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
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 Directs Your Steps?
Jeremiah 10:23 “Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.”
Look around at the ‘inspirational messaging’ that’s being pushed these days. It often goes something like this: “You can do anything you want to do!”, “Dream it, Believe it, Achieve it!”, “Your only limit is your mind!”.
Ah, these are such inspirational words and it’s likely, on occasion, we’ve encouraged our sons and daughters with some similar things. Yet, when we do, what we’re saying isn’t necessarily Biblical advice. In fact, sometimes it’s quite the opposite. Often, the ‘inspiration and motivation’ are self-focused, not God-focused.
If we are believers, it’s not up to us to determine our steps. God has a plan for our life and we are called to lay down our lives, our dreams, our goals and, instead, seek the Lord and His will for our lives. Proverbs 20:24 says “A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?”
Look at Genesis and the story of Joseph. He likely envisioned himself a shepherd for life, settling down and raising his family alongside his many brothers and their children. He didn’t plan on his brothers betraying him and selling him into slavery. He didn’t ‘dream and achieve’ a life of bondage and imprisonment in Egypt. But, oh, he dreamed!! He dreamed exactly what God intended him to and God used those dreams to position Joseph as the second most powerful man in Egypt and, as such, save the nation of Israel. Did it play out how Joseph would have envisioned it? No, not at all. Yet, God did more than Joseph or his family could have asked or imagined - and it brought glory to God.
Then, consider Esther. Nearly every little girl dreams of being a princess, but Esther’s dream came about much differently. She was forced into the King’s harem and in the process, had to hide her identity as a Jewess. Yet, God placed her in the palace ‘for such a time as this’ and used her mightily to save His people. She never could have planned her steps to get herself into the presence of the King- that would have brought death, not life. She never could have had the impact on a Kingdom without God’s hand and protection. There is no way she could have single-handedly saved a nation without God upholding her and providing the strength and wisdom to accomplish His purposes.
Friends, God’s plans far exceed our own. Our limited minds cannot fathom or begin to imagine the vast impact of what He chooses to do with us, in us and through us. That is true for our sons and daughters as well. Let’s be careful that our ‘hopes and dreams’ don’t distract our sons and daughters from God’s intentions for them.
God’s plan for all of us was set in place before the world was even created. If left to our own imagination, our lives would be a feeble attempt at making a difference and being successful...and in no way would resemble the amazing story that God weaves for us! We need to encourage our sons and daughters to seek the Lord, fully, completely, and without ceasing. His plans and goals for them are far better than anything they could imagine and what He calls them to is exactly what He’s created them to do. Their path is already determined, it’s up to them to believe and obey.
Pray today that our sons and daughters would seek the Lord’s will for their life and follow the steps He’s planned for them.
Pray without ceasing.