The Pharisee was not sober when he went to pray. The Pharisee was high on himself. He was high on his sense of being better than others religiously. He was high on his religious achievements and activities. His prayer did not receive an answer from God because he was high. Unless you are sober, your prayer life is a waste of time. Be alert and sober so that you can pray!
This is true among fellow single people, who cheer each other in rejecting proposals for marriage and setting unrealistic standards. When you emerge out with a relationship, they will attack you with a heap of abuses. This is true in many settings, progress will attract hatred and attacks. You will get a heap of abuse.
Does the Bible at this point suggest that physical suffering is a path to perfection and sinlessness? Are we being told that if we suffer physically we will be done with sin? Is it possible to reach a point where you are done with sin?
Does prayer time become boring and routine? It is a lack of faith that you are at a moment where you are speaking to God for whom nothing is impossible. If you have faith that prayer time is talking to the King of the Universe who is loving and able to sort out any mess, then prayer time would be a powerful moment. The frequency of prayer and relief that comes after praying depends on faith. Our prayer life is what it is because of the presence or absence of faith. A small ingredient that makes a big difference!
The good and the best cannot live together. One must go. God in His wisdom allows the good that we are so used to and seriously value, to go. Then God allows the best that we know nothing about to sneak in or surprise us and when we look back we are grateful. Sometimes we lose the good to gain the best!
They are theoretical believers in God but practical atheists. That is because they cannot substantiate their claims. If you believe but do not practice you are not a believer, because your life can’t substantiate your faith!
You have made applications. You have filled out forms. You have submitted what was required. As you wait for results, there is nothing else you can do. When there is nothing else you can do, you pray about it!
As we mature we learn to control our bodies. We should also control our bodies when sexual desires kick in. Control your body by refusing to engage in sexually arousing chats and talks. Control your body by disposing of and refusing to consume pornographic materials. Control your body by having dates and meetings with members of the opposite gender in public spaces where you cant be tempted to get intimate. Control your body by selecting movies and music that don’t give you suggestions of sexual nature. Control your body with difficulty at the beginning but over time by God’s grace, you will have managed to control your body in sexual matters. This is the control at which many keep failing.
Prayer gets corrupted when we treat it as a requisition form to get stuff from God. Prayer ceases to be prayer when it becomes an opportunity to hand over a list of needs to God. A relationship where the only communication is making requests and demands will not survive for long. Communication should be an opportunity to interact, appreciate and express concerns, fears, and expectations as we do to our friends.