The Trouble with Darkness
Recently there was a blackout in the middle of the night. It was planned and we were all warned it was going to take place, but we didn’t prepare for it.
I awoke about 1:30 am and everything was black. It wasn’t just dark; it was pitch black. It took me a moment to realize what was going on. My eyes were wide open, but I was not seeing anything. It didn’t matter how much I blinked, the dark was impenetrable.
Since I was awake, I decided to get up. I thought I could navigate the room from memory… three steps forward, watch your left foot on the foot of the bed… one more step past the dog bed and turn right, five steps and left into the bathroom, but ‘wham!’ Instead, I ended up bumping clumsily into my husband's dresser… I went a step too far and I missed the doorway. The darkness had totally disoriented my sense of direction and shaken my confidence that I could navigate the room without any light.
Every day I walk around that same room. The furniture has been in the same places for years. Yet, when I couldn’t see anything, it was suddenly not as automatic. On the way back, I measured my steps but met a wall where there wasn’t one before. The darkness was so deep that my human eyes couldn’t discern anything. The darkness brought a kind of chaos to a room that was once well-ordered in the light. It seemed easier to just keep my eyes closed than to try to strain and see.
Finally, I realized that rather than try and look around me (that was fruitless), I relied on what I knew and remembered. It helped guide my steps. I didn’t get distracted by the darkness, but rather, recalled to mind what I knew was true.
As I lay in the dark, I realized how much spiritual symbolism was in those ill-fated moments during the blackout…
1. First, we were warned it was coming, but we didn’t heed the warning.
How many people hear the gospel, yet disregard its importance? They hear the warning about eternity without Christ, yet they don’t give it a second thought? If we look around, we see the signs of the times, nation rising against nation, wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines- it’s all there. Jesus' return is very near. It WILL matter whether you chose to follow Him or not.
John 3:13 “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”
We all have friends and loved ones who know “about” Jesus, but do not walk in relationship with Him. Do our sons and daughters have dull hearing and veiled eyes? When we talk about the dangers of spiritual darkness, do our sons and daughters just ‘bob their heads’ (yeah, yeah, yeah… I’ve heard it all before)? Maybe they pass off our warnings as overreactions. Perhaps they think they have time, or maybe they are indifferent to spiritual things altogether. This darkness is powerful.
John 12:46 “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”
We need to pray that the Light of Christ breaks through the darkness and shines a spotlight on their sin, their desperate need for a Savior and on the Truth that will give them life! Let’s pray for deep grief over sin and a hunger and thirst for righteousness.
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.””
2. Darkness disorients us to what is right and true. Spiritual darkness does the same.
Darkness takes what we know and distorts it. It twists and confuses things. It calls into question what we think we know and makes us unsure. We become a target for the Enemy. Disoriented victims are easy to hold captive.
2 Corinthians 11:14-15 “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”
Darkness also lulls us into a false belief that we can navigate this world on our own, without the light of Christ. We clumsily bumble and stumble but pridefully think we’re doing just fine. We’re painfully ignorant or outright stubbornly resistant to admitting our need for Him. Darkness makes us believe a lie.
Proverbs 4:19 “But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.”
Colossians 2:8 “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”
We need to pray that the Holy Spirit will move in the hearts of those who don’t yet know Christ and open the eyes of those who are walking in darkness so they see their need for Jesus and long for the Shepherd to lead them. They are living in spiritual chaos, but Christ can bring order and direction.
Acts 26:18 “To open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
3. Deep darkness almost forces one to keep their eyes closed- and isn’t that what the enemy wants?!
2 Corinthians 4:4 “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
Now is the time to pray scripture over our loved ones. Verses that plead for clear spiritual vision and discernment needed for dealing with the darkness that surrounds all of us and for the protection from the Prince of Darkness that only Christ can give.
Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.
Isaiah 42:16-17 “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. But those who trust in idols, who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned back in utter shame.”
4. Finally, we can only battle darkness and confusion with the Truth of God’s Word.
We must turn our eyes to the Truth of the Gospel, the infallibility of Scripture, the Sovereignty and Holiness of God.
2 Samuel 22:29 “You, LORD, are my lamp; the LORD turns my darkness into light.”
Psalm 143:8,10 “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”
2 Corinthians 10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Darkness is present. We can’t deny that. Satan prowls like a lion, looking for anyone to devour. But our God reigns and His Word is powerful and effective. It has the ability to deter and defeat the enemy. It brings life and light and penetrate the darkness . Jesus is that Word. Let’s pray continually for our sons and daughters, for our loved ones, for those who don’t know Christ that He would defeat the darkness and lead them to walk in the Light of Life.
Take time today and throughout the week to pray these Scriptures over your sons and daughters, over your friends and loved ones. Put their names into each one, speak them out loud, call on the name and the blood of Jesus to bind the enemy and defeat the darkness.
Jude 1:24-25 “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Last Words
So many good books and movies are tied to the last words of a character. Perhaps the words set the stage for the unfolding story or maybe they wrap up the entire plot and provide a moving and meaningful end. Either way, last words seem to have the ability to elevate a situation or story and deepen its impact.
In Genesis 22, God asked Abraham to offer a sacrifice to show his love and obedience to his Lord. But it wasn’t ‘just’ a sacrifice, it was the thing dearest to Abraham’s heart. The sacrifice God requested from Abraham was his son, Isaac. The son of the Promise.
Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” (Gen. 22:1-2)
Abraham didn’t question God, he obeyed. But I’m sure with every step toward that mountain, questions flew through his mind and his heart grew heavy in anticipation. As Abraham and Isaac, his only son, climbed Mt. Moriah, Isaac broke the silence and asked his father a question.
“Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” (Gen. 22:7)
At that moment, Abraham had to be aware that the words he spoke to his son might be the last words Isaac would hear from his father. That’s a sobering moment if ever there was one, isn’t it?
What if we were in his shoes, what would we say? If we had one final opportunity to build into our sons and daughters, would we embrace the moment with the clarity of eternity? Would we take that one final moment to point them to Christ?
Abraham’s response reflected the trust of one who was a friend of God, with the faith of one who believed in the sovereign provision of God, knowing God could do the impossible and bring the dead to life.
“Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.” (Gen. 22":8)
Abraham took the opportunity to point Isaac to the Lord. Of all the things he could have said, he used that moment to speak life, hope and spiritual confidence into Isaac and to affirm the goodness, the Sovereignty and the perfect provision of God. Isaac was the child of promise, the one God would use to multiply Abraham’s descendants like the stars of the heavens and the sand of the sea. Abraham didn’t know how God would redeem this sacrifice, he just knew that He would. He knew God did not go back on His promises. Abraham spoke into Isaac with strong faith and a confidence in God, his Lord and his Friend.
When we have opportunity to speak into our sons and daughters, let’s not wait for that golden ‘last words’ moment to speak those things of eternal value. Ponder, what is it we want them to know about Jesus? What do they need to hold in their hearts and minds? What will assure them of the hope that anchors the soul and the promise of eternity with Christ? We must have the conviction to speak words into our sons and daughters that affirm the importance of:
Knowing God personally
Trusting God completely
Following God unwaveringly
Waiting on God expectantly
Serving Jesus joyfully
Submitting to the Lord obediently.
1 Peter 1 is a treasure trove of truths for the Christian life and the passage touches on each of these actions. How can we speak into our kids? We need to read it, pray through it and then pray each word over our sons and daughters. Even more effective is taking the step to commit it to memory and live by it so that our words and actions continually point our sons and daughters to Jesus and how He calls them to live.
1 Peter 1:1-25
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
Father, God, I pray that (name) would be your chosen and elect, called to salvation in Jesus, set apart for His work and for the inheritance You set in place for them. I ask that in Your foreknowledge, (name) would be chosen as one of Your own, a Christ-follower, sanctified by the work of the Holy Spirit and called to be obedient to Jesus, sprinkled by His blood and blessed abundantly with Your grace and peace.
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
I pray, Lord, that (name) would know You as God and Father. I pray that they would comprehend Your great mercy and clearly see how it is always enough to cover their sin and restore them to a right relationship with You. I pray that (name) would experience a living hope in Christ. One that would grow an eager expectation for the inheritance You’ve prepared for them, the eternal home that far outshines any blessing or beauty they might experience on this earth. I pray that You would shield (name) by Your power so that they would stand before You, worthy and righteous through Jesus Christ. I pray that (name)’s faith would be authentic, resilient and would withstand anything the enemy might throw at them. May (name)’s life and faith bring glory and honor to You. Strengthen them Lord, so that although they have not seen you, they continue to believe and follow after You and know the joy that You give to those who believe.
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. 13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Father, I pray that (name) would set their hope on the grace that You promised to bring when Jesus is revealed. Do not let them defer to any lesser god offering false hope and counterfeit rewards. I pray that their obedience to You would be unwavering. Continue to increase their knowledge of the Word, their wisdom in spiritual things and their commitment to Jesus, no matter what.
17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.”
Lord, help them to obey You.
Soften their hearts to love others.
Strengthen their commitment to live in holiness
Sharpen their vision to see the promise of eternity
Deepen their resolve to follow Christ without compromise
In Jesus’ name, amen.
May we speak life-giving, soul-affirming words that will point our sons and daughters to the cross, to Jesus as their Lord and Savior, to the value of eternity in the Presence of Yahweh, the Great I Am. Speak words of life. Speak words that will always be remembered and valued. May the words our sons and daughters recall from us, be the words that continually point them to Jesus.
Pray without ceasing.
More Than We Ask or Imagine
We pray ‘big, don’t we? But, really, how big do we pray? We ask for miracles...but even those miracles we imagine and hope for are constrained by a human mind that is limited by time, experience and the human condition. But God can do more than our limited minds could ask or imagine!! Think about that!!
What is it today that you hope and long for? What extraordinary thing do you pray for your sons and daughters? Nothing is too great for our God!
Today, let’s pray this beautiful blessing over our sons and daughters - and let’s wait with eager expectation to see God work!
Jude 1:24-25
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Saturday Review- Keep on Praying!
Friends, don’t EVER give up praying for this next generation. God positioned them here and now for this time to do the bold work He prepared in advance for them to do. Let’s be that great cloud of witnesses, standing beside them, going before them in prayer and in faith. Interceding on their behalf and praying hedges of protection around them. Pray boldly and with urgency. God is working!
Review our prayer points from this past week. Take time to pray through them again, bringing your sons and daughters, by name, to the Throne of God.
Pray Psalm 46:1-3 over our sons and daughters, asking the Lord to reassure them, encourage them and help them overcome their fear and doubt, no matter what they might face today or in the days to come.
Psalm 46:1-3 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah”
Pray that our sons and daughters confront their fear by trusting in God- that He is the One they run to when they are afraid; confide in God and confess their deepest fears to Him- He has the power to overcome them and have confidence and trust in the Almighty to protect them from even their worst fears- what can mortal man do to them?
Pray that our sons and daughters walk closely with their Heavenly Father and find refuge under His wings.
Pray for our sons and daughters to live with that Spirit-led power, love and self-discipline and to not just ‘think’ they can, but to fully believe they can and will do it! Let’s pray that fear steps aside and knows its place in light of the Spirit’s power and presence.
Pray that our sons and daughters would fear the Lord and that they would follow His precepts and have good understanding.
Pray that they grow in wisdom and knowledge of the Lord, so that when the storms come, and they will, our sons and daughters will stand firm.
Pray that our sons and daughters would not be overcome but that they would anchor strongly into the Lord.
Pray that they are confident in their faith and they don’t doubt. But if they do, that a stronger believer would come alongside them to disciple and encourage them.
Pray without ceasing, friends. God is at work!
Wrestling in Prayer
Colossians 4:12 “Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.”
If we had to describe our prayer life that we practice on behalf of our sons and daughters, what words would be fitting? Would we answer with words like ‘hurried’ or ‘repetitive’? Maybe we would say we’re ‘desperate’ or feel ‘flat’, even ‘uncertain’ or ‘stuck’.
Don’t get frustrated and don’t give up. There was a guy, Epaphras, who, by his prayer life, made an impression. He was a friend of the Apostle Paul and a strong Greek believer, but not much else is known about him. But Paul described his prayer on behalf of other believers as “wrestling in prayer that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.”
Read that again, friends. He was wrestling in prayer. It’s likely he didn’t even personally know everyone he prayed for, but he knew they were believers who needed to stand firm.
The Greek word used here for wrestling is agōnizomai (1). He agonized in prayer over and on behalf of the other believers. Strong’s concordance describes it as “to endeavor with strenuous zeal, strife, to obtain something;” He prayed as if to obtain the victory, gain the answer, see his plea for other believers come to reality.
He desired that they would “stand firm”- that they would be steady and strong to the end, perfect in their faith and undefeated by the Enemy and remaining in God’s will. He prayed they would be “mature”- not remaining as ‘baby’ Christians, but growing, seeking wisdom and knowledge of Christ and bearing fruit. Then, he prayed that they would be “fully assured.” He wanted to see them remain faithful to the cross, to finish well and be persuaded beyond any doubt in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and only hope of salvation. That is a mighty prayer!
Oh, and Epaphras? He’s mentioned again in Philemon as a fellow prisoner with Paul, likely imprisoned for his faith. (Philemon 1:23)
Friends, do we strive in prayer for our sons and daughters? Today, let’s be an Epaphras. Let’s wrestle in prayer and fight for them. The Enemy wants them, but as long as we have breath, we will fight and wrestle on their behalf so that they will embrace Christ and stay true to Him.
Stop what you’re doing and pray this list right now for your sons and daughters:
Stand firm
Remain in God’s will
Be mature
Be fully assured.
Then, jot the list down and carry it with you and continue praying throughout the day. Wrestle to win, friends.
Pray without ceasing.
G75 - agōnizomai - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g75/niv/mgnt/0-1/
Affirmation & Accolades
1 Timothy 3:13 “Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.”
When our kids were in school, we were delighted to watch them earn honors and trophies, weren’t we? It was exciting to see our son or daughter excel and be recognized and it was affirming to us as parents that we must be doing something right, right?
Whether it was honor roll or honor society, player of the year or the Varsity award, it made us proud. We were on the sidelines screaming with the crowd or cheering from the stands as they walked across the stage.
It can be easy to get caught up in the accolades and there was always a risk that our kids would begin to define their own value by them, chasing those awards as the validation of their worth and skill. It was our job as parents to keep them balanced and help them maintain perspective. But when the season was over or the diploma was in hand, those defining moments ceased to define any longer. Then what?
Pursuing accomplishments as assurance of personal value and affirmation can become a vicious cycle that creates an endless pursuit of affirmation and accomplishment based on goals that are temporal and efforts and skills that lack eternal value.
Here’s the thing. When our sons and daughters stand before the Lord, that honor roll certificate won’t mean anything. That varsity letter won’t hold any weight. That promotion or corner office can’t confirm their membership in the Body of Christ.
It’s important that we help our sons and daughters not only use their gifts and talents well and celebrate their accomplishments along the way. But it’s also important that we help them understand that their spiritual character and growth in Christ holds an eternal value and transcends every season of life. We need to care even more about their spiritual depth and commitment to Jesus than we do their resume.
“Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.” Let’s pray today that our sons and daughters serve well and with the correct motives, pursuing the affirmation that comes from the Lord and has eternal value.
“Heavenly Father, I pray for (name) today. Please help them to love You more than awards and accolades. Let them desire Godly character more than anything and help them to serve well, not for earthly recognition, but for the joy of serving You. Lord, give them a perspective that holds eternity close and this temporary world loosely. May they have a strong assurance in their heart and mind that living for You is the most valuable thing they could do, far exceeding anything they could ever accomplish or win in this life. Lord, help them remain faithful to You. In Jesus name, amen.”