Rapture? Millennium? New Earth? What Will Life Be Like?

Recently it’s occurred to me that we spend a lot of time learning about how to live an effective Christian life now… but we pay little attention to what life will be like once this life on earth is through.

So much of our walk with the Lord is built on hope!  The hope of heaven, the hope of our inheritance, the hope of living in Christ’s presence.  But we spend little time learning about what it is that we are specifically hoping for. That’s concerning.  How can our sons and daughters live in the expectation and hope of eternity with God when we spend so little time teaching about it? 

We talk about the millennium, but we have little understanding of what we will do.  What will our purpose be?  

We understand that God will make a new heaven and a new earth and we will live eternally with Him as our Sovereign Lord and King.  Yet, if you ask any believer, I guarantee, there would be more questions than answers and most only have a vague idea, at best, of what our life will be like at that point. 

It’s no wonder we hear young people say “I do want the Lord to return, but I want Him to wait until… (insert marriage, children, career, travel, etc.)  Our sons and daughters lack the longing for being present with Christ because they don’t have a clear picture of HOW it will be better than what they know right now.  They’re only told it will be.  

If I’m honest, when I was young, I didn’t know much about life beyond that which I knew and experienced to that point. When I thought of heaven, I pictured masses of people, wearing white, standing around in a nondescript cavernous space, singing hymns to the Lord.  I mean, don’t get me wrong, who doesn't love a good hymn sing?  But for eternity?  It just didn’t hold the massive appeal that my parents and older believers said it should.  And no one took the time to teach about it. Oh, there was teaching on the Tribulation, for sure, but when we got to Revelation 21 and 22, it was a quick fly-over with few references to the other places in Scripture that described God’s promises. For an extroverted, visual learner, it was a colorless, bland outlook. I struggled with guilt because it was supposed to be what I longed for, yet I didn’t know much about it and it didn’t seem overly exciting.

As I lived my life, I found joy and pleasure in spending a day at the barn and riding a horse through the woods.  I communed with the Lord in nature, enjoyed seeing, hearing, feeling all of the wonder of creation while riding and being one with a horse. There was something in that experience that I felt and couldn’t put into words.  I enjoyed walking through the woods, exploring, listening to the sounds of the birds and talking to the Lord about my hopes, my burdens, and listening to Him.  I loved spending time with friends, especially those who shared my values and convictions, those moments when iron sharpened iron and our friendships were deepened in conversations about the Lord.  Could it be that God would give me experiences and pleasures like this in His presence? What was it about eternity that I could really look forward to? 

What was it about eternity that I could really look forward to? 

Why would God give us a lifetime of doing things we enjoy here, seeing beauty, knowing love, feeling joy and pain, heartache and bliss, only to have an eternity of monotony? He wouldn’t and He won’t!

Oh, dear friend, that’s not what He has planned at all!!  This life is a foretaste!!  It’s a shadow of what is to come!

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

If we have good things here, IMAGINE the good we will enjoy in His presence?! 

If we have good things here, IMAGINE the good we will enjoy in His presence?!  God gives us continual ‘hints’ of what we will enjoy…are we paying attention?

““For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.” “But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing and her people for gladness.”” Isaiah 65:17-18

Jesus said, “I will go to prepare a place for you.” Jn 12:2  When we invite someone to come and stay, we don’t just welcome them in the door and leave them standing in the entry.  No, we bring them in, make them feel welcome, we give them a comfortable place to rest and we entertain them.  We have a meal, conversation, and share our lives with them.  Jesus is preparing a place for us, just for us! He’s getting ready to welcome us into His home- which will be our home, prepared just for us.

That heavenly banquet…

Will we enjoy food in Heaven?  Absolutely!!  Our Shepherd will dine with us in the most fabulous feast of perfect foods, delicacies from every culture and land- created by Him for our pleasure!

““I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven;”” Mt 8:11

Imagine sitting with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob while we enjoy a banquet! Leaning over to ask the Apostle Paul a question, gathering around Jonah to hear what it was really like in the belly of the fish, listening to Daniel recount his hours in the lion’s den, hearing Jesus tell us that He loved us so much He willingly went to the cross to bear our sin- and He would again and again, but once was sufficient for all. Imagine walking hand in hand with Jesus in the fields and meadows of heaven, feeling that nail scar touching our own palm and knowing that if it had not been for His love for us, that scar would be our own and our destiny so different.

Worship is a way of life and will continue to be

But what about work and hobbies?  Oh, I believe He will give us joy in working and creating things that bring glory to Him.  You see, worship isn’t just going to church on Sunday and singing songs, praying, and learning.  Worship is a way of life.  Everything you do points to what you value.  So if we value Christ, our lives will reflect that in the way we speak, work, play, and rest.  It will be reflected in how we interact with others, how we celebrate joy and how we grieve and mourn loss.  All of that will be heightened in the presence of Christ- imagine! He will wipe away every tear! Our daily lives will be a living model of worship to the Savior in all that we do, using our gifts, talents, skills, and in our deep fellowship with others who are doing the same!

Then there is His wondrous, glorious creation that awaits us! Imagine, if we enjoy being outdoors now, how much more amazing it will be in the New Earth where there is no corruption of sin, no thorns on roses, no sting in the scorpion or bite from the mosquito?!  If nature holds us captive with beauty in a fallen world, how much more will it be in a perfect one?!

“The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.

The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. 

They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” Isaiah 11:6-9 

Shalom, once again

The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord!!  Everything will be at ‘Shalom’ once again- in perfect harmony with God and in worship and celebration of Him.  There will be no coup attempt from the enemy to overthrow the Lordship of Christ because the enemy will be banished forever.  We won’t have competing values, or struggles with temptation.  We will live as God intended, a return to Eden of sorts, where we will walk and talk with the Lord in the cool of the day and enjoy the work that He gives us in the perfection of His creation. The tree of life will once more be available to us and oh, the sweetness of that fruit!  Life-giving, refreshing, and boundless! Ours to enjoy!

“I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7). 

“…On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month;” Rev 22:2

There is so much yet that we need to learn.  And there is much we need to encourage our sons and daughters with, even today.  Are they truly looking forward to eternity with Christ, or is it just what comes next?  Do they have an excitement for life in a sinless world?  Do they comprehend what God has in store? Let’s have these conversations!  Do we know everything? Of course not, but imagine the joy of discovery as we learn together!  It might offer a little taste of heaven that we can enjoy here!

Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters develop an eternal perspective of what is to come, the joy that is set before us when we step into Christ’s presence and the deep purpose and fulfillment that are promised for eternity in an uncorrupted world where God reigns unchallenged and forever.

“Oh, Father, You hold so much in store for us, yet we don’t understand it and we rarely seek to learn more about it.  I pray that You would assure (name) that their eternal inheritance is so full of the very best of everything You create, all that You own, all that You can so generously provide that we will be overflowing with joy, gratitude and fullness in Your Presence.  Give them tangible reminders of what You have in store.  Assure them that they will have purpose.  Remind them of the deep and refreshing fellowship they will enjoy with You and with other believers.  Show them the wonders of Your creation here and remind them there is so much more they will see and experience. Open their eyes to see wonderful things in Your word (Ps. 119:18) that would affirm Your promises of what awaits us when we meet You face to face.  Lord, we await Your return with anticipation, but please help us to learn and understand more of what we are awaiting!  Our minds are so limited and this sinful world is all that we know.  Holy Spirit, work in us to understand the things of God more clearly so that this world loses its charm and our hearts and minds long for the next.  You are more than we can imagine and how amazing is that, because if we could, it would mean you are limited and small.  Oh, great God and Father, thank You for being more than we can grasp and for giving us the promises of greater things!  I pray that You would move and work in this generation.  Turn their eyes to You.  In Jesus’ name, amen.”

If you would like more resources on God’s promises and the hope of Heaven and life beyond the grave, I highly recommend Randy Alcorn’s book Heaven. You can also follow his ministry, Eternal Perspective Ministries.  https://www.epm.org/

Pray without ceasing!

Are you praying for a prodigal?

Are you praying for a prodigal or know someone who is? Consider purchasing 40 Days of Prayer for the Prodigal. The book will walk you through heart preparation of confession, surrender and exaltation to the Lord. There are 40 days of prayer on specific topics, supported by Scripture, but you will enjoy a Sabbath refreshment every seventh day to keep your heart and mind focused on God. Don’t miss this solid resource to encourage your heart and empower your prayer life to more effective petition to the Lord.

Do You Believe in the Sovereignty of God?

God’s sovereignty is beyond our understanding

Stop and think about that. Then consider the following:

There is much happening in our world and I see so many people arguing politics. They are shocked and devastated at how events are playing out. (It IS grievous. It should not be surprising.)

But consider scripture and what is foretold. We know things will turn and go badly. We know that nation will rise up against nation. There will be wars, famines, earthquakes... honestly, scripture reads like the CBS evening news. What we're not hearing is of the beheading of 60 Christian believers in a church in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The genocide of believers in Muslim-controlled nations. It should break our hearts and put us on notice.

This week’s dust up between Trump and Zelensky led many to shout on social media about their opposition, disgust, and what they believe should be done.  Then, I read a statement from a Eastern European politician and former prime minister of Estonia, K. Kallas, that said "Today it became clear that the free world needs a new leader.  It’s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge.” (1)

Does that give you chills?  It should.  Considering prophecy, where will the antichrist come from?  Hmmm. 

“Your Kingdom come, Your will be done.”

When we pray, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done” consider what that means.  We will see world events, leaders, and alliances collide and separate in ways that could be terrifying.  Could God be using politicians to begin setting the stage for what is to come?  We need to be cautious that we’re not caught in the deception the enemy is weaving “if it were possible, even the elect would be deceived.” Matthew 24:24

There are so many moving parts that we do not see.  We must be careful not to assume we have the whole picture, and we must be very cautious not to assume we know the mind of God.  We need to do justly.  Love mercy.  Walk humbly.  We need to care for the widow, the orphan, the foreigner.  We need to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.  But God will do what He will and our anger, indignation and ‘know better’ needs to be in full surrender to His Lordship.  Friends, things are happening that are far beyond our control. It’s easy for us, for our sons and daughters, to get caught up in the rallying cry for justice and change. But our submission to Christ must be at the center.

Mark 12-13 Jesus spoke to the apostles about the signs of the last days.  He didn’t say fight.  He didn’t say, “vote”.  He didn’t say,” protest”.  He said, “Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, “I am he,” and will deceive many.”  How can the enemy lure us into deception?  By keeping us busy with arguments and anger as if they will rectify things.

And how can we avoid deception?  Jesus said in Mark 12:30 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”  If we know God and love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, we will know who the counterfeits are.  We don’t study falsehood to identify falsehood.  We study the truth so that the falsehood is magnified when we encounter it.

At some point, world politics will take a very dark turn- we’re seeing the signs.  Our future here is tenuous.  It is temporary.  What we do for eternity matters.  God is sovereign and He will do what He wills. Will we do His will as well?

We need to be in the Word, and then we need to share the gospel.  When we stand before the Savior He’s not going to commend us for our die-hard support of (insert political party name or side of dispute).  Are we being good and faithful servants?  Are we pointing others to Christ. 

So, how can we pray?

We must pray for discernment, authentic faith, love and commitment to God, an attitude of guardedness and watchfulness.  Pray these scriptures over your sons and daughters

1. First, we need to pray that our sons and daughters have discernment. 

   “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.” Philippians 1:9-11

2. Next, we need to pray that they love God authentically and wholly – no compromise, no divided heart, no part-time religion.

   “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30 

   If our sons and daughters love God with all that they have and are, there is no room for deception and no opportunity for redirection to a false god.

3. We must pray that they are on their guard

   The Greek word, ‘blepo’= to beware, perceive and take heed.  Throughout Mark 12 and 13, Jesus warns us of what will come.  His instructions are to be on your guard, be alert, be watchful. It also means to turn or direct your thoughts to a thing (2). He explained what was to come so that we would know and be watching.

    “He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,' and, ‘The time is near.' Do not follow them.” Luke 21:8

   “Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen.” Luke 21:36

4. Finally, we need to pray they remain spiritually alert. 

The Greek word for ‘alert’ is ‘agrypneo; and it means to be sleepless, to keep awake, to watch (3).  It’s easy to fall into the lull of the daily routine and lose sight of Jesus’ pending return.  We need to pray that our sons and daughters would be watchful and ever-ready to meet Him.

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.” Mark 13:32-33

“You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”” Luke 12:40

These are prayer points not just for our sons and daughters, but for all believers.  We need to be authentic, guarded, alert, and ready. Keep praying friends.  God is not done working, but He is soon returning.

Prodigal Prayer:

The urgency and angst of knowing your loved one is not in the fold of the Shepherd is overwhelming.  The first thing you need to pray is that they would learn to love the Lord with all of their heart, soul, mind, and strength and the next is that the Lord would protect them from deception as they grow and learn in their walk with Him.  Guardedness and watchfulness will come with spiritual maturity, but first they need to submit themselves to Jesus’ Lordship and begin to grow in wisdom and knowledge.  Pray that the Holy Spirit would interrupt their thoughts, that He would bring other believers to speak into their lives, and would bring conviction and sorrow over sin so they would turn from darkness to light and from deception to Truth.  God is able! 

Final Thoughts:

It is a joy to pray together, even though the Join the PAC followers are spread across the globe! Imagine the reunion we will enjoy in heaven when we all meet and share how God worked in and through us as we prayed!  Every tribe, nation, and language celebrating and praising the King of Kings! Don’t get discouraged. God is working even when we can’t see it and when it seems all is stagnant. He works in times and ways that are beyond our understanding!

Pray without ceasing!

1.      Oliver, C., Faggionato, G., Goury-Laffont, V., & Griera, M. (2025, February 28). “free world needs a new leader”: Europe defends Zelenskyy after Trump attack. POLITICO. https://www.politico.eu/article/volodymyr-zelenskyy-donald-trump-jd-vance-oval-office-white-house-us-ukraine-war-russia/

2. G991 - blepō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g991/niv/mgnt/0-1/

3.      G69 - agrypneō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g69/niv/mgnt/0-1/

A great resource for the upcoming Lenten season!

Are you looking for a resource for the Lenten Season?  Why not consider reading and praying using the book 40 Days of Prayer for the Prodigal to walk through specific prayer for those who need the Lord. Both the book and the journal can be found on Amazon.

The Hope God Provides!

Hope is powerful and it’s what everyone is looking for in this life, isn’t it?  We long for hope.  We look for it when we can’t go on; when we can’t do it ourselves.  It is what helps us hold on and endure trials, hardships and grief and without it, we wither and we fail. 

But hope needs to be anchored in something unchangeable, omnipotent, and secure.  Otherwise, that hope we hold to is variable and insufficient, erratic and unreliable.  We become a storm-tossed dingy headed for the rocks because our hope is tethered to that which changes and is storm-tossed as well.

The prophet, Jeremiah, was just a teenager when he was called by God to prophesy to Israel. He endured ridicule, abuse, and rejection because he shared God’s warning of judgement for Israel’s rebellion and Israel didn’t want to hear it.  He had a message that was unwelcome, though it was from God.  The book of Lamentations describes Jeremiah’s suffering as a servant of the Lord and his lament over the hardships and awful treatment.  Jeremiah 3:19-21 is especially important to read, “I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:...” (emphasis added)

Jeremiah wasn’t waiting on a change of circumstances.  He wasn’t expecting an apology from those who mistreated him.  He wasn’t looking for things to ‘get better’ so that his heart could be at rest.  No, his hope was anchored in something steady, sure, and unchanging.  His hope was anchored in Who God was and is.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”

Jeremiah prayed for rescue, that God would bring deliverance and vindication, but that change of circumstances wasn’t what drove him forward and what gave him hope. He was calling to mind the character of God- that unchangeable, ever-present power that is unwavering and always for us.  He knew the God who created him, who created the world, who was Sovereign over everything was sovereign over his circumstances and he could trust Him.  He reminded his heart and mind of these:

• The Lord’s great love.  

• His unfailing compassion.  

• His faithfulness.  

• The Lord is his portion.  

• The Lord is good.  

• The Lord provides salvation.

You see, if we wait on our circumstances to change in order to assure and secure our hope, we will be disappointed, in fact, we will be ruined.  

Oh that our sons and daughters would learn to anchor their hope in Jesus Christ and not in the things of this world.  Seasons change, leaders come and go, finances grow and weaken, relationships falter, but God is ever-present and strong.  If our hope is in Him, we have nothing to fear!  If they’re waiting on something other than God to solidify their hope and bring contentment, they will wait a lifetime being unsure and unfulfilled and they will cultivate an erratic rollercoaster of emotion and insecurity.  Because if our hope and peace are reliant on things of this world, we will never have either.

God made this clear in His covenant with Abraham.  God swore on the only unchangeable thing- Himself, to assure Abraham that the promise would be sure and true.  He would make Abraham a nation.  But that served as a clear message to all who would come after, that God’s unchangeable nature is the one thing that makes our hope as believers secure.

When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. (emphasis added) Hebrews 6:13-20

As believers in Christ, we are the heirs of what was promised. We have fled to take hold of the hope set before us.  The hope of redemption, forgiveness, mercy and grace, and an eternal inheritance with God in His Presence.  THAT is our hope!  Do we live like it is or are we shattered by what we see and experience?  Do we wring our hands as if there is no rescue available?   Do we live as if this world is our destiny?  If so, we’re in that storm-tossed dingy, anchored to nothing stable.  But if we know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, our eternity is secure.  This life is temporary.  We are here to do what He calls us to do for the short time that we have.  Our hope is anchored firmly and securely.  

What are our children holding onto?  In who or what is their hope anchored?  Let’s pray that they gain perspective and the right understanding that Jesus is their hope and anchor.  Let’s pray that they begin to enjoy the stability offered by God that, no matter the circumstances, His love, compassion, faithfulness, goodness and salvation are unchanging and that He, alone, is their portion.

““Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.” (Jer. 32:17) I know that You can change (name)’s heart and perspective to recognize and believe, with conviction, that You are the only anchor they need.  Lord, speak to (name) today.  Make Yourself real to them.  Show them the unchangeable nature of Your character so that they stop trying to put their hope in circumstances and other people and firmly anchor their hope in Jesus Christ, their Lord and Savior.  Father, I know this world is getting darker and the enemy is seeking to devour anyone and everyone he can before he is cast away.  Lord, I pray that You would protect (name) from deception.  Protect them from despair.  Provide their mind and heart so that even in difficult circumstances or painful events, You are the anchor that holds them steady.  Protect them from drifting spiritually and ensure they remain firm in their conviction and understanding of Scripture.  Lord, give them a hope that is anchored in You so that others can see the testimony of belief, trust, and confidence in Christ.  In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”

Prodigal Prayer

“Lord, (name) is not walking with you and has a ‘flimsy hope’ that is dependent on circumstances and things of this world.  They are continuously disappointed, disillusioned, and lost because nothing brings hope.  YOU are the hope they need.  I pray that You would make Yourself real to (name).  Show them Your mighty hand.  Make Your Presence known.  Nothing is too hard for You.  Help me to cling to You, my anchor as I wait.  I know that my timeline is different from Yours and You are Lord of the clock, the calendar, and of our very existence.  You made a covenant with Abraham long before I was born, yet I was on your mind when you promised him a nation.  Lord, help me to rest in Your strength and sovereignty.  Bring (name) to repentance and salvation so they are anchored in Christ, and nowhere else.  In Jesus name I pray, amen.”

~Pray without ceasing

Are you looking for a resource to help as you pray for a prodigal. Do you know someone battling in prayer for one who is wandering? Consider reading 40 Days of Prayer for the Prodigal, a great resource to help you pray for one who needs to come to faith in Christ!

And check out the companion journal too!

Find both the book and journal on Amazon!

Lord, Give Them Sight!

Mark 8:22-26 “They [Jesus & the Disciples] came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?" He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around." Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Jesus sent him home, saying, "Don't go into the village. " 

Our sons and daughters are living in a time when information is so easily seen, heard, and accessed from almost anywhere.  That said, the ease of access does not guarantee accuracy or completeness.  We may ‘see’ a lot, but do we discern?  Though information is abundant, sadly, wisdom and discernment are not.

The account of the blind man in Mark 8 gives us much to consider and pray about for our sons and daughters. Though his neighbors and fellow citizens brought him to Jesus for healing, it’s uncertain whether they believed in Jesus or just wanted to see a miracle performed.  So Jesus intervened and worked in some unusual ways.

Jesus removed the man from the presence of others.  He led him away from those who wanted to use him for ‘entertainment’ or to satisfy their own curiosity.  An audience was not needed.  Jesus protected Him from those who could have taken advantage of or distracted him.

• Sometimes those around us don’t truly desire the best for us and Jesus needs to move us away.

Jesus led him by the hand because he could not see.  But the man trusted Jesus enough to follow, even though he left everything and everyone behind. He trusted Jesus meant it for good.

• We need to be willing to take Jesus’ hand and let Him lead us, even if we can’t see where He’s taking us.  Trusting God means leaning into Him and letting Him lead.

Jesus led him away from the crowd, from the noise, to a place where the man could be one on one with Jesus and hear his voice. As a blind man, he likely had very sensitive hearing and being in the midst of the crowd would make it difficult for him to discern Jesus’ voice.  

• We need to quiet the noise in our life- those things that would drown out the voice of God and the prompting of the Holy Spirit. We need Sabbath- a time of rest and listening.  

Jesus worked in an  unusual way. The villagers wanted Jesus to touch the man and  heal him.  Stories abounded of that and of Jesus speaking and healing.  But Jesus worked differently this time.  He spat on the man’s eyes and then laid hands on him. Though it wasn’t the way the man expected to be healed, he trusted.

• Too often we ‘plan out’ how God will answer our prayer or solve our dilemma.  But He works outside of those things that restrict us.  He is not bound by time or space.  His power is limitless.  His wisdom is infinite.  He WILL work.  We need to trust Him and His plan.  His ways are higher than ours.

Healing wasn’t immediate.  Jesus was fully able to heal instantly, the first time.  But He chose to make it a longer process.  Sight was partially restored, then fully made clear.

• Oh how we struggle with patience.  We want it NOW.  Yet, God has a plan that may involve our waiting.  It is for our good and His glory.  He is GOD.  Why wouldn’t we trust Him?  Notice, the blind man never argued, asked questions, pushed back on how and where God was working…he trusted, followed, and believed.

Jesus told the blind man to avoid the village and just go home.  Perhaps the man needed time to ponder his encounter with Jesus.  He needed to adjust to his new ability to see clearly.  He needed to process all that happened without being badgered by questions or arguments.  Jesus wanted him to be still and know.

• We need to not rush to jump back into the fray but ensure we understand what God did…and is doing, before we share. Do we see clearly?  Did we obey? How has this changed us?  What does God ask of us now?

“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4

We don’t know the name of this once-blind-but-now-seeing man.  But he represents many of us.  We were all blind, and when God healed us from our sin, our spiritual sight didn’t come into focus immediately.  It was a gradual process of learning and growing.  If we’re honest, we’re still gaining insight into God’s word each time we read and study.  

“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

This week, let’s pray that our sons and daughters:

• Move them away from people who would distract them from Him.

• Hear the voice of Christ.

• Trust Him to lead them, even if they cannot see where they are going.

• Trust the process, even if it doesn’t make sense to our human mind and understanding.

• Ponder all that God has done and is doing so that their testimony is strong and sure.

“Lord, your Word is so rich with examples and truth of Your love for us andYour compassion for our frailties.  You used an unnamed blind man to show us the beauty of trusting You to lead, to protect, and to heal. I can just imagine meeting this man in heaven and hearing, firsthand, what it was like to be led by You, touched and healed, and pointed in the direction of Home.  Lord, I pray that You would work in (name)’s life this week.  First, remove any influences that would pull them from You.  Whether people or information, in person or online, Lord protect them from anything that would distract them.  Lord, open their spiritual ears to hear Your voice.  Let them listen carefully and to be still and know.  I pray that they would trust You to lead them.  Help them to lean into You, even if they’re unsure of the next step, You are good to guide and will protect them from tripping and falling. Give them faith to believe and follow without question.  Help them to trust You, even when things don’t seem to be happening, when circumstances continue to be hard, when healing is slow to come.  Lord, You are leading, even through those times that are difficult, dark, and seem to be lacking hope.  There is always hope in You- You are our anchor!  Our hope is not in this world, but in the eternal life promised in Your Presence.  Help (name) to focus carefully and steadily on those promises.  Give them clear spiritual vision to see that You have a plan and will that is for their good and Your glory.  “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18.  Give them the ability to see the unseen, to fix their eyes on what is promised and to rest in Your guiding hand to lead them safely.  I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen,”

Prodigal prayer

So often what seems obvious to us as believers is veiled to those who don’t know the Lord.  The spiritual truth can be right in front of them, but they cannot, or will not see. They are desperately blind to spiritual things, living in darkness and listening to the voices around them rather than the voice of the Holy Spirit. Let’s pray that God removes the veil and enables them to see and understand their need for a Savior.

“Oh dear Father, my heart is heavy for (name).  They are so blinded to spiritual truth. They cannot see, no matter how evident the Truth appears nor how strongly it is presented.  Only the Holy Spirit can move their heart.  I pray that You would soften their heart and make it tender toward You.  Open their ears to hear Your voice and open their eyes to see Your truth.  I pray that one day, (name) will say the words of the other young blind man who was healed by Jesus, “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" (John 9:25b).  Oh, Lord, enable them to see and believe!  I trust You, even in the waiting.  I know You are working.  Please help me to continue waiting with hope.  In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Pray without ceasing.

Follow

Some people choose a word for the year, one that will be their focus and potentially represent what they choose to do, accomplish, and be. Maybe it’s ‘health’ or ‘positivity’. We download apps and follow influencers hoping to make the changes that will make us better.

But God doesn’t set expectations that WE would better ourselves on our own- we honestly don’t have the ability to do that. Oh, we might be able to generate an illusion… but so often our efforts leave us feeling discouraged and defeated. What God does ask of us is that we follow Him.  Follow.  Not lead.  Not walk nearby or on a similar pathway, but follow.

“Follow me.”

The word ‘follow’ in Greek is the word “akoloutheo” and it means to be in the same way with, to accompany, to cleave steadfastly to one, to conform wholly to His example in living and, if need be, dying.” 1

A great way to begin our year is by praying that our sons and daughters follow Jesus. Not a casual ‘checking in to see updates’ or looking for the most popular trend, but following Jesus faithfully, daily, passionately. Does their life reflect a commitment to Jesus?  Do their choices, their words and actions, their pursuits and values demonstrate that Jesus is the One they value over anything and anyone else?  

Here’s another important question, does our own life reflect that?  Do we live with a passion to serve Him?  It’s important because even though our sons and daughters are grown, they’re still watching us.  They look to us to be examples…or the justification for why they choose to do…or not do.  Are we following well?

If we are following Christ, our life will demonstrate that.  People will believe what we say when our life exhibits the evidence that our words are true. Do we live as if we’re in the same way with Jesus, accompanying Him, cleaving steadfastly to Him and conforming wholly to His example in living and, if need be, dying.” 1

Oh that we would all have a passion for Christ that consumes us to the point that we radiate joy, we seek to serve, we delight in praise and worship, and we hold the things of this world very lightly.  Our life isn’t here, it is with Christ.  We are only here for a short time- let’s make the most of it for Jesus!  Let’s commit to pray, every day, that we and our sons and daughters, would follow Christ with conviction, with a commitment that doesn’t waver, and that we would daily choose Him over everything and everyone else.

“Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, there is no shadow of turning with Thee.” 2

No shadow of turning. Consider the visual image of that.  Someone who is in the light, who doesn’t turn to either side or turn back doesn’t give evidence of a shadow, ever.  

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17 Our God is faithful and steady. If we are to be like Him, that means we should demonstrate the same- no shadow of turning; faithful to follow for all the days of our life.  We have so little time, we can’t waste it turning aside to pursue what this world offers.  

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,” Hebrews 10:23-24 ESV

Our sons and daughters need our intercession now more than ever!  We have a mighty calling! Are we going to embrace it, take up the challenge and pray?  Oh, friends, let’s do it!  Let’s commit to praying for this next generation. God, in His mercy and kindness, has granted us another year.  Let’s take on 2025 as if it may be our last year to fervently and effectively pray for our sons and daughters, our loved ones, our neighbors and even those we don’t know and have never met.  Satan is in an all-out war to take captive as many souls as he can.  Let’s fight his agenda!  Let’s battle against his tactics.  Let’s follow Jesus unwaveringly, fighting the good fight until He returns! Pray without ceasing!

“Heavenly Father, I bring (name) before You today.  I know You know them well.  You created them. I ask today that You would empower and embolden them to follow You faithfully.  Lord, impress upon them the need to be fully committed to You, surrendered to Your will, and eager to serve You in whatever way and place You might call them.  Help me to pray faithfully and to surrender to Your will as well.  Lord, I know the hopes and dreams I have for them, but Yours are greater and hold eternal value.  Help me to follow You without turning aside to my own hopes or agenda.  Help me to pray unselfishly and according to Your will.  Lord, I ask that You would protect (name).  Keep them from deception.  Fill them with wonder at Your word and a desire to live for You, to worship and praise You and to live a life that exhibits no shadow of turning. I pray these things in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Prodigal Prayer-  “Lord, name is following other paths that they believe will earn them the life they deserve and the reward they crave. I pray You would get (name)’s attention.  Open their eyes to see that they are following empty things- things that only deliver disappointment and ultimately, destruction .  They are on a road that leads to eternal death.  And in their following, they are accompanying others who are walking towards death.  Lord, turn them around, help them to see You promise forgiveness and redemption, eternal life and an inheritance that is beyond anything this world can offer.  Give (name) a desire to know and follow You. Change what they follow so that they would follow You.”

1. G190 - akoloutheō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g190/kjv/tr/0-1/

2. Chisholm, T. O. (n.d.). Great is thy faithfulness. Hymnary.org. https://hymnary.org/text/great_is_thy_faithfulness_o_god_my_fathe 

Big Things are Coming!

It’s a new year and that often inspires us to make a fresh start, set goals, and reset our focus and priorities.  But one thing stands unchanged, our need for Jesus, time in His Word and time talking, and listening, to Him.  I hope that you’ll come along with us this year to deepen your commitment to pray for your children, your loved ones, and for those who don’t know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  There are exciting things happening here at Join the PAC Prayer, including a new book launching this month- 40 Days of Prayer for the Prodigal and a new initiative in praying for prodigals!!

Friends, time is short.  Jesus is returning soon.  This life that He’s given us here on earth is temporary and we’re not meant to ‘make it our own’ but to use it for His honor and glory!  What can we do in the time we have remaining to make His name known?  How can we encourage others to live for Him?  How can we pray more effectively for the family of believers to represent Him well?  My prayer is that God would use this page to encourage and inspire others to live for Christ, to be bold in their testimony, and to raise up Godly young men and women who would go into this world and unashamedly proclaim the name of Jesus in their words and actions.  Will you join us to grow in faith, commit to pray, and stand firm in what God has called us to do?

The format is simple, each week I’ll post a devotional and prayer prompt, and this  year I’m adding “Prodigal Prayer” - a simple prayer focus that we can pray for anyone who needs to surrender their life to Christ, whether son or daughter, spouse, parent or sibling, or dear friend or loved one.  Satan is working hard to deceive, distract, and defeat.  But we have the power of Christ!  The same power that raised Him from the dead is the power that works in us! (Eph. 1:19-23) Let’s pray like we believe that!

Come along with me this year and Join the PAC.  Share the site and encourage others to join in! Let’s pray together!  “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).

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!

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.

Benefits of Believing: Lifetime Guarantees

“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6

 (blessings, assurances, guarantees)

We have a lot of things that follow us, don’t we?  Our reputations, mistakes, our regrets, even our shame all seem to attach themselves to us and we find them hard to shake off.  They follow us and seem to make themselves apparent at inopportune times, whether to others or just to ourselves as a grim and nagging reminder of all that we’re not.  

As parents, we would gladly unburden our sons and daughters from those things that would define them negatively and remind them of their failures and missteps.   It’s a form of bondage that the enemy uses to keep us from being effective, and it’s debilitating.

But God says differently.  He casts our sin aside because He paid the price for our sin with His blood and redeemed us at the cross.  Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”  

Our sin doesn’t define  us any more.  We are made new, the old is gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; The old has gone, the new is here!”

When we become children of God, sons and daughters of the Most High, different things follow us.  God ensures that all the days of our life we are hemmed in behind and before with His goodness and merciful love. Psalm 139:5 “You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.”  He reminds us that we are His protected child, Psalm 91:14-16 ““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.”

God guarantees us this protection for ALL the days of our life, not some, not most, but all!!  

As parents, don’t we long for a lifetime assurance that our sons and daughters will be okay?  Believe me, God wants that too- He’s a Father after all.  

He’s assured us that if we are His sheep He will care for us, protect us, guide us, accompany us, and provide for us abundantly.  But He also promises that surely, SURELY, goodness and love WILL follow us all the days of our life.

The word surely in Hebrew is ‘ak’.  It’s an affirmation that means “certainly” or “nevertheless”.  “It’s a positive affirmation with emphasis on the expression of a truth: surely there is no doubt.” (1)

Throughout Psalm 23, God shows us all of the ways He cares, protects and provides for us.  Then, at the end, He affirms that He will, without question, bless us again (and again and again) with His goodness and loving kindness- always, forever, continually and without fail.  God will never ‘fall out of love’ with us.  Read that again.  God will NEVER not love us.  He cannot- it’s not in His nature to not love, because God is love, 1 John 4:11 “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.”

Oh how we want our sons and daughters to believe this and experience it for themselves!!  May they know the Love of God intimately, personally, perpetually so that their life is dominated and directed by it.  May it be all-consuming, ever-comforting, and perpetually present and tangible to them.  Today, let’s pray for just that.  That our dear ones would come to understand and experience the goodness of God and His relentless, unexpiring, comprehensive love for them.  

“Oh, gracious, loving Father, Abba.  You are the One who loved us before we ever knew You.  Father, I pray in your goodness and mercy, You would surround (name) today.  Show them Your mighty protection from the things of this world that would pull their gaze from You and would seek to deceive them with promises of fulfillment that will never satisfy.  I pray that as in Exodus 33:19, all of Your goodness would overflow abundantly to (name).  “And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”  I pray that not only Your goodness, but Your mercy would be present in (name)’s life.  Show them, Lord, how You protect and keep them.  Open their eyes to the spiritual shield around them.  Give them knowledge and understanding that Your Sovereignty ordains their steps and determines their days.  Help (name) crave Your goodness and Your mercy.  Lord, may they live out the scripture of Psalm 23, following You as Lord and Shepherd, knowing their needs are fulfilled, their whole being is safe and protected and that their inheritance in the saints is secure.  Lord, God, Almighty, I pray that You would draw their heart to Your own so that they desire and seek You all of their days.  May they abide in You so that when You call them home, they will abide WITH You, eternally.  I pray these things in the precious name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior, amen.”

Pray without ceasing.

1. H389 - 'aḵ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (ESV). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h389/esv/wlc/0-1/

The Trouble with Darkness

Recently there was a blackout in the middle of the night.  It was planned and we were all warned it was going to take place, but we didn’t prepare for it.  

I awoke about 1:30 am and everything was black. It wasn’t just dark; it was pitch black. It took me a moment to realize what was going on.  My eyes were wide open, but I was not seeing anything.  It didn’t matter how much I blinked, the dark was impenetrable.  

Since I was awake, I decided to get up. I thought I could navigate the room from memory… three steps forward, watch your left foot on the foot of the bed… one more step past the dog bed and turn right, five steps and left into the bathroom, but ‘wham!’ Instead, I ended up bumping clumsily into my husband's dresser… I went a step too far and I missed the doorway.  The darkness had totally disoriented my sense of direction and shaken my confidence that I could navigate the room without any light.

Every day I walk around that same room.  The furniture has been in the same places for years.   Yet, when I couldn’t see anything, it was suddenly not as automatic.  On the way back, I measured my steps but met a wall where there wasn’t one before.  The darkness was so deep that my human eyes couldn’t discern anything. The darkness brought a kind of chaos to a room that was once well-ordered in the light. It seemed easier to just keep my eyes closed than to try to strain and see. 

Finally, I realized that rather than try and look around me (that was fruitless), I relied on what I knew and remembered.  It helped guide my steps.  I didn’t get distracted by the darkness, but rather, recalled to mind what I knew was true.

As I lay in the dark, I realized how much spiritual symbolism was in those ill-fated moments during the blackout…

1. First, we were warned it was coming, but we didn’t heed the warning.  

How many people hear the gospel, yet disregard its importance? They hear the warning about eternity without Christ, yet they don’t give it a second thought?  If we look around, we see the signs of the times, nation rising against nation, wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines- it’s all there.  Jesus' return is very near. It WILL matter whether you chose to follow Him or not.

John 3:13 “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”

We all have friends and loved ones who know “about” Jesus, but do not walk in relationship with Him.  Do our sons and daughters have dull hearing and veiled eyes?  When we talk about the dangers of spiritual darkness, do our sons and daughters just ‘bob their heads’ (yeah, yeah, yeah… I’ve heard it all before)?  Maybe they pass off our warnings as overreactions. Perhaps they think they have time, or maybe they are indifferent to spiritual things altogether.  This darkness is powerful.  

John 12:46 “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”

We need to pray that the Light of Christ breaks through the darkness and shines a spotlight on their sin, their desperate need for a Savior and on the Truth that will give them life!  Let’s pray for deep grief over sin and a hunger and thirst for righteousness.

John 8:12 “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””

2. Darkness disorients us to what is right and true.  Spiritual darkness does the same.

Darkness takes what we know and distorts it.  It twists and confuses things.  It calls into question what we think we know and makes us unsure. We become a target for the Enemy.  Disoriented victims are easy to hold captive.

2 Corinthians 11:14-15 “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”

Darkness also lulls us into a false belief that we can navigate this world on our own, without the light of Christ.  We clumsily bumble and stumble but pridefully think we’re doing just fine.  We’re painfully ignorant or outright stubbornly resistant to admitting our need for Him.  Darkness makes us believe a lie.

Proverbs 4:19 “But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.”

Colossians 2:8 “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”

We need to pray that the Holy Spirit will move in the hearts of those who don’t yet know Christ and open the eyes of those who are walking in darkness so they see their need for Jesus and long for the Shepherd to lead them.  They are living in spiritual chaos, but Christ can bring order and direction.

Acts 26:18 “To open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”

3. Deep darkness almost forces one to keep their eyes closed- and isn’t that what the enemy wants?! 

2 Corinthians 4:4 “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

Now is the time to pray scripture over our loved ones.  Verses that plead for clear spiritual vision and discernment needed for dealing with the darkness that surrounds all of us and for the protection from the Prince of Darkness that only Christ can give.

Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

Isaiah 42:16-17  “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth.  These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.  But those who trust in idols, who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned back in utter shame.”

4. Finally, we can only battle darkness and confusion with the Truth of God’s Word. 

We must turn our eyes to the Truth of the Gospel, the infallibility of Scripture, the Sovereignty and Holiness of God.

2 Samuel 22:29 “You, LORD, are my lamp; the LORD turns my darkness into light.”

Psalm 143:8,10  “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.  Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”

2 Corinthians 10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Darkness is present. We can’t deny that. Satan prowls like a lion, looking for anyone to devour. But our God reigns and His Word is powerful and effective.  It has the ability to deter and defeat the enemy.  It brings life and light and penetrate the darkness .  Jesus is that Word.  Let’s pray continually for our sons and daughters, for our loved ones, for those who don’t know Christ that He would defeat the darkness and lead them to walk in the Light of Life.

Take time today and throughout the week to pray these Scriptures over your sons and daughters, over your friends and loved ones. Put their names into each one, speak them out loud, call on the name and the blood of Jesus to bind the enemy and defeat the darkness.

Jude 1:24-25  “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”

Pray without ceasing.

Doubt, Part 3: Independence and Suspicion

We’ve reached our final week discussing doubt and praying for protection and deliverance for our loved ones who struggle.  (if you missed parts 1 and 2, just go back to the posts from the last two weeks)

Here is our chart, once again.  We’ll focus on the last two lines today discussing independence and suspicion.

Independence is a false sense of security in oneself and one’s knowledge.  It is an inability or unwillingness to trust God.  Proverbs 26:12 “Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”  Essentially, independence is self-importance and self-reliance that essentially makes us a god unto ourselves. Satan’s first big deception was based on this lie. When he tempted Adam and Eve to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil he said, “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”" Genesis 3:5. Ah, being like God, independent and in charge of one’s own destiny. Being like God with no need for support, protection and provision. Independent….and lost. Because we are not like God at all. We are made in His image, yet we are so in need of a Savior. Independence is a lie of the Enemy meant to keep us from the safety of the Savior.

But  Psalm 40:4 says, “ Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!”  Reliance on the Lord is not a weakness, it’s a powerful, spirit-infused strength that combats “principalities and powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world and against spiritual wickedness” Ephesians 6:13.  Now that’s security! We must pray that our sons and daughters continually see their need for the Lord and willingly submit themselves to Him. Pray that the lie of independence would be obvious and the yearning for dependence on their Savior would be insatiable.

Suspicion is the final aspect of doubt that we’ll discuss here.  It’s an inability to trust.  It’s a constant questioning and refusal to believe the truth of something.  But John 14:6 tells us, “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  And God doesn’t lie…so if what He says is true, we can believe it.  Paul confirms this in Titus 1:2, “ in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time.” and Hebrews 6:18, “...it is impossible for God to lie…”  He is True.  He is Faithful  We CAN trust Him! We need to pray that our sons and daughters don’t allow doubt to creep in and stir suspicion against the Lord. And if that suspicion arises, that they have spiritual discretion to know whether it’s a warning of the Holy Spirit or a deception of the enemy to pull them from the Lord.

Now, look at the opposite list that contradicts the list of doubts. God gives so many assurances that fight the doubt stirred up by the devil.

Certainty:

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

Clarity:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1: 1-5

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Confidence:

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

Knowledge:

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;” Proverbs 2:6

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” James 3:17

Reliance:

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;” Psalm 1:1-6

Trust:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

“Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!” Psalm 40:4

Friends, doubt is a scheme of the devil.  He will veil our eyes so that what is true is concealed.  He will  interfere with our understanding so we are confused.  He is the author of doubt, confusion and fear….and too often we risk falling victim to his schemes.  We MUST be in the Word!!  We must know the truth and be able to speak it out to battle against doubt and deception.

Today, let’s pray that God would protect our sons and daughters from the dangers of doubt. Pray that God would make His Truth clear to them in visible, tangible, understandable ways. Pray that, as in Psalm 1, they would not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of the ungodly but that they would pursue Christ only and always.

Friends, only God can turn a heart of stone into a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). If God can turn the heart of a King any direction He chooses (Proverbs 21:1), He can certainly turn the heart of our sons and daughters toward Him and guard them against the enemy.

Today, write out a prayer for your sons and daughters that you can pray throughout the week. If you’d be willing to share it, we’d love to read it! Let’s encourage one another on to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24). Let’s build one another up in our most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:20).

Pray without ceasing.

It Matters Who You Follow

Matthew 24:23-27 “At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time. “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.  For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”

Once upon a time, two teens were leaving the house to drive to school.  They’d recently moved to a different house but were going to finish at the school they attended through the year.  Neither was very good at directions, so when they pulled out of the driveway and saw a school bus, they thought they were golden!  “We’ll just follow the bus!” they thought.  “Because the bus always goes to school, right?”

They wound their way along, past farm fields, houses and barns, neither was worried that they didn’t really know where they were.  They were following the bus and that would lead them to school; they were certain. Imagine their dismay when they pulled into the school lot and it wasn’t their school at all!  They’d followed a bus for a different school district.  It ‘looked’ the same, but it wasn’t going to the same destination.  They were fooled into believing it would because, at first glance, it was just like their school bus.  They didn’t check for evidence, they just followed.

Who you follow matters.  What you pay attention to makes a difference.

Far too often, there are things that ‘look’ like they’re Biblical, or they sound “Christian” enough that we don’t ask questions or dig deeper.  We follow because we hear or see enough to make us comfortable.  Yet, we might find ourselves following after something that isn’t really Biblical and that’s the goal of the Enemy.  Jesus said in Matthew 24, that as the end of days neared, there would be great deception and if possible, even the elect would be deceived.

As parents, we need to pray seriously, specifically and continuously for our sons and daughters that as the days grow darker, they would follow Jesus without wavering.  We need to pray that they would have discretion in who and what they choose to listen to and follow.  We need to pray that they would spot deception.  Pray that they would be sensitive to the Holy Spirit speaking and moving in their lives so that they will heed His warning when they encounter deception.  Pray that they would be uneasy and alert to the present danger and wiles of the devil. 

It matters who they follow and we need to stand in the gap in prayer as they navigate this life and the spiritual dangers around them. Just because they’re adults doesn’t mean they’re ‘golden’, it’s all the more reason to double-down on prayer for their spiritual growth and protection.  This week, make a list of those things you want to pray over.  Maybe put those items on an index card and carry it with you.  Pray daily.  Pray often.  Pray using scripture and pray without ceasing.

Follow the Leader?

1 John 3:7-9 “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. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.”

“No one who is born of God will continue to sin.”  That’s a true statement right there.  If one is a believer, their heart has been changed, their motivations are redirected, their heart is attuned to the Savior and their desire is to do His will.   So when someone ‘claims’ to be a Christ-follower, yet continues to sin, that should bring into question the authenticity of their faith.  They may ‘talk the talk’, but if your spirit is unsettled by that person, that’s a good indication that all may not be as it seems.

We MUST be on our guard to avoid being led astray.  Think about that statement ‘led astray’. It indicates that someone is a willing follower. They are ‘escorted’ to a place of sin, deception, danger and destruction. They’re not forced or dragged, they’re led, willingly following. Why would someone willingly follow a deceiver?! Well, because they’re not alert and watchful to the danger. They believe what they hear rather than evaluating the words and actions against Scripture. Friends, just because someone quotes scripture, does not mean they love the Lord, it only means they are able to memorize something.  It doesn’t mean their heart has changed. Just because they carry a Bible does not mean they believe what it says.  Far too often we look for ‘surface-y’ signs of Christianity and we jump on the bandwagon of someone’s message because they say or do something that remotely-reflects godliness. We are gullible and far-too trusting.  We see it all the time - (can you say “politics”?)  But even Satan quoted scripture. Think about that. Imposters are everywhere. Are we alert or are we oblivious. Look, there is no middle ground.  Either you’re a believer or you’re not.  The one who does what is right is righteous.  The one who does what is sinful is of the devil.  Period.  No one who is born of God will continue to sin.   Are we taking the time to truly evaluate who we trust, spiritually?

As the Day of the Lord grows nearer, the deception will grow more intense.  Are we prepared?  Are we alert?  We cannot be complacent.  We cannot be lukewarm.  We need to shine the light of Jesus on everything we see, hear, and experience. We need to filter it through the lens of Scripture.  Is it of the Lord or is it deception?  Friends, it’s time that we step up and address the evil that’s trying to infiltrate and destroy believers.  it’s not going to be a tidal wave, it’s going to be a gentle, unassuming current that begins to slowly move believers from their foundation into the stream of complacency and the river of indifference that will erode their faith.

Let’s pray that our sons and daughters critically analyze and evaluate what they see and hear according to Scripture.  Pray that they would determine who they  listen to and follow based on what the Bible says, not by what their ears hear and our hearts ‘feel’.  

Take time to pray through these things today. Pray over your sons and daughters by name. Spend some time listening to the Lord as well. What is it that He’s calling you to pray over more faithfully?

Pray without ceasing.

Follow His Steps

1 Peter 2:21 “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”

Remember walking through the snow with our little ones?  We would tamp down the snow with our boots and clear a path for them.  We didn’t try to outpace them or take steps that were too far apart, making it impossible to follow. When we took measured, steady steps it was easier for them to follow because they could see the path we took and step into our footprints and follow along.  

Jesus does the same for us.  He set an example that we can and should follow.   He came to earth, God in the form of man, and lived among us, showing us how to obey.  He walked this Earth as a real man, dealing with all of the struggles, pressures and conflicts that come with life here, yet He was God, too, and set a perfect example.  John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

What example are our sons and daughters following?  Who’s steps do they imitate.  Are they following in the footsteps of Christ or of someone else?

Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters look to Jesus and follow after Him, walking as He did and measuring their steps to match His.

“Heavenly Father, You are so good to give us the example of Jesus.  His stride is not too long, His steps are manageable and His expectations are realistic for us. I pray that (name) would be diligent to follow in His steps.  Help them to watch and step carefully so that they remain faithful to Jesus.  Let their life reflect a commitment to following Him.  I pray that today, they would be mindful of where they step and why.  Lord, let others see that (name) is committed to You in every way.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Pray without ceasing.