Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance. It is laying hold of His willingness.
Martin LutherRead
If I did not see that the Lord kept watch over the ship, I should long since have abandoned the helm. But I see Him! - through the storm, strengthening the tackling, handling the yards, spreading the sails - yes more, commanding the very winds! Should I not be a coward if I abandoned my post? Let Him govern, let Him carry us forward, let Him hasten or delay; we will fear nothing!
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of faith in divine guidance during difficult times.
In this quote, Martin Luther expresses a profound trust in God's presence and guidance, especially amidst life's storms. He suggests that even when challenges seem insurmountable, recognizing that a higher power oversees our journey instills a sense of courage and responsibility to remain steadfast in our duties. Abandoning one's post in times of trouble would be akin to cowardice when one has faith that divine providence is at work.
Themes
FaithCourageGuidanceStrengthResponsibility
In practice
Example use cases
In a sermon about perseverance during tough times.
More from Martin Luther
All quotes →Now if I believe in God's Son and remember that He became man, all creatures will appear a hundred times more beautiful to me than before. Then I will properly appreciate the sun, the moon, the stars, trees, apples, as I reflect that he is Lord over all things. ...God writes the Gospel, not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.
Martin LutherRead
It is the part of a Christian to take care of his own body for the very purpose that, by its soundness and wellbeing, he may be enabled to labour, and to acquire and preserve property, for the aid of those who are in want, that thus the stronger member may serve the weaker member, and we may be children of God, and busy for one another, bearing one another's burdens, and so fulfiling the law of Christ.
Martin LutherRead
Reason is the greatest enemy that faith has; it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but more frequently than not struggles against the divine Word, treating with contempt all that emanates from God.
Martin LutherRead
We will win our freedom because the sacred heritage of our nation and the eternal will of God are embodied in our echoing demands.
Martin LutherRead
In a mouse we admire God's creation and craft work. The same may be said about flies.
Martin LutherRead
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