 The following devotional is intentionally written by a fictitious character to illustrate common missteps in Christian resources. It is not an endorsement of these ideas, but a tool to help you practice discernment. As you read Quill’s devotional with a discerning eye, notice how the verses are used. Do they faithfully reflect the main points of their passages when read in context? Are there ideas that subtly undermine God’s character, or suggest that humans possess abilities or authority that belong to God alone? Prayer: Dynamic Declarations by Quill Meanwell Quill continues to encourage prayer and summarizes Genesis 1 & 2, suggesting that Adam’s task of naming the animals demonstrated the same authority and creative power as God. He implies that we can shape, create, form, and give life just as God did. This blurs the distinction between humans as God’s creation and God as the Creator, leading readers to believe that their words could be as powerful as God’s. These ideas reflect the “Word of Faith” movement, where followers are taught that their words carry equal authority with God’s and are encouraged to make bold declarations about what they wish to see happen.
Quill quotes Proverbs 18:21 to support the idea that our speech can make things happen. However, the book of Proverbs is a collection of sayings that use metaphor and imagery to instruct people in faithful living. When read in context, it is clear that Proverbs 18:21 was not intended as a literal guide for how we should pray. This verse, like many others in Proverbs, reminds us to be careful with our words. Our speech can help others—or it can hurt them. But our words cannot be equated with God’s words. We cannot create life or light, and we cannot change reality through our prayers. Quill correctly points out that we often do not see the answers we expect to our prayers. It is true that our prayers can be hindered by sin we harbor in our hearts, and it is good to regularly pray Psalm 139:23–24 so that God can help us see what sinful attitudes or desires may lie behind our words. However, it is important to remember that God acts according to His will at all times. He is not waiting for us to have a perfect attitude or the perfect words before He responds. Quill’s declarative prayers may give the impression that God is obligated to respond to our requests. If we say the right things, God dispenses what we ask for. If we eliminate doubt and use the correct language, God will act. But prayer is not as simple or as transactional as Quill would like us to believe. True prayer frees us from the burden of making things happen. It invites us to rest in the assurance that God is at work, whether or not we have the perfect words. Prayer is humbly acknowledging that we are God’s creation and that He is the Creator. When we pray, we are invited to come to our heavenly Father and ask Him for what we need. Often we do not ask with the right motives or for what is truly best for us, yet He delights to listen to us and loves to give us what is truly good. As we consider what words to use when we prayer, we can follow the example of the model prayer in Matthew 6. Or we can read and meditate on Paul’s prayers in the New Testament (Ephesians 1, Philippians 1, Colossians 1, to name a few!) As we follow the models given in Scripture, and consider verses in their full context, we will better understand how to pray with wisdom and insight. See also: Cookie Crumb Prayers Biblical Meditation part 2
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 The following devotional is intentionally written by a fictitious character to illustrate common missteps in Christian resources. It is not an endorsement of these ideas, but a tool to help you practice discernment. Prayer: As Easy as Breathing by Quill Meanwell Now that you have read the devotional, it’s time to examine it. Rather than immediately pointing out concerns, let’s begin with guiding questions to help you practice discernment for yourself.
Commentary Quill addresses a common struggle —prayer can be hard. The very purpose of the devotional -- to make prayer easy — contradicts Bible passages which show that prayer can be challenging. In Romans 15:30, Paul asks them to “strive together with him in prayers”. Jesus tells the disciples to “watch and pray” when they had trouble staying awake (Matthew 26:41). Scripture presents prayer as dependent, personal, and intentional rather than effortless and involuntary. Genesis 2 highlights the creation of mankind in the image of God. To emphasize the difference between man and the rest of creation, we see that God forms man from dust and breathes life into him. Nothing in Genesis 2 suggests that breathing is the way in which God expects man to communicate with him. Likewise, the verse in Acts 17 is not from a passage that teaches us how to pray or that our breathing is praying. Paul is speaking to pagan philosophers to explain God’s sovereign sustaining power and our dependence on him. Quill’s use of these two verses is an example of “prooftexting”. Prooftexting is the practice of lifting a verse out of its context to support an idea. As you read or listen to Christian resources, it is important to take the time to go to Scripture and read the full context of verses when they are quoted. Curiously, Quill does not give us a verse that would seem to support the claim that breathing produces the same sounds that are in God’s personal name. The concept of breathing as praying has its roots in some strands of Jewish and Eastern mysticism. The practice of repeating several words and combining it with breathing techniques attempts to facilitate access to a higher power. Quill uses some of those concepts but reinvents them with Christian lingo (calm your soul, ushered into God’s presence). Breathing as praying minimizes God’s attributes in several ways. First, his personal, covenant name is reduced to nothing more than an involuntary bodily function. This pulls our focus away from the reverence that is due his name. God’s sovereignty is diminished when we treat communication with him as an automatic reflex, rather than an intentional act of humble worship. Finally, Quill tells us that breath combined with words will bring us into God’s presence. This leads us to think that God is not omnipresent and that we must do something specific to draw him to us. While Quill certainly means well by trying to help us with our prayer lives, these techniques can lead us away from a godly discipline of prayer. If praying were as easy as breathing, it would no longer be necessary to study examples of prayers in the Bible to enrich our prayer lives. Repeating phrases in combination with a special breathing technique may lead us to think that it is our work (our breathing) that is key to a relationship with God. Our frustration with our attempts to pray should lead us to acknowledge our weaknesses and rely on God’s strength. Prayer is not easy. There are not simple solutions, but we do have a sufficient Savior. Jesus understands that we are weak and easily distracted. He is sitting at the right hand of God as our intercessor. Because of Jesus we can actively pray with confidence, despite our imperfections. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16 See also: Cookie Crumb Prayers, Biblical Meditation Part 1, Devoted Dorcas Part 1  The following devotional is intentionally written to illustrate common missteps in Bible study. Before you dive into Quill’s devotional, take a moment to think about a few things. Notice which of Quill’s repeated words or ideas actually appear in Acts 9:36–43. As you read, see what actions the devotional suggests lead to healing, revival, or miracles. Also consider whether the passage presents those actions as causes or simply as events surrounding God’s work. Pay attention to the outcomes Quill expects for believers today. Keeping these questions in mind will help you practice careful, thoughtful reading and grow in discernment. Devoted Dorcas Part 3 By Quill Meanwell We have spent a couple days now learning about Dorcas, the disciples, and the widows. They experienced a miracle and we can too! Read the passage again and look for the hints of healing and restoration. Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner. Acts 9:36-43 Dorcas was alive! They all saw her -- Peter, the saints, the widows. The word spread quickly, and soon all of Joppa knew what Peter had done! Dorcas had a second chance at life. The weeping widows had their mourning changed to dancing. But the miracle didn’t stop there. Joppa experiences a revival! Many believed and Peter stayed to keep the flames of revival burning. Dorcas was dead. She was physically healed. Because of Dorcas’ resurrection, the town experienced a spiritual revival. How did this happen? Let’s look at the story closely. The friends washed Dorcas’s dead body. This was not a pleasant task, and yet they served the one who had served them. The disciples realized that they couldn’t fix the problem on their own. They asked for help from Peter. The widows were weeping.They showed Peter evidence of Dorcas’ faithful ministry. Peter knelt, and prayed. We all need healing -- maybe physical, maybe spiritual, maybe both. Our hearts, our town, our country, our world needs a revival. We can serve like Dorcas’s friends did. We can stoop into unpleasant places of service and provide cleansing for those who need it. We need to remember that we can’t expect to get healing on our own. We work together with others who are humble and have faith. We kneel in prayer and can confidently look for revival to come. Service, cooperation, and prayer will produce miracles in our life. We can expect things “beyond all that we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:19) if we minister together and pray humbly. We can see that Quill gives us the larger passage and encourages us to read it in full again. Reading a Bible passage repeatedly is an effective part of observing what the Bible says. Since we've read the passage a few times now, we'll probably easily notice how Quill goes beyond what the Scripture actually says. Quill keeps pulling on our heartstrings by using words like healing and revival. We don’t see those words in the text.
With careful consideration we can see that Quill seems to imply that the widows, disciples, and Peter were the ones who made the miracle happen and caused a revival. Sure, the Bible talks about sacrificial service, unity, and humble prayer in other places. But Acts 9 doesn't actually say these things are required for healing or revival. The author even pulls in Ephesians 3:19 to suggest we should expect amazing, supernatural results from serving and praying. Making these actions the prerequisite for healing or revival can easily slip into promoting a "prosperity gospel." When we expect our actions result in an instant, visible blessing from God, it's like treating Him like a genie. God can heal and revive, absolutely, but He doesn't need our service or prayers to perform miracles. These words tug at our hearts because as believers we all long for the time when death, sickness, and sin are wiped away. We may see glimpses of healing and revival before the new heavens and the new earth are a reality. However, neither Acts 9 nor Ephesians 3:19 were written so that we could expect these as guaranteed experiences here and now. As we read all of the New Testament, we see that Peter, Paul, and other apostles and disciples endured physical trials and persecution without immediate relief. Stephen, James, Peter, and Paul died like Dorcas did. Their hope was not in doing the right things or praying in the right way to get blessings. Their hope was in the promise of their future resurrection. As we engage with Christian resources, when a devotional stirs strong emotions, it is helpful to take a moment to check whether the application comes from what Scripture says. We can discover practical applications to Scripture from faithful observation, rather than from emotional pull. Dorcas’s resurrection reminds us that God has the final word over death, loss, and disappointment, and our ultimate hope is in Christ. Just as the widows, disciples, and Peter played different roles in God’s work, we can live out our faith together—encouraging one another, serving faithfully, and trusting God to accomplish what only He can do. Even if we don’t see immediate results, we can take comfort in His power and the promise of resurrection, knowing that our faithful participation in community points others toward Him.  The following devotional is written by a fictitious character to illustrate common missteps in Bible study. You can find Part 1 of the Devoted Dorcas series in the Learning Discernment category on the blog. As you read this devotional, notice the instructions Quill gives before the Bible passage. Consider how the introduction and commentary use feelings or emotions to shape what we take away from the text. Pause to think through how Scripture is observed and interpreted in the devotional. Look for the main purpose of the text, and notice how—or if—Quill points us toward the gospel. Devoted Dorcas Part 2 By Quill Meanwell Today we will continue to learn from the story of Dorcas and Peter. As you read this passage again, imagine how you would feel if you were the widows, the disciples, and Peter. Be present with your feelings and allow the Holy Spirit to fill your heart with peace and light. Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner. Acts 9:36-43 We are told about a woman named Tabitha, or Dorcas. We don’t learn much about her before tragedy hits. This was a sad time for the widows in Joppa. They were devastated by the loss of a loved one. What are memories of a friend or loved one that you treasure? Do you remember them for the ways they served others or for their personal successes? Often our obituaries are a resume of achievements. In our mourning we remember how they overcame obstacles and inspired us to achieve our goals. In contrast, the example of the weeping widows in Acts 9 reminds us to look back at how others have served well, rather than their personal successes. The disciples knew that Peter could help. They knew that he had healed others, so perhaps they thought that he could at least offer comfort and hope to Dorcas’ grieving friends. They didn’t waste time sending someone to find Peter. Is this our default response when we see someone grieving? Do we look for resources that can help them? Or do we offer a quick condolence and go on with our day? “Thoughts and prayers” are nice, but concrete action speaks louder. When we grieve, we can follow the example of the weeping widows and the determined disciples. As the devotional begins, Quill asks us to consider how we would feel and expect a positive, harmonious result from our time spent studying the passage. Emotions are created by God; they are not inherently sinful. However, because of the effects of sin, we need to be careful of putting too much emphasis on emotions for guiding our Scripture reading. We can use Scripture and prayer to guide our thoughts so that we then respond correctly with emotions and actions that glorify God.
If we compare this Devoted Dorcas devotional to the first one, we see that Quill jumps quickly to application without any further observation or interpretation. The feelings that have been stirred in us through the introductory comments lead Quill to draw out applications based on our empathy with the mourners in the story. The challenges Quill gives are valid ways to respond biblically to the death of a loved one. Unfortunately, this application pulls our focus away from the main intent of the passage. We notice that this devotional moves quickly to engage our emotions by talking about how we grieve. But Acts 9 does not present the widows primarily as a model for godly grieving. Rather, Luke records this miracle to highlight God’s power and the way it validates the gospel message that Peter and the disciples were spreading. Dorcas’s resurrection points beyond the story itself to the greater hope we have in Christ. We can take comfort in this truth, knowing the Christ defeated sin and death through his life, death, and resurrection. When we grieve, we do not grieve hope. Just as He used Peter to bring life and show His glory, we can live in hope, serve others, and rely on Him in every situation, knowing that His promises are true. But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ESV  The following devotional is written by a fictitious character to illustrate common missteps in Bible study. For more information on the Learning Discerment series, see our Introducing Quill Meanwell post. As you read, pay close attention to how Quill handles Scripture. Notice how Quill summarizes Acts 9:36–43 and whether any details are added, changed, or assumed. When conclusions are drawn that aren’t explicitly stated in the passage, consider whether they are natural extensions of the text or weaker connections. Read 1 Kings 17:21 in context and how Quill uses the passage to support the argument. Reflect on what this devotional teaches about God and His attributes, and consider how it points toward the gospel—or how it might subtly shift attention away from it. After the devotional, you’ll find a brief reflection that returns to the passages and themes raised here. Devoted Dorcas by Quill Meanwell This week we will look at the story of a miracle in Acts. Let’s see what lessons we can learn from Peter’s ministry. Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner. Acts 9:36-43 This account is found in the book of Acts. The early church is growing despite persecution and believers are helping one another in practical ways. Dorcas is one example of a faithful woman who used her resources to provide for others in need. She was a disciple, a learner, and a follower of Jesus. She died suddenly and the other disciples asked Peter to come. In a miracle reminiscent of Elijah’s ministry, her resurrection caused a revival in Joppa. Peter was serving God in Lydda, but he was willing to go to another town to meet the needs of fellow disciples. He went into the room to mourn by himself, and prayed. He knew he needed wisdom and strength from God so he humbly sought help. Perhaps he was thanking God for Dorcas’ example of faithful service. Maybe he was asking God how he could help comfort and give spiritual healing to the grieving widows. Peter was well-versed in the Old Testament stories and had seen Jesus raise people from the dead, so he may have prayed like Elijah in 1 Kings 17:21 “O Lord my God, let this [woman’s] life come into [her] again.” Peter’s availability, humbleness, and faith in prayer provided the perfect conditions for his greatest miracle yet. How can you be available? How can you show humility and faith? At the beginning, we see that Acts 9:36–43 is quoted in full from the ESV, allowing readers to see the whole passage in context rather than relying on isolated verses. Quill also provides a brief background about the book of Acts, which can be a helpful aid to observation.
By looking closely at the summary, we noticed that Quill’s summary and comments frequently add details not found in the text or stretches what is stated. For example, Dorcas is described as having died “suddenly,” and Peter is said to have entered the room “to mourn.” The claim that the miracle “caused a revival” is another example of adding interpretation beyond what the text explicitly says. These details may be plausible, but they are not supported by the passage itself. Throughout the devotional, we are invited to consider what individuals may have been thinking, feeling, or intending, even though the passage does not tell us. While words like maybe and perhaps signal uncertainty, they can easily be overlooked by readers. Writers might include these ideas out to engage us emotionally. While it is not always wrong to consider how someone felt or thought, we need to be careful of reading “into” the text. Our imaginative insights may overshadow the overall purpose of the text. As we consider the use of the1 Kings verse, we see that Quill references Elijah’s ministry at the beginning of the devotional. We are not given any background to the 1 Kings account to verify if the context supports making a connection between the two miracles. Quill uses Elijah’s prayer to suggest what Peter prayed -- another example of speculation. In addition, Meanwell modifies the wording of Elijah’s prayer in 1 Kings 17:21 to personalize it and apply it to this situation. This adaptation a previous prayer could make people think this "recipe" is a guaranteed way to pray for and get miracles. While Peter is an important part of the passage, Quill overemphasizes Peter’s actions and character as the catalyst for the miracle. This focus minimizes God’s power and providence as the primary cause of the miracle. In Acts, miracles authenticate the apostles’ ministry as they proclaim the gospel. This passage ultimately points beyond Dorcas and Peter to God’s power and the resulting faith in the Lord. Instead of linking the resurrection to Christ and the gospel, it keeps the spotlight on what humans do and their personal experiences. Sadly, Quill's devotional misses that redemptive focus. By comparing Quill’s insights with a careful observation of Scripture, we can see that what looks good at first sight may not be faithful to the passage. It’s not always easy to spot when things may be added or left out, but the more we read the Bible, the better we get at noticing when something seems a little off. With God’s word as our guide, we can be like the Bereans who searched Scripture every day to examine what they were hearing.  We live in a time when Christian content is everywhere. Blogs, devotionals, podcasts, social media posts—many of them sound biblical, encouraging, and sincere. Some are genuinely helpful. Others are well-meaning but careless with Scripture. And at first glance, it can be hard to tell the difference. Because we are still growing—and because sin clouds our thinking—we don’t always notice when something is slightly off. A verse may be quoted out of context. A true idea may be stretched too far. A comforting message may quietly shift our focus away from what Scripture actually teaches. The goal of the Learning Discernment series is to help you slow down and read carefully. Each piece is written by a fictional character named Quill Meanwell —someone who sounds sincere, thoughtful, and spiritual… and sometimes misses the mark. With each piece, you’ll find questions designed to help you examine what Quill says in light of Scripture, followed by a short commentary. Learning discernment is part of learning faithfulness. It’s an act of love toward God’s Word—and a gift to ourselves as we grow in wisdom and maturity. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. —2 Timothy 2:15 |
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