When we determine to dwell on the good and excellent things in life, we will be so full of those things that they will tend to swallow our problems.

In worship an increased power steals its way into the heart sanctuary, an increased compassion grows in the soul. To worship is to change.

In the same way that a small child cannot draw a bad picture so a child of God cannot offer a bad prayer.

Prayer is the human response to the perpetual outpouring of love by which God lays siege to every soul.

The needed change within us is God's work, not ours. The demand is for an inside job, and only God can work from the inside. We cannot attain or earn this righteousness of the kingdom of God: it is a grace that is given.

Graciousness, courtesy, compassion-this is hesed. Hesed is a quality that extends even to the animals and the land. The sabbath rest principle of Hebrew law included the needs of the livestock (Exod. 23:12). After seven years of planting and harvesting, the land itself needed "a year of complete rest" (Lev. 25:5). Even the soil of the vineyards was not to be overtaxed by planting other crops between the rows (Deut. 22:9). The oxen that trod out the grain were not to be muzzled so that they could eat while they worked (Deut. 25:4). And so on.

Prayer is more than thoughts and feelings expressed in words. It is the opening of mind and heart - our whole being to God our Abba Father. It is Divine Union.