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
Psalm 145:5-7
Let’s continue to pray through Psalm 145
5 They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
Give my sons and daughters a glimpse into the glory of Your Kingdom, Lord. Show them that this temporal life is just a shadow, a mist, a quickly passing moment. Help them to see and understand that all that You have waiting for us is beyond comprehension. The glorious splendor of Your majesty should stun and overwhelm us so that we are stopped short and without words, leading us to meditate on your wonderful works. May it be so, Lord. May (name) pause today, overwhelmed by Your greatness and be moved to awe-filled wonder and meditation on all You’ve done through the ages and in their own life. Help (name) to meditate on Your word, filling their heart and mind with truth that will guide and guard them.
6 They will tell of the power of your awesome works,
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
Lord, let (name) speak freely about Your greatness, Your salvation and Your deep love for each individual. Move them to tell others about their relationship with You. Fill their mouth with praise for You so that others will see and hear and be drawn to follow You, Lord. Let (name)’s life be a witness to the life-changing power of God and the joy and hope that You bring. May (name) continuously share how marvelous You are and recount all the wonderful things You’ve done for them. Don’t let them forget, Lord, and don’t allow them to be silent.
7 They will celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
Celebrate! It’s what we are called do as believers! There is so much to be grateful for, Lord, yet too often we get distracted and discouraged by the darkness around us. Help us to see and have perspective that You are good and what You do is good and that there is so much more provided for us than we realize. There is so much more waiting for us than this fallen, broken world could ever offer. Open our eyes to witness Your hand at work every moment of the day, from a safe drive to work to the ability to get groceries or have a warm blanket. Lord, Your provision and protection are abundant. The joy of being able to worship You freely and openly should move us to live and celebrate You joyfully and out loud! Help (name) to celebrate Your abundant goodness…ABUNDANT goodness. Help them to see that they are blessed and favored. Put a song in (name)’s mouth and let their heart sing along today. I pray this all in Jesus’ precious name, amen.
Authentic Rest
As parents, our lives are crazy-busy, right? We’re continuously running after something, putting out fires, or trying to stay two steps ahead. It’s exhausting. As our sons and daughters become adults, the ‘busy’ doesn’t stop, it just shifts to other things. Then, we watch as our kids juggle,and run, and try to keep up. It doesn’t stop. Many will admit they’re in desperate need of rest. But so few know how to actually embrace and enjoy authentic rest. Where do we find it? How can we get it?
Jesus said, ““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”” Matthew 11:28 Could it really be that simple?
Come to me all you who are weary. That word “weary” is the word “kopiao” in Greek and it means “exhausted with toils and burdens” (1), but it’s from the root word “kopos” which means “a beating, intense labor united with trouble and toil” (2) It’s true. Sometimes we feel as if life is giving us a beating…and each day compounds with the next until we’re barely able to cope. We’re not thriving. We are weary.
But that’s not all. We’re not just weary, we’re burdened. The Greek word is “phortizo” which means loaded with spiritual anxiety, burdensome requirements (3). Jesus was addressing the rules of the Jews- so burdensome that no one could ever measure up. But today, we are often burdened by the unrealistic examples set before us, the ‘influencers’ who look as if they have it all together, success at work, brilliant happy children, a beautiful home and the perfect figure…both in income and body. They have it all together and we just can’t measure up. We feel defeated. And it’s not just in the world, it’s in the church. We’re loaded with unrealistic man-made expectations that weigh us down.
Jesus calls us to come to Him. That’s the first step in pursuing rest. We need to make the choice. We choose so many of the ‘cares’: care-giver, care-taker, self-care, healthcare…but we often forget soul care. And that, friends, is where the weariness settles into our hearts and minds and weighs on us like no other burden can. We need to stop looking all around us and simply look to Him. We need to come. We don’t need to bring a gift, prepare a meal, or get all ‘gussied up’. We come as we are. That’s how Jesus wants us.
And what will happen when we come? Oh, when we come, He promises rest. The word ‘rest’ in Greek is “anapauo” which means “to cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labor in order to recover and collect his strength; to keep quiet, of a calm and patient expectation” (4) It is rooted in two other words: ‘ana’ - into the midst, or to cause motion upward (5) and ‘pauo’- to make to cease and desist, to refrain a person from something (6). Jesus steps into the midst of our busy crazy life and brings a pause and calls us upward, to Him. He calls us to stop and recover. He calls us from burning ourselves out with all of the ‘doing’ and to pause and enjoy ‘being’ in His Presence.
Oh, don’t we long to have someone say to us “Come here so you can just stop and rest, lay down your burdens and worries and take time to recover and collect your strength., enjoy the calm and take your time, there’s no rush”? Breathe that in for a moment, friends. THAT is rest! And that’s what Jesus promises us. We don’t have to earn it. We don’t need to buy it. There are no prerequisites. Jesus’ rest is free for those who come. Far too often, we’re rushing to and fro, so much so, that we can’t stop… we don’t stop…and we bemoan our weariness and wish someone would allow us time to rest and would give us refreshment for our body, mind and soul. Jesus has. He does.
We set examples for our sons and daughters in so many things…but have we shown them how to properly, intentionally rest? Have we communicated that rest is not laziness and that soul-care is not selfish? Have we lived “coming to Jesus and resting” so they can see it modeled?
Friends, let’s pray today that we and our sons and daughters learn how to Come to Jesus with our weariness and step away from unrealistic expectations. Let’s pray that we allow Jesus to step into the midst and reminds us to cease our striving and simply rest in Him. Let’s enjoy the calm of sitting with Jesus and not rush on to the next thing. Let’s take enough time that we recover our strength for what He’s calling us to, not running after what the world tells us we need to do. Jesus will give us rest. We need to be intentional to step into it.
“Father, You call us to come to You for rest, yet we seem to struggle with that. We crave relief and recovery, yet we look everywhere else but to You. We fall into the trap of busyness and always ‘doing’ but we struggle to just ‘be’ in your Presence. Help us today to come to You to rest. Give us refreshment. Unburden our hearts and minds and still our restless spirits. I pray that You would help me model this well to others, especially to (name). Lord, I pray that (name) would learn quickly to look to Jesus for the remedy for their weary body, mind and soul. Don’t let us be distracted by the pace of this life or discouraged by influencers who would set unrealistic standards. You are the Standard. Let us look to You, only, and trust that You are working in us to fulfill Your plan in Your time. Lord, give us willing hearts to follow after You and rest in You. Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Heb. 13:20-21)
Pray without ceasing.
1. G2873 - kopos - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2873/niv/mgnt/0-1/
2. G2873 - kopos - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2873/niv/mgnt/0-1/
3. G5412 - phortizō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5412/niv/mgnt/0-1/
4. G373 - anapauō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g373/niv/mgnt/0-1/
5. G303 - ana - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g303/niv/mgnt/0-1/
Navigating in the Darkness
Psalm 89:15 “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.”
Have you ever driven at night in the countryside? It’s dark…really dark. There are no street lights and so few houses that there is little to light the way to help you see where you’re going. Headlights are a necessity. They illuminate the road ahead and when the light shines on the road lines, the glass beads in the reflective paint make the edges of the road easier to see. We can navigate those twists and turns in the road much better.
But headlights help us spot obstacles as well. When there is something in the road that shouldn’t be, we can see it ahead because our headlights shine far enough ahead to give us time to avoid something that might cause damage.
Headlights also illuminate critters- those wandering night animals who don’t quite understand the dangers of crossing the road. Sometimes we’ll see their eyes shine as they catch the oncoming headlights and we know to slow quickly and be aware. Other times, they might catch us by surprise, jumping out in front of us when we least expect it. They lurk in the dark and then, suddenly, they jump into the light and we react, hopefully quickly enough to avoid disaster.
But, headlights don’t just illuminate our way, they also help make us visible to others. Sometimes at dusk, people will forget to turn on their headlights. As their eyes acclimate to the growing darkness, they drive without realizing just how dark it is. While other drives will flash their lights to try and alert the driver, sometimes they continue, oblivious to the darkness and pending danger.
If our headlights are dim, we struggle to see well and our confidence is weakened. We might not drive as quickly or as far. We worry about what we cannot see and we wonder if the road ahead is safe.
Friends, this is such a picture of life, isn’t it? We desperately need the light of Jesus to navigate in the darkness of this world. There are dangers ahead that, without Jesus to help us discern, we may lose our way and stray from His path. Sometimes we find it hard to recognize the dangers in the darkness and we need His light to illuminate those things that are not of God. The enemy lurks in the darkness, putting obstacles in our way and attacking us unexpectedly. The Light of God’s Word and of His Presence offer wisdom, insight and protection. We can’t navigate this life safely on our own- our eyes are dim and we far too easily acclimate to the darkness. Sin is present and strong…but Jesus is stronger!
So today, let’s pray through these scriptures and ask the Lord to work in the hearts, minds, and lives of our sons and daughters, so they would live in the Light of Jesus and they would depend on His light to help them navigate the darkness.
Pray that our sons and daughters know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior and follow Him without compromise. He is the light of the world, without Him, we walk in darkness.
John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Pray that our sons and daughters have a thirst for God’s Word and a longing to spend time in His Presence each day. It’s important to listen and learn so we can be alert and aware of those dangers that we might encounter and be watchful of where God leads.
Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
Pray that our sons and daughters shine brightly. Pray that they are willing to stand and shine for Jesus in a world that is becoming ever darker. When we are believers in Christ, He shines through us. We need to reflect the light of Christ to others and be a testimony of His life-giving and light-producing presence in our lives.
Mt 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Pray, pray, pray that our sons and daughters do not veer off God’s path to follow those who walk in darkness.
Proverbs 4:19 “But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.”
1 John 1:6 “If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.”
Friends, let’s pray for our sons and daughters with a fervency and urgency that attests to the days in which we live. This world is full of darkness, but Jesus is the light of the world! Pray that our sons and daughters choose to follow Jesus, no matter what.
Pray without ceasing.
Saturday Review
Wow, we covered a lot this week, didn’t we? It’s always good to go back and review. Repetition isn’t unfruitful, it’s necessary for learning and reinforcing what we know. God never tires of hearing our prayers. Let’s go to Him once more with this week’s prayer points.
Pray that our sons and daughters choose to embrace Jesus and live in His light.
Pray they would not be deceived by the Enemy who masquerades as light but leads people to a life of darkness, separated from God.
Pray that they live out the truth in authentic, visible ways that would clearly show Whose side they are on and they would do it without compromise.
Pray that our sons and daughters are convicted to Love the Lord their God with all their heart and love others in a godly way as well.
Pray that they obey his word, and that love for God is truly made complete in them.
Pray they will live as Jesus did.
Pray that our sons and daughters would cling to life in Christ and would avoid those sins that would damage their relationship with God.
Pray protection over and around them.
Pray for discernment and a submissive spirit.
Pray that our sons and daughters cling to the truth of scripture and weigh everything they hear against the Truth.
Pray that what they’ve heard from the beginning remains in them and that God’s Word continues to stay rooted in them, deepening their knowledge and understanding of Jesus.
Pray that our sons and daughters would walk faithfully with the Lord and would be unashamed when He returns…and while we’re at it, let’s pray the same would be true for believers around the world. Jesus is coming…soon.
Pray without ceasing
And Now, Dear Children, Continue in Him
1 John 2:28-29 “And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.
When He appears…. can you imagine? When Jesus appears, where will we be? Maybe the better question is, what will we be doing? Will He find us faithful?
Oh how we want our sons and daughters to walk faithfully with the Lord! That’s our heart’s cry, isn’t it? And when Jesus returns, we want to be confident that our sons and daughters would be unashamed at His coming, standing boldly for Christ, eager to be in His presence.
Today, let’s pray 1 John 2:28-29 over our sons and daughters and as we pray, let’s put their names into the scripture to personalize it.
“Heavenly Father, I pray that now, and always, (name), would continue in Christ, so that when he appears (name) may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. If (name), knows that he is righteous, they know and understand that everyone who does what is right has been born of him. I pray that (name) would live in such a way that others would see evidence of their new birth in Christ and a life that is committed to righteousness. I pray that (name) would walk with You faithfully, not compromising or wavering in their commitment to You and Your word. Help them stay the course and would walk carefully in Your path of righteousness. I pray that (name) would be eager for Jesus’ return and would be unashamed, ready to stand with Him in glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Just Pray
1 Corinthians 16:13 “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong”
Oh how we want our sons and daughters to be strong and courageous- to be willing to stand for their faith in the face of opposition. Friends, the opposition is growing. The backlash against believers is strengthening. Are we ready? Better yet, are our sons and daughters prepared for what they might face?
We fiercely protected them as they were growing up, we must do the same as they spiritually grow, never waning in our commitment to cover them in prayer. Let’s pray a hedge of protection around them today.
Pray that they are wise and discerning.
Pray that they do not compromise.
Pray that they stand firm, confident and unwavering in their faith in Jesus, having confidence in the Truth.
Pray that they have courage to share the gospel and are strong and unwavering, not allowing the uncertainties of this world and the lies of the Enemy to affect them.
”Father, this world mocks You and anything connected to You. Help us as believers to stand firm. Help us to be in the Word, daily- not just reading, but studying and memorizing. Your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. I pray that it would be a priority in our lives. Lord, I pray for (name) today, that they would have a hunger and thirst for righteousness. Help them to WANT to spend time studying Scripture. Open their eyes to see wonderful things in Your Word. I pray that You would help them grow in Godly wisdom and discernment so they would be protected from the deception that is so present and ever-increasing. Strengthen their resolve so they do not compromise their convictions and they will not sacrifice their faith on the altar of popularity or success. I pray that (name) would value their relationship with Jesus more than anything- give them an eternal perspective that outweighs anything that might tempt or lure them in this life. Give them courage to share the message of salvation with others, let Your light shine through them. May others see the joy, peace and be drawn to the cross through their testimony. Protect (name). Surround them with your power and protection so they can stand firm. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing
Don’t Believe the Lies
2 Timothy 4:4 “They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
Truth-telling is a lost art. Just tune into any reality tv show and so much of the drama is based upon who can deceive others with the greatest skill and win the prize. Marketing is dependent on creating a ‘truth’ that sells an image or appeals to the ego. Far too often, we need to do so much ‘due diligence’ in order to protect ourselves from being deceived, swindled, or played the fool.
Conspiracy theories are running rampant these days as well. It seems you can find an alternative to just about any belief. And far too many people are willing to believe things that are far-fetched. Despite having far too little proof, the stories are intriguing, so people buy into the story. Why is it that the lies are often easier to believe than the truth? That’s the work of the Enemy, friends. He is the master deceiver. He delights in the fact that people are more willing to put their faith in unsubstantiated theories rather than the truth of Scripture that has been prophesied about and proven true over and over again.
What drives people to fall prey to the lies? Stubbornness and pride are two reasons, “You can’t tell me what to believe!” But really, scripture tells us that this will happen. “They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths” Their eyes are blinded to the truth. They have more faith in unproven conspiracies than they do the Almighty God.
As our world spins ever-closer to the end of days, the lies will continue to spin with it. Matthew 24:24 “For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” We need to pray that our sons and daughters can readily distinguish the truth from a lie. We must pray that they are not lured by ‘sweet sounding’ stories that would pull them from the truth of Scripture, but instead would remain true to Scripture as their guide and would invest the time to learn and deepen their knowledge of God’s Word.
“Lord, I pray that the Word of God will remain preeminent in (name)’s life. Let them look to you always and only for guidance, truth and wisdom. Keep their feet from straying off of your path of righteousness and keep their eyes locked onto Your face, Lord. Don’t let them be intrigued and enticed by the theories. Don’t let them question the truth of Your Word. Let them always be faithful to You in everything. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Stand Firm to the End
Stay True to the Faith
Matthew 24:12-13 “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
Have you noticed how people seem to be growing more hostile toward God, toward the Bible and toward believers? Scripture says in the last days scoffers will come, mocking God’s promises and following their own evil desires (2 Peter 3:3)
It’s crucial that we pray for our sons’ and daughters’ protection and growth, but more than that. There is so much at stake. We are stepping into the Last Days and we see Jesus’ return ever-nearer; we must pray that our children stand true and hold fast. The world isn’t just indifferent toward God, it’s hostile. If we are believers and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, guess what...they’re going to be hostile to us as well. Friends, we are not just seeing ‘glimpses’ of this, but nearly weekly reports of hostility, aggression and hatred toward God, the church and the family of believers.
Recently, a large church was torn down in Ireland. The once-vibrant church, built to hold 3500 people, is no longer needed. Eventually, it will be replaced by a smaller building that holds 350 (1)(2). The comments following the news story were very telling…
“Good, now let’s get started on the rest of them.”
”They’ll just build another one, like Ireland needs any more churches… Wish they would spend the money they use for these places on actually trying to rebuild people’s [lives] that they have destroyed.”
“The truth must win in the end, unfortunately, the church has outgrown its use. It’s purpose is done.”
“Churches that size are not necessary any more.”
“...It’s built for 3500 parishioners. No way will the church ever recover to those numbers. Religion is dying. The majority of the nation won’t [care]. Good riddance.” (3)
Friends, back up and look at the big picture. This isn’t about denominations or doctrine. This is a much bigger picture that is representative of the hardened heart of man toward God. The hostility of these people toward church is strong. Their view that worship is unnecessary is clear. The indifference to the dwindling flock is another sign that this world is doing just what God said it would. Hearts are growing cold. People are less and less inclined to even consider God or their position in relation to Him. They have no thought for eternity. They are driven by their own evil desires, lusts and passions. They mock and rail against the Lord. ...And this is the world in which our sons and daughters are living... and in which they must decide to take a stand for Christ, no matter what may come.
“Father, I pray today for (name). Lord, this world is growing more hostile and we all will be tempted to protect ourselves from the onslaught of persecution. But Lord, you call us to lose our lives for You. Whether it be comfort, employment, friends, Lord, we know that we might have to let go of some things in order to lay hold of that which you’ve called us to- eternal life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 says v 17 “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” Lord, help (name) to put their hope in You and You alone.
V.18 “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” I pray that (name)’s words and actions would represent Christ well. Let them be salt and light in a world that is dark and decaying. Give them strength and boldness to to this. Yes, it will make them stand out as a believer and may bring persecution as a result, but it is what You call us to. Help (name) to do it well and for Your glory. We know the promise is sure v.19 “In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
Lord, I pray that (name) would choose to live for the life that is truly life. Let them live uncompromisingly for You. Give them boldness, strength and confidence that You will hold them securely. Don’t let them grow cold, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
1. News, R. T. E. (2020, February 6). Permission granted for demolition of Finglas Church. RTE.ie. Retrieved November 1, 2021, from https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2020/0206/1113615-finglas-church/.
2. Annunciation), (I. C. of, & Maps), (I. S. G. (2020, February 6). Demolition of iconic North Dublin Church gets final approval. DublinLive. Retrieved November 1, 2021, from https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/demolition-church-annunciation-finglas-gets-17701410.
3. Here Today Gone Tomorrow. Facebook. (n.d.). Retrieved November 1, 2021, from https://www.facebook.com/jimm1965/posts/1672502186474306.
Encouraging Faithfulness
Acts 11:23 (19-24) “Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.”
Faithfulness to the gospel demonstrates God’s presence in our lives. Notice, in Acts, the persecution of the church brought a fervent sharing of the gospel and a boldness to speak about Christ to those who desperately needed to hear the good news. The gospel of Jesus Christ is life-changing!
Antioch was a city in ancient Syria. Today, it’s now a part of south central Turkey, just east of Aleppo, Syria. When Barnabas arrived in Antioch, the Presence of God was evident among the people there. He “saw what the grace of God had done”.
If we are praying for faithfulness for our sons and daughters, we need to pray that God’s Presence is evident in their lives. Christianity can’t just be a label, it needs to define us and everything we say and do give evidence that we are Christ-followers. Can others see evidence of the grace of God in our lives?
Barnabas was so moved that he “encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts” We need to be the Barnabas to our sons and daughters, friends!! When he “encouraged’ them. Strong’s Concordance (1) defines “encourage” as :admonish, exhort, beseech, console, comfort, strengthen and teach. Friends, that’s a lot of verbs right there!! If we want to encourage faithfulness, friends, we need to give our sons and daughters more than an ‘atta boy!’.
Yes, we’re praying for their faithfulness, but let’s dig in and be intentional!! The days are becoming darker- we can’t ignore it. Will our sons and daughters cling to the faithfulness needed to preserve their faith? Will they be persuaded, beyond a doubt, that Jesus is their Lord and Savior? Oh, friends, we need to encourage their faithfulness, admonish them to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Eph. 6:10), exhort them to walk in the light of His presence (Ps. 89:15), beseech them to love the Lord their God (Mt 22:37) console them with the truth that God provides mercy and grace in time of need (Heb. 4:16), comfort them with the reminder that God is a God of comfort and compassion in our troubles, our comfort abounds in Christ (2 Cor. 1:3-5), remind them that they will be strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that they may have great endurance and patience, (Col. 1:11) and pray that the cry of their heart is Psalm 119:33, “Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end” That, friends, is praying for faithfulness for our sons and daughters.
Today, we need to pray through all of the aspects of encouraging faithfulness in our sons and daughters, and then let’s write a note for ourselves to remind us of the many ways we can encourage them. Faithfulness is a long, steady commitment, let’s bear with them in prayer!
Pray without ceasing.