[UntoHim]

Thanks Trapped for this helpful and heartfelt post.

And this brings up something that is sorely lacking in our "discussions" (if that's what we can call it) regarding this term "calling on the Lord".

What Trapped has described is something that I think all Christians experience (or should experience) at one time or another. And this is true for everyone - Brothers, sisters, young, old, newborn Christian or a seasoned vet. "Breathing" is an appropriate metaphor here. Most of the time our breathing is automatic. We area not inhaling and exhaling conscientiously. Yet at times, we find ourselves being very "intentional" about our breathing. I think this is what Trapped has so poignantly described for us here. Sometimes our breathing may come in the form of "oh Lord" or "oh Lord Jesus" or "oh God I need you".

I sincerely doubt that the "calling on the Lord" in the Bible is the kind of breathing that Trapped has described for us. I see no supporting biblical evidence that the calling on the Lord is uttering the words "Oh Lord Jesus" or anything like that. I am NOT saying that uttering or even loudly calling "Oh Lord Jesus" is necessarily a bad thing, or even an unbiblical thing. What I am saying is that the calling on the Lord in the Bible does not correspond with this kind of practice. It's kind of like saying that Jesus Christ is the life-giving Spirit - He may very well be the life-giving Spirit to us...or that we have a feeling or realization that Jesus is imparting life to us as the Spirit....but this is absolutely different than claiming that 1 Corinthians 15:45 is teaching us that Jesus Christ became the Holy Spirit.

Hope this makes some sense.
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