Who is Jesus to Our Sons and Daughters?
Any parent who loves Jesus has a strong desire to see their sons and daughters do the same and follow after Him faithfully. We want to know that they don’t just have a head knowledge of Christ, but they’re pursuing a living, growing relationship with Him, one in which they talk to Him, listen to Him, read His Word, and desire to do His will.
But really, have we stopped to ask who Jesus is to them? Is He someone they know about or someone they know personally? Is He a figure in history or is He a prominent figure in their personal life? Are they compelled to follow, or do they sit idly by? Is their heart burdened to obey or are they pursuing other things?
We can’t require their allegiance to the Lord, especially if they are adults, we cannot manage their faith for them. They have to make that choice and commitment. They must choose to follow and walk in obedience. It’s between Him and them.
So today, and every day, we pray. We pray a lot.
The following are scriptures and prayer points to pray over our sons and daughters daily. Though the posts on this blog may change, the need for and importance of prayer on these points does not.
Pray fervently, regularly, and with hope. God isn’t done working!
Pray that they recognize the Truth and follow Jesus.
1 John 2:4 “If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”
Pray that they would value their relationship with Jesus more than anything and choose Him above anything else.
Philippians 3:7-8 “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”
Pray that they would grow and mature in Christ.
Philippians 1:9-11 “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God.”
Pray for their spiritual protection.
Psalm 91
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”Surely He will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
Pray that their life, lived in obedience to Christ, would be an ever-speaking testimony of the gospel of salvation and the hope, joy, and peace of life in Christ
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 “ With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Do they know Christ?
Our prayer should be that they would truly and authentically know Him and follow after Him with their whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Do you know Christ? Do you have more than just a knowledge ‘of’ Him? Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Or are you longing for peace, joy, and hope that all seem elusive? If this is your heart’s desire, you simply need to admit you’re a sinner and agree that Jesus’ death on the cross is the only way to receive forgiveness and eternal life. He is the One Savior who can redeem - there is nothing too damaging, too dirty, or too deep that He cannot forgive.
1 John 1:9 “But if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness (unrighteousness).”
“Lord, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior.”
“If you confess with your mouth and Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.” Romans 10:9-10
“Jesus, I believe You died on the cross for me. I believe You were buried and rose again to conquer death and all the power of darkness. Please forgive me for my sins. I surrender my heart and life to You. Be my Lord and Savior and help me to live for You, in Jesus’ name, Amen”
Satan’s big lie is that we can be ‘good enough’ and by convincing us of that, we lay Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross aside. We overlook His resurrection and that He conquered death …and we put ourselves in the place of God….the very lie that led Adam and Eve to eat the fruit in the garden, “You will be like God” Genesis 3:5
We have no ability to save ourselves. But Satan wants nothing more than for us to believe that we do…because if we believe that, then we are eternally condemned.
But Jesus!!
He died for our sins so we wouldn’t be condemned. He rose from the dead to conquer death and sin and hold authority over every power, dominion, principality and authority. He rules! He reigns! And we can be covered by his sacrifice and be their heirs to His eternal kingdom. Why wouldn’t you want that?!
I’m praying for each of you who read this. Jesus loves you dearly. He died for you. Will accept His gift of salvation; will you choose to surrender to His Lordship and live for Him?
If you made a decision for Christ today, I would love to hear it!!
Pray without ceasing!
Lenten Meditations- Live Like Jesus
Philippians 2:5 "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus."
Let’s keep on praying for believers, worldwide. We are the Church, the Body, and the Bride. How should we live in these days?
It's not about us speaking our mind, it's about us living, walking, and talking as if our relationship with Jesus is the most precious thing to us- it should be! The Church needs to have the same mindset as Jesus-
"Who made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!" Philippians 2:7-8
What do we need to die to today? What do we need to surrender to the Lord for His purposes and glory? Let's take on the role of God's servants- willingly doing what He calls us to do and finding joy in it.
Today, pray for the global body of believers that in these last days we can live like Jesus and model what it means to follow Him with our lives.
Pray without ceasing
Lenten meditations to prepare our hearts for Resurrection Day
Benefits of Believing: Lifetime Guarantees
“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6
(blessings, assurances, guarantees)
We have a lot of things that follow us, don’t we? Our reputations, mistakes, our regrets, even our shame all seem to attach themselves to us and we find them hard to shake off. They follow us and seem to make themselves apparent at inopportune times, whether to others or just to ourselves as a grim and nagging reminder of all that we’re not.
As parents, we would gladly unburden our sons and daughters from those things that would define them negatively and remind them of their failures and missteps. It’s a form of bondage that the enemy uses to keep us from being effective, and it’s debilitating.
But God says differently. He casts our sin aside because He paid the price for our sin with His blood and redeemed us at the cross. Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
Our sin doesn’t define us any more. We are made new, the old is gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; The old has gone, the new is here!”
When we become children of God, sons and daughters of the Most High, different things follow us. God ensures that all the days of our life we are hemmed in behind and before with His goodness and merciful love. Psalm 139:5 “You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.” He reminds us that we are His protected child, Psalm 91:14-16 ““Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
God guarantees us this protection for ALL the days of our life, not some, not most, but all!!
As parents, don’t we long for a lifetime assurance that our sons and daughters will be okay? Believe me, God wants that too- He’s a Father after all.
He’s assured us that if we are His sheep He will care for us, protect us, guide us, accompany us, and provide for us abundantly. But He also promises that surely, SURELY, goodness and love WILL follow us all the days of our life.
The word surely in Hebrew is ‘ak’. It’s an affirmation that means “certainly” or “nevertheless”. “It’s a positive affirmation with emphasis on the expression of a truth: surely there is no doubt.” (1)
Throughout Psalm 23, God shows us all of the ways He cares, protects and provides for us. Then, at the end, He affirms that He will, without question, bless us again (and again and again) with His goodness and loving kindness- always, forever, continually and without fail. God will never ‘fall out of love’ with us. Read that again. God will NEVER not love us. He cannot- it’s not in His nature to not love, because God is love, 1 John 4:11 “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.”
Oh how we want our sons and daughters to believe this and experience it for themselves!! May they know the Love of God intimately, personally, perpetually so that their life is dominated and directed by it. May it be all-consuming, ever-comforting, and perpetually present and tangible to them. Today, let’s pray for just that. That our dear ones would come to understand and experience the goodness of God and His relentless, unexpiring, comprehensive love for them.
“Oh, gracious, loving Father, Abba. You are the One who loved us before we ever knew You. Father, I pray in your goodness and mercy, You would surround (name) today. Show them Your mighty protection from the things of this world that would pull their gaze from You and would seek to deceive them with promises of fulfillment that will never satisfy. I pray that as in Exodus 33:19, all of Your goodness would overflow abundantly to (name). “And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” I pray that not only Your goodness, but Your mercy would be present in (name)’s life. Show them, Lord, how You protect and keep them. Open their eyes to the spiritual shield around them. Give them knowledge and understanding that Your Sovereignty ordains their steps and determines their days. Help (name) crave Your goodness and Your mercy. Lord, may they live out the scripture of Psalm 23, following You as Lord and Shepherd, knowing their needs are fulfilled, their whole being is safe and protected and that their inheritance in the saints is secure. Lord, God, Almighty, I pray that You would draw their heart to Your own so that they desire and seek You all of their days. May they abide in You so that when You call them home, they will abide WITH You, eternally. I pray these things in the precious name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
H389 - 'aḵ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (ESV). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h389/esv/wlc/0-1/
God’s Powerful Anointing
“You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” Psalm 23:5b
(life-giving strength, proactive prevention, setting apart)
Did you know that Shepherds anointed their sheep? No, it’s not to set them apart for roles of importance or noble purposes, though human anointing historically served that purpose. The anointing of the sheep is an effort to protect them from insects that would harm them, from sharing disease-causing parasites and from infection caused by parasites (1,2).
The flies that swarm around the flocks pester the sheep and cause them distress. But the flies are not as harmless as one might think. They will lay their eggs in the noses of the sheep. The larvae burrow deeply into the flesh causing pain, infection and, sometimes, blindness. The Shepherd rubs oil all over the sheep's head to keep them from falling victim to those pests they cannot see nor protect themselves against (1,2). Consider how our Shepherd protects us from those tiny, invisible threats that we can’t see, but might render us weakened or blinded to Truth.
Then, the Shepherd also uses the oil to prevent the spread of parasites. You see, as the sheep mingle with one another, they live closely together in the flock, they bump into one another and ‘rub shoulders’. Sometimes the parasites on one sheep will quickly spread to the entire flock, infecting them all. The oil not only prevents the spread, but it accelerates the healing (2). Jesus in His wisdom, anoints us to protect us from false teaching and wrong influences that might spread through His flock. If we’re all anointed, we’re less likely to pick up foreign pests that could derail our faith and we’re more likely to heal quickly when we encounter insult and injury or endure trials and tribulations. His oil of healing is sufficient to heal our wounds.
Finally, the Shepherd rubs the oil on the horns of the sheep to protect them from one another. Sheep are known to butt heads…and aren’t people known for that too? The oil makes the horns slip more easily, preventing serious injury (1,2). Oh how we want to avoid hurting others as we sometimes disagree over how we should live in harmony, how we should do ministry, how we should follow Christ. As sheep, we don’t understand the dangers that wait for us, nor those we might cause to others, but our Good Shepherd does, and He diligently covers us with His protection and His anointing.
You see, as the Shepherd anoints each sheep, He can note any wounds because He’s focusing on each sheep, individually. The anointing isn’t a group event. It’s one by one, as each sheep needs. He carefully checks us over, ensuring that any wound is cleaned and any infection is treated. He removes any ‘invaders’ that might cause sickness or blindness. Our Good Shepherd anoints us each to care for us as individuals. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture (Ps. 100:3).
The New Testament uses the picture of anointing as God’s call on the believer’s life. We are chosen and set apart; we are children of the King. We are healed. We are cleansed. We are sanctified.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
God’s anointing accomplishes so many things… and it fills our cup, it brings spiritual satisfaction and a completeness because we are His own. His anointing on us sets us apart for eternity and ensures that the enemy knows we belong to Jesus. The infectious assault of the enemy can’t destroy us. The oil of healing from our Good Shepherd ensures we are protected and preserved.
Let’s pray that our sons and daughters understand how and why God has chosen them and they grasp the depth of that anointing and experience the overflowing blessings of being God’s chosen child. Let’s pray Scripture over them once more.
“Loving Father, it amazes me to think that You chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in Your sight (Ephesians 1:4) . We are chosen and dearly loved (Colossians 3:12). Today, help (name) to not only recognize this, but to understand it and be changed by it. I pray that (name)’s life would overflow with all of the blessings that come with being Your child, Your beloved, Your chosen one. I pray that (name) would personally experience Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.””
“Give (name) the confidence of 2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” Help them believe that Your blessings are abundant and to see those blessings filling and surrounding them today.”
“I pray Philippians 1:9-11 over (name) today, “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.””
“And give (name discernment to understand that Your blessings are not only physical in this world, but they are spiritual and eternal. In this world we will have trouble, that is certain, but You’ve promised us that there is so much more- help (name) not to lose heart. Give them confidence in their anointing and a steady faith that follows after You, no matter the circumstance. I pray that they would live out 2 Corinthians 4:15-17 “All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.””
“Lord, let your Word work powerfully in (name) to accomplish Your anointing on their life today, in Jesus’ name, and for His glory, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
1. Ellis, N. (2022, September 11). Why Do Shepherds Put Oil On Sheep? Farm & Animals. https://farmandanimals.com/why-do-shepherds-put-oil-on.../
2. (n.d.). Why Do Shepherds Put Oil On Sheep? Animalovin. https://www.animalovin.com/why-do-shepherds-put-oil-on.../
God is Faithful to Restore Us and Lead Us
“He refreshes [restores] my soul.” Psalm 23:3
(spiritual renewal)
Restoration is hard work. It is the effort to bring something back to its original condition when time, decay, and circumstances affect its beauty, its purpose, and its value. Any shadow of what it once was or was intended to be has long since faded. The beauty is covered in dirt, mold, and decay, the edges are rough, once-strong supports are rotted, the luster is dulled. But an expert still sees the value and knows what it could be, if restored. Restoration requires someone who is skilled and has vision and an understanding of what something once was or was intended to be in order to restore it to its original state.
Jesus is our Restorer. He created us, so He knows us intimately and He knows exactly who and what He intended us to be. He is able to revive, refresh, and restore our spiritual selves to the “shalom” He intended us to enjoy in the garden, where everything was in a right relationship to Him. Isaiah 60:1 says about Jesus, “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,”
We can pray Psalm 51:2, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Jesus is able; He can do it!
“Jesus, You are the Restorer of all things. You promise that You will restore us and make us new. 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” I pray that You would begin a work of restoration and reconciliation in (name) today.”
“Lord, strip away the rotten things that would cause decay in (name)’s life. Replace the battered and worn parts with new. Refresh their outlook and restore their heart to be aligned with Yours. Work in them to stir a desire to be made new with a heart like Jesus. Remind them that, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24. Show them clearly that You love them and You desire that they would be brought into fellowship with You, welcomed into Your house and home for eternity. Give (name) a heart for restoration so they would not only embrace the gospel and receive a new heart but that they would share the life-giving gospel with others so they, too, could be restored. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
“He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.”
(direction, purpose)
When God restores us, it’s not for our benefit alone, although we do reap great benefits from the renewal of our heart, mind, and spirit. But it is for His glory that He redeems us! He gives us direction and purpose.
Ephesians 1:11-12 tells us, “In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory.”
He has a plan and purpose for each of us Philippians 2:13, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.” The phrase, “For His name’s sake” indicates that we are to live in such a way that we maintain his name and reputation (1). If we fail to do that we take His name in vain- calling ourselves Christians but living like we are not. “‘You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” Deut. 5:11 (NKJV) Our actions, choices and attitudes have bearing on the name we carry.
“Holy Father, Your name is Sacred. You ARE the Great I AM. There is no other like You and Your supremacy is unequaled. I pray that You would give (name) a godly fear and respect of You. Lead (name) in paths of righteousness so that as they bear Your name, they would be righteous (not self-righteous), blameless (not deceiving others or themselves) and authentic in their faith and their convictions. Lord, give (name) perspective that every blessing is from You and for the purpose of serving You and bringing You glory. Strengthen them in their faith, their conviction, and their passion to follow You in the right paths You set before them, in Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
H4616 - maʿan - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h4616/niv/wlc/0-1/
Of Giants, Valleys, and Godly Parents
We’re all familiar with the story of David and Goliath. We know a bit about David’s family, too. Three of his brothers were in the service of Saul’s army, though he had 7 brothers, altogether. David was the youngest of them and he tended the sheep. Their father’s name was Jesse, the son of Obed, who was the son of Ruth and Boaz. David had a godly heritage.
But have you ever wondered about David’s mother? She’s not mentioned in the Bible, but her influence is there, if you stop and look.
But first, let’s agree on a major factor of parenthood. We strive to protect our children, right? We watch over them, teach them to be cautious and careful. We caution them against danger and we encourage them to avoid those people, locations, and situations that could lead to harm.
Now, imagine you’re standing in the sandals of David’s mother. An unnamed woman only referred to in Scripture one time (bear with me, we’ll get there). But her influence is evident if we look closely. And the impact she had on her son gave him wisdom and guidance for years to come, and impacted the heritage of the Messiah.
When David encountered Goliath, scholars estimate he was likely in his teens. His brothers were old enough to serve in the army, but David was not. Saul even called him a ‘youth’ (1 Samuel 17:33) Yet, in spite of his age, he demonstrated character, faith, and bravery beyond his years.
David went toward the conflict.
David, following his father’s direction, went to the camp of the Israelite army to deliver food and supplies to his brothers (1 Samuel 17:17-18). Any good mother likely would have added, “You go and you come right back- be safe!” Yet, David’s mother didn’t argue, resist or try and keep him from going toward the conflict. She didn’t shield him from it. That’s brave, friends.
Do we pray that our sons and daughters avoid the conflict, or do we pray they are kept safe in the midst of it?
David was prepared, even before he knew he would fight a giant.
David’s mother wasn’t there to tell him how to fight, but it’s likely she reminded him to always step out prepared. As a shepherd, he needed to defend his sheep and where there was one enemy or predator, there would likely be more lurking, awaiting the opportunity to attack. David’s mother knew that - she surely heard the story of the lion…and the bear (1 Samuel 17:34-36). So she certainly reminded him of the danger and encouraged him to be ready.
David also knew conflict typically wasn’t resolved with one stone or by one fight. He fully depended on God for the victory, but knew it might require more than one throw, so he collected five stones. (There is history to suggest that Goliath had 4 brothers 2 Samuel 21:15-22). David was prepared for whatever God led him into that day.
Do we speak into our sons and daughters so they walk out prepared? Are we reminding them of the spiritual dangers they may face? Training doesn't start after the battle begins. No, the training and preparation begin in order to be ready when the conflict occurs, and it will occur. Are we reminding our sons and daughters of the importance of time in the Word and fellowship with other believers to sharpen them? Are they cognizant of the dangers they may face and intentional to be ready when they come? We need to pray that they are.
David didn’t allow the taunts and words of others to deter him, deflate his courage, or damage his faith.
When David offered to face Goliath, David’s own brothers hurled angry words and insults at him, mocking his bravery and casting him aside. They had no faith in his ability and their warrior-egos were offended at the thought.
But Goliath’s words were what struck a chord with David. Goliath didn’t just mock Israel, he mocked God (I Samuel 17:36-37)
You see, David wasn’t defending himself. He was standing up for the fear and reputation of Jehovah, the Almighty God.
Parents, have we taught our sons and daughters to fear God? Do we encourage them to defend the name of Jesus Christ, no matter the cost? Believers in so many nations around the world know the cost of claiming Jesus as Lord, but Western cultures don’t often face that, in fact, we often are indifferent to the cost because we haven’t suffered. Someday soon we may come face to face with that. We must all be ready.
Oh how we need to pray that:
1. Our sons and daughters would listen for and hear the Word of the Lord over the words of the world
2. That they would defend the name of Jesus, no matter the cost
David stepped into the valley to face the giant.
David didn’t run away from the conflict, he walked toward it. The Israelite camp was on a hill on one side of the Elah Valley and the Philistine camp was on the other. There was no misdirection or error in David’s steps. He went down into the valley. Now, read Psalm 23:4
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
There is no evidence to say his Goliath encounter was David’s inspiration for Psalm 23:4, but it surely gives us something to ponder! It helps us look at it in a new light.
Do we encourage our sons and daughters to have strong faith in the Lord that will strengthen them as they face hardships? Or do we pray they avoid the hard things? Do we pray they are protected from suffering? Because if we do, we’re actually praying them to a weakened faith. Think about that. Our effort to shield and protect them can actually leave them weak and vulnerable!
Romans 5:3-5 ““we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.””
Now, back to David’s mother
Though David’s mother isn’t mentioned by name in Scripture, her influence is noted by David in Psalm 86:16 “Turn to me and have mercy on me; show your strength on behalf of your servant; save me, because I serve you just as my mother did.” (NIV)
“I serve you just as my mother did.” That’s a testimony that will preach, friends.
It brings two questions:
How are we serving God as parents?
How are we praying for our sons and daughters?
Our children will face Goliaths. They will walk in the valley. They will be mocked and taunted. But will they be prepared and will they fear God more than they fear man?
Today, let’s pray in the power of the Holy Spirit that God will transform our sons and daughters into bold spiritual warriors who will boldly face the enemy, not for their own glory, but for the name and fame of Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
“Almighty Father, I come to You in the name of Your risen Son, Jesus and through the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells me because of Calvary. Put Your hand on (name) today. First, draw them in to spend precious time in Your word before they start their day. Let their time be sacred and inspired, may it fill them with spiritual strength and boldness. Prepare them, Lord, for what they may face. Give them words to respond and courage to speak up for the name of Jesus. If You lead them into the valley, surround them with Your protection. Help (name) to fully realize that their victory is not dependent on their strength or wisdom, their cunning or skill, but fully on Your power and Presence in the battle. Lord, I know they will face conflict. I know they will walk through dark valleys in the presence of enemies, but I know You are greater, stronger and You are victorious. Lord, be their armor and their light. Open their eyes to see the necessity of being spiritually prepared. And Lord, I pray that my life would be a testimony of being surrendered to you, wholly and completely.. I pray that my sons and daughters would one day pray “Turn to me and have mercy on me; show your strength on behalf of your servant; save me, because I serve you just as my mother (or father)did.” In Jesus’ mighty, victorious name I pray, Amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Homebodies
“By faith Abel…by faith Enoch….by faith Noah… by faith Abraham….by faith Sarah…. All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” Hebrews 11
When our kids were little, being in other places was fun and exciting. Whether we were at the park or at a friend’s house, our announcement of “C’mon, it’s time to go home!” was likely met with protest and wails of “Nooooo! Just a little bit longer! I don’t want to go home yet!” Home was just, home. It wasn’t ‘special’. The kids were having fun where they were and they weren’t ready to go home.
But have you noticed, the older one gets, the more they just like to be home? It’s where they are most comfortable. It’s where they belong. They might not mind being out and about, but home is where they really long to be. There's a comfort about being there with those whom they love and are connected to deeply. Being out and away quickly loses its charm. Home is where the heart longs to be.
There’s a spiritual element here. As believers, we should feel the same about heaven and being with the Lord. The older we get, the more we see that this world isn’t as exciting and satisfying as we once thought it to be. We become weary of the shallowness and wary of the promise of wonderful things here that we know will not fulfill us. What this world promises, it just cannot deliver. The more we live here, the more we long to be in our real home with the Lord. We know we’re strangers and aliens here and we want to go and be where we belong. We want to be with the Lord.
“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:2-3
Here’s another perspective; if we’re getting ready to move, perhaps changing locations or building a new house, our heart begins to shift from where we currently live to that new place. We build up anticipation and longing because we know better things are coming. We begin to imagine living in that new place and we look forward to that new home and the life that comes with it. Our current location begins to fade in favor and appeal. We just want to be home. But home is becoming that other place where we don’t yet live.
Our sons and daughters often struggle with grasping a longing to be with Christ. Oh, they love Him, but they’re still enamored with this world and all it appears to hold for them. They haven’t yet ‘tasted’ the spiritual promise that assures them that life in Christ’s presence is far better than anything they’ll experience in this world. They’re still protesting, “Not yet! I’m not ready!”
Oh that they would shift their heart and mind to realize that this is not where they belong. This life, this world, is a shadow. It’s a poor representation of all that they are meant to enjoy in the presence of Christ.
The Apostle Peter understood well what our situation was as believers when he addressed the believers in 1 Peter 1:1-2.
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles (or strangers) scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.”
Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters begin to recognize that, as believers, they are exiles. They are not meant for this world. They are strangers and aliens and should always sense that this is not where they belong-their true citizenship lies elsewhere. Let’s pray they have a longing for the home God is preparing for them and they are excited for the coming ‘move’. Jesus WILL return to gather His bride, the church. We don’t want to be looking behind us like Lot’s wife, longing for the corrupt place we’re leaving behind, but we want to be looking with anticipation to what lies ahead. We know that the home Jesus is preparing is far better than anything here.
1 Corinthians 5:1-2 “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,”
“Oh Father, we know that You intend to bring us to live with You. Your promise is evident throughout Your Word that this is not our home, but better things await. I pray that (name) would begin to anticipate that new home, the blessing of standing in Your Presence and enjoying life as you intended. Lord, help them not to be charmed by this world, but to have clear spiritual vision that assures them better things are to come. I pray that their prayer wouldn’t be “Not yet, Lord!” but instead would be “Come quickly, Lord Jesus!” “
“Help me to encourage them by setting an example of hope, anticipation and joy at the thought of my heavenly home. Help me to point them to Scripture that shows us the joy and belonging that await us. Help me to long to be in Your Presence. But until that day, keep both (name) and I diligent and steady in doing the work You have for us here. Help us to finish well. Lord, open (name)’s eyes to see the deception that Satan weaves to lure us into complacency and into love for this world. It’s not what You desire for us and it’s a cheap imitation- a counterfeit that will never deliver the joy, fulfillment and belonging that You give us in Your Presence. Lord, work in our hearts and minds today. And come quickly, Lord Jesus. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
A willingness to pray “God, do what You must.”
If you’re a parent, you’re a ‘fixer’. It’s what we do. Whatever the situation, we’re always at-the-ready to find a solution, make it better, fix what is broken or soothe what is hurt. We hate to see our kids in pain or dealing with hardship. Our hearts hurt to know that they grieve or struggle. When we see it, we jump to try and fix it.
Yet, sometimes we can’t fix it. It’s not that we don’t want to, it’s that we’re unable to. That’s a hard place to be, isn’t it? When our son or daughter is going through a hard time, it’s difficult to watch and we want, more than anything, to make it better. But sometimes it’s beyond our ability. And if our son or daughter is running from God, we can’t change their heart or bring repentance. That’s something only God can do. No matter how much we desire it, we cannot ‘will’ them to change.
We become like the little child, bringing the much-loved broken toy to our Father saying ‘fix it’, ‘heal it’, ‘make it better’. But sometimes the situation and damage requires intervention that is difficult to watch and painful to endure. We don’t want our son or daughter going through pain- we’ve spent our lives working to spare them from it! We don’t want to see things get worse- our entire prayer directive has been that it would be made better.
It’s akin to someone needing a heart transplant. The hope for life and health lie in getting a new heart. But it’s not that easy. First, a new heart must come from a donor, someone who lost their life and was willing to donate their organ to be a life-saving opportunity for someone who is dying. Then, the patient must be willing to undergo extensive transplant surgery. They’re surgically opened up and their old heart is removed and the new one is put in place. It is radical, painful, and dangerous. But the hope for life overrides the fear of pain and the anxiety about the procedure. And the hope for life requires that the patient undergoes the painful process.
Friends, the prodigal has the same need. They need a new heart. Their current heart is damaged and diseased. Their situation will surely lead to death, perhaps not a physical death, but a spiritual death looms.. The enemy laughs and takes delight in the slow demise and the sure destination that a prodigal life assures. The process required to remedy this direction and destination means the prodigal has to die to themselves and be willing to allow the Lord to give them a new heart to remedy the damage that’s been done. It’s a painful process. It’s difficult to watch and we know what needs to happen. But it’s excruciating to see our son or daughter go through difficulty, pain, and suffering. But when we’ve done all we can and there is still no change, we need to step back and allow God to work.
Friends, are we willing to pray, “God, do what You must”?
Are we willing to pray, “God, do what you must”? That’s a hard prayer. It’s an anguished prayer. It’s a prayer of surrender, acknowledging that the rescue is beyond our ability to achieve. This prayer requires that we not interfere with what God chooses to do. We have to squelch the urge to rush in and rescue, to mitigate the painful consequences, to redeem the bad choices, to make it better, because really, we won’t make it better, we’ll only prolong the process. When we truly turn our son or daughter over to God to work as He wills, it is the ultimate act of trust. It’s trusting Him that He can parent them better than we can. It’s trusting that our God loves them more than we do. It’s trusting that His ways are higher than our ways and that He is the only One who can effect change and redeem the wayward heart. It requires full surrender on our part to achieve surrender in their heart.
It requires full surrender on our part to achieve surrender in their heart.
“God, do what you must, and help me to trust You.” It’s a prayer of surrender. Here’s another question…if we’re not willing to pray that prayer, are we fully surrendered to the Lord? Do we love Him more than we love our son or daughter? Do we trust Him enough? It requires some introspection into our own hearts and attitudes. It’s a peeling away of those things we’ve trusted other than the Lord. It’s a purifying of our own faith. We must be willing. But we can be honest with God, too, and tell Him how it scares us, because that prayer does bring fear of what may come. But, brothers and sisters, He is Lord of what may come. We need to rest in His goodness.
“God, do what you must, and help me to trust You.” Continue praying that prayer. Every moment, every day. Breathe it out. Remind yourself that God is Sovereign and He can do whatever He wills. He WILL do whatever He wills. We can either accept and support it, or fight it and be miserable. We must trust the Great Physician. He is able to give the prodigal a new heart and a surrendered spirit. Ezekiel 11:19 “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.”
“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish. Matthew 18:12-14
Today, write out a prayer of surrender and trust to the God who is able to do more than we could ask or imagine. He spoke all of creation into existence. He subdues nations. He rules over every power and principality. He can turn a heart of stone into a heart of flesh, tender and surrendered to the Lord. Trust Him. Ask HIm to work mightily and to show you that He is working and moving. Remember, His timeline doesn’t mirror our own, but He is Lord of the clock, Lord of the calendar and Lord of the one He created… He loves the prodigal and longs to see them return. Trust Him.
God is not done working!
Pray without ceasing, friends.
Psalm 145: 17-21
17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.
Lord, You are righteous, yet You love us, sinners condemned by our sin. It’s an example for us, who follow You, that we too can love others even if they don’t know You or follow You. They are image bearers and as such, we need to love them- how will they know? How can they see the love of God if we’re not willing to live it out in front of them?. Help us, Lord. Help us to love those who are ‘different’ than we, who do and say things we don’t like or approve of. Help us to know that by loving them, we’re not condoning what they do. By loving us, Lord, You are not condoning our sin, but You love us in spite of our sin. Your kindness leads us to repentance. Father, I pray that (name) would learn how to be loving to others and by loving them, show the power of God and the change it can bring in a heart and life.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
Father, You affirm that You are near to all who call on You, convinced without a doubt, that You will hear and answer. They trust and know that You are not indifferent or disconnected. You are faithfully present and supporting us even before we ask. I pray that (name) would believe without waffling or wavering that You are faithful and True and when (name) calls on You, You will answer and be near. I pray that (name) would understand Your trustworthiness and see Your faithful steadfast Presence in each day and night, in each joyful moment and dark season. Lord, You ARE near to all who call on You in truth. Thank You.
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
Just as we heard the cries of our children an ran to help them, You hear our cries. You save us, Lord, even when it seems like there is no way out, You make a way. “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.” (Ps 107:6-7) Lord, I pray that (name)’s heart desire would be refuge in the shadow of Your wings and a place in Your house that is their own, a belonging, a provision and a dwelling in Your Presence. Lord, lead them to a city of refuge because they fear You. Let (name) cry out to You today Lord. Direct their eyes, their heart and their plea to Your throne room where You hear and answer abundantly. Fulfill (name)’s desires in a way that brings glory and honor to Your name and that draws them nearer to You. Hear their cry and save them, Abba Father.
20 The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
Thank you, Lord, for Your watchful care. As a parent, our eyes were always watching for danger and seeking to protect them. But now that (name) is an adult, I can’t do that any more. I have to trust…I have to trust You that You will watch over and protect (name) so much better than I ever could. I pray that (name) would love You. Stir a deep desire in (name)’s heart and mind to run after You with all they have and are. Help them to see this world is temporary and the titles and promotions, the gadgets and trappings will all rot. But their heart…oh their heart is the most valuable thing they have and they need to ensure that it’s properly and rightfully invested. Please, Lord, let them invest themselves in Your kingdom. Let them surrender all they are and have to You. Don’t let them be counted among the wicked. Oh how we love them, but Lord, we know, unless they surrender to You and are counted as Your child, Your saint, Your beloved, unless that is their identity, they are among the wicked. Lord, it hurts our hearts to think that. Show us fruit, Lord! Watch over (name) and guide their steps so they remain faithful to You. If (name) doesn’t know You as their Lord and Savior, I pray that even today You would bring another believer into their life who would speak truth and share the life-giving hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Lord, I pray that (name) would confess with their mouth and believe in their heart that Jesus is Lord (Rom. 10:9). Lord, watch over (name) today and do a work in their life. I believe. I know You can and will. Bring fruit, Lord.
21 My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.
Oh, how I love You Lord! My mouth is filled with Your praise. My heart is overwhelmed by Your goodness and I want to share that joyful praise with others. I want to know that (name) is filled with joyful praise for You. May it overflow and cause them to wonder and be amazed at how praising You brings contentment, fulfillment and joy. Lord, to know that every creature will praise Your holy name is humbling. Today give me moments to sit outside or gaze out the window at Your creation and ponder what the praise of creation for You might look like When the trees sway in the breeze, are they praising You? When the birds sing, are they proclaiming Your greatness? We can’t know, but Lord, Your Word tells us that if we don’t praise You, even the very rocks would cry out in praise of You. (Luke 19:40). Creation knows its Creator. Help us to know You more and more and to live in a way that reflects that knowledge to others.. May the generations of my family praise You and carry on a commitment to follow after You for all their days, no matter what may come. May our lives exhibit praise for Your holy name, always and through eternity. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Pray without ceasing
Psalm 145:5-7
Let’s continue to pray through Psalm 145
5 They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
Give my sons and daughters a glimpse into the glory of Your Kingdom, Lord. Show them that this temporal life is just a shadow, a mist, a quickly passing moment. Help them to see and understand that all that You have waiting for us is beyond comprehension. The glorious splendor of Your majesty should stun and overwhelm us so that we are stopped short and without words, leading us to meditate on your wonderful works. May it be so, Lord. May (name) pause today, overwhelmed by Your greatness and be moved to awe-filled wonder and meditation on all You’ve done through the ages and in their own life. Help (name) to meditate on Your word, filling their heart and mind with truth that will guide and guard them.
6 They will tell of the power of your awesome works,
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
Lord, let (name) speak freely about Your greatness, Your salvation and Your deep love for each individual. Move them to tell others about their relationship with You. Fill their mouth with praise for You so that others will see and hear and be drawn to follow You, Lord. Let (name)’s life be a witness to the life-changing power of God and the joy and hope that You bring. May (name) continuously share how marvelous You are and recount all the wonderful things You’ve done for them. Don’t let them forget, Lord, and don’t allow them to be silent.
7 They will celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
Celebrate! It’s what we are called do as believers! There is so much to be grateful for, Lord, yet too often we get distracted and discouraged by the darkness around us. Help us to see and have perspective that You are good and what You do is good and that there is so much more provided for us than we realize. There is so much more waiting for us than this fallen, broken world could ever offer. Open our eyes to witness Your hand at work every moment of the day, from a safe drive to work to the ability to get groceries or have a warm blanket. Lord, Your provision and protection are abundant. The joy of being able to worship You freely and openly should move us to live and celebrate You joyfully and out loud! Help (name) to celebrate Your abundant goodness…ABUNDANT goodness. Help them to see that they are blessed and favored. Put a song in (name)’s mouth and let their heart sing along today. I pray this all in Jesus’ precious name, amen.
Acid Tongue
Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Acid burns. It corrodes. It’s sour. Those qualities can describe our words, too. They hit hard, they burn and fester. Words can eat away at our heart and mind leaving them raw, exposed and hurting. Words can set our spirit on edge and cause damage that is not easily repaired.
Sometimes we may find ourselves using our words to try and motivate certain responses or actions - what we think our sons and daughters should do or be. But that can quickly turn into using words as a weapon to accomplish our own agenda. Our words can become passive-aggressive and just plain nasty. Maybe we don’t intend them to be so; sometimes we don’t realize the weight and sharpness of our words. But we should.
James 3:5-10 says, “Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”
Our words can pull others close, or push them away. They can speak truth in love and be a balm to a hurting heart. Or our words can be caustic, burning as they hit and leaving scars as they sink deeply. Our mantra should not be “well, the truth hurts”. It should be “how can I speak like Jesus?” You see, Jesus didn’t look for opportunities to tear others down, to speak ‘truth that hurts’ or to use passive-aggressive means to win souls. He didn’t use His words to puff himself up or show himself ‘better than’. He didn’t use words to shame or humiliate. No, Jesus was compassionate. He was thoughtful.
Yes, Jesus spoke truth- He IS the Truth. But he spoke it in such a way that the ‘other’ was respected. He spoke with words that intrigued the listener and supported the Holy Spirit’s work in them. Even those caught in sin were spoken to in love, not spite or arrogance (that was the Pharisees’ approach). The woman in John 8, caught in sin, wasn’t given a whole sermon on her depravity. She wasn’t paraded out as an example to others and shamed for her actions. Her missteps were not listed out for her and all others to hear. She wasn’t humiliated because of her error, she was shown compassion, because Jesus loved her and He wanted His words to reflect His love and compassion.
Proverbs 12:18 “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
Let’s not allow our words to be dictated by which day of the week it is….- speaking sweetly on Sunday when we’re at church and then turning the switch to acid words when we get in the car and set our Bible aside. Let’s stop and think, “will my response, my words, my questions and my encouragements make others love Jesus more…or will they begin to corrode the heart and spirit of the listener?”
The Lord calls us to love Him with all of our heart, our soul, our mind and our strength (Luke 10:27). If all of us is consumed with Him, then our words will be a by-product of that relationship. We’ll speak words of truth and life because that’s where our heart, soul, mind and strength are grounded . If our words don’t reflect that, it’s an indication that our focus might need some readjusting.
Friends, Jesus doesn’t need us to be another's ‘Holy Spirit’. He’s got that covered. He needs us to speak truth in love. Yes, friends, it’s time to watch our words. Let’s put aside the acid tongue and speak to one another, to our sons and daughters, to those who may be within earshot, with an agape vocabulary: one that shows affection, goodwill, benevolence and love. “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24.
Today, let’s pray that we speak in ways that reflect Christ. Pray that our sons and daughters would as well. Pray that the Holy Spirit would put a guard on our tongues and prick our hearts when we begin to pour acid instead of honey. Let’s impact our world with the Love of Christ, not the sting and stench of the old nature.
“Father, You are the Author of Truth and the giver of good. If we are your children, we should reflect Your nature- help us to do that. I pray that when I speak, it would be motivated by love and not my own agenda. Lord, I so want my sons and daughters to follow after You. But sometimes my words don’t encourage them and the example I set is not always one that reflect You. Change me, Lord. Make me more like Jesus. Let the words I speak build others up- even if they’re just overhearing, let them be blessed because they hear Jesus in the way and words that I speak. I pray for (name) today. Let the words of their mouth and the meditation of their heart be pleasing in Your sight, Lord (Ps. 19:14) Lord, help us to respond, not react, when we choose to speak. Let our words be like honey, not like acid. Lord, I love You and I want to represent You well. Please work in me, work in my family, let our words point others to the cross, not to a wake of wreckage that we leave behind due to our acid tongues. Let us be known for the sweetness of our words, not an acid tongue. “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth: keep watch over the door of my lips.” (Ps 141:3” In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
Pray without ceasing, friends!
G26 - agapē - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g26/kjv/tr/0-1/
When ‘Knowing’ isn’t Enough
2 Peter 1:9-11 “But whoever does not have them [the qualities in vs. 5-8] is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
So, what if our son or daughter is indifferent to their need for spiritual growth? Does it matter? If they’re saved, that’s the most important thing, right? Well, friends, that may be our way of assuaging our own concerns and worries about where they really stand with the Lord. Yes, it’s vitally important that our loved ones have a personal relationship with Jesus, but it’s more than that. If they DO have a relationship with the Lord, they need to pursue growth, deepen their understanding and grow in their knowledge of Him and His word.
Think about someone you love dearly. You don’t just count ‘knowing’ that person as good enough for a relationship. No, you want to spend time with them, know them more, learn their deepest thoughts and dreams. You enjoy spending time with them and you find that you miss them when they’re not near. Friends, that’s a relationship with Jesus! We should be falling in love with Him more and more each day.
We don’t want our sons and daughters to be nearsighted or blind to what that spiritual relationship needs to be. If ‘knowing’ Jesus is all they have, they likely do not have a saving relationship with Him. James 2:17-19 says “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” Yes, even the demons believe. That should give us pause.
The bottom line here is that there must be fruit. A fruitless life is a life without Christ. Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters begin making an honest, committed effort to pursue the heart of Jesus. Let’s pray for fruit that gives evidence that they are a believer who is growing in their walk with the Lord. Pray that they would not stumble. Pray that they would be counted as one worthy to escape all that is coming on this earth and would stand before Jesus, richly welcomed, as one of His own.
Pray without ceasing.