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
Dear Children…Don’t Let Anyone Lead You Astray
“Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”
Have you ever been deceived? It’s an awful realization, isn’t it? When you believe and trust in someone or something, only to realize that what you believed to be true, thought you understood and wholeheartedly supported is not what it seemed. It can throw you for a loop. And watching someone go through it can be equally as difficult…especially when that other person doesn’t recognize the deception.
Deception is a slippery slope that pulls people further and further from the Truth and into false hope, misdirected loyalty, and often, victimization. Deception leads to loss of resources, relationships, and hope. It’s a ploy of the enemy to convince people to believe a lie, isolate them from one another and keep them from following Christ.
But how do you recognize deception? How can you spot a ‘fake’? Those who are trained to spot fake money and art look for certain characteristics and inconsistencies. But in order to do so, they have to have intricate knowledge of the original before they are able to spot a fake. Our sons and daughters need to have strong knowledge of Scripture and a consistent, growing relationship with the Lord in order to protect themselves from deception. Inch-deep knowledge and casual practice of spiritual disciplines leave us vulnerable to being led astray by teachers whose teaching “sounds similar” but whose doctrine weaves in error and deception.
The enemy will try to convince us that what we’re following is “okay” or “not really as bad as we might think”, or even label it as “my truth” so others cannot tell us it’s wrong. If he can do that, then he is accomplishing his goal of deception and disruption. Lord have mercy! Our sons and daughters need to be on guard!!
1 John 3:7-8 says, “Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”
So, how do we recognize and avoid deception? How do we remain faithful? We need to pray that our sons and daughters will:
Recognize God’s Truth:
Colossians 1:9-14 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Be able to identify falsehood
Jude 1:17-19 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.”
2 John 2:7, 9-11 “I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.
Avoid evil:
Proverbs 16:17 “The highway of the upright avoids evil; those who guard their ways preserve their lives.”
I 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.”
Fellowship with other believers who walk in the Truth:
Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
Listen to the Holy Spirit Who lives in us- He will help us recognize those who walk with Christ in genuine fellowship vs. those who are ‘posers’.
1 John 4:6 “We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.”
Strive to maintain a testimony that gives evidence of Christ in us- our life should speak truth and give evidence of Christ to others
3 John 1:3 “ It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it.”
Today, let’s pray these scriptures over our sons and daughters. But let’s also pray for the Body of Believers. Satan is strong, yes, but the God that lives in us is stronger and He holds the victory!! Let’s pray He will surround us with His mighty protection and keep us walking faithfully.
Pray without ceasing.
My Dear Children…Continue in Him
“And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.” 1 John 2:28
Ask any parent who loves the Lord what they truly want for their sons and daughters. Most would be quick to say they want nothing more than to know their children continue with God, walk faithfully, hold tightly, trust unwaveringly.
Persistence is a characteristic necessary for life, isn’t it? If we don’t persist, we don’t learn, accomplish, grow, or survive. There are so many sayings that tell us to keep going- it’s a theme across all generations and cultures. Dory, in Finding Nemo, sang, “just keep swimming,” and people quickly picked up on the melody…and the positive message…to remind themselves to press on. Country music croons to us to “keep on keeping on.” Elisabeth Elliott, a Christian author and teacher, faced extraordinary circumstances when, as a young mother with a 10 month old baby, her husband was killed on the mission field. In the days following, she would remind herself to “just do the next thing” because life was so difficult and she struggled to know how to manage it.
Those who lived in Biblical times struggled to manage and persist, too. Life was hard. There was loss and grief; there were obstacles and opposition. The Apostle John knew there was even more to come- the Christian life was not easy and persecution was very real. He gently and lovingly wrote 1 John 2:28 to encourage the believers, “And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.”
Dear children, continue! Don’t give up! Persist!! Press on! It wasn’t a rallying cry for the sake of survival, but for the promised reward of standing before the Lord, confident and unashamed. John redirected their focus from the circumstances to the Purpose and the goal.
When we pray that our sons or daughters ‘continue’ in the Lord, we might picture a steady walk in the right direction, not wavering or wandering. But if we look at the word ‘continue’, ‘meno’ in Greek, it actually means, “to stay in a given place, state, relation or expectancy; to abide or remain” (1).
If we’re serious about praying for our children to continue in the Lord, we need to pray for these aspects of ‘continuing’ specifically.
Our place: When we hear someone say, “Know your place”, it’s often a reprimand to keep quiet, don’t presume you have a right to speak or interject. But in Christ, we have a place that qualifies us to step into His presence, speak to Him freely, live with confidence, and face the future with hope. We are children of the King! We have home and a place at His table. We’re not a visitor or a stranger, we’re family. We’re brought into His protection, welcomed and adopted as His very own. We have a place and we belong.
Psalm 23:5 “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
Ephesians 2:6 says, “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,”
Our state: As believers, our condition is confirmed. We are no longer condemned! The state of the believer is one that brings hope! We are forgiven, redeemed, justified, sanctified, and accepted with the promise of eternity in His presence. We are no longer slaves to sin and our sinful nature.
Romans 8:1-2, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”
Our relationship: Our relationship with and to the Lord is confirmed; we are His children and his heirs.
Romans 8:15-17 “...rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.”
Our hope: We can live with eager expectation and hope because we are His heirs and He’s promised us a life in His presence.
Ephesians 1:18-19 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”
Revelations 21:3-4 “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
When we pray for our children to continue in their faith, we’re not praying that they have the personal strength to keep walking…we’re praying they will remain in Christ, unmoved, not deceived, not led astray by false teachers or lured by temptation. We also pray that they would have a fixed position that is anchored in Christ. We pray they would understand God’s precepts and would live with conviction as a forgiven, redeemed, justified and sanctified child of God. A child who holds fast to their position in Christ and to their inheritance as an heir of the promise. We ask the Lord to help them live with hope, not looking to this world for satisfaction, joy and rescue, but to Christ alone. He provides everything they need for this life and for eternity. Finally, we pray that they will stand unashamed at His coming because they truly understand who they are and Whose they are.
Today, let’s pray that our dear children will continue in Christ and all that it means to do so. Colossians 1:9-12 is a great scripture passage to pray over our sons and daughters. Or take time to write out a specific prayer naming your child/children and praying over all of the aspects of what it means to continue in their walk with the Lord.
Colossians 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, 14 in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Pray without ceasing
G3306 - menō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3306/niv/mgnt/0-1/
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
Darkness or Light?
1 John 1:5-10 “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.”
Friends, read those first words from John 1:5-6 again. “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.” Think about the significance of that statement. If we claim to have fellowship with him, and yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.
Recently, a friend attended a football game. He had connections to both teams. So, although he wore the jersey for the home team, he also cheered for the visiting team. Others around him were confused as to which side he was taking...whose side was he on?. Are we clear as to whose side we’re on...or do our choices, words and actions leave others wondering? Do our words, actions and alliances show, without a doubt, that we stand with Jesus? Or do we live with a foot in both streams, causing others to question our loyalties?
If we live in the light, we are fully committed to Jesus and our lives will reflect that. But, if we dabble in darkness, there is an absence of light. That’s not Jesus, friends. Jesus reveals what is hidden in the darkness. He is the light of the world and that light has the power and capability to reveal and disarm the darkness. Darkness, on the other hand, is unable to reveal anything. It has no power over light. But if we choose to play in the dark, it will have power over us. If we dwell with darkness, there will not be fellowship with God, nor with other believers. Darkness does not embrace the Truth, nor does it offer forgiveness or eternal security.
Light vs. Darkness
God Satan
Truth Lies
Forgiveness Condemnation
Abundance Desolation
Fellowship Estrangement
Psalm 88 describes the situation of someone who is struggling, oppressed, near death and experiencing God’s wrath. It ends with verse 18 “You have taken from me friend and neighbor— darkness is my closest friend.” Strong’s Concordance defines the word for darkness, “mahsak”, as being representative of the grave, of hell, of the dark place of God’s wrath(1). Why, then, would anyone willingly choose to fellowship with darkness??
This might give us a clue.... Satan masquerades as an angel of light. The Apostle Paul warned the Corinthians of this very thing. 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, 14-15 “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough…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.”
Friends, there is no ‘in between’ option here. We cannot be both in the light and have dalliances with darkness. We cannot cheer for both teams. We can’t wear the colors of one team and cheer for the other. We can’t align ourselves with Jesus on Sunday and party with the world the remainder of the week. We’re either fully in the light, or we’re consumed by the darkness. And if we think we’re successfully juggling both, well, we’re deceived.
What choices are our sons and daughters making? Are they playing in the darkness while claiming to walk in the light? One cannot embrace both and come out unscathed. Either you’re for Jesus or against Him. Many think the darkness will hide their sin, but Jesus sees. He knows. His light will reveal it all. Darkness will never win.
Today, let’s 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 without ceasing.
H4285 - maḥšāḵ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h4285/niv/wlc/0-1/
Imitators
Ephesians 5:1-2 “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Our children played all sorts of games and make-believe when they were little. Pretending was something that stretched their imagination and could keep them busy for hours. As they grew and began to notice the world around them, sometimes they would imitate what they saw, whether good or bad. They didn’t have knowledge and discretion, nor did they have context for some of the things they would imitate. Their imitation was a form of learning about the world around them and pretending they were someone or something else.
Fast-forward to the teenage years and imitation began to be founded on the response they would get from others. They might choose to imitate someone who was popular or ‘pretty’ so they, too, could receive approval. Or perhaps they were sullen or defiant and the ones they chose to imitate gave that same reflection of rebellion and anger. Whatever the imitation, it was almost always for approval from others and for effect. They chose to follow someone who had the image they craved and the life they desired. But their imitation was creating an image that wasn’t genuine or authentic to our sons and daughters. It was an effort to be someone or something else because, in their eyes, that was better.
Now that our sons and daughters are grown, authenticity is a valued character quality. This world doesn’t like ‘posers’- those who claim to be something that they’re not. As believers, we don’t just wear the label ‘Christian’ it is who we are, how we think, what we value and it’s the foundation of our world-view. We are called to be imitators of God so that everything we say and do reflects His presence in our lives. It’s not a ‘trying to be someone else’ it’s striving to be what God calls us to be. It’s an effort to be more like Jesus. He is the example we are to follow and when we seek to be more like Him, our whole self is steadily transformed into who He desires us to be. It’s a stripping away of the ‘fake’ and the old self so that our new, transformed heart and mind can be visible to those around us. It’s a transformation into authenticity not a shadowing into an image of something else. (and we know what God says about images…. they are idols, false gods that steal our attention, joy and the glory that is meant for God alone.)
Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters are imitators of God. Pray that they are not distracted or lured by popular culture. Pray that they don’t seek the approval and affirmation of the world. That’s a total deception of Satan and will lead to destruction, depression and devastation. It’s only when we choose to imitate God that we flourish. Pray for strong flourishing in our sons and daughters today!!
Pray without ceasing.
Walking Faithfully
Psalm 119:1-3, 5 “Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their heart- they do nothing wrong but follow His ways.”
If we are praying for faithfulness, it means we’re praying that our sons and daughters remain committed to the Word of God -not just acknowledging that Scripture is true, but embracing it as the Truth by which they live. God’s word never fails and it is appropriate for every situation. It contains wisdom, direction, caution, encouragement and the list goes on. When our sons and daughters walk according to the Law of the Lord, they are walking within the boundaries He set for them to protect them and ensure their thriving. Blessed are those who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their heart.
Ephesians 5:15-17 “Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”
Remaining faithful is more important now, than ever. We live in evil days. Things are not good...and they’re getting worse. Our sons and daughters are living in a world where man’s inhumanity to man is staggering. Satan is determined to destroy image-bearers and what could be more devastating than to have them turn on one another. The hatred, selfishness and indifference to God are all signs that we are heading toward the Day of the Lord. And on that Day, where will our sons and daughters stand? Now is the time for us to pray for their faithfulness to the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. We want them to be unwavering in their faith and intentional and cautious in how they choose to walk. We want them to make the choice to walk with God and commit that they won’t negotiate their stance, they won’t compromise their commitment. We want them to be persuaded that there is no other way. We need to be prayerful that our sons and daughters live wisely, making the most of every opportunity to glorify and honor God.
1 Timothy 4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
Friends, God is raising up a generation that will stand firm for Him in the turmoil that is coming. We need to pray that they commit to following the Lord and do not allow criticism, negativity to distract, discourage or derail them. We need to pray they have confidence in their calling and remain faithful to the Lord.
Let’s take some time today to pray through these scriptures for our sons and daughters. Let’s pray for them by name. And as we pray for their faithfulness, let’s commit to be faithful ourselves to hold them up and pray for their committed, effective pursuit of God.
Pray without ceasing.
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.
A Call to Faithfulness
2 Timothy 1:7-9
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”
This week we’re taking a deeper dive into praying for faithfulness for our sons and daughters. We want to be specific and targeted as we pray.
What is faith? Faith, according to Strong’s Concordance (1), is defined as the persuasion or conviction of the truth of something. In the case of the believer, it is the conviction that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only means of forgiveness of sin and salvation of our souls. It is the conviction that we are sinners, saved by grace, dependent on the sacrificial atonement of Jesus Christ on the cross for our sin and the conquering of death through His resurrection and ascension. Faithfulness, then, is holding fast to that conviction, continuing unwaveringly in a life that reflects that conviction and a full dependence on the grace of God received through the gospel. Faithfulness is not just a ‘knowing’, but living out an unwavering commitment to Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy reminds us that we, as believers, were called by God before the beginning of time. Before God created the world, before the fall of man, God knew who his children would be. He knew; and He called us into fellowship with Him.
1 Corinthians 1:9 says “God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
God doesn’t call us only to watch us struggle and flounder to follow Him. He is faithful to support, protect, encourage and equip us.
Today, we want to pray that our sons and daughters understand their calling and realize it is not just a ‘label’ but that it requires action to ‘guard the good deposit’ and that they ‘keep the pattern of sound teaching’.
We must pray that they hold fast to the truth of the gospel and that they don’t just have ‘head knowledge’ but that they are intentional to live faithfully so their life reflects their calling by the Lord to a life surrendered to Him.
Pray that they rely on the Lord for strength, protection and equipping in faithfulness so they are purposeful and directed in their walk with the Lord.
Pray without ceasing.
G4102 - pistis - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4102/niv/mgnt/0-1/
Don’t forget to join us for an online Bible Study on Faithfulness on Tuesday, October 5 at 8pm EST. Can’t make it"? No worries, tune in to the youtube recording and watch it later! Join us on A Simple Gathering on Facebook!! Membership is free and the resources are fabulous!!
Pray for the Persecuted
Psalm 140:12-13 I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. Surely the righteous will praise your name, and the upright will live in your presence.
Let’s not be so caught up in our own trials that we lose sight of what believers are facing around the world. Oppression and persecution are ramping up. Can we pray?
Pray that the Lord would secure justice for the poor and uphold the cause of the needy. Pray for those in need of religious freedom. Pray for those who are facing injustice because of their love of Christ. Pray that those believers who are facing persecution would stand firm. This life is fleeting- it’s as short-lived as the morning mist in the fields.. Eternity awaits. Our attitudes and decisions here matter. When faced with the choice of Jesus or this life….what will we choose? What will our sons and daughters choose? Will they have the conviction to stand with Christ?
“Surely, the righteous will praise your name and the upright will live in your presence.” What a promise!! What assurance that can encourage us to stand firm. Oppression and persecution here are hard…but there is promise of justice and deliverance!
Take some time today to pray for the persecuted Church and for our sons and daughters to stand with conviction, unwaveringly committed to following Christ, no matter the cost.
Pray without ceasing.
Faithful Promises
Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”
Have you ever held onto a certificate or coupon, guarding it carefully, only to realize it expired, lost its value and is now worthless? That once-treasured ticket of much value is only paper now.
Hebrews chapter 10 explains how Jesus’ blood sacrifice and resurrection open the way for us to stand in the Holy of Holies- in the very presence of God. If we have faith that Christ’s substitutionary atonement was and is sufficient to atone for our sin, we have an eternal promise from that Lord that He sees us as His own. He is faithful. He doesn’t go back on His promises. His guarantee never expires and the seal of the Holy Spirit on our lives, marking us as saved, redeemed, adopted and beloved, that seal will never lose its value or expire.
Let us hold fast to the confession of our faith without wavering- because He who promised is FAITHFUL!!
Friends, do our sons and daughters have this depth of confidence and security in their faith? Do they trust that once saved, they will always belong to the Lord? God doesn’t offer salvation and indwell us just to change His mind and cast us aside. We have an anchor for our souls that can weather any storm, whether physical or spiritual. Our Lord is faithful!!
Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters fully understand the depth and longevity of God’s faithfulness to them.
“Heavenly Father, thank You for your Faithfulness to us- it’s hard to comprehend with our finite minds the infinite nature of your Faithfulness and Goodness to us. I pray that even today, (name) would begin to really understand just how faithful, reliable, and true You are. Lord, grow their faith and deepen their trust. Strengthen their grip so they can hold fast to the faith they have. Make them strong, Lord, so they don’t waver. This life is unpredictable, but You are steadfast. Circumstances can become difficult and tumultuous, people can be unreliable and hurtful, but You are steady; You are peace; You are the anchor for our souls in the hard of this life. I pray that (name) would know this, believe this and live with confidence in Your faithfulness to them. Lord, build their faith and trust today. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Faithful Through the Generations
Deuteronomy 7:9 “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,”
Often when we gather as families, we reminisce about significant events, fun times, funny things that happened to us. We laugh and recall with joy those things that stand out in our memories. But do we take time to recount the ways God has been good to us? Do we really share the miraculous and mundane ways God made Himself known?
Friends, if we are believers, we are building a legacy of faith for our children, grandchildren and generations yet to come, if the Lord tarries. It’s hard to imagine next week, but a thousand generations? Yet, this is what God promises!! It’s likely very few people in history thought their story would have significance, yet, how beautiful is it to read stories of those who lived faithfully for the Lord? What about the stories of those who left all they knew to carry the gospel to another land and people? They were doing what God called them to- yet we learn so much about His faithfulness in the midst of their daily obedience. What is it that we want our children, grandchildren and future generations to know about God’s faithfulness to us?
Let’s be bold and share those stories of God’s faithfulness. Write them down. Share them with your family. Record them where they can be heard. Someone, someday, will read or hear them and be encouraged. They will become the treasured stories that evidence God’s goodness and faithfulness to your family through the generations. What accounts of God’s faithfulness can you recall today?
Today, take some time to write out the accounts of God’s faithfulness to you...then share it with your sons and daughters. It may feel awkward at first, but go on and do it. The more you testify, the more excited and appreciative you will be of God’s faithfulness and the more you will come to love Him. Create those ‘Stones of Remembrance’ so that when future generations ask “What is that?” You can beautifully testify to God’s loving faithfulness to you...and to them!
Pray without ceasing!