Powerful Prayer: Day 1
Psalm 141:1-4
“I call to you, Lord, come quickly to me;
hear me when I call to you.
May my prayer be set before you like incense;
may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.
Set a guard over my mouth, Lord;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil
so that I take part in wicked deeds
along with those who are evildoers;
do not let me eat their delicacies.”
Friends, so much has happened in our world in just the last few days. We’ve seen the devastation of a country due to an earthquake. We watched a category 4 hurricane barrel down on the southern portion of the US while wildfires in the west hungrily consume thousands of acres, and homes and livelihoods without mercy. And we watched in horror as people desperately press toward an airport for evacuation to flee the prospect of human slavery, torture and evil oppression. The sight of parents willingly holding out their children- pleading for anyone to take them away from the evil descending brings desperation and reality right into our homes and hearts. We’ve seen brave soldiers give their lives and parents and families hit their knees and wail in deep grief with the heart wrenching loss. Evil and darkness is on the move...and it’s getting closer to home.
Do you feel a sense of urgency? Good. It’s time we take stock of what is important because all the signs are pointing to the soon return of Christ and we need to be ready. We NEED to be praying. It’s time that we as parents take our intercession to the next level. So this month, we’re going to pray through some Psalms, verse by verse, really focusing on those words on behalf of our sons and daughters, and ourselves. Let’s commit to spend some serious, focused time in prayer on their behalf. We will face some mighty battles in the coming days. James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
When our sons and daughters were small, we provided for their needs to ensure they were cared for: food, clothing, shelter, and love, among other things. We didn’t want them to be without what they needed most. Now that they’re grown, we need to pray that they will grow to be spiritually mature and complete, not lacking anything. We don’t want them to be without what they need most.
Let’s pray Psalm 141:1-4 today
“I call to You, Lord, come quickly to me; hear me when I call to You.” I bring (name) before Your throne today and plead with You on their behalf.
“May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.” May my words be fragrant and sweet. Lord, forgive my own sin and don’t let it inhibit my requests. I pray that You would draw (name) into daily fellowship and communion with You. Make them hunger and thirst for righteousness. Lord, set them apart for Your Kingdom and let them live, speak and act in ways that would be salt and light to those around them. Lord, the days are evil. The battle between darkness and light is becoming visible everywhere we turn. I pray that You would protect (name) and help them to see with their own eyes the urgency and importance of following after You with an undivided heart.
“Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Help me, as a parent, to speak words of value and spiritual truth to them. Help me to reinforce the truths of Scripture to them in any way I can. Lord, don’t let me miss an opportunity. Do not let me fall into sin of gossip, complaint or shallow conversation that would detract from You and their focus on You.
“Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds along with those who are evildoers; do not let me eat their delicacies.” There is so much evil and so much wickedness Lord, let my heart and mind be alert and on guard so that I pray effectively and continuously for my sons and daughters. Lord, do not let (name)’s heart be drawn to what is evil. We live in an age where what is evil is called good- Lord, let it not deceive (name)! Protect them from the evil one. Set a guard on their heart and mind. Remind them to put your spiritual armor on daily so they can extinguish the fiery darts of the evil one. Don’t let (name) be tempted and enticed by sin. Keep them faithful, Lord and protect them so they will stand firm, even when their faith is tested, because that day will come. Father, protect them. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
The time is short. Pray without ceasing, friends.