Spiritual Drought and Times of Refreshing
Sometimes life is difficult, so much so, that our soul feels weathered and dry and our prayers flat and lifeless. We long for a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit, but no matter how long we search for that refreshment, we can only see the desert and feel the dry air of spiritually empty space. God’s voice seems muffled and our heart just can’t muster the strength to pray; we’re in a spiritual drought.
We can hope, and pray that the Lord would bring renewal- streams of revival, but finding the words to even ask Him can be a struggle. It’s hard to pray for our own heart, let alone the hearts of our sons and daughters.
It’s times like these that we need to turn to Scripture and pray the words God’s given us. He’s so generously provided rich words filled with Truth and hope, bathed in grace and saturated with mercy. His Word is always enough. And how can we be equipped to pray for our sons and daughters if we’re not immersing ourselves in the Word, allowing God to empty us of ourselves and fill us with Him? Sometimes the season of drought helps bring things into perspective. It brings to light the necessities of survival for our spiritual life: Jesus’ living water, the breath of God and the fire of the Holy Spirit…the elements of the Living God.
We need to be that tree in Psalm 1, planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Notice, the fruit comes in season…that means there are seasons without fruit. That’s okay. It doesn’t mean we’re ineffective. It doesn’t mean we’re broken. We haven’t stepped out of His will so that He’s removing His hand of blessing. No, though the tree might ‘look’ dead, its roots are deep and the branches are preparing for another season of growth. So, too, God allows us to go through dry seasons as He prepares us for another time of growth. Consider the maple tree. In the dead of winter, when the forest is brown and brittle, the maple tree begins to run its sap. The sweetest product of the tree comes when it ‘appears’ to be lifeless. So, too, God can bring sweetness out of our drought-ridden times.
The Law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul (Ps 19.7).
So, today, take time to soak in the Word of God. Let His words fill you and saturate your soul with His living water. Pray Scripture back to Him. Be refreshed by His Word.
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Ps 42:1-2,11
I waited patiently for the Lord ; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord . Psalm 40:1-3 1
O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. Ps 63:1-5
Why not share, in the comments, other scripture that’s spoken to you. Let’s encourage one another on to faithfulness and joy! Be encouraged, friends, times of refreshing are coming!
Pray without ceasing.
How Should We Pray?
“My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.” Colossians 2:2-4
The way we pray matters. What we pray matters. The apostle Paul understood that and wrote encouragement to the Colossians so they would stay focused on what would protect and grow their faith.
When we pray for our sons and daughters, we pray for their health and well-being. We pray for safety and provision. But how often do we pray for their growth and discernment? Do we pray for the protection of their mind and for a deepening of their knowledge and understanding? Those are things we cannot see, but which have significant impact on the spiritual health of the believer.
Scripture tells us that the mind is the deceiver's biggest battleground. If Satan can capture our thoughts, the rest will follow.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12
Satan hates that we have redemption and eternal life in Jesus Christ. He hates our Savior. He hates light. He hates truth. He wants to lure believers to dwell in darkness and in ignorance of Who Christ is, what He has done and in misunderstanding of truth. Do you see how he twists things? What is good is deemed evil and what is evil is celebrated (isaiah 5:20).
So how can we pray more effectively for our sons and daughters? How can we begin to fight for their spiritual protection and growth? We can start by gaining a better understanding of Scripture and then praying those very words on their behalf. Scripture is powerful and effective and it can accomplish more than our minds can comprehend.
Let’s look at what Paul is praying for the Colossians.
He prays they would be encouraged in heart:
Paul knew the value of being in fellowship with other believers. The Greek word for ‘encouraged’ is parakaleo and it means to come alongside another, to comfort, exhort, pray for another (1). The Holy Spirit is called the ‘paraklete’ and is our supporter and comforter (John 14:26). And so believers have that role for one another- to build each other up and provide encouragement. Pray for fellowship with other believers.
He instructs them that true encouragement must be united, or knit together in love- agape.
The term ‘knit together’ is the Greek word symbibazo and it means to “to join together, unite or knit together in affection”(2). When we truly care for one another we want the best for each other. It’s hard to find deep connections with someone for whom you don’t get along or with whom you have nothing in common. But believers have faith in Christ in common- God has made us brothers and sisters in Christ! We are family and we are driven together by the love of God. That connection sustains and encourages us as we continue our walk of faith. Pray for authentic love among believers.
He longs for them to have full riches of complete understanding:
It’s important that we pray that our sons and daughters have assurance that their faith in Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life and confidence that there is no other belief system, path, or alternate ‘wisdom’ that can bring redemption and eternal life.
The Greek word plerophoria is the word used for understanding and it means “full assurance and the most certain confidence (3). Let’s pray that our sons and daughters have confidence in their understanding of Scripture and in their faith and conviction that Jesus is Lord.
Paul stresses that the Colossians would know Christ- the Source of all wisdom and knowledge.
We don’t want our sons and daughters to just know about Christ, we want them to KNOW Him. We want them to experience Him in their life. We want them to pursue a personal relationship with Him so that they will comprehend the riches of wisdom and knowledge that are found in Him. We don’t want them to just have knowledge. Even Satan has knowledge, but he is doomed. Even demons believe and shudder at the Truth of Jesus. No, we want our sons and daughters to have true knowledge. There is a difference in the original language. Knowledge is the word gnosis and it means intelligence and understanding(4). But true knowledge is the word epignosis and it means precise and correct knowledge(5). It means one is believing and understanding what is proven to be true, correct, and in line with evidence. It is knowledge that changes how someone lives.
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11
Finally, pray for protection against deception.
Pray that our sons and daughters would have deep understanding and knowledge of Scripture and their faithful walk with Christ and fellowship with believers would guard them against deception. There is much out there that sounds good but is founded in lies. There are people who have knowledge of Scripture (gnosis) without the epignosis of faith in Jesus and the teaching and guidance of the Holy Spirit. The messaging that our sons and daughters are encountering daily would try to sway them to compromise their faith, lower their standards, be accepting of sin and open-minded to other ‘pathways’ to God. In the last days the deception will be so strong that, if possible, even the elect would be deceived (Matthew 24:24). Friends, we are there. The presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives and a correct knowledge of Jesus is the protection they need.
The enemy wants our sons and daughters. There is no question about that. We need to pray that they would be strong in their faith, solid in their understanding of Scripture, and rooted in fellowship with other believers. We are in a war- be on guard and use the armor of God to fight against the enemy.
“Father, I pray for (name) today. Build them up in their faith and knowledge of Jesus. Sanctify them by Your truth- Your Word is Truth (John 17:17). Lead them into a vibrant fellowship with other believers that is grounded in correct truth and solid teaching. Lord, they NEED You, though they may not always recognize that. I pray that You would open their eyes and hearts to the full riches of complete understanding. Keep them from sin. Guard them from compromise. Help them to stand steadfast in their faith. Guide them into Your truth and don’t let them walk away from it. Lord, we are in dark days and at some point soon, we may all have to stand boldly in the face of persecution- give us strength and conviction, Lord. Build up the family of believers so that we would encourage one another in love and faithfulness, In Jesus’s name I pray, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
G3870 - parakaleō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3870/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G4822 - symbibazō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4822/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G4136 - plērophoria - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4136/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G1108 - gnōsis - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1108/kjv/tr/0-1/
G1922 - epignōsis - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1922/niv/mgnt/0-1/
God Gives Good Things
“Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” Psalm 107:8-9
Recently, while I was driving home, I pulled up to a stop sign. There, on the far right corner was a lady walking her large pit bull in a harness. The dog was pulling and straining and having fits as she looked across the street. When I looked over, there was a mail carrier on the far left corner, messenger bag and pith helmet in place. I thought, “Oh my, what those poor mail carriers have to contend with…he’s just trying to do his job.”
I wondered if he would cross to the opposite corner before going on his way, but no, he didn’t. That mail carrier stepped into the crosswalk and walked right toward the lady and her dog. The closer he got, the more the dog strained and pulled and then I noticed, the dog was wiggling, wagging her tail and honestly, she smiled. That assumedly “vicious dog” was eager to see her mail carrier friend and he was just as glad to see her!
The mail carrier pulled out a dog treat from his bag and the pup eagerly ate it up. There was no aggression, no fierce bark or growl. The dog knew the mail carrier brought good things and she waited with anticipation until they met and ‘talked’. And here’s the thing, the dog wasn’t at all bothered by how others might view her or the assumptions they held…she only had eyes for that mail carrier. She knew he valued her and she’d be getting a treat as soon as he came near. They trusted one another and enjoyed their impromptu meeting on the corner.
It made me think about we look to Jesus, or rather, how we should look to Him. Do we see Him and get excited to talk to Him because He brings good things? Or are we bothered about what others might think of us, of our affection for and commitment to Jesus. Are we “all in”, knowing all that matters is how God sees us and that He wants fellowship with us? Jesus sees our heart. He knows our value. He embraces us as His beloved child for whom He gave His life. He’s not bothered by those looking on, He only has eyes for us- His beloved. He desires good for us. And He longs that we would be excited to spend time with Him.
God didn’t create us to be ‘religious’, to check the boxes and go through the motions. He created us to enjoy a relationship with Him, to worship and adore Him and to enjoy all the benefits of knowing God personally. He wants us to desire to see Him, talk to Him, move closer and enjoy fellowship. He desires that we would trust Him and rely on Him for those good things.
Oh that our sons and daughters would be excited to wake up and talk to God!! Imagine if their eyes would light up at the mention of Him! Let’s pray that our sons and daughters take time with Jesus today because they’re excited to talk to Him. Pray that they would look for the good things He promises and to respond to Him with joy! Then, let’s lead by example! Spend time enjoying the Presence of your Savior today. Sit with Him, listen, worship, praise His name.
Pray without ceasing.
Forgive, and then, Forgive More
“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
Matthew 6:12
Debts: opheilema (Greek) that which is owed; an offense or sin. (1)
Consider this: withholding love and forgiveness from someone because of hurt they've caused us may seem justified...we want them to acknowledge just how much they hurt us. We want them to earn our forgiveness. Oh, we 'plan to offer forgiveness' once they've proven themselves sorry enough and we consider that being the 'bigger person'. We rationalize our stance based upon our rightness (and our level of hurt) and upon calling the other 'up' to what is right.
But that isn't what Christ calls us to do. He tells us to forgive, and forgive more. If He withheld His love from us until we were sorry enough and worthy enough, we'd never know His forgiveness. We are not deserving of His redemption. He saved us because He loves us. Do we love enough to forgive?
Pray about having a forgiving heart and then, forgive. Forgive again. And keep on forgiving, because it’s what God does for us. You see, forgiveness isn’t about being right. It’s not about holding others accountable. It’s about freeing our own heart to be right with God and to hear His voice because we’ve quieted our own by His truth.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:12-13
“Oh, Heavenly Father, You love us so deeply and far too often, we don’t comprehend the depth of Your love, nor the cost of forgiveness that You extend to us so freely. The depth of the dirtiness and depravity of our own sin is often lost on us. We see ourselves as ‘not THAT bad’, yet all of our perceived righteousness is as filthy rags, impure, soiled, and good for nothing. It can’t purchase our forgiveness- we don’t deserve it. We are hell-bound yet righteous in our own eyes.”
“Lord Jesus, give us a true picture of our sin and lostness. Help us to see that we are so undeserving and, in seeing how lost we are, help us to see how Your redemption is perfect, eternal, unchanging, abundant and FREE. We don’t deserve it, yet You extend it. We can’t earn it, yet You give it to us freely. Help us to see just how much You’ve given and how greatly You forgive, and then prick our hearts with compassion. Convict us to want to forgive others quickly and completely. Remind us that forgiveness is not a ‘feeling’ but a choice, an action, and a willingness to allow You to be the judge and hold the ‘other’ accountable. Remind us that if we want to be like You, Jesus, we will forgive even those who don’t understand how they’ve hurt us.”
“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’” Luke 23:34
“Holy Spirit, fill us with more of You so that we willingly forgive others. Free us from the bondage of unforgiveness that poisons us and makes it difficult to hear Your voice and obey Your will. Give us strength and conviction to extend forgiveness to others, not with a “yes, but..” rather, with an “I already have, I love you.” Help us to forgive others, just as you forgave us, in Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing. Forgive without stopping. Love others generously. Be like Jesus.
G3783 - opheilēma - Strong's Greek Lexicon (nasb95). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3783/nasb95/mgnt/0-1/
Praying for Evidence
Just because someone says something is true, does not make it so. Anyone can make a claim, but without evidence, it’s just that, a claim, the proof remains to be seen. That’s where evidence comes in. Evidence is what backs up a claim and proves it to be true. We see this in the process of a legal trial. Any claim brought in court must be backed up by evidence or it’s dismissed for failure to prove its truth. The judge looks for the burden of truth.
Here’s another way to look at it. We may say that we believe in the power of exercise. We can follow ‘all the influencers’. We can save insta-videos and articles. We can talk the talk, but if we don’t actually exercise, there is no evidence that it’s working a change in us. When others watch us, they won’t see us out walking, lifting, running, or stretching. Our claim in the life-changing power of exercise in our life and our belief that it works is just that, a claim. There is no evidence if we don’t live it out. Our words are unsupported.
3 John 1:4 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
As parents, we feel the weight of wanting our sons and daughters to have a genuine walk with the Lord, fully surrendered and obedient to Him. We want those whom we love and treasure to not just know about Jesus, but to have a life-changing relationship with Him. And a life that is surrendered will be a life that produces evidence of Who they worship and follow, of Who they prioritize and desire to please. We long to see evidence and know with assurance that the burden of proof is present and their eternity is secure.
Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you;”
That word, ‘ask’, is the word ‘aiteo’ in Greek and it means to “ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require.” 1
We need to ask the Lord- beg, call for, crave, desire and require- that He would let the life of our loved one exhibit the fruit of a sincere and active relationship with Him. If we’ve raised our sons and daughters in the knowledge of the Lord, teaching them Scriptural truth in the power and Presence of God, the saving grace and mercy of Jesus Christ, the effective advocacy and teaching of the Holy Spirit, they know. They know. They have the words to speak…But knowledge is not evidence of the working of Christ in their heart and mind. Life-changing faith is manifested in everything we say AND do'; it is the evidence of the change and the proof that backs up the claim that we are changed and that we follow Christ.
James 2:14 “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?”
Deeds won’t save us. By themselves, they are an empty effort to prove ourselves worthy. If we pursue and rely on good deeds, alone, we make ourselves our own god - trying to effect our salvation through our good works. But deeds, supported by our faith in Christ, are evidence that our life is changed, that it’s surrendered to and guided by Someone greater than we. We’re not doing good deeds for our own benefit, but because we are compelled by the love of Christ toward others. We can’t not do what God compels us to…and we find joy in it!
Hebrews 11:17-19 “By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.”
Abraham was willing to obey God in whatever God asked of him, because He knew God. He trusted Him. He believed that if God asked him to do it, there was reason for it and God would redeem it in ways only He could and for His glory. Abraham saw evidence of God’s goodness and faithfulness in his life that bolstered his faith and gave him confidence that God’s promises were not just a claim, but were true and faithful. And Abraham’s obedience wasn’t in word only. His actions provided evidence for the faith he claimed. His actions were the proclamation. Abraham set an example for all of us in faith and obedience.
James 2:21-22 “Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.”
Today, let’s begin praying that the Lord would reveal evidence of the faith of our children. Pray that their faith would truly be their own, not just what they’ve been taught and what they’ve heard. Pray they would give of themselves to be the hands and feet of Jesus to others. And pray that they would not just have head knowledge, but that their understanding of Scripture and their experience of God’s faithfulness in their life would transform their life and would be evident to those around them.
“Heavenly Father, oh how I want to see evidence of (name)’s faith. I ask, not because I’m deserving, Lord, but because I crave to see that (name) is authentically following after You. I yearn to see genuine fruit showing others that they know You, not just because it is what we taught them, but because it is what they believe themselves.”
“Strengthen (name) with deep conviction to be obedient to You when You ask them to do hard things. Increase their faith to trust You without wavering. Open (name)’s eyes to see what You are doing, how you are protecting and providing, and how You are answering their prayers, even those unspoken. Father, I pray they would have the faith of Abraham, the love of God as David did, nurture in them the fervent heart of Hannah and the boldness of Abigail. Lord, You provided so many examples of faith- may (name) be someone You would write about whose faith would be evidence through their actions, choices, and words and who would inspire others to follow Jesus in the midst of this dark world. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
G154 - aiteō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (esv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g154/esv/mgnt/0-1/
Who is Jesus to Our Sons and Daughters?
Any parent who loves Jesus has a strong desire to see their sons and daughters do the same and follow after Him faithfully. We want to know that they don’t just have a head knowledge of Christ, but they’re pursuing a living, growing relationship with Him, one in which they talk to Him, listen to Him, read His Word, and desire to do His will.
But really, have we stopped to ask who Jesus is to them? Is He someone they know about or someone they know personally? Is He a figure in history or is He a prominent figure in their personal life? Are they compelled to follow, or do they sit idly by? Is their heart burdened to obey or are they pursuing other things?
We can’t require their allegiance to the Lord, especially if they are adults, we cannot manage their faith for them. They have to make that choice and commitment. They must choose to follow and walk in obedience. It’s between Him and them.
So today, and every day, we pray. We pray a lot.
The following are scriptures and prayer points to pray over our sons and daughters daily. Though the posts on this blog may change, the need for and importance of prayer on these points does not.
Pray fervently, regularly, and with hope. God isn’t done working!
Pray that they recognize the Truth and follow Jesus.
1 John 2:4 “If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”
Pray that they would value their relationship with Jesus more than anything and choose Him above anything else.
Philippians 3:7-8 “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”
Pray that they would grow and mature in Christ.
Philippians 1:9-11 “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God.”
Pray for their spiritual protection.
Psalm 91
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”Surely He will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
Pray that their life, lived in obedience to Christ, would be an ever-speaking testimony of the gospel of salvation and the hope, joy, and peace of life in Christ
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 “ With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Do they know Christ?
Our prayer should be that they would truly and authentically know Him and follow after Him with their whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Do you know Christ? Do you have more than just a knowledge ‘of’ Him? Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Or are you longing for peace, joy, and hope that all seem elusive? If this is your heart’s desire, you simply need to admit you’re a sinner and agree that Jesus’ death on the cross is the only way to receive forgiveness and eternal life. He is the One Savior who can redeem - there is nothing too damaging, too dirty, or too deep that He cannot forgive.
1 John 1:9 “But if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness (unrighteousness).”
“Lord, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior.”
“If you confess with your mouth and Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.” Romans 10:9-10
“Jesus, I believe You died on the cross for me. I believe You were buried and rose again to conquer death and all the power of darkness. Please forgive me for my sins. I surrender my heart and life to You. Be my Lord and Savior and help me to live for You, in Jesus’ name, Amen”
Satan’s big lie is that we can be ‘good enough’ and by convincing us of that, we lay Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross aside. We overlook His resurrection and that He conquered death …and we put ourselves in the place of God….the very lie that led Adam and Eve to eat the fruit in the garden, “You will be like God” Genesis 3:5
We have no ability to save ourselves. But Satan wants nothing more than for us to believe that we do…because if we believe that, then we are eternally condemned.
But Jesus!!
He died for our sins so we wouldn’t be condemned. He rose from the dead to conquer death and sin and hold authority over every power, dominion, principality and authority. He rules! He reigns! And we can be covered by his sacrifice and be their heirs to His eternal kingdom. Why wouldn’t you want that?!
I’m praying for each of you who read this. Jesus loves you dearly. He died for you. Will accept His gift of salvation; will you choose to surrender to His Lordship and live for Him?
If you made a decision for Christ today, I would love to hear it!!
Pray without ceasing!
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/
May the Lord Guard Your Coming In and Your Going Out
Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip- He who watches over you will not slumber;
Indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you- the LORD is your shade at your right hand.
The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm- He will watch over your life;
The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
The LORD will watch over your coming in and going out both now and forevermore.
As we prepare to wrap up 2023 and head into a new year, we likely will look back at what has been and forward to what might come. We cheer the accomplishments and mourn the losses. We keep count of what matters and resolve to do better in the new year to come. We ponder those things that made us laugh and cry and those people whose presence made our year more memorable and meaningful, whether for good or for difficult. We grieve what was lost, or what could have been, but was not. The turn of the calendar is nostalgic and full of hope.
Yet, the change of date, turn of the page and setting of a new calendar year doesn’t change anything. God is constant. He doesn’t need a refresh. He isn’t moved by new starts or resolutions. He always was and always is and always will be.
The photo above shows scripture from Psalm 121. It was found embedded in a mosaic on the floor of an ancient 7th century church in Jerusalem. “May the LORD guard your coming in and your going out.” As the believers traversed the floor, it was a ready reminder of God’s protection and goodness.
What a sweet and powerful blessing to pray over those we love! As we come into 2024 and go out of 2023!
The Lord IS mighty and able to guard us in anything we might face. That’s such a comfort as we step into a new year, isn’t it? The word ‘guard’ in Hebrew is ‘samar’ and it means, “to keep watch, preserve, to hedge about, as with thorns, guard, protect, and attend to”. It’s more than just watchfulness, it’s an all-encompassing protection. When shepherds would care for their flocks, they would construct a hedge or barrier of thorns to keep the sheep safe from predators, especially those who lurked in the darkness. When the Lord guards out going out, He encompasses us on all sides with His powerful protection and His attentive watchfulness, ready to keep us from harm and from the enemy that would seek to destroy us. This world is dark, but our Lord is mighty to guard and protect.
He guards out going out (yasa). In Hebrew it means “to go, bring or lead out, both literally and figuratively. It can also mean to go abroad, send with a commandment, spread, go to and fro.” (2) You see, whether we step out with intention, of maybe we wander a bit, perhaps we receive orders or a call to go somewhere specifically or take a step into something new, God is guarding and guiding. He is good to go and be wherever we are. What a sweet assurance and comforting blessing! No matter where our sons or daughters go…or are sent, our God is with them. We can rest knowing He’s there, even when we cannot be.
God guards our coming in, our ‘bo’ in Hebrew. Bo means “to come, call, carry, enter, fetch, follow, pull in, grant, lead, or send.” God may bring us in willingly, or maybe we are kicking and screaming…either way, our Father is present and active. He grants us entrance into so many things: a new season, a new year, and new opportunities to learn and grow. We may be called, led, carried or pulled, but God is right there. Our going out and our coming in are all in His hands, and we are assured He will guard every step.
The amazing thing is that God’s guarding is not dependent on clock or calendar, nor on our willingness or submission. God is not limited by those things that limit us. He guards both now, right at this present moment and forevermore for all eternity, time without end. Always. Ever. Without fail.
“May the LORD guard your coming in and your going out.”
As we get ready to step into 2024, we don’t know what the year may hold, but it’s certain that some will have great joys and others, deep sorrow. Some may be waiting, and the new year will be a time of expectant hope. Some will recognize blessings overflowing while others may have abundant blessings, yet not recognize them for what they are. There may be peace and joy or pain and longing. But there is one constant of which we can be assured. The Great I AM. Jehovah- the Existing One. Our God is steady and unchanging. Though the calendar may change, and the weeks and months fly by, God remains ever present and watchful, always providing and protecting. Nothing surprises Him or catches Him off guard. There is nothing out of His reach or too strong for His mighty hand and outstretched arm to overcome. Long before December 31, 2023, arrived, He knew what the day would hold and the year leading up to it. And when we wake to see His new creation of January 1, 2024, we can know we are watching God fulfill His plan, set in motion before the world began, for that good day.
Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
The calendar shouldn’t determine how we approach the next day or the next year, God is our portion forever. Forever! Though a new year will bring something new, our God is the Ancient of Days. The LORD will watch over our coming in and our going out both now and forevermore. Forevermore!! Change is inevitable, but our Lord is unchanging and always present. He is good and we can trust Him to work and do what is for our good and His glory. Let’s not look to the ‘ball’ that drops as the sign that a new year will bring hope and good change. Let’s look to the Lord who stands, ever present and strong.
“My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip- He who watches over you will not slumber; Indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you- the LORD is your shade at your right hand- The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm- He will watch over your life; The LORD will watch over your coming in and going out both now and forevermore.” Psalm 121
Today, let’s pray for our loved ones as we welcome the new year. Pray that what is behind doesn’t define or derail them. Pray that what is ahead is powerfully held in the mighty hands of the Father and that they trust His strong grip on their life. Pray that they look to the Lord for their strength and hope. Pray that the Lord would watch over their going out of 2023 and their coming into 2024 and would keep them ever pursuing Him, following His steps carefully and listening to His voice attentively, a sheep of His pasture, eager to be His child, surrounded by His watchful care.
“May the LORD guard your coming in and your going out.”
What a generous blessing to pray over our loved ones!!
Pray without ceasing.
1. H8104 - šāmar - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h8104/kjv/wlc/0-1/
2. H3318 - yāṣā' - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h3318/kjv/wlc/0-1/
3. H935 - bô' - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h935/kjv/wlc/0-1/
Dabbling in Darkness
“If we claim to have fellowship with Him, yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”
1 John 1:6
Kids love water, don’t they? Whether it’s a pool, a creek, or a puddle, there’s an attraction to get closer to just “look at it”. We warn them not to get wet and we might hear the response, “Can’t I just put my feet in?” And we all know, if the feet get wet, the rest of the child gets wet eventually. They can’t help it, their “whole self” ends up soaked. And when they come back, soaking wet, we ask them, “what happened, why didn’t you obey?” The responses will likely include things like “I don’t know”, “It was an accident”, “I didn’t mean to get wet, it just happened” and the list goes on.
Sin is like that too. There’s an attraction to just get a bit closer, but soon, we’re dipping our feet in and before we know it, we’re immersed. We’re soaked in it. We can tell others that we’re not dabbling in sin, but when we stand there, soaking wet with the evidence, our words hold no weight.
1 John 1:6 “If we claim to have fellowship with Him, yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”
That word, “in”, is important to note. It’s the Greek word, “en” and “denotes a fixed position in place, time or state.” Think about it. If we’re ‘in’ we have a fixed position(1). There is no halfway or just a little. Either we’re in or we’re out. There is no in between. It’s a powerful word.
When we walk in sin, even if we’re just “dipping our feet in”, we are in. We’re immersed. We’re sinning. We can’t dabble in darkness and not be impacted by it. 1 John tells us that if we claim to have fellowship with God, but walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. Our location says a whole lot about our heart condition and our commitments. Our talk, talks and our walk talks. But our walk speaks much more loudly than our talk when it comes to giving evidence of what our heart loves. We can say we love Jesus, but if our actions demonstrate otherwise, which do you think people will believe more? Are we making choices and living in such a way that gives evidence that we love Jesus…or that we love something or someone else more?
1 John 1:1-6 uses the word “proclaim” several times. That word means to give a report, which indicates one has seen evidence of something, it’s an affirmation. Yet, 1 John 1:6 uses the word “claim”...there is no pro. That’s the thing with sin. If we’re involved in it, participating in it, we can claim we walk in truth, but there is no evidence. Our lives are proclaiming otherwise and giving evidence of fellowship with darkness. How we live matters and sin impacts how we live.
This world is dark and temptation is strong. If we think we can resist on our own, we’re deceived. We cannot just ‘say’ we’re following the Lord, we have to demonstrate it, our lives need to give evidence, otherwise our words are empty and our testimony is worthless. Our sons and daughters need us to walk with the Lord and give evidence that He is our focus, our passion, our God. They need to see their parents, their elders, their role models modeling what it truly means to follow Jesus. We need to proclaim with our lives that Jesus is our King.
We need to pray for spiritual protection for our sons and daughters every day. Satan wants nothing more than to keep them from following Christ. He wants to convince them that compromising with sin is okay, especially if it’s “just a little bit”. He lures them to just dip their feet in the water of darkness, just their feet and nothing more. But we all know what happens. If you’re “in”, you can’t be in two places at the same time. When we dabble in darkness, we take our eyes off of Jesus and allow our heart and mind to put something else on the throne and then we’re walking in darkness.
Today, and every day, let’s pray that our sons and daughters will be IN Christ- that at all times, in all ways, in all places, they are found in Him and that darkness has no place in their lives. Pray that their choices in friends, in entertainment, in places they go, things they take part in and what they read and listen to all support their pursuit of Jesus and their lives give evidence of living and walking in His light.
Pray without ceasing.
G1722 - en - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1722/kjv/tr/0-1/
Giving Right Gifts
Any parent knows, our kids are not shy about telling us what they’d like to receive when it comes to birthdays, Christmas, or special occasions. When they were little, their ‘wants’ were often communicated by the toy catalog left conveniently on the table with items circled in sharpie on nearly every page. As they grew, their lists transformed to notes on the fridge and texts to our phones. Now they have apps that help them share their lists, and there’s the ever-convenient Amazon wish list is always handy. They’re always keen to let us know exactly what they really want.
And gift giving is a wonderful thing, isn’t it? It’s fun to receive them, but as a parent, we know how much joy we have in giving them! It’s so much fun to shop for someone we love and wrap up that special gift so that it’s beautifully presented. Then we wait in anticipation while the recipient eagerly opens the gift. But sometimes….sometimes we shop with OUR wants in mind, we choose things that we think they will like…or that we want them to like. Then, as the open their gift, we watch their eyes go from sparkling with anticipation to thinly veiled disappointment when they realize we didn’t follow the request. We didn’t give them the gift they really wanted, the thing they specifically asked for. We didn’t follow directions and the gift falls flat.
Don’t we do that with God, friends? We tend to offer him what we think He would like, giving Him the things we want to give rather than what He’s really asked us to offer. We make sacrifices according to our preferences, but we neglect to pay attention to what God asks of us. Then, we wonder why His response toward us is not what we hoped. We gave. We sacrificed. But we didn’t obey. Our gift wasn’t welcomed because it wasn’t what He asked us to give.
It’s important that our sons and daughters learn how to make right offerings and sacrifices to the Lord. Because it’s not about what we think the Lord will like, it’s very specifically about what He asks of us.
Genesis 4:2b-7 “Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
Abel brought the right sacrifices. He did what the Lord commanded. He offered the best of his flock and shed blood to atone for his sin. Cain brought what he considered a good sacrifice, his best produce- the fruit of the land. Yet, it wasn’t what God commanded. It wasn’t acceptable. It was a poor substitution and unworthy. We know that Cain went on to kill his brother out of jealousy and then lie to God about the whole thing.
But we need to ask ourselves, how often do we bring to God what we consider our ‘best’ yet it isn’t what He asks for at all? We give what we want to give Him rather than what He requires.
Do you see? It wasn’t the quality of the fruit and produce Cain brought, it was his disobedience toward the Lord in not bringing what the Lord commanded. What God warned him of was exactly what happened, “if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” The sin of jealousy and murder took over.
Later in Scripture, the same was repeated with King Saul when He didn’t obey God’s instructions to completely destroy the Amalekites.
“The Lord anointed you king over Israel. And he sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; wage war against them until you have wiped them out.’ Why did you not obey the Lord? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the Lord?” “But I did obey the Lord,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal.” 1 Samuel 15:17b-21
Saul did what HE thought best. And his actions impacted the nation of Israel and threatened their very survival. You see, years later, in the book of Esther, Haman, an official in the court of King Xerxes, tried to kill all of the Jews. He plotted to destroy them and wipe them from the earth. And who was Haman? He was a descendant of Agag (Esther 3:1), the very king Saul was told to kill and did not. Had it not been for God’s intervention through Esther and Mordecai, Israel would have been destroyed. Saul’s disobedience had serious repercussions. And his sacrifices meant nothing when they came from a heart that followed its own desires and not the Lord’s.
Our actions have consequences. We teach our sons and daughters that very lesson when they are children, that obedience is important. But as they grow into adulthood and gain their independence, the ease and desire to do what they want comes easily. Obedience to God can become secondary. We need to pray fervently that our sons and daughters will remember and practice the importance of obedience to God. We need to pray that they will understand what right sacrifices and offerings are that God requires and not lean on their own understanding for what is acceptable (Proverbs 3:5-6). We need to pray that they don’t ‘outgrow’ obedience.
The prophet Samuel called Saul to account for his selfish disobedience:
1 Samuel 15:22-23a ““Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.”
Ultimately, his disobedience led to Saul losing his role as King, and his life as well. God doesn’t want our attempts to win His forgiveness and approval after we do what we want. He wants us to obey him first and always. He desires our obedience. Let’s not try and ‘guess’ what God might want from us, instead, let’s dig into His word and learn what He calls us to do.
God promises blessings when we obey, and not just on us, but on our children and grandchildren:
Psalm 103:17-18 “But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.”
Isn’t that a gift worth giving? Let’s commit to pursue obedience so that we can gift the Lord’s love and righteousness to our children’s children and leave a legacy of obedience and joy in following Jesus. Then, let’s pray that our sons and daughters do the same.
“Father, You call us to a life of obedience. How silly of us to think that our limited, flawed, selfish hearts would know better than You what You desire from us. Lord, when we veer off to our own ‘wish list’ of things we think You want from us, we selfishly pursue what our own hearts want rather than what You ask of us. We know the heart is deceitful above all things. Help us to do what is right because sin is crouching at the door, waiting for the opportunity to lure us away. Give us an Abel heart- one that desires to sacrifice what You ask and to obey your commands. Help us to pursue You with an undivided heart because double mindedness will certainly be our downfall. May our obedience to You be the evidence to others of our faith and our hope. “But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him:” 1 John 2:5 Lord, help us to set a right example for our sons and daughters and let them do the same for their children. I pray that our family would have a Godly heritage that points others to Christ and brings honor and glory to Him. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
God’s Powerful Anointing
“You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” Psalm 23:5b
(life-giving strength, proactive prevention, setting apart)
Did you know that Shepherds anointed their sheep? No, it’s not to set them apart for roles of importance or noble purposes, though human anointing historically served that purpose. The anointing of the sheep is an effort to protect them from insects that would harm them, from sharing disease-causing parasites and from infection caused by parasites (1,2).
The flies that swarm around the flocks pester the sheep and cause them distress. But the flies are not as harmless as one might think. They will lay their eggs in the noses of the sheep. The larvae burrow deeply into the flesh causing pain, infection and, sometimes, blindness. The Shepherd rubs oil all over the sheep's head to keep them from falling victim to those pests they cannot see nor protect themselves against (1,2). Consider how our Shepherd protects us from those tiny, invisible threats that we can’t see, but might render us weakened or blinded to Truth.
Then, the Shepherd also uses the oil to prevent the spread of parasites. You see, as the sheep mingle with one another, they live closely together in the flock, they bump into one another and ‘rub shoulders’. Sometimes the parasites on one sheep will quickly spread to the entire flock, infecting them all. The oil not only prevents the spread, but it accelerates the healing (2). Jesus in His wisdom, anoints us to protect us from false teaching and wrong influences that might spread through His flock. If we’re all anointed, we’re less likely to pick up foreign pests that could derail our faith and we’re more likely to heal quickly when we encounter insult and injury or endure trials and tribulations. His oil of healing is sufficient to heal our wounds.
Finally, the Shepherd rubs the oil on the horns of the sheep to protect them from one another. Sheep are known to butt heads…and aren’t people known for that too? The oil makes the horns slip more easily, preventing serious injury (1,2). Oh how we want to avoid hurting others as we sometimes disagree over how we should live in harmony, how we should do ministry, how we should follow Christ. As sheep, we don’t understand the dangers that wait for us, nor those we might cause to others, but our Good Shepherd does, and He diligently covers us with His protection and His anointing.
You see, as the Shepherd anoints each sheep, He can note any wounds because He’s focusing on each sheep, individually. The anointing isn’t a group event. It’s one by one, as each sheep needs. He carefully checks us over, ensuring that any wound is cleaned and any infection is treated. He removes any ‘invaders’ that might cause sickness or blindness. Our Good Shepherd anoints us each to care for us as individuals. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture (Ps. 100:3).
The New Testament uses the picture of anointing as God’s call on the believer’s life. We are chosen and set apart; we are children of the King. We are healed. We are cleansed. We are sanctified.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
God’s anointing accomplishes so many things… and it fills our cup, it brings spiritual satisfaction and a completeness because we are His own. His anointing on us sets us apart for eternity and ensures that the enemy knows we belong to Jesus. The infectious assault of the enemy can’t destroy us. The oil of healing from our Good Shepherd ensures we are protected and preserved.
Let’s pray that our sons and daughters understand how and why God has chosen them and they grasp the depth of that anointing and experience the overflowing blessings of being God’s chosen child. Let’s pray Scripture over them once more.
“Loving Father, it amazes me to think that You chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in Your sight (Ephesians 1:4) . We are chosen and dearly loved (Colossians 3:12). Today, help (name) to not only recognize this, but to understand it and be changed by it. I pray that (name)’s life would overflow with all of the blessings that come with being Your child, Your beloved, Your chosen one. I pray that (name) would personally experience Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.””
“Give (name) the confidence of 2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” Help them believe that Your blessings are abundant and to see those blessings filling and surrounding them today.”
“I pray Philippians 1:9-11 over (name) today, “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.””
“And give (name discernment to understand that Your blessings are not only physical in this world, but they are spiritual and eternal. In this world we will have trouble, that is certain, but You’ve promised us that there is so much more- help (name) not to lose heart. Give them confidence in their anointing and a steady faith that follows after You, no matter the circumstance. I pray that they would live out 2 Corinthians 4:15-17 “All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.””
“Lord, let your Word work powerfully in (name) to accomplish Your anointing on their life today, in Jesus’ name, and for His glory, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
1. Ellis, N. (2022, September 11). Why Do Shepherds Put Oil On Sheep? Farm & Animals. https://farmandanimals.com/why-do-shepherds-put-oil-on.../
2. (n.d.). Why Do Shepherds Put Oil On Sheep? Animalovin. https://www.animalovin.com/why-do-shepherds-put-oil-on.../
Pray That They Won’t Drift Away
“We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” Hebrews 2:1
The possibility that our kids would drift away from the Lord is real. The enemy wants nothing more than to see our sons and daughters pull away from the Lord. Drifting is subtle. It’s not a willful rebellion or running from God. It’s not a sudden change of heart that takes them away or that has them running in a different direction, it’s a passive indifference. It’s inaction toward or a downplaying of the dangers and deceptions. It’s literally ‘going with the flow’.
What does Hebrews mean when it cautions us against drifting away? The words “drift away” come from the Greek words “para” to be near (1) and “rheo” to flow (2). Strong’s Concordance words it this way “lest we be carried past” (3). Picture it… a boat near the shore or close to the dock, yet unanchored. Those nearby can see the boat and because it’s floating (as a boat should) and lingering near the dock, no one takes notice that it’s not tethered. The current is mild and nothing seems amiss. But soon enough, it becomes evident that the boat is drifting and eventually it moves noticeably out of reach, away from the safety of the dock. It’s at the mercy of the current. No one is navigating; it’s simply drifting, but soon would be lost. It’s a great illustration and it shows us that although someone may be ‘near’ the gospel or “kind of” following Jesus, if they’re not anchored, they will easily drift. It’s not radical, it’s not sudden; it’s a slow drifting that, once realized by those around, often has that person out of reach and moving away, further and further.
Drifting is enabled by many seemingly harmless things and legitimate excuses: busyness, weariness, distractedness…but they’re all dangerous because they lull us into passively ‘being’ instead of actively clinging.
How can we pray that our sons and daughters don’t drift? Hebrews is FULL of all kinds of encouragement on this!
Pay the most careful attention. (Hebrews 2:) The Greek word used here is prosecho which means to “turn the mind towards, be attentive to” but it also means to “bring a ship toward land or to put in” (4). Do you see what the author of Hebrews is doing here? It’s a beautiful dual use of a word!
I Peter 1:13 (NIV) tells us, “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.” The NASB says it this way, “Prepare your minds for action”. There is nothing passive in this, it is active, intentional, and forward looking. If you’re alert, fully sober and preparing for action, you won’t fall victim to drift.
Fix our thoughts on Jesus. (Hebrews 3:1) The word “fix” is katanoeo in Greek and it means to perceive, understand and consider attentively (5). It’s an active verb.
Hold onto our courage and the faith we profess. (Hebrews 3:6, 4:14) Hold on, or “katecho” in Greek means to detain, hold back, retain to keep from going away” (6) Again, it’s an active verb.
Do not harden your hearts. (Hebrews 3:8; 3:15; 4:7)
Don’t have an unbelieving heart that turns away from the Lord (Hebrews 3:12)
Encourage one another so that no one is hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. (Hebrews 3:13)
Hold firmly to the end with the confidence we had at first (Hebrews 3:14)
Don’t follow the example of disobedience and fall (Hebrews 4:11)
Take hold of the hope offered, this hope is an anchor (Hebrews 6:18-19)
Hold unswervingly to the hope we profess. (Hebrews 10:23)
Drifting away is a real danger for all believers and it’s rarely drastic. No, it happens subtly. It often doesn’t garner attention until one day we might recognize that our loved one has drifted from their faith and they’re further away than we thought. Let’s pray over our sons and daughters that they would not be passive in their faith but always actively pursuing Jesus, aware of the dangers and the things that would pull them away. As parents, we can’t let our guard down just because everything “seems good” and they’re walking with Jesus. Praise God if things are good and their faith is strong! But it’s only good, until it’s not. And that can happen any time, friends. Our sons and daughters are a target of the enemy. Let’s pray for protection over their faith and their walk with Jesus. No drifting.
“Almighty Father, I pray for (name) today. Protect them from drifting away from You and from their faith. Lord, please help them to pay the most careful attention to Your Word and to fix their eyes and thoughts on Jesus. They are surrounded by those who do not believe and by temptations and influences that would pull them away from You. The enemy would love nothing more than to see them become indifferent and to be passive toward their faith. Help (name) to be alert. Give (name) strength to hold on to the hope that they profess. Protect (name) from an unbelieving and/or hardened heart. Keep them tender towards You, growing and deepening their faith as they read and study Your word, pray, and fellowship with other believers. Keep them in fellowship, Lord, that’s such an easy drift to fall into- pulling away from church and from the commitment to worship corporately. They need encouragement from other believers, so I pray that You would surround them with others who love and serve You. Lord, bring strong believers into (name)’s life, even today, who would challenge and encourage them. Pursue (name) and don’t allow them to drift. Remind (name) of the hope they have in Jesus- this hope is an anchor. Keep them from cutting the ties that bind them to You- strengthen those ties and help (name) to hold unswervingly. Lord, you are mighty to save. I pray that You would protect your child today, keep them from disobedience and from indifference. Fan the flame of faith and lead them in righteousness for Your name’s sake. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
G3844 - para - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3844/kjv/tr/0-1/
G4482 - rheō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4482/kjv/tr/0-1/
G3901 - pararreō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3901/kjv/tr/0-1/
G4337 - prosechō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4337/kjv/tr/0-1/
G2657 - katanoeō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2657/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G2722 - katechō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2722/niv/mgnt/0-1/
The Battle of the Mind- Loving God with All of It
Matthew 22:37 “Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’”
Loving God with all our mind seems like a ‘no-brainer’, right? We know we should do that. We talk about it. We encourage others to do it. It’s likely we taught our sons and daughters this very scripture. But when it comes down to it, how do we really do that… and are we intentional about it? Do we really understand what it means to love God with all our mind?
The word ‘mind’ in Matthew 22:37 is the Greek word, dianoia. It means “deep thought, the ability of the mind or its disposition, by implication, its exercise: imagination, mind, understanding.” (1) That encompasses quite a bit, doesn’t it? If our thoughts are captive on God (2 Corinthians 10:5), we are spiritually setting our minds on things above (Colossians 3) and protecting ourselves from spiritual attack and oppression. We are intentionally exercising our minds in ways that will spiritually strengthen and protect us.
But there’s more. Let’s break the word “dianoia” down a bit more. It’s important to dig in so we really understand. The prefix of the word dianoia is ‘dia’, which means “through, over, across, the channel of an action”(2). The second part of dianoia is the Greek word “nous” which means, “mind or understanding” (3) and comes from the root word “ginosko” meaning to “allow, be aware of, feel, have knowledge, perceive, be resolved, be sure, understand.” (4)
Think about it. The Greek word for mind is vastly more detailed than what we might recognize by only reading the English. Dianoia involves the channel or direction of one's thoughts, the depth of their understanding and what one chooses to allow to be present and active in their mind; what they are pondering and meditating on. It’s the direction, the action and the permission of our thought life.
Dianoia isn’t a word we use on the daily. It’s likely we may be more familiar with the word ‘paranoia’. The prefix of the word, “para” means “beside, next to, near, against or contrary to”(5). When we focus on what is near or around us (para), it can stir fear. If we allow what is contrary to God to consume our thoughts, we are dwelling on things that do not support Godly thinking. What we choose to marinate in begins to saturate us. It colors our thinking. It flavors our choices. It overtakes us so that we think of Godly things less and less and we become more and more filled with the world around us. We need the ‘dia’ not the ‘para’.
The little things matter, friends. What we choose to watch and listen to. What we read and discuss. Who we fellowship with and how and where all impact our thinking. And our thinking impacts everything. Are we taking intentional time to think on God’s word and meditate on His precepts? Are we marinating in the honey of the Word or the acid of the world? We need to pray for our sons and daughters and, really, for all believers that as this world grows darker, we strive intentionally to love God with all our mind.
Are we marinating in the honey of the Word or the acid of the world?
“Love the Lord your God with all your mind.” It’s a straightforward command that we need to embrace with all that we are. We need to be intentional. God will not falter or cool in His love for us, be we can certainly grow cold in our love for Him.
“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,” Matthew 24:12
Today, let’s pray for our sons and daughters, for our friends and loved ones, that they would understand and pursue loving God with all their mind. Pray for purity in thought. Pray that they would choose ‘dia’ over ‘para’. If we look around, we’ll be overcome by the darkness and decay of the world, but if we choose to look toward God, we’ll be blessed and protected. We’ll know hope- elpis - the eager expectation of good and the confident joyful expectation of eternal salvation (6).
“Father, you call us to demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and to take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5). You know that Satan attacks our minds and it is there that the spiritual battle and downfall begin. Lord, help (name) to love You with all of their mind. Don’t allow them to give away little corners and pieces of their mind. Protect them from ‘marinating’ in ideas and activities that would have them dwell on ungodly things. Lord, let the helmet of salvation protect their mind from any attacks because we know our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12). Help (name) to set their mind on things above (dia), not on earthly things (para) and strengthen them to walk faithfully with You. Lord, time is short. Our world is dark. Satan will do anything he can to destroy believers and keep unbelievers from turning to Jesus. I pray Your mighty protection over each of my family and friends and over Your Church today and in the days to come. Lord, work mightily and may all the glory be Yours now and forever, in Jesus’ name, amen.”
G1271 - dianoia - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1271/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G1223 - dia - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1223/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G1223 - dia - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1223/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G1097 - ginōskō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1097/niv/mgnt/0-1/
Para-word meaning. Wiktionary. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/para-#:~:text=From%20Ancient%20Greek%20%CF%80%CE%B1%CF%81%CE%AC%20(par%C3%A1,against%2C%20contrary%20to%E2%80%9D).
G1680 - elpis - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1680/niv/mgnt/0-1/
Pray without ceasing.
*Join the PAC Prayer will be taking a short break for the month of March. See you in April! Until then, pray faithfully. Pray often. Pray without ceasing.
Thanking God for the Family of Believers
"How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?" 1 Thessalonians 3:9
The word "thanks" in Greek is "eucharistia" which means more than just gratitude... it is speaking actively grateful language directed to God as an act of worship (1). That's a powerful thank you!
Our children bring us such joy, don’t they? As we watch them grow and mature, we marvel at who they’re becoming and if they’ve committed their life to Jesus, we’re filled with joy that they know the Savior and are walking with Him. And it’s pretty likely we thank God for that frequently. And if they have siblings, we remind them of what a blessing that is. Oh, they may not have shown love and gratitude for one another as kids, but as they grow and mature, we pray they begin to see the blessing of their brothers and sisters.
But when was the last time we genuinely thanked God for the family of believers and encouraged our sons and daughters to do the same? Are we intentionally mindful and grateful for our brothers and sisters in Christ, or are we just 'coexisting'? Do we embrace the fellowship of other believers, or do we act as if we simply want to be an ‘only child’?
Consider what a great blessing it is to have this eternal connection with others because of the blood of Jesus?! We have others who know the joys and sorrows; who can encourage us because of the difficult things they've endured too. As a spiritual family, we endure with hope, because we know this life, this world is not our reward, something so much better is promised! But are we being intentional to encourage and remind our sons and daughters of these things? We should. We must. We will not always be with them, but the family of believers will surround them in ways we cannot. It’s important they not only recognize this, but that they have gratitude toward God for His wonderful provision. It’s true, families can be messy, but there is a bond that goes deep and cannot, should not be broken. Gratitude to God should be ever-present and generously expressed. Eucharistia.
Take time today to intentionally and actively speak words of gratitude to God for His incredible blessing of the family of God. Let your words be an act of worship. If you're holding a grudge, confess it. If someone's blessed you, acknowledge it. And ask Him to show you how you can be a blessing and encouragement to others today.
I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God.
You will notice we say "brother and sister" 'round here,
It's because we're a family and these are so near;
When one has a heartache, we all share the tears,
And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.
I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God.
From the door of an orphanage to the house of the King,
No longer an outcast, a new song I sing;
From rags unto riches, from the weak to the strong,
I'm not worthy to be here, but praise God I belong!
I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of GodFamily of God- Bill and Gloria Gaither (2)
Then, let’s pray that our sons and daughters embrace a spirit of gratitude for their physical family, but even more importantly, for their spiritual family. Pray that they have a strong desire to remain in fellowship with other believers and that they would become an encouragement to others in their faith and their walk with the Lord. And if they’re not walking with the Lord, pray that the Holy Spirit would stir in them a longing for belonging, a craving for a place at God’s table and an insatiable need for fellowship and encouragement from believers. Pray they would become a source of joy for other believers because of their commitment to the Lord.
Eucharistia. Pray without ceasing.
G2169 - eucharistia - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2169/niv/mgnt/0-1/
The family of god - Bill Gaither. SongLyrics.com. (n.d.). Retrieved January 29, 2023, from https://www.songlyrics.com/bill-gaither/the-family-of-god-lyrics/
A Call to Parents: Encouraging Our Sons & Daughters
“For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.” 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12
We spend much time here at Join the PAC Prayer focusing on praying for our sons and daughters, but today we’re going to take a look at what God calls us to do as parents. What are we called to do? How can we do it well?
Paul wrote to the Thessalonians to encourage them in their faith. Throughout the first and second chapters, Paul urged them to remain true and faithful. He instructed them on how they should live and commended them for what they did well. In chapter two, he explained his ministry motives along with those of Silas and Timothy and the nature of their instruction. Then he gave the statement in verses 11-12 and it’s here we need to pause and take time to ponder because Paul explained three key actions that exemplify how a father (a parent) should deal with his children, “For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”
Let’s dig deep and get a better understanding of what God encourages us to do as parents.
Encouraging: Parakaleo
The first thing Paul mentioned is that he, Silas and Timothy were encouraging the believers. The Greek word for encouraging is parakaleo. It means to call near or call to one’s side; to exhort, console and comfort; to strengthen and instruct; it means to call in a loud voice; it’s not a silent, behind-the-scenes cheering on (1).
There is more to encouraging our sons and daughters than just saying “Good job! I knew you could do it!” The word ‘parakaleo’ comes from two root words, ‘para’, meaning beside or near, having proximity to (2) and ‘kaleo’ which means to call by name (3). So when we’re encouraging our sons and daughters, we need to call them near, call them by name, take time to be present and to teach and comfort them. We must be focused on them, and strengthen them in those things that are uniquely their own needs- it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s personal. It requires our presence and our mindfulness towards them so that we’re focused and our encouragement stems from knowledge of the individual son or daughter and knowledge from Scripture.
Like a paramedic is a medical professional who comes near to the patient, calls them by name and tends to their needs, our encouragement must be parakaleo, near our sons and daughters, calling them by name and meeting their needs to encourage them to walk faithfully, understand God’s word accurately and remain true to their faith and commitment to God.
Comforting: Paramytheomai
The next thing Paul mentions is comfort. The Greek word for the act of comforting is paramytheomai, which means “to speak to, address one, whether by way of admonition and incentive, or to calm and console” (4). It’s another form of encouragement. Note the prefix ‘para’ is once again a part of the word. It requires coming alongside of another to accomplish the purpose at hand. Paramytheomai means we need to be present and choose to be near, whether in person or, if that’s not possible, in communication and prayer. It’s an active role and not just that of an observer. The other portion of the word, ‘mytheomai’ means to speak, tell a story, a narrative. Often this word was applied to the sharing of genealogies in Biblical times. Consider what is your family’s story and how your sons and daughters could learn from it. Some questions to consider:
What is the heritage that undergirds your family?
What stories of faith are held forth?
What mistakes were made that should not be repeated?
Maybe the heritage of faith began with you … How did you come to know Jesus and begin a personal relationship with Him?
How can your sons and daughters carry on the Godly legacy?
How can you comfort them with lessons from the past and encourage them to be true to God into the future?
Comfort and encouragement can come through the stories of others and out of our own experiences. Those stories should be carried and shared by parents to their children to stand as encouragement and be cautionary as well.
Urging: Martyomai
Finally, Paul urged the Thessalonians to live a life worthy of God. The word used for urging is ‘martyomai’, which means “to be a witness, testify, charge or give evidence, bear record.” (5) Yes, it is related to the word ‘martyr’, describing those who gave their life for their faith. They bore witness and held fast to the testimony of Christ, even to the end. Paul urged, testified and bore witness to the Thessalonians in an effort to encourage them and teach them to hold fast to their faith.
The root word is martys means “one who is mindful, obeys”. (6) It’s not only what Paul wanted the Thessalonians to do, but it was what he held fast to as he lived out his testimony before them. And it’s what we need to do as parents. We need to demonstrate obedience to God and be mindful of what He calls us to do so that our words and actions testify faithfulness to Him to our sons and daughters.
The encouragement, the comfort and the urging are all directed toward helping our sons and daughters live wisely and follow Christ faithfully, or as the King James Version says, “that ye would walk worthy of God” who calls them into His kingdom. Isn’t that one of our most fervent prayers for our sons and daughters? We want them to live a life that acts as an example to others that we are Kingdom bound, sons and daughters of the Most High, His heirs and dearly loved children.
But what does it mean to “walk worthy of God”? The word for walk in Greek is peripateo and it means “to occupy oneself, make progress and follow; to make one’s way and make use of opportunities.” (7) It’s more than just heading in a direction. It’s being cognizant of where one is going, making use of opportunities along the way and always being mindful of whom you are following and the direction in which you are headed. The prefix, peri, comes from a root word, peran, which means, “beyond, on the other side.” (8) It’s directional and locational. It indicates that this walk is more than just a stroll. It’s purposeful. It has a specific destination. It requires mindful participation.
But here’s the powerful part: the remainder of the word, pateo, has a profound meaning. Let’s look at the original wording from Strong’s Concordance. Pateo means, “to advance by setting foot upon, tread upon; to encounter successfully the greatest perils from the machinations and persecutions with which Satan would fain thwart the preaching of the gospel.”(9) Wow!! When we pray for our sons and daughters to walk worthy of God, we’re praying that they will encounter successfully the greatest perils, deceptions, schemes of Satan and will overcome! We pray that they will live out and speak the gospel in ways that will defeat Satan and his demons and will overcome the ‘dangers, toils and snares’ of this life because they’re directionally moving toward the ‘other side’- the Kingdom of God…and Satan will do anything and everything to keep them from it.
These two verses are so rich and so powerful!! It would be beneficial for us to meditate on these Scriptures this week as we pray for our sons and daughters. He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. We have the power of the Eternal God within reach. He hears the cry of His children and He does not let it go unanswered. Take time today to pray for encouragement, for comfort and to urge this next generation to live victoriously. Why not write these verses down and carry them with you this week, memorize them and meditate on them, they are powerful directives and timeless truths and God can and will use them mightily.
Pray without ceasing.
G3870 - parakaleō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3870/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G3844 - para - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3844/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G2564 - kaleō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2564/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G3888 - paramytheomai - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3888/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G3143 - martyromai - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3143/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G3144 - martys - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3144/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G4043 - peripateō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4043/kjv/tr/0-1/
G4012 - peri - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4012/kjv/tr/0-1/
G3961 - pateō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3961/kjv/tr/0-1/