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!
Praying Psalm 23:1 Our Lord and Shepherd
“The Lord is my Shepherd; I lack nothing.” Psalm 23:1
Throughout the next few weeks we’re going to pray though this familiar Psalm, but with a renewed understanding of the deeper meanings presented there. We often hear people quoting the 23rd Psalm when they are in crisis. It seems to be a universally accepted way to face mortality. Yet, when the crisis is past, the words are tucked away and forgotten or ignored. But there is so much more to them then just a general ‘prayer of comfort’.
There is deeper meaning within these words that, when paired with a relationship with Jesus Christ, brings life, hope, and purpose. We can pray these words for our sons and daughters and in doing so, cover every aspect of life that, as parents, we (try not to) worry and pray over.
Psalm 23:1a “The Lord is my shepherd,”
(belonging, identity)
LORD = Jehovah = The Existing One.
Who is it that our sons and daughters bow to as Lord? To whom do they give their allegiance and for whom do they live their life? To whom do they belong? For someone to say “The Lord is my Shepherd” they are declaring their submission to God and their obedience to follow Him. They are identifying themselves as His. What follows in the Psalm are the blessings of being His sheep. Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters authentically make this declaration that the Yahweh, is truly their Lord and Shepherd
“Father, God, I pray that (name) would truly surrender their heart and life to You. Give them a sincere faith, bolstered by Your promises and Your faithfulness. Be the LORD of their life and be the One for whom they live and to whom they direct their thoughts and obedience. Lord, I pray that (name) would be surrendered to You and allow You to guide their actions. May they seek to reflect You in all they do so that others see You ARE their LORD.”
Shepherd = One who guides and tends sheep.
A Shepherd of sheep leads them, because sheep are followers. Conversely, goats are herded, moved from behind because they don’t follow well. They have an independent streak (isn’t that so representative of our sinful heart?). Goats want to do what they choose, they blaze their own trail with little thought to the dangers of predators, getting lost, or eating what they shouldn’t, because they think they’re in charge. Their shepherd, or rather goatherd, follows them to ensure they stay together, but the goats are leading the way. Goats don’t submit to a leader or a Lord.
Sheep are keen to hear their Shepherd’s voice- they can distinguish it from that of other shepherds and they are eager to follow. Though they can wander and get lost, the Shepherd ensures they stay together and on the path. He continually talks to them as he leads them so they can hear and follow. The Shepherd protects the sheep from their own foolishness and from dangers that would harm them or lure them away. He even carries them if they’re weak or wounded- isn’t that such a picture of our Savior? Isaiah 40:10-11 “See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and He rules with a mighty arm. See, His reward is with Him, and His recompense accompanies Him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those who have young.”
Let’s pray that our sons and daughters would be willing sheep of the Shepherd and not goats of this world. Sheep find their identity and belonging in the Presence and the Purposes of the Shepherd. It’s not an oppressive Shepherd-sheep relationship, it’s a protective and supportive belonging, a purpose that nurtures and sustains us. God’s Shepherd-ship enables us to do what we’re created to do.
“Father, I pray that my son/daughter follows You steadily, wholeheartedly, and without pause. Let (name) understand their identity is found in You. Give them understanding of their Purpose according to Your plan. Help them to hear Your voice and distinguish it from all the other ‘noise’ of this world. I pray that they would not foolishly run ahead of You or try and blaze their own path, but they would submit to Your leadership, trusting that You will protect and provide for them. Lord, please be (name)’s Shepherd.”
Psalm 23:1b “I lack nothing.” [“I will not be in need” -NASB]
(provision)
Lack- haser- to decrease, fail or diminish, to suffer want (1)
If Jehovah God is our LORD and Shepherd, there is nothing we might need that He cannot provide. We can rest securely in His Lordship and His ability to Shepherd us. The sheep don’t worry about the direction they’re headed or about the provision along the way because they trust their Shepherd.
“Oh precious Savior, Shepherd, Guide and Friend, You are our Sustainer. We can be confident that You will provide all we need in every way. Spiritually we will be fully satisfied because You are all we need.”
“Abba Father, we live in a fallen world in which there is so much need and nothing, apart from You, can supply what is lacking. I pray that (name) would fully trust and rest in You, confident that You are able to and will provide what they need at the perfect time, especially when times are difficult and lean. Philippians 4:19 tells us, “But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Your riches far exceed anything we could ever amass here on earth and Your provision is plentiful. 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.” I ask that You would bless (name) abundantly, in all things at all times. Lord, you can do more than we could ask or think. Show Yourself as Shepherd and Provider today. Open (name)’s eyes to see that You are the Source of every gift, every provision, every blessing they enjoy. Let them look to no other. Strengthen them to acknowledge Your sovereignty over every part of their life, their need, and the provision You offer, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Let’s continue to pray throughout the week that our sons and daughters find their identity and belonging in Christ alone and that they trust His protection and provision for all of their needs.
H2637 - ḥāsēr - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2637/kjv/wlc/0-1/
Pray without ceasing
God Uses the Storms
Today, read Jonah, chapter 1
We all know the story of Jonah. But let’s have a quick recap, shall we? Jonah was a prophet of God, called to take God’s message of pending judgment to a city called Nineveh. Nineveh wasn’t just a city, the Bible calls it a ‘great city’- it had significance….and it was full of wickedness.
Jonah knew all about Nineveh and he was less than interested in going there to share God’s warning and in how they should repent. In Jonah’s eyes, they deserved what was coming.
So Jonah ran. He ran in the opposite direction, away from Nineveh and away from God.
Let’s stop here. Do you have a son or daughter who is running from God? He sees and He knows! Don’t despair. God is working…
Now, back to Jonah…God let him run. He let Jonah board a ship headed for Tarsus. And Jonah wasn’t shy about sharing why he was headed to Tarsus. He told the sailors he was running from God. (1:10). But the sailors didn’t know or fear the Almighty God. There were many gods among them and it was more of a “Hey, whatever works for you, man” sort of thing. So running from God wasn't a cause for concern…until the storm.
God brought a storm that was wild and fierce. It challenged these seasoned sailors and after doing all they could on their own to save the ship, they began asking who was responsible for making all this trouble. Clearly, they sensed a spiritual aspect to this storm.
And Jonah? He was indifferent…asleep in the bottom of the ship- so disconnected that the captain had to wake him from a deep sleep. You see, in his running from God, he’d stopped listening to the Lord and he became insensitive and indifferent to God’s working. (Sometimes, when we run from God, we reach a place where we no longer hear His voice, but God is still working).
Jonah owned up to his part in the storm. When he confessed that he worshiped the God of Heaven, who made the sea and the land, the sailors were struck with fear. Now, here is where the account grows even more interesting… Jonah’s solution to save the ship and the men on it was to have them throw him overboard. We don’t know what his thoughts were- had he had a change of heart? Did he know God would save him? Was he simply owning his defiance and accepting his ‘fate’? The sailors didn’t want to do it…they continued trying everything else, but finally agreed that in order to have any chance at survival, they must do what Jonah said.
They threw him overboard. And they pleaded with God to not hold them accountable for Jonah’s life. They pleaded to God. Did you catch that? God used this storm to bring these sailors to a realization that there is One True God. They prayed, offered sacrifices to Him. They feared the Lord and made vows to Him. (1:15-16) Sometimes the storm isn’t just about us. Sometimes, God uses the storms to impact those around us and He uses our storms to bring others to Him.
And Jonah? Well, God provided a fish to swallow him. And here’s the thing…no one saw what went on inside the fish. No one. Yet, God was working. Remember that.
Friends, is your son or daughter in the midst of a storm? Step back and look at the big picture. Maybe God will use that storm to speak into their life…or maybe He’ll use it to speak into someone else’s life. That storm might not only be for your son or daughter. Does it seem like they’re indifferent to God? Keep praying. God is still working. Does it seem like the consequences of their choices have swallowed them whole- all is lost, there is no hope? God is STILL working- remember, no one saw what went on inside the fish. But God did. And he put Jonah there for a reason. And He’s allowed your son or daughter to be where they are for a reason. He’s not done working. Trust Him. Continue to pray. Ask God to calm the storm and reassure your faith. The next part of the story is coming… and God uses it for good!
“Father, You are the Almighty God, Maker of Heaven and Earth, Lord of the sea and the land. I trust You. Lord, sometimes all I can see is the storm. I worry for (name) and long for them to surrender to You. I know You are working, yet, I don’t see it. Give me spiritual eyes to recognize that even in the storm, You’re working and You don’t stop. I pray that (name) would grow sensitive to Your voice. Make their heart tender toward You. Burden them with their sin, their defiance, their indifference and draw them to surrender. I pray, Lord, that you would use this storm to shake them from their complacency to stand before You and acknowledge You are Lord of all. Father, put (name) wherever they need to be in order to hear Your voice. And help me to trust You that even when I can’t see what’s going on ‘inside the fish’ that You are there and You’re moving, changing hearts and drawing those who have run away, back to You. Lord, I pray that You would draw (name) back to you today. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.