depression.”

When a Christian has a healthy conscience, it will warn him before a wrong action is initiated. During the action one’s conscience may be very quiet. But afterward you’ll really hear from it. Words, thoughts, attitudes, and motives also come under its relentless scrutiny. Remember—this is a blessing. An active conscience fosters the self-examination which marks a growing Christian. It is a tremendous ally for truth. As mentioned above, the chief danger is that we fail to heed conscience and it becomes seared. The Christian without a clear conscience is liable to be blackmailed by the enemy. Having lost such crucial navigational equipment, he can no longer discern the right course, and runs the risk of shipwreck. This is no small thing.

But a hypersensitive conscience can be as big a problem as one that has been seared. This is not unusual among serious-minded Christians, especially when they are newly converted. Those having what is sometimes called an overly scrupulous or weak conscience live in a continual state of unwarranted guilt. “Here the most insignificant little thing can produce an evil conscience, in fact, a most unbearable anxiety. It may be either an insignificant act or an unguarded little word or thought.”^[12] A piece of trash on the ground not picked up becomes a major sin because “anyone...who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins” (Jas 4:17).Or an offhand comment that is not absolutely accurate becomes a premeditated lie.

As these examples illustrate, those with an overly scrupulous conscience err by exalting the letter of a Scripture verse above its spirit. Remember, God is more interested in the motive of the heart than the outward details.

It’s also possible that they fail to distinguish temptation from sin. The one often leads to the other, it is true, but they are not the same. Temptation is unavoidable, but it need not give birth to sin. As Luther said, “You can’t stop the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.”

My advice to those with a hypersensitive conscience is to seek the counsel of a mature Christian—a pastor or small group leader who can provide some help in sorting out essentials from non-essentials. Also, active involvement in your church’s small group ministry is indispensable for maintaining a healthy conscience.

Prayer

Prayer is our lifeline of communication with God. Through prayer we have an avenue of approach to our heavenly Father by which we may express our gratefulness and tell him our needs. It’s a multi-faceted opportunity to commune with the Creator of the universe. Consistent, persistent prayer changes us as profoundly as any other means used by the Holy Spirit.

The Bible encourages us to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints” (Eph 6:18). There are at least three kinds of prayer that contribute greatly to our sanctification. Let’s look at them individually.

Prayer as a cry for deliverance from sin. It’s hard to imagine a more desperate situation than the one Jonah faced. Having disobeyed God’s command to go to Nineveh, he wound up in the belly of a huge fish. Prayer was his only hope:

From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He said: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry.” (Jon 2:1-2)

No matter how dire the predicament, our first step in deliverance from sin is always toward the Lord. This step is accomplished through prayer. When I know I’ve sinned, the way out is not complicated—just hard. The Holy Spirit directs me to cry out for mercy, to confess my sin, and to ask for forgiveness.

God’s promise is clear: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn 1:9). The Greek word translated here as “confess” means “to say the same thing”—to agree with God that we have indeed sinned. He already knows what our sin is. He is merely waiting for us to own up to it. Once we do, he promises to forgive and purify us. I find it interesting that the basis for God’s forgiving response is not his mercy, but rather his faithfulness and justice. We can submit our petitions to God confidently because of what Jesus did for us on the cross.

Prayer for deliverance from sin is a manifestation of true humility. And humility is necessary for experiencing grace.

Prayer as a request for guidance. I recall the period of time just before I asked my wife to marry me. Boy, was I ever serious about receiving direction from God! Just the sheer number of prayers for guidance must have impressed the Lord that I really wanted to know his will.

Receiving guidance involves more than prayer, of course. For instance, it requires biblical study and faithful application of the wisdom we already possess. It anticipates our having a sincere determination to do God’s will no matter what, and a willingness to heed the multitude of counselors he mercifully places around us. But prayer is primary in guidance simply because it keeps us in constant contact with the One who guides us in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake (Ps 23:3).

No one can reduce true guidance to a formula. It consists in hearing and obeying, a steady relationship reinforced by regular communication and resting on the sure promises of God. My own opinion is that a Christian intent on doing the will of God will find it difficult to miss that will if he or she is a person of prayer.

Prayer as submission to the will of God. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed the most poignant of all prayers: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Lk 22:42). It was accompanied by strong crying out to God and a stress so intense that Christ sweated drops of blood. It was uttered when he was without human companionship, because those nearest him had fallen asleep. Our Lord was alone. Here, in his hour of greatest testing, Jesus gave us a model of true submission, a meekness that qualified him to inherit the earth.

Toward the end of World War II, allied aircraft pounded Germany with heavy incendiary bombs. Cities such as Dresden and Hamburg were completely leveled. One of the survivors of Dresden was John Noble, an American citizen placed under house arrest along with his family when the war broke out.^[15] He was 22.

After the Axis powers surrendered in 1945, John hoped to return to America. But the Soviet Communists now controlled that part of Germany, and they had different plans for him. He was thrown in prison under a pretext and for the next ten years was subjected to some of the most inhumane treatment imaginable. Only a tiny fraction of those imprisoned survived. Those who had suffered under both the Germans and the Communists said that while the Nazis were much more cruel and vindictive in their treatment of prisoners, the Communists were more deadly, since they systematically starved most of those in their grasp.

Though Noble had been raised in a Christian home, his faith didn’t extend much beyond superficial church attendance. Grace was said at mealtime, but prayers, if said at all, were not heartfelt. His father, a former minister, had become increasingly materialistic over the years. He took the family to Germany in the mid-thirties to run a camera factory. That’s how they happened to be stuck in Germany when Hitler’s troops started marching.

In the prison all captives were repeatedly denied food for long stretches of time. Then came a crushing twelveday period with nothing except a little coffee-flavored water each day. Many of the men died. From his solitary cell, John could hear bodies being dragged out, their heads thumping on the stairs. Hopelessness and despair hung like a cloud all around. But during that period of slow, painful starvation, God graciously revealed himself to John Noble.

He had of course prayed during the earlier period of his captivity. In fact, he had prayed often, asking God for food, safety, and deliverance. When he was given faith to trust in Christ, however, the focus of his prayers changed from self-preservation to a humble submission to the will of God. Now, whether he lived or died, he was submitted to God. He was no longer his own. As a result, he was no longer fearful. A peace surpassing human comprehension settled over his soul.

John’s father, a fellow inmate in the Dresden prison, also rededicated his life to Christ and received the same grace to pray, “Not my will but yours be done.” While they were to spend several more years in prison, they later wrote of having no regrets. They never felt spiritually richer or closer to Christ than when, naturally speaking, things seemed most grim. And their trust in Jesus, which was so precious to them, empowered them to reclaim the miserable lives of many others. Throughout their ordeal, the humble prayer of submission to the will of God kept their hearts tender and close to him.

As you can see, prayer—together with God’s Word and a regenerated conscience—are powerful tools in the Spirit’s hand. They have amazing potential for conforming us to the image of Christ. Now that you’ve gotten some idea of how these work, let’s rummage through the rest of the toolbox.

Group Discussion

1. Martin Luther once said, “A man is justified by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone.” How might that apply to the author’s pre-conversion questions about smoking? (Pages 53-54)
2. What sins would you consider to be among the most controlling or addictive? Why?
3. Can you recall specific ways in which the Holy Spirit worked to sanctify you after your conversion?
4. How is your expectation of change affected by the knowledge that God himself is working in you?
5. Think of an underground cave, hollowed out over centuries by the steady trickle of water. At the rate God’s Word is “trickling” into your life now, how long will it take to produce visible change?
6. What would it take to insure that you are reading—and applying—God’s Word on a regular basis?
7. How would you rate your conscience? (A) Too callous, (B) Too sensitive, (C) Just right
8. “When I know I’ve sinned,” says the author, “the way out is not complicated—just hard” (Page 64). Why is it difficult to pray for God’s deliverance?
9. “Prayer Changes Things” announces a familiar billboard. In what ways have you found that to be true in your life?

Recommended Reading

Tabletalk, a monthly Bible study guide published by Ligonier Ministries, 400 Technology Park, Suite 150, Lake Mary, Florida, 32746, 1-800-435-4343)

Daily Walk, a monthly Bible study guide published by Walk Thru the Bible Ministries, P.O. Box 478, Mt. Morris, IL 61054-9887.

Daily Readings from J.C. Ryle, compiled by Robert Sheehan (Welwyn, Hertfordshire, England: Evangelical Press, 1982)

How to Pray Effectively by Wayne Mack (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co., 1977)

Honesty, Morality & Conscience by Jerry White (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 1977)

References

1. ↑ John Piper, The Pleasures Of God (Portland, OR: Multnomah Press,1991), p. 252.
2. ↑ Anthony A. Hoekema, Saved by Grace (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989), p. 29.
3. ↑ John Piper, The Pleasures of God, p. 56.
4. ↑ Jerry White, The Power of Commitment (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 1985), p. 57.
5. ↑ A.W. Tozer, Gems From Tozer (Harrisburg, PA: Send the Light Trust/ Christian Publications, Inc., 1969), p. 4.
6. ↑ Jerry Bridges, “Declaration of Dependence” in Discipleship Journal, Issue 49, 1989, p. 28.
7. ↑ Quoted in Roland Bainton, Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1950), p. 185.
8. ↑ Ole Christian Hallesby, Conscience (Minneapolis, MN: AugsburgPublishing House, 1933), p. 14.
9. ↑ J.C. Ryle, Daily Readings From J.C. Ryle, compiled by Robert Sheehan (Welwyn, Hertfordshire, England: Evangelical Press, 1982), p. 338.
10. ↑ Ole Christian Hallesby, Conscience, p. 12.
11. ↑ Jerry Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 1978), p. 84.
12. ↑ Ole Christian Hallesby, Conscience, p. 142
13. ↑ Ibid., p.144
14. ↑ Quoted in Timothy George, Theology of the Reformers (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1988), p. 86.
15. ↑ John Noble, I Found God in Soviet Russia (London: Lakeland, Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1959)
16. ↑ Quoted in Gathered Gold, John Blanchard, ed. (Welwyn,Hertfordshire, England: Evangelical Press, 1984),p. 226.