Article Roundup: August 2016

It has been a long, hard month.  The LORD has been faithful and true through it all.  I would not have chosen it this way, but He did, and He knows best.  May we kiss the rod that comes from heaven, for it is in the hands of a merciful and gracious Father.

Without further ado, here are this month's articles:

John Piper's Funeral Prayer for a Family of Five by John Piper at Desiring God
You may have heard that the Lord let an entire family be killed this month.  They were planning to be missionaries to Japan.  Here is their pastor's prayer for them.

God Will Take You at Your Word by Tim Challies (quoting Eva Watson)
If you call yourself a Christian, by definition you must deny yourself, take up your cross, follow him, and lose your life for His sake.  There are no alternatives.

Three Keys to a Powerful Prayer Life by Tim Challies (quotingDavid McIntyre)
It's simpler than you think: a quiet place, a quiet hour, a quiet heart.

Five Ways to Discern True and False Repentance by Jesse Johnson at The Cripple Gate
Worldly sorrow leads to death, but godly sorrow true repentance.  Can you tell the difference?

Do You Pray Like An Unbeliever? By John Piper at Desiring God
Punchy, biblical, and helpful — classic Piper.

Hebrews 12:1-14
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, 
    let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, 
    and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, 
    who for the joy set before Him
        endured the cross, 
        despising the shame, 
    and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, 
    so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
    You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;
    and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,
        "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord
        Nor faint when you are reproved by Him
        For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines
        And He scourges every son whom He receives."

It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; 
    for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?  
    But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, 
    then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
    Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; 
    shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?
    For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, 
    but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.
    
All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; 
    yet to those who have been trained by it, 
    afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

Therefore, 
    strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, 
    and make straight paths for your feet, 
        so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, 
        but rather be healed. 
    Pursue peace with all men, 
and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.