Whatever happens… are we ready?
Philippians 1:27-29 “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,”
When we become believers and followers of Christ, we hear about the wonderful ways we’ll enjoy God’s blessings, mercy and grace. What we don’t often spend time considering is the cost of following Jesus. For those of us living in the West, that’s not really something we’re confronted with very often. But believers in closed countries where Christianity is outlawed, the cost is understood….and sometimes, believers pay with their lives. And they’re willing. That should make us pause and do some introspection. Is our faith strong or are we inch-deep with fragile roots? And are we ready….for whatever happens...?
There is an ever-growing pressure on believers, worldwide. Media, social and otherwise, decries our faith and our convictions as intolerant and abrasive. Believers are taunted, pressured, and shamed in an effort to pressure us to relent and relinquish the standards of our faith and soften our convictions. The goal is that we would substitute our Lord for a lesser god that would not be offensive to those living in darkness and pursuing sin. It’s true, to unbelievers Jesus is the Rock that makes them stumble and the stone that makes them fall (1 Pet 2:8). This world is trying to diminish the power of the gospel and defame the name of Christ. Christians are becoming more and more a target of ridicule and, in some countries, persecution and abuse. And, friends, it’s only going to increase. We are witnessing a battle between darkness and light unfold before our eyes. We have to be ready. So, how do we prepare our hearts and minds?
Scripture tell us we are called to suffer for Christ. Are we ready? When everything starts to circle the drain (and at some point, it will), nothing else will matter. When money is worthless and governments fall, when disorder reigns and religious freedom is a thing of the past, we need to be confident that our sons and daughters will stand firm in their faith. We want to be confident they will live by their convictions and they would be willing to give their all for Christ. Friends, it’s happening in some places now. Who is to say any nation would be immune? Will our sons and daughters have a faith strong enough to withstand the pressure, the persecution? Will they have an eternal perspective that allows them to view these light and momentary troubles as nothing compared to the eternal reward God has waiting?
We need to be on our knees praying a hedge of protection, a spiritual shield around our sons and daughters. And it’s likely we’re pretty good at that, it’s likely we’ve been pleading for God’s protection since they were born. But we also need to pray that they will be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Eph. 6:10). We need to pray that WHATEVER HAPPENS…. Whatever (that’s a hard word to wrap our Momma minds around, isn’t it?) Whatever happens, that our sons and daughters would conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel: suitable and befitting the gospel of Christ.
Let’s take time this week to memorize and pray through Philippians 1:27-29. God’s word never returns void. Scripture renews our minds. And you’ll begin to see how Philippians 1:27-29 applies to so many things around you. Memorize, and then let’s pray for our sons and daughters:
That whatever happens, they would conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Worthy of Christ- oh how we should crave that as our heart’s desire.
That they would stand firm in the Spirit. They need to be listening to and sensitive to the Holy Spirit in their life.
That they would strive, together with other believers, for the faith of the gospel. This means they need to be in fellowship with other believers.
That they would not be afraid of those who oppose them. (Can they spot the opposition?)
That they would have confidence they will be saved by the Lord- He’s marked them as His own.
If they are not walking with the Lord, pray that the Holy Spirit would stir in their heart and bring them to repentance.
Pray that they would be ready, and willing, to suffer for Christ. 1 Peter 4:13 “But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” and that they would be rejoicing that His glory will be revealed in them.
We have a full week’s worth of prayer here. Be sure to set aside time to enjoy focused prayer. It’s not a drive-through, it’s more of a sit down meal. Take your time to savor this time with the Lord.
Consider journaling your thoughts and prayers. Deepening your prayer life is not a ‘quick process’, but a deliberate one that requires you to be thoughtful and intentional and willing. Write down how the Lord is speaking to you and note how He’s taking you deeper into prayer. How do you see Him working? And if you’re willing, share with us!
Pray without ceasing, friends.
Philippians 1:27-29 “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,”
Contend for the Faith
Jude 1:3 “Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.”
Contend for the faith. What does that statement bring to mind? Fighting? Arguing? A conflict that gets heated? Dictionary.com (1) says that the word ‘contend’ means to struggle in opposition or to assert and maintain earnestly. However you look at it, if we are called to contend for the faith, it means we will face opposition and challenges that will try and persuade us otherwise. (Remember, the word ‘faith’ means persuaded). Jude is telling us to contend for the faith because he knows, he KNOWS, that there is an ongoing spiritual battle between believers and the powers of darkness that is going to continue to get worse. Let’s not kid ourselves, friends, our greatest enemies are unseen. Our faith is always being attacked...and even when we don’t sense it, the battle is likely raging around us. Our sons and daughters MUST be ready to contend for the faith, because if it’s not already here, oppression and persecution are coming.. If we identify with Christ, we will partake of His suffering. 1 Peter 2:20 “For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.”
So many believers around the world know very personally what this means. They suffer persecution and loss, they are beaten, imprisoned, ridiculed and mistreated for the name of Christ. Yet they stand. Why? Because the name of Jesus means more to them than life itself. They are not so comfortable here that they hesitate to give up what they have for what Jesus promises them in glory. They have extraordinary courage in Christ. Are we ready? Could we withstand the pressure?
How much does Jesus mean to us? Enough to say we’re willing to give up everything for His name?
Contend for the faith. Today, and every day, we need to pray that our sons’ and daughters’ spiritual strength and faithfulness is strong and unwavering. Pray that when they are confronted with pressure, or worse, with persecution, that they rise up and contend for the faith, confident that He who began a good work in them will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:6) Today is a day to be honest with ourselves… the last days are near, we can’t deny it. The powers of darkness are becoming more visible and more active. Believers are getting powerfully distracted by things that do not matter, arguments that only serve to divide and selfish demands that dishonor the gospel. We need to pray that we all contend for the faith with a passion and commitment that will carry us through until we stand before the Lord. Let us stand, unwaveringly.
Pray without ceasing.
Dictionary.com. Contend definition & meaning. Dictionary.com. Retrieved October 8, 2021, from https://www.dictionary.com/browse/contend.
Pray for the Persecuted
Psalm 140:12-13 I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. Surely the righteous will praise your name, and the upright will live in your presence.
Let’s not be so caught up in our own trials that we lose sight of what believers are facing around the world. Oppression and persecution are ramping up. Can we pray?
Pray that the Lord would secure justice for the poor and uphold the cause of the needy. Pray for those in need of religious freedom. Pray for those who are facing injustice because of their love of Christ. Pray that those believers who are facing persecution would stand firm. This life is fleeting- it’s as short-lived as the morning mist in the fields.. Eternity awaits. Our attitudes and decisions here matter. When faced with the choice of Jesus or this life….what will we choose? What will our sons and daughters choose? Will they have the conviction to stand with Christ?
“Surely, the righteous will praise your name and the upright will live in your presence.” What a promise!! What assurance that can encourage us to stand firm. Oppression and persecution here are hard…but there is promise of justice and deliverance!
Take some time today to pray for the persecuted Church and for our sons and daughters to stand with conviction, unwaveringly committed to following Christ, no matter the cost.
Pray without ceasing.
A Shield Around Me
Psalm 140:6-8 “I say to the LORD, “You are my God.” Hear, LORD, my cry for mercy. Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle. Do not grant the wicked their desires, LORD; do not let their plans succeed.”
Each day, God offers us protection. He protects us for a reason. “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) Only God can protect us from this. It’s important that we acknowledge His power and sovereignty and, yes, that we pray to Him asking for His protection and blessing.
The battle that rages on around us doesn’t stop. It is always happening, always striving to gain ground against Christ and His followers. Oh, we might not see it with our eyes, but our hearts and minds are assaulted. Our spirits are heavy with the weight of darkness pressing in trying to overcome the Light. Let’s not be ignorant of the dangers.
Satan wants nothing more than to steal the affections of this generation. He knows his time is short and he’s doing whatever it takes to pull as many Christ-followers away from the cross, away from their faith. Do we take this threat seriously enough?
Much is at stake, friends. Our sons and daughters are vulnerable, and everything in this world is working against them, against their faith and to counteract the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Let’s not ever let our guard down. We might not be able to physically walk beside our sons and daughters to protect them, but we can pray that God would put a shield around them each and every day.
“Lord, I pray that You would be a shield around (name) today. Hear my cry for mercy on (name)’s behalf. Be their strong deliverer and open their eyes to SEE the work You are doing on their behalf. Shield (name)’s head on the day of battle. May the helmet of salvation protect their mind. Surround them with divine protection and shield them from the fiery darts of the enemy. Do not grant the wicked any victories, Lord. But do not allow us to gloat either. Help us to always recognize that You are our help and fortress. You are out mighty protector. There is nothing we can do to guard ourselves. Lord, we ask Your favor on us and our household today. Keep the wicked from succeeding. Put stumbling blocks in their way and let us pass by in safety. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Powerful Prayer: Day 1
Psalm 141:1-4
“I call to you, Lord, come quickly to me;
hear me when I call to you.
May my prayer be set before you like incense;
may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.
Set a guard over my mouth, Lord;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil
so that I take part in wicked deeds
along with those who are evildoers;
do not let me eat their delicacies.”
Friends, so much has happened in our world in just the last few days. We’ve seen the devastation of a country due to an earthquake. We watched a category 4 hurricane barrel down on the southern portion of the US while wildfires in the west hungrily consume thousands of acres, and homes and livelihoods without mercy. And we watched in horror as people desperately press toward an airport for evacuation to flee the prospect of human slavery, torture and evil oppression. The sight of parents willingly holding out their children- pleading for anyone to take them away from the evil descending brings desperation and reality right into our homes and hearts. We’ve seen brave soldiers give their lives and parents and families hit their knees and wail in deep grief with the heart wrenching loss. Evil and darkness is on the move...and it’s getting closer to home.
Do you feel a sense of urgency? Good. It’s time we take stock of what is important because all the signs are pointing to the soon return of Christ and we need to be ready. We NEED to be praying. It’s time that we as parents take our intercession to the next level. So this month, we’re going to pray through some Psalms, verse by verse, really focusing on those words on behalf of our sons and daughters, and ourselves. Let’s commit to spend some serious, focused time in prayer on their behalf. We will face some mighty battles in the coming days. James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
When our sons and daughters were small, we provided for their needs to ensure they were cared for: food, clothing, shelter, and love, among other things. We didn’t want them to be without what they needed most. Now that they’re grown, we need to pray that they will grow to be spiritually mature and complete, not lacking anything. We don’t want them to be without what they need most.
Let’s pray Psalm 141:1-4 today
“I call to You, Lord, come quickly to me; hear me when I call to You.” I bring (name) before Your throne today and plead with You on their behalf.
“May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.” May my words be fragrant and sweet. Lord, forgive my own sin and don’t let it inhibit my requests. I pray that You would draw (name) into daily fellowship and communion with You. Make them hunger and thirst for righteousness. Lord, set them apart for Your Kingdom and let them live, speak and act in ways that would be salt and light to those around them. Lord, the days are evil. The battle between darkness and light is becoming visible everywhere we turn. I pray that You would protect (name) and help them to see with their own eyes the urgency and importance of following after You with an undivided heart.
“Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Help me, as a parent, to speak words of value and spiritual truth to them. Help me to reinforce the truths of Scripture to them in any way I can. Lord, don’t let me miss an opportunity. Do not let me fall into sin of gossip, complaint or shallow conversation that would detract from You and their focus on You.
“Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds along with those who are evildoers; do not let me eat their delicacies.” There is so much evil and so much wickedness Lord, let my heart and mind be alert and on guard so that I pray effectively and continuously for my sons and daughters. Lord, do not let (name)’s heart be drawn to what is evil. We live in an age where what is evil is called good- Lord, let it not deceive (name)! Protect them from the evil one. Set a guard on their heart and mind. Remind them to put your spiritual armor on daily so they can extinguish the fiery darts of the evil one. Don’t let (name) be tempted and enticed by sin. Keep them faithful, Lord and protect them so they will stand firm, even when their faith is tested, because that day will come. Father, protect them. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
The time is short. Pray without ceasing, friends.