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!

Why Pray Scripture?

It’s hard to communicate in words what lies in our hearts and what stews in our minds, isn’t it?  Sometimes we just cannot put into words the depths of our griefs and joys, the details of our worries and fears.  Oftentimes, in speaking to the God of the Universe, we realize our smallness, our limitations, our insufficiencies…and we should.  We are fragile, limited, and insufficient…but we are the children of the King!  We are sons and daughters of the Most High God and He stoops to hear us. 

Psalm 116:1-2 says “I love the LORD because He hears my voice and my prayer for mercy.  Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as  I have breath!” (NLT) 

God bends down to listen to us.  Just like a father would get down to listen to his little child who has a need or something to share, God leans towards us to hear what we’re asking, understand what we’re telling Him, and gives us His full attention because He loves us.

So, why should we pray Scripture?  God’s word is so complete that it can put into words what we cannot.  Speaking God’s words back to Him demonstrates we value His Word, we understand the power that it holds, and shows our submission to its authority. 

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Meditate on that.  God’s word is living, not dead, not antiquated, not ‘yesterday’ but alive and working.  The Greek word is ‘energes’ and means “active, working, effectual, operative, powerful” (1) The Word of God is active and powerful!  And isn’t that what we want our prayers to be?!  

Scripture is also sharp, ‘tomos’, meaning it can cut by a single stroke.  It’s not dull, requires no hacking, sawing, or repeated blows.  The double-edged sword was a prized weapon in battle because you could swing back and forth, taking out your enemies with each swing.  A sharp, double-edged sword was to be feared and could not be competed against.  Scripture imparts fear in the enemy, friends!  Our own words do little. God’s word pierces and divides.  When we pray, we want to pierce the darkness and evil, we want to divide error from truth, we want to separate those we are burdened for from the oppression and evil that would seek to bring them down.  God’s word is powerful to do that.

Scripture separates and brings distinction between things as well.  Hebrews mentions joints and marrow.  We might question, “Why did God talk about that?”  Consider what a joint does, it connects things and allows for movement.  Yet, sometimes our connections are unhealthy and our movements are in the wrong direction.  We can use scripture to pray that any movement is God-led and that our sons and daughters remain closely connected to Him.  Psalm 1:1-2 is a wonderful passage to pray: “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on His law day and night.”

But what about the marrow?  Ah, the marrow is life-generating.  We can live without joints, but we cannot live without marrow.  The Greek word for marrow is ‘myelos’ and means blood.  Marrow allows for life, generates new blood cells that fight infection, carries oxygen, and helps stop bleeding.  A bone marrow transplant can restore life.  Death of the marrow brings death to the body. 

Finally, scripture discerns the intentions of the mind and heart.  It is decisive to address each aspect of the individual’s thought life and heart attitude.  Scripture is the all-inclusive remedy to every situation, challenge, attack, and need.  Psalm 19:7-8 “The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul.  The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.  The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.  The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.   

When we pray Scripture over our sons and daughters, we’re praying the very words of God that are effectual and life-giving, protective and sustaining.  We need to form a habit of opening our Bibles and praying back the words we read. If we do, we are praying words that are alive, active, discerning, penetrating, and effective to fight spiritual battles with the double-edged sword of scripture, battling principalities and powers that would seek to harm and destroy. We can pray a spiritual hedge of protection around our sons and daughters. We can ask that the Lord would bring other believers to encourage, challenge, and keep them accountable. Through prayer and Scripture, we have access to the Throne room of The Almighty, Great I AM, our Father, our Savior, our Friend. Scripture is so precious, we must embrace it, learn it, pray it and memorize it.

Let’s boldly pray Scripture this week, speaking God’s own words over our sons and daughters, asking Him for protection, guidance, wisdom and strength.  Psalm 25 is a great place to begin, but please, share the Scripture you’re praying!!  Let’s encourage one another as we kneel before the Throne!

Psalm 25

1 In you, Lord my God,
    I put my trust.

2 I trust in you;
    do not let me be put to shame,
    nor let my enemies triumph over me.

3 No one who hopes in you
    will ever be put to shame,
but shame will come on those
    who are treacherous without cause.

4 Show me your ways, Lord,
    teach me your paths.

5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are God my Savior,
    and my hope is in you all day long.

6 Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,
    for they are from of old.

7 Do not remember the sins of my youth
    and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
    for you, Lord, are good.

8 Good and upright is the Lord;
    therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.

9 He guides the humble in what is right
    and teaches them his way.

10 All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful
    toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.

11 For the sake of your name, Lord,
    forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

12 Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?
    He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.

13 They will spend their days in prosperity,
    and their descendants will inherit the land.

14 The Lord confides in those who fear him;
    he makes his covenant known to them.

15 My eyes are ever on the Lord,
    for only he will release my feet from the snare.

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
    for I am lonely and afflicted.

17 Relieve the troubles of my heart
    and free me from my anguish.

18 Look on my affliction and my distress
    and take away all my sins.

19 See how numerous are my enemies
    and how fiercely they hate me!

20 Guard my life and rescue me;
    do not let me be put to shame,
    for I take refuge in you.

21 May integrity and uprightness protect me,
    because my hope, Lord,[c] is in you.

22 Deliver Israel, O God,
    from all their troubles!

Pray without ceasing!

1. G1756 - energēs - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1756/niv/mgnt/0-1/

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

Giving Right Gifts

Any parent knows, our kids are not shy about telling us what they’d like to receive when it comes to birthdays, Christmas, or special occasions.  When they were little, their ‘wants’ were often communicated by the toy catalog left conveniently on the table with items circled in sharpie on nearly every page.  As they grew, their lists transformed to notes on the fridge and texts to our phones.  Now they have apps that help them share their lists, and there’s the ever-convenient Amazon wish list is always handy.  They’re always keen to let us know exactly what they really want. 

And gift giving is a wonderful thing, isn’t it?  It’s fun to receive them, but as a parent, we know how much joy we have in giving them!  It’s so much fun to shop for someone we love and wrap up that special gift so that it’s beautifully presented. Then we wait in anticipation while the recipient eagerly opens the gift.  But sometimes….sometimes we shop with OUR wants in mind, we choose things that we think they will like…or that we want them to like.  Then, as the open their gift, we watch their eyes go from sparkling with anticipation to thinly veiled disappointment when they realize we didn’t follow the request.  We didn’t give them the gift they really wanted, the thing they specifically asked for.  We didn’t follow directions and the gift falls flat.

Don’t we do that with God, friends?  We tend to offer him what we think He would like, giving Him the things we want to give rather than what He’s really asked us to offer.  We make sacrifices according to our preferences, but we neglect to pay attention to what God asks of us.  Then, we wonder why His response toward us is not what we hoped.  We gave.  We sacrificed.  But we didn’t obey. Our gift wasn’t welcomed because it wasn’t what He asked us to give.

It’s important that our sons and daughters learn how to make right offerings and sacrifices to the Lord.  Because it’s not about what we think the Lord will like, it’s very specifically about what He asks of us.  

Genesis 4:2b-7  “Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.  In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord.  And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering,  but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?  If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

Abel brought the right sacrifices.  He did what the Lord commanded.  He offered the best of his flock and shed blood to atone for his sin.  Cain brought what he considered a good sacrifice, his best produce- the fruit of the land.  Yet, it wasn’t what God commanded.  It wasn’t acceptable.  It was a poor substitution and unworthy. We know that Cain went on to kill his brother out of jealousy and then lie to God about the whole thing. 

But we need to ask ourselves, how often do we bring to God what we consider our ‘best’ yet it isn’t what He asks for at all?  We give what we want to give Him rather than what He requires.

Do you see?  It wasn’t the quality of the fruit and produce Cain brought, it was his disobedience toward the Lord in not bringing what the Lord commanded.  What God warned him of was exactly what happened, “if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”  The sin of jealousy and murder took over. 

Later in Scripture, the same was repeated with King Saul when He didn’t obey God’s instructions to completely destroy the Amalekites.  

“The Lord anointed you king over Israel. And he sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; wage war against them until you have wiped them out.’ Why did you not obey the Lord? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the Lord?”  “But I did obey the Lord,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king.  The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal.” 1 Samuel 15:17b-21

Saul did what HE thought best.  And his actions impacted the nation of Israel and threatened their very survival.  You see, years later, in the book of Esther, Haman, an official in the court of King Xerxes, tried to kill all of the Jews.  He plotted to destroy them and wipe them from the earth.  And who was Haman?  He was a descendant of Agag (Esther 3:1), the very king Saul was told to kill and did not.  Had it not been for God’s intervention through Esther and Mordecai, Israel would have been destroyed.  Saul’s disobedience had serious repercussions.  And his sacrifices meant nothing when they came from a heart that followed its own desires and not the Lord’s.

Our actions have consequences.  We teach our sons and daughters that very lesson when they are children, that obedience is important.  But as they grow into adulthood and gain their independence, the ease and desire to do what they want comes easily. Obedience to God can become secondary. We need to pray fervently that our sons and daughters will remember and practice the importance of obedience to God.  We need to pray that they will understand what right sacrifices and offerings are that God requires and not lean on their own understanding for what is acceptable (Proverbs 3:5-6).  We need to pray that they don’t ‘outgrow’ obedience.

The prophet Samuel called Saul to account for his selfish disobedience:

1 Samuel 15:22-23a ““Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord?  To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.  For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.”

Ultimately, his disobedience led to Saul losing his role as King, and his life as well. God doesn’t want our attempts to win His forgiveness and approval after we do what we want.  He wants us to obey him first and always.  He desires our obedience.  Let’s not try and ‘guess’ what God might want from us, instead, let’s dig into His word and learn what He calls us to do.  

God promises blessings when we obey, and not just on us, but on our children and grandchildren:

Psalm 103:17-18 “But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.”

Isn’t that a gift worth giving?  Let’s commit to pursue obedience so that we can gift the Lord’s love and righteousness to our children’s children and leave a legacy of obedience and joy in following Jesus. Then, let’s pray that our sons and daughters do the same.

“Father, You call us to a life of obedience.  How silly of us to think that our limited, flawed, selfish hearts would know better than You what You desire from us.  Lord, when we veer off to our own ‘wish list’ of things we think You want from us, we selfishly pursue what our own hearts want rather than what You ask of us.  We know the heart is deceitful above all things.  Help us to do what is right because sin is crouching at the door, waiting for the opportunity to lure us away.  Give us an Abel heart- one that desires to sacrifice what You ask and to obey your commands.  Help us to pursue You with an undivided heart because double mindedness will certainly be our downfall.  May our obedience to You be the evidence to others of our faith and our hope.  “But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him:” 1 John 2:5  Lord, help us to set a right example for our sons and daughters and let them do the same for their children.  I pray that our family would have a Godly heritage that points others to Christ and brings honor and glory to Him.  In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”

Pray without ceasing.

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.

1. 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.../

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:

1. How are we serving God as parents?

2. 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.

A Call to Parents: Encouraging Our Sons & Daughters

“For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.” 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12

We spend much time here at Join the PAC Prayer focusing on praying for our sons and daughters, but today we’re going to take a look at what God calls us to do as parents.  What are we called to do? How can we do it well?

Paul wrote to the Thessalonians to encourage them in their faith. Throughout the first and second chapters, Paul urged them to remain true and faithful.  He instructed them on how they should live and commended them for what they did well.  In chapter two, he explained his ministry motives along with those of Silas and Timothy and the nature of their instruction.   Then he gave the statement in verses 11-12 and it’s here we need to pause and take time to ponder because Paul explained three key actions that exemplify how a father (a parent) should deal with his children,   “For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.” 

Let’s dig deep and get a better understanding of what God encourages us to do as parents.

Encouraging: Parakaleo

The first thing Paul mentioned is that he, Silas and Timothy were encouraging the believers.  The Greek word for encouraging is parakaleo.  It means to call near or call to one’s side; to exhort, console and comfort; to strengthen and instruct; it means to call in a loud voice; it’s not a silent, behind-the-scenes cheering on (1). 

There is more to encouraging our sons and daughters  than just saying “Good job! I knew you could do it!”  The word ‘parakaleo’ comes from two root words, ‘para’, meaning beside or near, having proximity to (2) and ‘kaleo’ which means to call by name (3).  So when we’re encouraging our sons and daughters, we need to call them near, call them by name, take time to be present and to teach and comfort them.  We must be focused on them, and strengthen them in those things that are uniquely their own needs- it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach.  It’s personal.  It requires our presence and our mindfulness towards them so that we’re focused and our encouragement stems from knowledge of the individual son or daughter and knowledge from Scripture.  

Like a paramedic is a medical professional who comes near to the patient, calls them by name and tends to their needs, our encouragement must be parakaleo, near our sons and daughters, calling them by name and meeting their needs to encourage them to walk faithfully, understand God’s word accurately and remain true to their faith and commitment to God.

Comforting: Paramytheomai

The next thing Paul mentions is comfort.  The Greek word for the act of comforting is paramytheomai, which means “to speak to, address one, whether by way of admonition and incentive, or to calm and console” (4).  It’s another form of encouragement.  Note the prefix ‘para’ is once again a part of the word.  It requires coming alongside of another to accomplish the  purpose at hand. Paramytheomai means we need to be present and choose to be near, whether in person or, if that’s not possible, in communication and prayer.  It’s an active role and not just that of an observer.  The other portion of the word, ‘mytheomai’ means to speak, tell a story, a narrative.  Often this word was applied to the sharing of genealogies in Biblical times.  Consider what is your family’s story and how your sons and daughters could learn from it.  Some questions to consider:

What is the heritage that undergirds your family?  

What stories of faith are held forth?  

What mistakes were made that should not be repeated?  

Maybe the heritage of faith began with you … How did you come to know Jesus and begin a personal relationship with Him?

How can your sons and daughters carry on the Godly legacy?  

How can you comfort them with lessons from the past and encourage them to be true to God into the future?

Comfort and encouragement can come through the stories of others and out of our own experiences.  Those stories should be carried and shared by parents to their children to stand as encouragement and be cautionary as well.

Urging: Martyomai

Finally, Paul urged the Thessalonians to live a life worthy of God.  The word used for urging is ‘martyomai’, which means “to be a witness, testify, charge or give evidence, bear record.” (5)  Yes, it is related to the word ‘martyr’, describing those who gave their life for their faith.  They bore witness and held fast to the testimony of Christ, even to the end.  Paul urged, testified and bore witness to the Thessalonians in an  effort to encourage them and teach them to hold fast to their faith.

The root word is martys means “one who is mindful, obeys”. (6)  It’s not only what Paul wanted the Thessalonians to do, but it was what he held fast to as he lived out his testimony before them.  And it’s what we need to do as parents.  We need to demonstrate obedience to God and be mindful of what He calls us to do so that our words and actions testify faithfulness to Him to our sons and daughters.

The encouragement, the comfort and the urging are all directed toward helping our sons and daughters live wisely and follow Christ faithfully, or as the King James Version says, “that ye would walk worthy of God” who calls them into His kingdom.  Isn’t that one of our most fervent prayers for our sons and daughters?  We want them to live a life that acts as an example to others that we are Kingdom bound, sons and daughters of the Most High, His heirs and dearly loved children.

But what does it mean to “walk worthy of God”?  The word for walk in Greek is peripateo  and it means “to occupy oneself, make progress and follow; to make one’s way and make use of opportunities.” (7)  It’s more than just heading in a direction.  It’s being cognizant of where one is going, making use of opportunities along the way and always being mindful of whom you are following and the direction in which you are headed.  The prefix, peri, comes from a root word, peran, which means, “beyond, on the other side.” (8) It’s directional and locational.  It indicates that this walk is more than just a stroll.  It’s purposeful.  It has a specific destination.  It requires mindful participation.  

But here’s the powerful part: the remainder of the word, pateo, has a profound meaning.  Let’s look at the original wording from Strong’s Concordance.  Pateo means, “to advance by setting foot upon, tread upon; to encounter successfully the greatest perils from the machinations and persecutions with which Satan would fain thwart the preaching of the gospel.”(9)  Wow!!  When we pray for our sons and daughters to walk worthy of God, we’re praying that they will encounter successfully the greatest perils, deceptions, schemes of Satan and will overcome!  We pray that they will live out and speak the gospel in ways that will defeat Satan and his demons and will overcome the ‘dangers, toils and snares’ of this life because they’re directionally moving toward the ‘other side’- the Kingdom of God…and Satan will do anything and everything to keep them from it.

These two verses are so rich and so powerful!!  It would be beneficial for us to meditate on these Scriptures this week as we pray for our sons and daughters.  He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world.  We have the power of the Eternal God within reach.  He hears the cry of His children and He does not let it go unanswered.  Take time today to pray for encouragement, for comfort and to urge this next generation to live victoriously.  Why not write these verses down and carry them with you this week, memorize them and meditate on them, they are  powerful directives and timeless truths and God can and will use them mightily.

Pray without ceasing.  

1.  G3870 - parakaleō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3870/niv/mgnt/0-1/

2. G3844 - para - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3844/niv/mgnt/0-1/

3. G2564 - kaleō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2564/niv/mgnt/0-1/

4. G3888 - paramytheomai - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3888/niv/mgnt/0-1/

5. G3143 - martyromai - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3143/niv/mgnt/0-1/ 

6. G3144 - martys - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3144/niv/mgnt/0-1/ 

7. G4043 - peripateō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4043/kjv/tr/0-1/

8. G4012 - peri - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4012/kjv/tr/0-1/ 

9. G3961 - pateō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3961/kjv/tr/0-1/
   
   
   
   

Tune My Heart

Psalm 125:4 “O LORD, do good to those who are good, whose hearts are in tune with you.” (NLT)

Have you ever watched musicians play their instruments?  I mean, really watched them?  They start by tuning their instruments, individually, and then together.  Why?  So the sound they produce is in harmony with one another and is a proper representation of the song.  The ‘first chair’ will play a note and then all of the other instruments align their sound with that one to ensure they’re all on key- they’re all adjusted to the standard to ensure they produce a correct and pleasant sound.

But sometimes, instruments require more than just one tuning.  If you’ve ever watched a band play bluegrass music you know the songs are often fast and the fretwork on the banjo, guitar and fiddle is intricate.  The instruments are played with skill, finesse and very, very quickly. The stress can loosen the strings and begin to change the sound the instrument produces.  The musician is always listening and attentive to whether the sound and ‘fruit’ of the instrument is correctly representing the notes and harmonizing with the other instruments.  It requires a good ear and knowledge of pitch, otherwise the tuning can actually make the sound worse.

Tuning becomes a continuous effort, otherwise the instrument begins to sound ‘off’ and doesn’t harmonize well with the others.  It begins to play its own tune, rather than what was written.  So, every so often during the performance, the musicians will take a moment to adjust their instrument, tuning it so that it stays on key and produces a beautiful, pleasing sound.  An instrument out of tune is a poor representation of what the composer intended and becomes a distraction and an offense to the ears. 

This is such a picture of our spiritual walk. Walking with Jesus isn’t a ‘one and done’ moment.  It needs to be a daily checking of our heart and mind to ensure we’re in tune with HIm and His Word- aligning our heart to what He asks of us and ensuring that our thoughts and desires are reflecting His truth and submitted to His will, not our own.  We need to tune our hearts to the standard God sets for us.  If we think we’re ‘in tune’ with the Lord, yet we don’t spend time with Him, we fall out of tune and we become tone deaf and unpleasant to listen to.  We don’t hear ourselves and how ‘off’ we’ve become because we’re not listening to the Savior.  We’re setting our own standard of “right” and “good” and that’s never right or good.  

We need to submit to the work of the Holy Spirit in us, follow good teaching and be intentional to ensure that we are attentive to God’s Word- learning, committing it to memory and living it out.  As Paul said in 2 Timothy 1:13-14, “What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.”  Just as the musician guards his instrument, continually ensuring that it’s in tune and working as it should, we need to guard our hearts so that we’re correctly representing Him and aligning our hearts with His instruction in Scripture.  “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,  so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters are not ‘tone deaf’ but that they are constantly listening to the Lord and checking their walk to ensure they’re in tune with Him.  There is so much ‘noise’ in our world, noise that drowns out the good that we should hear and that can distract us from recognizing we’re out of tune with the Lord.  We can begin singing out of tune and not even recognize it…and if we’re surrounded by others who are out of tune as well, we lose our pitch and our ability to correct and adjust ourselves.  We must always, always look to the Savior.  He is the only One to whom we should align our lives to ensure we’re walking in tune with Him.

“Father, You put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him. (Psalm 40:3) But, Father, if I’m out of tune with You, my song will be off-putting to others and won’t represent You well. How can I pray for my son or daughter to be in tune with You if I am not? I pray that You would daily help me tune my heart to You. I pray that my life would reflect Psalm 28:7 “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” And I pray for (name) today, help them to see that I long to follow after You with all my heart and that I trust You, no matter what. I pray that the testimony of my life and the song of my heart speak to them with more than just words, but that the life I live would reflect my total surrender to You. Encourage them, inspire them, move in their heart today so that they recognize their heart condition and they ‘hear’ any place that they are off key and out of tune with You. I pray that they would submit to You, Lord, and would allow You to work in them, correct the areas that need to be brought back into Your Lordship and that they would begin to sing a new song, a song of praise to You that would point others to the saving grace of the gospel. Lord, I ask that You- the Master musician- would skillfully take their life, their heart, their mind and their all and would use it to bring glory to Your name. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Praying without ceasing

Psalm 145:8-12

8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.

Oh, Lord.  We are grateful for Your grace- it is so much more than we deserve.  Your compassion is overwhelming to us, sinful as we are. You hear the cry of the afflicted, the cry of Your image-bearers and You answer with perfectly designed responses for each one.  No cry goes unheard.  No cry goes unanswered.   Thank You that You hear us and that You care.   When You  reach down and pull us out of the pit, Your grace and compassion are at work.  You set our feet on a rock, with our heads high above our enemies. Even when we were still in our sin, You loved us and ransomed us.  Thank You for your plentiful, steadfast love.   And thank You that Your anger is slow to kindle- I know we press in and test the boundaries far too often and we ought to receive Your wrath, but instead you show us your steadfast, plentiful love in the form of grace and compassion.   You can’t contradict Yourself.  Lord, help us to live worthy of You.   We are blessed by You in so many ways. Today, help (name) to see your grace and compassion and realize that it is present and plentiful for them. No sin is too great for You to forgive. No distance is too for for You to find them and help them return to You. Lord, show (name) Your rich love today.

9 The Lord is good to all;  He has compassion on all he has made.

Lord, when I look at this world and the ways people rail against You and defy You, I know we deserve nothing more than Your wrath.  But You are good to all, even to those who spit at Your name.  You are Good!  You nourish the earth with rain and sun.  You bring forth fruit and grain for us to enjoy.  You provide fellowship and protection.  And when it comes to Your children, You nurture and care for us so that we can serve You well.  Your compassion is akin to tender mercies- that of a parent cherishing, protecting and loving a growing child.  Even when we rebel, You love us.  Lord, I pray that You would help (name) to know Your love today.  May they reject the lies of this world and follow after You.  May they pursue You with their whole heart, overwhelmed by Your goodness and grace, convicted to live a life worthy of the love and mercy You so freely give.  Don’t let them go, Lord.  Chase after them with your goodness and mercy until they turn and follow you willingly and with joy.

10 All you have made will praise you, O Lord; your saints will extol you.

Heavenly Father, one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess, yet even in that moment, not every heart will be surrendered to You.   I pray that  (name) would be fully surrendered, living a life of obedience to You.  I pray that (name) would praise You with their whole heart.  Lord, help them  sing with abandon, raising their hands to heaven in powerful praise of who You are and all that You do.  Let their hearts be full and overflowing with joy.  Lord, I pray that (name) would be counted among your saints, a child of the Most High God, counted worthy to escape everything coming in this world and worthy to  stand in glory with You, blessing Your name for all eternity.  Give them a head-start in that praise and blessing today and give (name) a glimpse of heaven so they are overwhelmed with the magnificence of what is to come- the promise of eternity with You.  Never let Your name leave (name)’s heart and mind.  May it always be on their lips, ready to share with those who need to know You.  

11 They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might,

The glory of Your kingdom is more than we can explain with words, but I ask that You would  give us words that would help bring understanding to those who need to know You; those who need to understand that Your Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and they can be a part of it!.  Compel us to speak of Your power and might.  We want to stand in awe of You, Lord, and in so doing, leave others in awe of You as well.  I pray, Lord, that (name) would represent You well.  Let the legacy of our family bring glory to Your name.  Let our place in Your kingdom be a blessing to You and a testimony to others.  Lord, wreck us with Your glory and goodness so that we have no choice but to praise and extol Your Name to all that we meet.  Help each of us to put ourselves aside for the sake of Your plan and purpose.  May our lives radiate the glory of the Lord because we are continually seeking to follow after You with abandon.  Lord, help (name) to understand the importance of being sold out for Christ.

12 so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

Burden us, Lord, for those who don’t know You.  Help us to grieve for those who live in bondage and darkness. Change our plans, get our attention, and use us to bring the gospel to those who need to know Jesus.  Give us words to share the wonder of Your mighty acts with those who don’t know.  Remind us of your grace, compassion and Your rich love that offers forgiveness and redemption so we can share that hope with others. Give us insight to explain just how glorious Your kingdom is and that You desire that we all have a room in Your house, so that where You are, we can be there too.  I pray that (name) would be homesick for You, Lord, and would take every chance to share the way Home with others who need Your hope and salvation.  I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.

Pray without ceasing

Looking for Smoke, Watching for Fire.

Read Jonah 3-4

God called Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh to preach of His pending judgment for their sinful ways and call them to repentance.  Jonah’s response wasn’t obedience, but a fast dash in the opposite direction and from God’s command..  But then, the storm, the fish, the 3 day ordeal and Jonah repented….or so we thought.  His prayer in Jonah 2:8 was profound, “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.”

When we join him in chapter 3, Jonah is headed into Nineveh, a city of over 120,000 people.  It was a large and influential city and a visit to all of Nineveh took no less than three days.  That’s an important fact to remember.

Jonah began on day one, preaching “40 more days and Nineveh will be overturned”.  Friends, this was one man speaking to a wealthy, influential city.  Just one.  We’ve seen accounts of someone storming a government meeting, shouting their warning- and being quickly whisked away, while all go back to their business.  We’ve seen pictures of a man standing in a crowded city  with a sign, “the end of the world is near” as people walk by, indifferent to his warning.  Imagine Jonah, preaching God’s judgment in such a huge city- he was likely to be ignored, mocked or run out of town.  But no.  No, Nineveh listened.  In fact, they listened so well that within a day, the entire city believed God’s warning.  They began fasting and the king even made a decree that everyone should call urgently on the Lord..  Can you imagine a revival like that?!  One day and the entire city was mourning their sin.  That’s the power of God at work!  Jonah 3:10 “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.”

You would think Jonah would be rejoicing- so overwhelmed, excited, and grateful that Nineveh responded to God’s message.  But Jonah? He wasn’t impressed.  In fact, he was angry.  He was self-righteous and resentful.  Jonah 4:2-3 “He prayed to the Lord, “O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still at home?  That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish.  I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.  Now, O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.””  Jonah then went outside the city, made himself a shelter and sat to wait and watch what would happen to the city (v. 5)  He wanted to see Nineveh receive what they deserved- a fiery judgment from the Lord.  So he waited.  He watched.  He wanted to see smoke. And his attitude kept him from seeing the blessing and grace of the Lord revealed to over 120,000 souls.

Here’s the thing, Jonah elevated his own standard of justice above God’s.  Jonah resented God’s forgiveness of the Ninevites.  He wanted to see them receive the just reward for their sinfulness.  He was eager to see smoke and he was ready to be smug and say “you got what you deserved!”  Yet, he was ignoring the sin in his own heart.  Oh, he obeyed God…on the outside, but inside, he was still as resentful, rebellious and selfish as he was when he stepped foot on the boat.

Friends, I fear we are more like Jonah than we might imagine.  We have a fierce sense of justice.  We hate to see people get away with wrongdoing.  We hate to see the wicked prosper.  When someone wrongs another, we want to see them caught in their sin and punished for the pain they caused.  Yet, what if they repent?  What if they confess their sin and seek forgiveness?  And what if they receive mercy instead of punishment?  If we’re honest, we struggle with forgiveness and mercy toward those who did wrong because it’s not what that ‘other’ deserves.  They deserve condemnation.  They deserve for God to ‘smite’ them.  Our sense of justice might demand they pay a little more, they suffer a bit longer, they earn their way back into grace. Oh friends, God’s justice is not ours.  Isaiah 5:16 says, “But the LORD Almighty will be exalted by his justice, and the holy God will be proved holy by his righteous acts.” Psalm 89:14 “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.”

Jonah lost sight of his own sin.  He couldn’t see that he was rebellious against God, too.  He didn’t see the depth of God’s forgiveness and mercy for him- he could only see the ‘injustice’ of God’s mercy on Nineveh.  Jonah was outwardly obedient to God’s command and inwardly turning his back to the Lord’s standards and creating his own. Jonah, himself, had a idol- craving his own sense of justice and fairness, and that idol robbed him of the grace he would receive from God through his surrender and obedience.

Oh, the story of Jonah holds much appeal for our little ones as they learn the miracle of his rescue in the fish.  But friends, the story of Jonah holds much for us and our adult sons and daughters in the bigger story of his outward obedience but his inward bitterness and rebellion.  It’s not difficult to  live in such a way that we ‘appear’ obedient- especially if we were raised in church..  We check all the boxes; we show up as we should; we ‘talk the talk’.  But, we can appear outwardly obedient and still rebel against God in our hearts.  We can resent his mercy to those who are undeserving….and totally miss the fact that we are just as undeserving.  Romans 5:6-8 “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  We were undeserving.  Justice demanded that we pay for our sin with our life- for eternity.  Yet, Jesus stepped in on our behalf.  He showed us mercy when we deserved none.  And if we accept His sacrifice on our behalf, God looks on us and sees Christ’s righteousness.  That, friends, is amazing.  It’s undeserved.  It's a merciful redemption that changes our eternity. And we should rejoice when anyone believes, repents and surrenders to God.  

Do we have a Jonah heart?  Do we hold others' sins against them even when God has forgiven them?  Are we giddy to see people receive punishment or do we pray for their repentance and that they would know God’s forgiveness?  Friends, we have nothing to resent when someone is repentant and shown mercy- it should always be a reminder of the mercy we also received from God.  We were and are undeserving.  We should rejoice in the repentance of others.  And if we can’t?  Well, then it might be time to check our hearts.

And Jonah?  He was the author of this book.  He could have resolved the story and shared how he followed God faithfully.  He could have painted himself in a much better light.  But he didn’t.  Jonah ended his story with God’s rebuke against this prophet’s rebellious, vengeful heart.  There was no ‘neat little bow’ on top of this story.  Instead, there was a hard lesson and an unresolved sin that leaves us to ponder how Jonah, the prophet and author, was used by God in spite of his heart.  And he was used by God in mighty ways.  Even unbelievers know the story of Jonah- and God can use those seeds to change lives.  Our rebellion will never be powerful enough to prevent God from working…but it can be powerful enough to cause us to forfeit the grace that would be ours.

There is no doubt we’ll meet Jonah in heaven and when we do, I’m sure he will have quite a story…but it’s not just going to be about the fish.  It’s going to be about his heart and the weight of God’s mercy toward him. Instead of looking for smoke and watching for fire, let’s look to see how God is working and rejoice when He turns hearts and lives to Him.

Let’s take time to pray today for our own hearts and for those of our sons and daughters.  Pray for forgiveness.  Pray for a surrendered heart.  Pray for freedom from a judgmental spirit.  Pray that God would use each of us in spite of ourselves.  And pray that we would not cling to idols and forfeit the grace He wants to lavish on each of us.

Pray without ceasing.

The Power of “Nothing”

Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

God tells us to be anxious for nothing. So, here’s the question, how can “nothing” hold so much power over us?  Because sometimes the ‘nothing’ is all-consuming and it’s everything we think about, run from, struggle to carry and try, helplessly, to ignore.

Believers are not immune to anxiety.  Let’s admit it.  Years ago people would rarely acknowledge they might struggle with anxious thoughts because there was a stigma to it.  We are not supposed to fall victim to anxiety or depression, right?  We’re supposed to be ‘stronger’ than our anxious thoughts and victorious over the darkness.  Yet, here we are.  And we struggle.  It’s okay to admit it.  That “nothing” can actually render us weak and powerless.

One important thing to remember is that we don’t battle against flesh and blood, we battle against principalities and powers- those unseen but strong enemies that attack our thoughts and try to incapacitate our spiritual life (Eph. 6:12).  How can the enemy make us ineffective?  By consuming our thoughts with things that distract us from the Lord.  That’s why scripture tells us to “demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (1 Cor 10:5)  

Even King David, a man after God’s own heart, had his own struggles with depression and anxiety.  Just take time to read through the Psalms and you’ll see time and again where David cries out to  God, pleads for rescue from the mire and the waters that overwhelm him (Ps. 69 is a great example)  Yet David always refocused his thoughts back on God and made it a point to praise God, even in the midst of his battles. He was honest about his struggle, but intentional about his choices.

Anxiety takes our thoughts off of Christ and onto those things that weigh us down.  It consumes our thinking and paralyzes our mind.  It is an attack that cripples our ability to be effective in living victoriously for Christ.  For all those reasons, and more, we need to fight it by taking every thought captive and we need to pray for spiritual protection over ourselves, over our sons and daughters, and over the Church as a whole.

This is not to say that medical help isn’t necessary, because sometimes it is.  And God has given doctors and professionals the wisdom and insight to see and understand how our minds, emotions and physical bodies work together (or sometimes against each other) and can provide help and support to aid in the battle.

But what else can we do?  Philippians 4:8 says “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”  That’s right, think on those things are are: 

• True (God’s word is truth, John 17:17)

• Noble/honorable (of good character, Romans 5:3-4)

• Right (righteousness revealed in the gospel, Romans 1:17)

• Pure (wisdom from above is pure, James 3:17)

• Lovely (the love of God, John 16:27)

• Admirable (of good report- like Jesus’ ministry, Luke 4:14)

So what happens when we begin to take every thought captive and think on those things that God tells us are powerful, excellent and praiseworthy?  The power of ‘nothing’ begins to lose its power over us. Remember, as believers, we have the same power working in us that God used when He raised Christ from the dead!!  The power that broke the chains of sin and death lives in us! (Eph 1:18-21)

Don’t miss the powerful promise in Philippians 4:7! When, instead of being anxious, we make our requests to the Lord, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” When we stop focusing on the things that make us anxious and instead pray, God promises His peace will guard our hearts and minds through Jesus!

Today, let’s pray in power of the Holy Spirit for a hedge of protection around our sons and daughters.  Let’s pray that the enemy would not be able to stir up thoughts and weigh down hearts with things that Christ has already conquered.  Let’s pray that the helmet of salvation would protect their minds and the breastplate of righteousness would guard and protect their hearts so they would be anxious for nothing.   Let’s pray that ‘nothing’ has any power to render us helpless or hopeless. We are more than conquerors in Christ!

“Father, You are the Almighty Sovereign God. I trust You and I know my soul can and does find rest in the shadow of Your wing.  My soul clings to You and Your right hand upholds me (Ps 63:8)  I pray this would be the prayer of (name) as well, today.  Lord, sometimes anxiety wells up in us.  But I pray that ‘nothing’ would hold no power over (name).  Lord, be mightier than the thoughts that stack up in (name)’s head.  Be stronger than the cares that would weigh (name) down.  Each time they begin to feel overwhelmed, I pray that You would pour scripture and thoughts of truth, righteousness, honor, and those thing that are pure and lovely so their thoughts would be consumed by You rather than by what would distract them from You.  Lord, in Ps 94:19 David prayed, “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” I pray that for (name) today.  When anxiety is great within (name), please bring them consolation and comfort that leads to pure joy in You.  Help (name) to be anxious for nothing.  In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Pray without ceasing.

What Kind of Knowledge?

2 Peter 1:2-4 “Grace and peace by yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.  His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

Wow!  Those two verses are packed with rich truth and promises, aren’t they?  Sometimes we plow into scripture and we’re focused on the quantity we consume, telling ourselves the more we read, the better.  And, while in the big picture, that’s true- God wants us to spend time in His Word and not just ‘taste test’ but consume it cover to cover, He wants us to truly savor the richness of His Word as well.  When we slow down and really dig into what scripture is saying, we often find a depth and richness there that we wouldn’t by just reading through to check off our progress.

Today’s verses have so much we can pray through for our sons and daughters.  Let’s take a look!

Did you know that in 2 Peter chapter 1, the word ‘knowledge’ is used 5 times!!  And here’s the thing we need to pay attention to -it’s not always the same word.  Oh, in English it’s the same, but in the original Greek, there are two words for knowledge that are used.  That’s important!  Verses 2, 3 and 8 use the word ‘epignosis’.  Verses 5 and 6 use the word ‘gnosis’.   So, what’s the difference?

Epignosis is the knowledge that is distinguished by recognition (1).  It’s indicative of a relationship.  It comes from a root word, epignosko which means “thoroughly acquainted with” (2) and another word ginosko, which means “to become known” to be recognized by someone (3). This is not just ‘informational’ knowledge, it’s relational knowledge - a true knowing of someone who also knows you. It’s not knowing about someone and it’s not based on information and facts. It’s relational and experiential. It’s deep and personal.

Gnosis is a knowledge about and of something, an understanding and general intelligence of that person or thing (4).  It’s the knowledge of the ‘culture’ of something- knowing the rules and the ‘lingo’, but gnosis does not indicate a relationship.

Do you see the difference?  

There are many people with ‘gnosis’ of Christianity.  They know the words to say and have an understanding of the expected conduct. Their words and actions may reflect the culture of Christianity, but they lack the ‘epignosis’, the relationship with Jesus.  

2 Peter 1:2-4 explains the benefits we receive and enjoy because of our epignosis- our relationship with Jesus.

Grace and peace in abundance

Everything we need for life and godliness

Called by His own glory and goodness

Great and precious promises

The right and privilege to partake in the divine nature

Protection and preservation to escape corruption caused by evil desires.

Friends, that list is a powerful one and those benefits come because of the relationship with Jesus, not because we understand the culture and have the head knowledge of Scripture.

Someone can say they know the Queen of England.  They might know her name, where she lives, what her favorite things are, the names of her family members, her accomplishments throughout her lifetime.  But, if the Queen stepped into the room and that individual was there, would she recognize them?  No, of course not.  Why?  Because they have no relationship with the Queen, they’ve never met.  Knowing about someone isn’t the same as knowing them. 

Oh, how we want our sons and daughters to have grace and peace in abundance and everything they need for life and godliness!  We want that assurance that they’ve been called by God to enjoy His promises and be protected against the enemy and the ravages of sin.  We want to know that they KNOW Jesus personally.  The heart knowledge has to be there before the head knowledge is truly effective and life-changing.  

Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters have ‘epignosis’ of Jesus.  A true recognition and experiential knowledge because they walk in relationship with Him. Pray that they are ‘epignosko’, thoroughly acquainted with Him and know Him well, recognizing Him in all things, seeing Him at work in their life and that they enjoy ‘ginosko’, being recognized by God as one of His own children because of their relationship with Him

“Father God, I’m so grateful I can call You my Father.  You see me and know me as your child.  What a beautiful relationship!  Lord, I pray today that (name) would step into a faithful, life-changing relationship with You.  Lord, impress on their heart a deep need to know you more- not just ‘facts’ and ‘rules’ but a true growing relationship that is transformative.  Holy Spirit, I pray that You would stir a hunger and thirst in (name)’s heart today.  Convict them of sin.  Create a desire to know You more.  Let the ‘trappings’ of religion fall away.  This is not about rules and good deeds.  It’s about knowing Jesus personally as Lord and Savior and pursuing a real relationship with the One True Sovereign God.  Please let (name) embrace and enjoy that relationship with You today.  Lord, give them your abundant grace and peace.  Set them in fellowship with other believers and help them learn Your Truth that will protect them and produce godliness in them.  Remind them of your great and precious promises that are unbounded by time and borders, faithful throughout history and unmoved by the plans of men.  Lord, I pray for your holy protection and preservation over their life that they would, through authentic relationship with You, be counted worthy to escape temptation and corruption by evil desires and the influence of the enemy.  I pray that You would move and work in their heart and mind today.  Call them to faithfully follow You.  Help them to understand that knowing ‘about’ you isn’t the same as truly being in a relationship with You.  Let them crave Jesus, in His name, amen.”

Take time to memorize 2 Peter 1:2-4 “Grace and peace by yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.  His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

Pray without ceasing.

1. G1922 - epignōsis - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1922/kjv/tr/0-1/

2. G1921 - epiginōskō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1921/kjv/tr/0-1/

3. G1097 - ginōskō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1097/kjv/tr/0-1/

4. G1108 - gnōsis - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1108/niv/tr/0-1/