distracted by useless thoughts and lose our concentration in prayer.

This faith justifies us apart from love and prior to love.

So we also should concentrate on our duties, whether or not something is predestined. Because we have no word or light from God on that matter, we don’t know anything about it.

But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. Colossians 1:22 A Christian is righteous and a sinner at the same time—both a friend and an enemy of God.

It’s not slowed down by any unworthiness or ungratefulness of a neighbor.

An important part of Christianity is love, and love is not self-seeking (1 Corinthians 13:5). Insisting on our own way is not loving our neighbor, but following our own desires. So not showing love is the same as being disobedient.

So we should learn from this passage that we can easily fall if God were to withdraw his hand from us. Let’s not boast in our righteousness and in our gifts. But let’s humble ourselves and pray with the apostles, “Increase our faith!” (Luke 17:5).

The devil also has an influence over our bodies, which are so lazy and cold that we can’t pray the way we want to. Even if we do begin to pray, we become

WATCH OUT FOR SELFISH AMBITION Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind. Psalm 26:2