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!
The Time that Remains
As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. Psalm 103:15-16
Last week our news feeds were suddenly filled with the tragic stories of two different plane crashes. The first involved a military helicopter that collided with a passenger jet in Washington D.C.. It left 67 dead and the Potomac River filled with debris and the bodies of so many individuals whose lives held so much promise. Then, just two days later, a Learjet taking off on a medical flight plummeted to the ground at high speeds. The crash filled a busy street in Philadelphia, leaving a scene unlike people had ever witnessed. Cars and houses were burned and a crater and scattered debris was all that remained of the plane.
All told, 73 lives were lost and countless families were sent into a spiral of grief and disbelief. Both tragedies hit close to home here. The first in D.C. took the life of a student from a university at which I have many ties. The loss is felt keenly. The second happened in my hometown of Philadelphia, where so many who I know and love live and work, some close to the scene.
None of those 73 people knew that day would be their last. All had plans and dreams. Many were athletes, competing to earn their spot in the national and world rankings with hopes of the Olympics someday. Others were professionals, making a mark in their field and working to make a difference. They were sons and daughters, sisters and brothers, mothers and fathers all making their way to their destination with plans for the next day and appointments in their agenda. But it all stopped. Suddenly. Without warning. Life ceased abruptly. And those left behind are left wondering, weeping, and asking ‘what if’ questions that can’t change the outcome. Each one has a story. Each one was loved. Each one needed to know Jesus as their Savior. Some did. Others, likely did not. And that is the real tragedy.
When each traveler stepped foot onto their respective flight, none of them knew their time was short. They each expected to exit their plane on their own two feet, headed toward the baggage claim. Instead, their bodies were recovered and identified, families were notified, and grieving began to take hold. When we stop to think about it, it’s disturbing. It’s unfair. It’s heartbreaking. And the eternal consequences are sobering.
What if we had some idea of the time that remains…of our own or of others? Would we prioritize differently? Would we be bolder? More joyful? Would we have a sense of urgency to tell others about Christ? How would we live differently? Oh friends, none of us knows how long we have, yet we often fall into the lull of the ordinary and of expecting the expected and doing what was planned. If we knew that the time that remained was limited, I suspect that we might change what we choose to do and say so that we make the most of the time God gives us.
As parents, we help prepare our kids for the future. We send them to school, we help them define goals. We give them guidance on a degree, a career, a relationship. But when do we take time to talk to them about the temporary nature of life here in this current reality on Earth? We do talk about eternal life, but far too often that’s removed from the reality of today. It’s a ‘someday’ thing, but rarely do we talk about it as a ‘could be today’ thing. And far too often our children have an invincible perspective that doesn’t acknowledge the reality of the brevity of life here.
For each of those passengers, their last day was the regular day that became their entrance into eternity. Were they ready? Did they consider their souls as much as they considered their boarding pass? Were they mindful that there is more to life than what is lived here and now?
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:14
It’s time to begin talking about eternity today with our sons and daughters. Bring it into the conversation. It’s important to recognize that at any moment, we can step from ‘here’ to ‘hereafter’ and we change dimensions, but also at that moment, our faith becomes sight! There should be anticipation, not dread, and preparation, not procrastination. We should be so ready to meet Jesus that we step into eternity and into the arms of Jesus with a joyful gasp and cry of delight!
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. I Peter 1:3-5
To think that there are so many people who wouldn’t have the relationship with Jesus to be able to imagine that scene is heartbreaking. Too many people are unsure of what awaits after death. Some believe that death is the end, there is nothing, they simply cease to exist. Others ‘hope for the best’ but have no assurance. But we, as believers in Christ, KNOW for sure that we have eternal security with Jesus in heaven. Why wouldn’t we feel compelled to share the hope we have in Christ?!
Romans 10:9-11, 13, “That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
We need to model for our sons and daughters what it is to use the time that remains in a way that honors God and shares the hope of salvation with others.
This week, let’s pray that the Holy Spirit leads and gives us the words to share the gospel with someone. Don’t force it, but let the Spirit lead. Pray that He would give our sons and daughters the words to share with others around them! Be mindful of the time that remains, both for you and for others. Whether God calls us home or Jesus returns to claim His Bride, the Church, we have a job to do and an urgency to use the time well. Let’s pray that our sons and daughters do the same.
Romans 10:14, 17 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Let’s pray together:
“Oh, Lord, You created us in Your image to be Your vessels, yet so often we take matters into our own hands, or we lose sight of our calling to make Your name known. We waste time or worry over time when You are Lord of time and we are Your servants. I pray that You would give us boldness this week to share Jesus with others. I pray for (name) that You would help them gain perspective of the time that remains. None of us know how long we have. Oh that (name) would live for You each moment! Help (name) to share Jesus with others unashamedly, boldly, and with joy. Lord, they need to know You!! They need to have hope for eternity and strength for today. As believers in Christ, we have that hope because we know You as our Lord and Savior. There is nothing better than the confidence and assurance we have in Christ. Give us the words and the opportunity. I pray for those grieving after the tragedies this week. Comfort them, Lord. Help them to cling tightly to You. Draw them to cry out to Jesus for salvation. Lead them into green pastures where they can rest and be refreshed. I pray that You would empower believers to come alongside them and share the hope of Christ. Help each of us to stand strong in these last days and boldly proclaim the gospel in our words and actions. Help us to live rightly in ways that bring glory to Jesus. In His name I pray, amen.”
Prodigal Prayer
“Heavenly Father, my precious prodigal (name) is headed for eternal disaster without Christ. They are oblivious to the dangers or maybe they just don’t care. Holy Spirit, speak to their heart and mind today. Help them to recognize they are in desperate need of a Savior and that Jesus died for their sin so they could live eternally. I pray that you would sober them with the realization that time is short and they must decide who they will serve. Lord, open their eyes to see the reality of their destination without Christ and the hope and salvation that comes with surrendering their heart to Him. I pray they would crave forgiveness, redemption and a hope of eternity with Him. Please, Lord, redeem the time that remains, bring them to salvation, restore the relationships that have been broken and bring joy where there is grief. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior and you have questions about how to have a personal relationship with Him, reach out! I would love to share the hope of Jesus with you today!
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.”
G190 - akoloutheō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g190/kjv/tr/0-1/
Chisholm, T. O. (n.d.). Great is thy faithfulness. Hymnary.org. https://hymnary.org/text/great_is_thy_faithfulness_o_god_my_fathe
Teach Them to Love Jesus
“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5
We’ve taught our sons and daughters many things over the years, often by talking to them and repeating words and phrases and the truths of Scripture, but more often, by being an example to them. When we taught them how to tie their shoes, we didn’t just say it, we showed them- over and over, until they could do it themselves, and then we praised their efforts. We taught them how to be self-sufficient, mature, and how to live with integrity.
When it comes to teaching our sons and daughters the truths of faith, our words carry weight, but our example speaks more loudly. Friends, we need to live it out in front of them. Our words don’t have nearly as much impact as our actions, our attitudes, and the demonstration of our love and commitment to Jesus being lived out in our daily life. It cannot be “do as I say, not as I do”. They’re adults. They will do what they choose. But if we live out our faith, consistently, circumspectly, putting Jesus at the forefront, always, our lives will reflect His character and our actions will demonstrate our priority of faith. Because, if we’re honest, it’s not that we want our kids to do what we say…we want them to do what Jesus says.
Think back to your days in elementary school. Do you remember the lessons? Do you recall how you learned fractions or reading? It’s possible vague details will return, but if asked about your teacher, you would immediately begin to give a description of how your teacher interacted with you and made you feel important, seen, and valued. The teacher had a lot to say, but what impacted us was their character and actions toward us.
“I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.” Philippians 3:12b-15
As we live out our Christian walk, are we investing more time and energy into words, or actions? Are we trying to convince others (especially our sons and daughters) that what we believe is right and true, or are we modeling it to them? We must be cautious because we can weary others by always trying to prove our point. Paul says “and if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.” Paul was assuring the Philippians that by pursuing the Lord, God would make clear what is right and true. It wasn’t up to Paul and the church to correct people’s thinking. Should we speak truth? Absolutely! Can we demand or pressure others to follow it.? Not so much. It’s a heart-decision that only the Holy Spirit can motivate.
Though our sons and daughters are grown, we still feel that burden to know that they are walking with the Lord. That burden may inspire us to speak a bit too much, press a little too hard, to try and sway their thinking. But friends, we are still teaching them when we interact with them by living out our faith. We demonstrate how to be a disciple when we consistently follow the Lord, pursue personal time with Him, memorize His word and obey His commands. We model what it means to love when we are patient, kind, unselfish, and forgiving (1 Corinthians 13). We show them the strength and humility that accompanies asking forgiveness when we apologize for saying what we shouldn’t or doing something hurtful. We are not above that, at any age.
Our interaction with them says more than our words ever could. It communicates that God is what is most important to us and we will always submit to Him, making Him the head, the Lord, and the Shepherd of our hearts. He is the One to whom we surrender all of ourselves, and that will be reflected in our life, so more than in our words. Take a moment to check yourself, is that what your life demonstrates? Could others testify to it… would they?
Model Jesus to your sons and daughters at every opportunity. Let your actions speak loudly and let the Holy Spirit do His work.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:” Philippians 2:3-5
Pray that they would love Jesus authentically and that He would be the foundation upon which they build their life.
Pray without ceasing.
Are You Willing to Trust God?
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
Trust is hard. It requires us to step out of our comfort zones, to relinquish control, to place our confidence in something or Someone other than us.
Remember when our kids were little, and they were determined to do something themselves? They were convinced they knew how, that they were strong enough, that they didn’t need help. But the result was a big mess and frustration and tears because nothing turned out the way they expected or wanted. They didn’t have the foresight, the strength, or the experience to really handle the task.
When it comes to our sons and daughters, we want to know they’re okay. We want to be able to rest, with full assurance that they are making the right choices, befriending the right people, and living in a way that pleases the Lord. Yet they’re out of our homes (most of them, anyway), living on their own and conducting their own affairs with (likely) little thought for us. As a parent, that’s a hard change. We invested so much into them, it’s difficult to let go and not be involved. Oh, we talk, we visit, but we don’t do daily life with them anymore. We’re not sitting down to dinner asking, “How was school today?”. Life with adult children is different. And for parents, it pulls us (sometimes kicking and screaming) into a whole new level of trusting God for their care and protection.
When they were little, we had a false sense of control over their well-being. I think that is God’s grace to young parents. But as our sons and daughters grow and become more independent and begin spending more and more time apart from us, our parental ability to have a hand on everything diminishes…and almost disappears. If we’re honest, we like to be in control, and it is hard to relinquish that role. We like having things go the way we planned or the way we imagine it will work out. But then we get disappointed or upset, annoyed, or pouty when it does not. (our children get it honestly, no?) Sometimes we even push back to others around us… perhaps even to our now adult children, trying to align everything with our ways and wishes once again.
It is then we realize our role as parents is changing, whether we like it or not. If we try to maintain the status quo of their toddler or primary years, we upset the equilibrium of relationships and communication. We can’t keep them little, and we can’t control their choices. We have to let go and trust God.
It's time we ask ourselves some important questions:
Do I love God more than I love (name of son or daughter)
Am I willing to release my grip on (name) in order to allow God to work in their life?
What if God takes (name) to the other side of the world? Will I support and pray for them or will I resist God’s plan and fight for my own will?
What if they experience grief or hardship- will I consume my thoughts with ‘me’ - what could I have done differently to prevent this? Or will I point them to Christ and encourage their faith and trust in His sovereignty?
Am I living out an example of trusting God to my sons and daughters?
It’s tempting to be God’s GPS, telling Him where He’s going and guiding His turns for our lives. We’re quick to yell out “Wrong Turn!” and tell God that’s not where He wants to take us. But what if it is? What if God asks you to give up something you love dearly (a job, a home, a ministry, a relationship) because He is leading you (or your son or daughter) to something else?
Our lives would be fairly dismal if we were left to design our own future because, we can all admit, we are so limited in our humanness. We don’t have the power, the creativity, the sovereignty to design our own destiny, nor to protect and administrate our daily lives. We are fallen, needy children. Yet God loves us so very much He’s planned our life, long before we were ever born. He’s orchestrated all of the locations, experiences, people, and lessons to align with His perfect will. We all could share story after story of things that we would not have chosen for ourselves or our family but that God used to bring growth, blessing, and joy. He is a good Father and He cares for His children.
God asks us to trust Him. That word, trust, is the same as the word believe, ‘pisteuo’ in Greek. It means, “to have faith, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ): believe, commit.” It goes further to mean, “to think to be true; to be persuaded of; to place confidence in.” (1)
So there is one more question that begs to be asked:
Who are you trusting?
Are you trusting in yourself and your ability to orchestrate things? Are you trusting in the strength of your family to ensure your sons and daughters will do what is right? If you are, friend, you are on your way to a difficult and painful awakening. “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” 2 John 1:9 Are you living like you’re abiding or like you don’t have God at all?
God asks us to trust Him because He knows what is best. He knows the beginning from the end and with that in mind, He orchestrates our life with all of its twists and turns, gains and losses, and joys and hardships. He has the end in mind- whereas we only see today.
And if we trust Him, He promises hope, joy and peace. Hope overflowing by the power of the Holy Spirit will only be enjoyed when we abide in Christ. So let’s give up our aspirations of being God’s gps. Let’s let Him be in the driver’s seat while we sit back and trust that He’s more than capable of managing our life and that of our sons and daughters. Trust. It is what God asks us to do daily. Will you trust Him today?
“Father, I confess I struggle with wanting to control things. I let fear and anxiety take over and in my effort to control them, I try and control others. Forgive me, Lord. Speak to my heart tonight. Help me to abide in You. I pray that You would give me a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit so that my thoughts, desires, actions and word reflect Jesus and not my sinful, fallen nature. Lord, I pray that my sons and daughters would see me trusting You so that my life would be an example of peace, joy, and overflowing hope that can only come from You. Lord, work in (name)’s heart and life. Help them to trust You, too. Remind them that You are their good Father and You desire to prosper them, not harm them. Give them strength to trust even when it doesn’t make sense to our limited human understanding. I pray that You would be glorified and Christ be praised, in Jesus’ name, amen.
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still
And with all who will trust and obey
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey (2)
Pray without ceasing.
1. G4100 - pisteuō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4100/niv/mgnt/0-1/
2. Sammis, J. H. (n.d.). Hymn: Trust and obey. =. https://hymnary.org/text/when_we_walk_with_the_lord
How Should We Live?
"Be on your guard;
stand firm in the faith;
be men of courage;
be strong." I Corinthians 16:13
How might we live differently if we KNEW Jesus would return today? Would we share our faith more boldly? Would we live without worry and fear?
If our sons and daughters are believers in Jesus, they are members of the Body of Christ, the Church, the Bride of Christ. We need to pray they will actively pursue their relationship with Jesus and live it out so others can see the fruit.
Today, let’s pray the Church lives purposefully (confident in our 'why') and intentionally (making it happen), ready to meet our Savior and actively sharing the hope that we have with those who don't know Him.
Pray that believers around the world are watchful and vigilant, that they will stand fast and persevere in their faith in Christ, pray they would be brave and be ever-strengthened in their faith and commitment to Jesus.
How Can A Young Man Keep His Way Pure?
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your word.” Psalm 119:9
Remember when our kids would build a fort out of pillows and cushions? They would surround themselves with them to protect themselves from any ‘enemy’ whether it be a sibling or pet who was the perceived ‘intruder’. It was creative and fun. But there is a great spiritual significance to that fort building.
Psalm 119:9 says “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living (or keeping) according to Your word.”
The word “pure” is the Hebrew word “zaka” which means translucent or morally innocent (1). Oh how we pray that for our sons and daughters! But in this world, corruption is easily attained, even if it’s not pursued. So how can they guard against it? And how can we pray?
We pray that they are living according to God's word. That word “living” is the word “samar” in Hebrew. Samar means to hedge about as with thorns, the guard, attend to, be circumspect and keep watch.
In Medieval times, the castle was always built with a keep- that portion of the castle that was the strongest and safest place. It was a fortified town and a place of refuge. Psalm 61:3 says, “For You have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.”
Our sons and daughters will only keep their way pure, not just by going about their day with God in mind, but by surrounding themselves with His word, being circumspect- looking all around them and guarding against attack by the enemy.
Just knowing God’s word isn’t enough. Being familiar with it won’t provide the protection and defense we need. No, we need to surround ourselves so that we do not fall into sin.
Today, let’s pray that they revert back to their childhood days of building a wall of protection against the enemy, not with cushions and pillows, but with the mighty Word of God.
“Great peace have they who love Your law, and nothing can make them stumble.” Ps 119:165
“Heavenly Father, You are the Mighty Protector and the Great Defender. I pray that You would surround (name) today with a hedge of spiritual protection against the Enemy. Lord, let (name) be ever-mindful of You and Your Word. May it not just be something that is ‘familiar’ to them, but let Your word be light and life to them. May they look to You for their guidance and protection. May their first thought in the morning be You and their last in the evening as well. Lord, help (name) to keep their way pure- not hiding sin but translucent, allowing Your light to shine through them. Help them to be morally pure, not following after deception or evil but wholeheartedly following after You. Be their Keeper, Lord and may their life be full of peace because they love You completely. “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25, KJV)
Pray without ceasing, friends.
1. H2135 - zāḵâ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2135/niv/wlc/0-1//
2. H8104 - šāmar - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h8104/niv/wlc/0-1/
Last Words
So many good books and movies are tied to the last words of a character. Perhaps the words set the stage for the unfolding story or maybe they wrap up the entire plot and provide a moving and meaningful end. Either way, last words seem to have the ability to elevate a situation or story and deepen its impact.
In Genesis 22, God asked Abraham to offer a sacrifice to show his love and obedience to his Lord. But it wasn’t ‘just’ a sacrifice, it was the thing dearest to Abraham’s heart. The sacrifice God requested from Abraham was his son, Isaac. The son of the Promise.
Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” (Gen. 22:1-2)
Abraham didn’t question God, he obeyed. But I’m sure with every step toward that mountain, questions flew through his mind and his heart grew heavy in anticipation. As Abraham and Isaac, his only son, climbed Mt. Moriah, Isaac broke the silence and asked his father a question.
“Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” (Gen. 22:7)
At that moment, Abraham had to be aware that the words he spoke to his son might be the last words Isaac would hear from his father. That’s a sobering moment if ever there was one, isn’t it?
What if we were in his shoes, what would we say? If we had one final opportunity to build into our sons and daughters, would we embrace the moment with the clarity of eternity? Would we take that one final moment to point them to Christ?
Abraham’s response reflected the trust of one who was a friend of God, with the faith of one who believed in the sovereign provision of God, knowing God could do the impossible and bring the dead to life.
“Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.” (Gen. 22":8)
Abraham took the opportunity to point Isaac to the Lord. Of all the things he could have said, he used that moment to speak life, hope and spiritual confidence into Isaac and to affirm the goodness, the Sovereignty and the perfect provision of God. Isaac was the child of promise, the one God would use to multiply Abraham’s descendants like the stars of the heavens and the sand of the sea. Abraham didn’t know how God would redeem this sacrifice, he just knew that He would. He knew God did not go back on His promises. Abraham spoke into Isaac with strong faith and a confidence in God, his Lord and his Friend.
When we have opportunity to speak into our sons and daughters, let’s not wait for that golden ‘last words’ moment to speak those things of eternal value. Ponder, what is it we want them to know about Jesus? What do they need to hold in their hearts and minds? What will assure them of the hope that anchors the soul and the promise of eternity with Christ? We must have the conviction to speak words into our sons and daughters that affirm the importance of:
Knowing God personally
Trusting God completely
Following God unwaveringly
Waiting on God expectantly
Serving Jesus joyfully
Submitting to the Lord obediently.
1 Peter 1 is a treasure trove of truths for the Christian life and the passage touches on each of these actions. How can we speak into our kids? We need to read it, pray through it and then pray each word over our sons and daughters. Even more effective is taking the step to commit it to memory and live by it so that our words and actions continually point our sons and daughters to Jesus and how He calls them to live.
1 Peter 1:1-25
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
Father, God, I pray that (name) would be your chosen and elect, called to salvation in Jesus, set apart for His work and for the inheritance You set in place for them. I ask that in Your foreknowledge, (name) would be chosen as one of Your own, a Christ-follower, sanctified by the work of the Holy Spirit and called to be obedient to Jesus, sprinkled by His blood and blessed abundantly with Your grace and peace.
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
I pray, Lord, that (name) would know You as God and Father. I pray that they would comprehend Your great mercy and clearly see how it is always enough to cover their sin and restore them to a right relationship with You. I pray that (name) would experience a living hope in Christ. One that would grow an eager expectation for the inheritance You’ve prepared for them, the eternal home that far outshines any blessing or beauty they might experience on this earth. I pray that You would shield (name) by Your power so that they would stand before You, worthy and righteous through Jesus Christ. I pray that (name)’s faith would be authentic, resilient and would withstand anything the enemy might throw at them. May (name)’s life and faith bring glory and honor to You. Strengthen them Lord, so that although they have not seen you, they continue to believe and follow after You and know the joy that You give to those who believe.
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. 13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Father, I pray that (name) would set their hope on the grace that You promised to bring when Jesus is revealed. Do not let them defer to any lesser god offering false hope and counterfeit rewards. I pray that their obedience to You would be unwavering. Continue to increase their knowledge of the Word, their wisdom in spiritual things and their commitment to Jesus, no matter what.
17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.”
Lord, help them to obey You.
Soften their hearts to love others.
Strengthen their commitment to live in holiness
Sharpen their vision to see the promise of eternity
Deepen their resolve to follow Christ without compromise
In Jesus’ name, amen.
May we speak life-giving, soul-affirming words that will point our sons and daughters to the cross, to Jesus as their Lord and Savior, to the value of eternity in the Presence of Yahweh, the Great I Am. Speak words of life. Speak words that will always be remembered and valued. May the words our sons and daughters recall from us, be the words that continually point them to Jesus.
Pray without ceasing.
Check Your Roots
Colossians 2:6-7 “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
As parents, we’re burdened to see our sons and daughters continue walking with the Lord and growing in their spiritual lives and understanding. We want to see them living the abundant life! We want them to live victoriously in a world that seeks to drag them down. How can we pray to that end more effectively?
The Apostle Paul, in Colossians, encourages us with several directives that are aimed at strengthening our spiritual walk and protecting us from the enemy.. The first is to “continue” to live our lives in Him. That word “continue” is the word “peripateo'' in Greek and it means to walk, to make one’s way, to progress or conduct oneself (1). It’s the word from which we get the word ‘perpetual’. So if we’re continuing in Christ it means that we are growing in our faith and our lives exemplify a continued progression toward Christ and toward becoming like Him. It doesn’t stop. We can not be static. We’re not to be passive. So our first point of prayer this week is that our sons and daughters would continue to walk with the Lord and grow in Him.
But that’s not all. We’re told to be rooted. “Rhizoo” (2) is the Greek word for “rooted” and it means to be planted…not just set or placed like plastic flowers stuck in a garden. We’re to be firmly rooted, growing, digging our roots in and blossoming gloriously, bearing fruit. We do that by digging deeply into the Word- not just listening and walking away, but taking it in and letting it change us, strengthen us and make us firm in our faith. We want deep roots, not shallow wimpy ones. Prayer point number two is that our sons and daughters would have strong, healthy roots and that the ‘fertilizer’ they apply would be spiritually organic- straight from the Word and poured out by the Holy Spirit.
The next directive is to be built up in Him. Note that it’s not just a general “building up”, but being built up in HIM. The Greek, epoikodomeo (3), defines this as being built upon. Have you ever seen a beautiful majestic tree that was uprooted by a storm? Although the tree looked sturdy, the roots spread broadly, but not deeply. It lacked a strong foundation. Whatever it chose to dig its roots into and around wasn’t strong enough to allow the tree to stand in the storm. When the storm came through, the tree was quickly toppled over. The whole thing was uprooted and what was left after the storm gave evidence that the tree lacked healthy roots... The ‘surface’ beauty of the tree belied the weakness of its foundation.
Our lives are the dwelling place of Christ. We need a good foundation for our faith, but we need to be built in Him as well so that our lives reflect His Presence. As parents, we likely laid the foundation with our children. But now it falls on them to build upon it and make it their own according to the guidelines provided in Scripture- God’s building code.. Pray that our sons and daughters continue to grow and build their faith with solid teaching and wise understanding of the Word.
Finally, Paul encourages us to be ‘established’ or made firm and sure and abounding with thanksgiving. If we’re established, we are strong in our faith and we’ll be overflowing with gratitude for the Lord’s blessings and the certainty of His promises. If we’re growing, we’ll be overflowing!
So today, let’s take some time to pray these things over our sons and daughters…and ourselves and the whole Body of believers. Let’s overflow with thankfulness because the Lord doesn’t stop working in us but continues until He completes that good work He started in us!!
“Father, thank you for the promises in Your Word that encourage us and show us the way we should go. I pray that You would help (name) today to continue to walk in You. Lord, help them to stick to the narrow way and not veer off toward the wide road that leads to destruction (Mt 7:14). Give them good teaching and healthy spiritual friendships and discipleship that will build their foundation and allow them to be properly planted. Help them to flourish and bear fruit. Lord, I pray that they would be established both in their own quiet time and in Church. Give them relationships that would sharpen and encourage them and help them to overflow with thanksgiving for all that You’ve done and will continue to do. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Pray Without Ceasing.
G4043 - peripateō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4043/kjv/tr/0-1/
G4492 - rhizoō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4492/kjv/tr/0-1/
G2026 - epoikodomeō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2026/kjv/tr/0-1/
Take a moment and share Join the PAC with someone else- let’s get more people praying for the next generation!!
God Uses the Storms
Today, read Jonah, chapter 1
We all know the story of Jonah. But let’s have a quick recap, shall we? Jonah was a prophet of God, called to take God’s message of pending judgment to a city called Nineveh. Nineveh wasn’t just a city, the Bible calls it a ‘great city’- it had significance….and it was full of wickedness.
Jonah knew all about Nineveh and he was less than interested in going there to share God’s warning and in how they should repent. In Jonah’s eyes, they deserved what was coming.
So Jonah ran. He ran in the opposite direction, away from Nineveh and away from God.
Let’s stop here. Do you have a son or daughter who is running from God? He sees and He knows! Don’t despair. God is working…
Now, back to Jonah…God let him run. He let Jonah board a ship headed for Tarsus. And Jonah wasn’t shy about sharing why he was headed to Tarsus. He told the sailors he was running from God. (1:10). But the sailors didn’t know or fear the Almighty God. There were many gods among them and it was more of a “Hey, whatever works for you, man” sort of thing. So running from God wasn't a cause for concern…until the storm.
God brought a storm that was wild and fierce. It challenged these seasoned sailors and after doing all they could on their own to save the ship, they began asking who was responsible for making all this trouble. Clearly, they sensed a spiritual aspect to this storm.
And Jonah? He was indifferent…asleep in the bottom of the ship- so disconnected that the captain had to wake him from a deep sleep. You see, in his running from God, he’d stopped listening to the Lord and he became insensitive and indifferent to God’s working. (Sometimes, when we run from God, we reach a place where we no longer hear His voice, but God is still working).
Jonah owned up to his part in the storm. When he confessed that he worshiped the God of Heaven, who made the sea and the land, the sailors were struck with fear. Now, here is where the account grows even more interesting… Jonah’s solution to save the ship and the men on it was to have them throw him overboard. We don’t know what his thoughts were- had he had a change of heart? Did he know God would save him? Was he simply owning his defiance and accepting his ‘fate’? The sailors didn’t want to do it…they continued trying everything else, but finally agreed that in order to have any chance at survival, they must do what Jonah said.
They threw him overboard. And they pleaded with God to not hold them accountable for Jonah’s life. They pleaded to God. Did you catch that? God used this storm to bring these sailors to a realization that there is One True God. They prayed, offered sacrifices to Him. They feared the Lord and made vows to Him. (1:15-16) Sometimes the storm isn’t just about us. Sometimes, God uses the storms to impact those around us and He uses our storms to bring others to Him.
And Jonah? Well, God provided a fish to swallow him. And here’s the thing…no one saw what went on inside the fish. No one. Yet, God was working. Remember that.
Friends, is your son or daughter in the midst of a storm? Step back and look at the big picture. Maybe God will use that storm to speak into their life…or maybe He’ll use it to speak into someone else’s life. That storm might not only be for your son or daughter. Does it seem like they’re indifferent to God? Keep praying. God is still working. Does it seem like the consequences of their choices have swallowed them whole- all is lost, there is no hope? God is STILL working- remember, no one saw what went on inside the fish. But God did. And he put Jonah there for a reason. And He’s allowed your son or daughter to be where they are for a reason. He’s not done working. Trust Him. Continue to pray. Ask God to calm the storm and reassure your faith. The next part of the story is coming… and God uses it for good!
“Father, You are the Almighty God, Maker of Heaven and Earth, Lord of the sea and the land. I trust You. Lord, sometimes all I can see is the storm. I worry for (name) and long for them to surrender to You. I know You are working, yet, I don’t see it. Give me spiritual eyes to recognize that even in the storm, You’re working and You don’t stop. I pray that (name) would grow sensitive to Your voice. Make their heart tender toward You. Burden them with their sin, their defiance, their indifference and draw them to surrender. I pray, Lord, that you would use this storm to shake them from their complacency to stand before You and acknowledge You are Lord of all. Father, put (name) wherever they need to be in order to hear Your voice. And help me to trust You that even when I can’t see what’s going on ‘inside the fish’ that You are there and You’re moving, changing hearts and drawing those who have run away, back to You. Lord, I pray that You would draw (name) back to you today. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
What is Man that God is Mindful of Him?
Psalm 144:3-4 “LORD, what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them? They are like a breath; their days are like a fleeting shadow.”
What is it that God desires from us? We cannot do anything for God. He has all He needs and the ability to create whatever He chooses. We are like a breath, formed from the dust and to dust we return. We are here and gone with little, if anything, to remind others of our time here. . Yet…
When God created us, He made us in His image. Genesis 1:27 “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Praise God for His creativity and His willingness to allow us to be image-bearers. It is a great privilege that we often don’t recognize. Pray that our sons and daughters recognize that and are awed by God’s design.
What are “mere mortals that you think of them?” Yet, God did think of us, long before we were born. Romans 8:29: "Because those whom He foreknew, He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the Firstborn among many brothers;”. He knew who would bow to His Lordship. He knew who would embrace the cross. He made a way for us to be reconciled to Him despite the death and separation that sin brought. He thought of us, and made a way and in that way we would be conformed to His likeness. Pray that our sons and daughters would understand God’s great love and His plan of redemption. Pray that they would realize that long before the world began, God thought of them and was preparing a way.
“They are like a breath, their days are like a fleeting shadow” James 4:14 “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” So what are we doing with our lives? While we are here, our task is to live like Jesus. And if we are believers in Jesus, we are being transformed into His likeness by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. 2 Corinthians 3:18 “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” Pray that our sons and daughters are sensitive to the work of the Holy Spirit and that they are obedient to His prompting and leading in their lives- making them more and more like Jesus.
I John 1:1-3 “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.”
One day we will see Jesus and stand in His presence and all of our purpose, all of our being will be brought into clarity. God’s design is that our brief life here is just a shadow of what will come. We will transition to an eternity in His presence, if we align our hearts with Him. And when we do, we receive the most amazing reward.
So when the Psalmist asks, “What are human beings that You care for them?” We can answer with assurance that we are His image-bearers, His children on whom He lavishes great love. We are those He knew long before He created the world and we are His heirs for whom He’s created an eternal home for us to live in His presence.
Pray that our sons and daughters realize their worth. Pray that they understand that there is so much more to our eternal souls than what we experience in this short, temporal earthly life. Pray that they will have an eternal perspective and will live in such a way that they reflect Jesus to those around them. Though this life is a breath and will fade, one day we will wake and find ourselves in eternity, our bodies whole, our minds sound and our souls filled with inexpressible joy and hope because we’ll be standing right where God intended us to, by His side in eternity. His heirs, His children, His image-bearers by His side and we’ll all be able to say “You look just like your Father!”
Pray without ceasing, friends. God is working.
Oh, His Mercy Brings Life.
Ephesians 2:4-5 “ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”
Roadkill is something we’re sure to encounter if we spend any amount of time driving. And roadkill in the summer...well, that is a whole other experience that is difficult to put into words. It smells...no, it reeks. It is pungent and awful and we can smell it long before we see it. We might quickly put up the windows and hold our breath until we’re past the offensive carcass, but somehow the stink of death lingers and we remember it even when we are long past the location. And somewhere, someone is tasked with cleaning that up, but it’s not a job to be envied and few would admit to doing it.
What if we took that roadkill and ‘dressed it up’? It would still be dead and stinking. Oh, we could put it on a pedestal, give it a title, but, even then, it would still be dead. The process of decay would continue and the stench with it. You see, it’s dead. It is unredeemable. No amount of effort, attention, accolades or affection will revive it. It will just continue to bear the stench of death. It has no life and cannot mimic it.
Friends, that was us. We were dead in transgressions. We were rotting corpses of sin, stinking and decaying spiritually. Oh, maybe we tried to dress ourselves up and go through the motions, but we were still decaying. Perhaps we tried to give ourselves importance and align ourselves with others who could give us value, but death ruled and robbed us of any worth.
And then came Jesus. He was and is bold and brave enough to step into our death and misery. He could tolerate our stench because He already faced death and won. He paid the price for our sin. Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in transgressions. He loved us when we were unable to love Him. He made us alive in Christ when we had no power to embrace life on our own.
He wasn’t afraid of our stench. He wasn’t repulsed by our rotting souls. He could have swept us aside, scooped us up with the refuse or walked away to a cleaner, more pleasant experience. But He saw our worth despite the death that surrounded us and He took hold of us and redeemed us. He gave us a new name and called us His child. Now, we bear the fragrance of Christ, the fragrance of life.
2 Corinthians 2:15-16 “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.”
God’s mercy is powerful.
Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters are the aroma of life to those around them because of God’s mercy in their lives. Pray that they fully grasp the greatness and beauty of God’s mercy and all it has rescued them from. Pray that they have a heart for the lost, to pray for and share the gospel to those who are dying.
Pray without ceasing.