Full Assurance is Ours
Hebrews 10:22-24 “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,”
Friends, we are going to pray this powerful scripture for our sons and daughters today. Take some time with each phrase to really meditate on what it is saying and what it means for our loved ones.
“Father, I pray that (name) would draw near to You today with a sincere heart. Lord, don’t let them stand on pretense, but let them be honest with You and with themselves. They need You. Help (name) admit that. Lord, let their faith be sincere, not ‘religion’ and not just ‘Christianity’ in words only. Don’t let them play the part. Help them believe in all sincerity. And in their belief, give (name) the full assurance that faith brings- the FULL assurance. Faith brings a confidence that is unlike any other; one that will not be shaken by spiritual oppression and attack . Faith isn’t ‘insurance’- “a contract for coverage against loss or harm,”1 it does not ‘ensure’: “acting to secure or guarantee, make sure or certain.”2 Faith ‘assures’, it “causes us to know surely, it secures and confirms, it renders safe and stable, it gives confidence and encourages us.”3 I pray today that (name) would walk confidently in the assurance that their future, their eternity and their every day is safe in Your hands and secure in Your plan. Help (name) to know surely and live securely in the promises You provide. I ask that (name) would hold unswervingly to this hope they profess, and give them boldness to share the reason for their hope, clearly and often. Lord, surround them with other believers who hold confidently to this faith that transforms hearts and minds in Christ. I pray that You would encourage (name) today to walk faithfully and help them to encourage others. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
1. Dictionary.com. Insurance. Dictionary.com. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/insurance.
2. Dictionary.com. Ensure. Dictionary.com. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/ensure.
3. Dictionary.com. Assure. Dictionary.com. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/assure.
Saturday Review
June 5, 2021
Let’s review this week’s prayer points to combat anxiety so that our sons and daughters can embrace and live in trust and assurance of the Lord’s care and safekeeping.
Pray that our sons and daughters seek the Lord FIRST.
Pray that our sons and daughters are assured that God loves them so much more than even the birds and the flowers of the field. He cares so much for them and He will provide their needs and guard their hearts and minds.
Pray that when our sons and daughters are worried, that they are challenged to not only pray, but to be thankful as well.
Pray that they are assured of God’s love and provision.
Pray that our sons and daughters trust in the Lord with all their heart and that they are not tempted to lean on their own understanding.
Pray for the blessing of trusting in the Lord and being anxious for nothing.
Pray without ceasing
Consider the Flowers
Luke 12, 27-28 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!
Remember when we were just starting out? It seemed like we’d never be able to pay our bills and get ahead, let alone keep up. Money was tight, extras were non-existent and we worried...often. We worked hard. We worked often. We struggled and we learned through it.
Our sons and daughters are likely in that stage right now where money is tight and worry is ever-present. Yet, God knows exactly what they need and when they need it. He is good to provide, yet so often, we all forget that. As parents, we need to grab those opportunities to remind and encourage them.
Why is it that we doubt? Well, we’re human. We’re fragile and frail. We fear that THIS time will be different. Yet God is unchanging. He is eternal and He is full of lovingkindness for us.
If God is kind and loving enough to bless us with fields of wildflowers in all their glory, just to bring us beauty and joy, He can certainly bring exactly what we need at the right time.
We can either worry, or trust Him. We can camp out in uncertainty and wrap ourselves with anxiety, or we can settle into the comfort of confidence and trust in our God who is able to do more than we could ask or imagine.
What will our sons and daughters choose today? What will we encourage them with? Here’s a challenge; send your son or daughter a picture of wildflowers and our scripture verse for the day. Encourage them that each time they look at the picture...or see a flower today, to use it as a reminder that God sees them, He knows them and He will provide what they need at the right time. Tell them to be anxious for nothing.
“Father, I pray that You would bring calm to (name)’s anxious heart. Lord, encourage them and reassure them that You see and understand their needs. You don’t promise You will make things easy, but You do promise You will provide. Help (name) to trust You. Help them to rest in You and to calm their heart with the assurance that You are good and kind. Remind them with the beauty of flowers today- help them to take notice and when they do, to smile and thank You for Your goodness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Like a Tree, Planted
Jeremiah 17:7-8 .“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.
We have so many things that burden our hearts for our sons and daughters, don’t we? If we had to choose just one thing to pray for them it might be a hard choice ...or would it? Isn’t our ultimate prayer that they would trust in the Lord?
Trust encompasses all of the things that we desire for them- eternal security, spiritual fruit, protection, provision...it’s all found in trusting the Lord. Trust is what keeps us from faltering. It keeps us from being overwhelmed and anxious.
Jeremiah likens one who trusts in the Lord to a tree planted by streams of water. Just look at how trees flourish when they are near water. The stream provides nourishment. The roots stretch deep firmly grounding the tree and making it stable. Those roots reach deeply toward the tree’s source of strength and sustenance. And because it is well-positioned, it won’t suffer in the heat nor will it wilt during drought. And, oh, the fruit! The blessings are tangible and visible.
If our sons and daughters trust in the Lord they will be blessed, just like that tree; they’ll be firmly grounded. They will abide in Christ. Their hunger and thirst for spiritual food will be satisfied by the Bread of Life and the Living Water. When the storms of life come, they will be strongly grounded in Christ and able to withstand the tempest- their trust brings confidence. When times of trial come, they will remain secure and protected. They will be blessed.
Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters trust in the Lord with all their heart and that they are not tempted to lean on their own understanding. Pray for the blessing of trust in the Lord.
“Father, I pray that (name) would be compelled to reach out to You today. Lord, give them a hunger and thirst for the living water and bread of Life that You so generously provide. Help them to see the importance of trusting in You and making You the One in whom they are rooted and from Whom they draw their strength. Lord, get their attention today...help them to see that they cannot compromise in their relationship with You. They either choose to abide, or they will forfeit the blessing. Lord, I pray that they would choose Jesus, always. In His name I pray, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.