Hosanna! Lord, save us!
“Hosanna!” It is the cry of Palm Sunday and the Triumphal Entry.
“Hosanna!” It’s an expression we likely associate with celebration and recognition of Jesus as King.
“Hosanna!” We often see it as an exclamation of joy! But there is a desperation and lostness associated with the plea. The exclamation, “Hosanna!” comes from two Hebrew words “yasa” meaning to deliver or make wide and spacious (1) and the word “na” which means “I pray, now”. (2) So, Hosanna is actually a prayer that means, “Save, I pray!” or “Lord, save us!” .(3)
The people of Jerusalem cried out to Jesus to be their King and Savior, but not in a spiritual way, they were crying out for political salvation from Rome. Jesus wept because in their desperation, crying out for salvation, the people still did not see Who Jesus was or what He came to do. They missed the Son of God. They were as lost and desperate as ever.
As parents, we too understand crying out in desperation. The desperation of a parent praying for their child is unmatched. We know what it is to cry out when we are so burdened and in distress over where our sons and daughters are headed, what they are choosing to do and who they choose to follow. We desperately want them to turn to the Lord, recognize Him as God and Savior, but we have no power to change their heart and capture their mind.
Yet, God the Father knows that desperation- He gave His son to save a world that didn’t recognize Him and, instead, crucified Him. He knows the deep loss of loving a Son so dearly, giving the most precious thing He had to give for the sake of others whom He loved, but were not choosing to love Him. Sometimes the desperation we feel is accompanied by a son or daughter who, in their rebellion, choose to not love us or respect our wisdom or do what is right. Hosanna! Lord save us!
We may describe our situation with our son or daughter as being ‘in dire straights’. But what does that mean? “To be in dire straits means to be in desperate trouble or impending danger. Dire means extremely serious. Straits are narrow passages of water which connect two larger bodies of water, navigating them may often become perilous. In the mid-sixteenth century, straits came to mean any difficult situation, one that carries a high degree of trouble.” (4) God understands dire straights, and friends, sometimes God allows it. But God is so good to remind us that He sees. He is ready to save.
Isaiah 43:1-3a “But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;”
God doesn’t tell us that He will keep us from the flood or fire- but He promises He will protect us through it. The Creator has full control over all of Creation. He builds our faith by walking with us through the dire straights and holding back the waters so that we’re not overcome. We may walk those narrow passages/times in life where there is barely room to breathe, when we feel pressed on every side, but He is there. Hosanna! Lord save us!
Psalm 32:6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them.
Today, we might find ourselves praying Psalm 119:43a “Trouble and distress have come upon me,” lamenting to God our situation and how dire and desperate it seems.
The Hebrew word for trouble is “sar” which means “narrow, tight, afflicted, anguished, distressed. (5) And that word ‘sar’ comes from the root word ‘sarar’ which means “to cramp, literally or figuratively,—adversary, (be in) afflict(-ion), beseige, bind (up), (be in, bring) distress, enemy, narrower, oppress, pangs, shut up, be in a strait (trouble), vex.” (6) Distress is the Hebrew word “masoq” and it means anguish, straightness, striaits, (dire straits). (7) This word comes from the root ‘suq’ which means “to constrain, bring into straits, press upon.” (8)
God knows. He understands. He uses words in the original language that intricately describe how we might feel when pressed on every side and overwhelmed with situations out of our control. These words very clearly give us a picture of just how difficult and desperate the situations are that believers may encounter. But, those situations are not beyond His control- for whatever reason He allows us to experience trouble and distress- anguish and dire straits. But He doesn’t leave us there and He doesn’t abandon us. Keep going! Read further! Psalm 119:143 resolves and gives hope. It ends with “but Your commands give me delight.” Take a breath. There is delight to be enjoyed! God sees and He rescues. Trust Him. Hosanna! Lord save us!
Might we, today, cry out “Hosanna!” “Lord save us! Lord save my child!”?
Step to the side of the pathway and watch your Savior. Know His Presence. Reach out for His hand and pray “Hosanna! Lord save us!” Pour your heart out to your King and your God for rescue and deliverance from whatever dire straight you find yourself or your son or daughter. He sees and knows. He hears you. He will rejoice over you with singing and provide a way of escape. Hosanna! Lord, save us!
Pray without ceasing.
H3467 - yāšaʿ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h3467/niv/wlc/0-1/
H3467 - yāšaʿ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h3467/niv/wlc/0-1/
G5614 - hōsanna - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5614/niv/mgnt/0-1/
https://grammarist.com/phrase/dire-straits/#:~:text=Dire%20means%20extremely%20serious.,a%20high%20degree%20of%20trouble
H6862 - ṣar - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h6862/niv/wlc/0-1/
H6887 - ṣārar - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h6887/niv/wlc/0-1/
H4689 - māṣôq - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h4689/niv/wlc/0-1/
H6693 - ṣûq - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (nkjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h6693/nkjv/wlc/0-1/
The Value of Influence (or, why parenting is never really finished)
We would all probably agree that when we were young we didn’t have perspective. The world was wide open in front of us and we had so much life to live! There was so much we had yet to experience that we were not necessarily eager for Jesus’ coming. Though we loved the Lord, we didn’t want to miss out. We would say things like “I want to get married first.” “I want to have children” I want to… the list was endless. There was much here that held our attention and charmed us. We didn’t fully comprehend the amazing promise of the hope of heaven and, though we looked forward to it ‘someday’, it wasn’t something we thought we were ready for…just yet.
But as we get older, we begin to realize just how flawed this world is. We see the brightness become tarnished. Perhaps we experienced the loss of a loved one or a tragedy close to home and it begins to bring eternity into focus. Our hearts begin to long for heaven because we know that’s where everything is made whole. Our ever-increasing awareness of the brokenness here makes us long for the place and the Person who will bring healing and wholeness. We grow to realize this temporary shadow of a world and of a life are not what we are made for and there is so much more. We begin to await the promise with an eager expectation.
Our sons and daughters are reaching that age and stage when they are, perhaps, not as forward-looking as they should be… or, rather, upward looking. They lack perspective because they lack years and experience.
Our task as parents is not to just ‘raise them right and hope for the best’. We are not done parenting when our sons and daughters step out on their own. Our parenting changes, yes, but it doesn’t stop. We should be just as committed to impressing the Truth on them as we were when they were little, but our tactics need to be appropriate to the age and the now adult-to-adult relationship that our grown sons and daughters need and deserve.
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Ephesians 5:15-17
Titus 2 gives us a great explanation of what God tasks us with as we mature and become the ‘older men’ and ‘older women’. It explains the responsibility we have to build up the next generation of believers. The chapter calls us to teach the younger men and women how to live godly lives- but to do that, we need to be always learning too! There is so much at stake. If we are Christ-followers, our lives should reflect that at every opportunity and it should not stop for our sons and daughters simply because they’ve created their own home and family. Our influence as parents does not and should not stop.
Titus 2:1-3, 11-14
1 You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.
2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good….
11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
So, what should this look like? First, everything we teach, what we say and do, must stem from and be connected to sound doctrine. And what is that? It’s teaching that is without error. That takes us right back to scripture. We, as the older men and women, need to study, to learn, to allow the Holy Spirit to work in us and give us discernment and discretion. It is an intentional pursuit of God’s Truth. We cannot influence others rightly if we’re not pursuing righteousness ourselves.
We must also be cautious as we sit under the teaching of others. It’s not about the position, status, and power of the individual who is teaching- if that’s becomes the method by which we evaluate truth, that can lead to error because we become enamored, following the person but neglecting to weigh and evaluate the accuracy of their teaching against the standard of Scripture. When we make assumptions about accuracy because of someone’s popularity, reputation and/or position, we become foolish, not wise. It’s okay to question what you hear and compare it to what Scripture says. Paul praised the Bereans for doing just that! (Acts 17:11)
Following the pursuit of sound in doctrine (an ever-continuing process of learning), Paul calls us, as the older adults, to some very specific tasks and responsibilities. Gentlemen, you are called to be temperate (sober), worthy of respect (have an honorable character), self-controlled and sound (uncorrupt and wholesome) in faith, love and endurance. That’s a big task with qualities that do not come naturally. They require maturity in faith and depth of knowledge of the Truth and an active, intentional pursuit of Christ and submission to the Holy Spirit. It requires honest introspection with the Word of God as your standard of comparison. It requires humility and authenticity.
Ladies, we also are called to some hefty challenges. We are to be reverent (actions and words that reflect God) in the way we live (our behavior and attitudes), we are not to be a slanderer or a gossip (watch your tongue…and watch how you share ‘prayer requests’), we are not be enslaved to things that would control us (Paul mentions wine, but insert whatever it is that would command our life, our love and attention, our choices other than God…ie: an idol) and we are to teach what is good (or, be a teacher of goodness).
We are called to teach, but here’s the thing. We can become really good at telling others how they should live. But if we’re not first inspecting and correcting our own lives, how can we then have the credibility to teach others to do so? If we’re not living it ourselves, our words lack integrity and any authority we might try to wield really has no power or influence. We’re ‘full of air’ and our words lack substance. We need to go back to that first instruction- know sound doctrine.
None of this is generated or sustained by our own ability or godliness. It’s generated and sustained by God’s presence and power in our lives.
2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
HIS divine power. Not our own. We are set apart and called. We are tasked with teaching those who are younger than we, whether they are our own sons and daughters or those related to us because of the family of God.
Let’s not lose focus, friends. Let’s not neglect our calling. Parenting doesn’t end because the kids grow up. Parenting should not stop because they’ve ‘aged out’ of childhood into adulthood. Parenting is taking every opportunity to share wisdom, to encourage and challenge, and to build up the faith of our sons and daughters, and those younger people God puts in our lives, in ways that are beneficial to them and to others. It is embracing our role as the ‘older’ to teach, encourage and guide the ‘younger’ to walk faithfully with Christ. Whether you have children or not, you are part of the family of God and there are those in the family who need the godly influence of an older, more seasoned believer. One who is still eager to learn more about God and increase their faith and their faithfulness until the day they stand before Him in glory. We need to live out the example until we become a part of that ‘cloud of witnesses’.
Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Today, let’s pray for one another that we would have a hunger and thirst for righteousness. Pray that we would continue to learn sound doctrine so that we can teach and encourage correctly. Pray that we would be fully dependent on the grace of God to empower and guide our learning, our words, our actions and our lives so that our testimony would impact and encourage those around us who are younger and who need godly examples that model how to wait well for the blessed hope.
Titus 2: 11-13 “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,”
“Father, You have called us to be examples in how we live and influence others because, whether or not we intend to be, we are an influence. Help us to recognize that our words and actions make an impact and help us to speak and act wisely. Help us, as parents, to find effective ways to continue impressing Your Truth on our sons and daughters, ways that respect their adulthood but that allow them to understand they still have much to learn. Remind us that we are still learning, too. And if we don’t think we are or should be, teach us Lord to look and listen for You and to understand that until we stand before You, there will always be much to learn. Mold us into Titus 2 men and women who speak into the next generation with Godly wisdom and who act in ways that show others that Jesus lives in us. Help us to wait for that blessed hope- Your glorious appearing and I pray that we would not be ashamed at Your coming, but would rejoice that our faith becomes sight! Oh, Lord, move and work in this next generation. Raise them up to be mighty men and women of faith who speak boldly for Jesus. Give them a passion for You and compassion for those who don’t yet know You. I pray these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Pray without ceasing
When Things Don’t Go As Planned
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. Proverbs 19:21
Sometimes the outcome is not about the immediate satisfaction and completion of our plans, but more about the eternal impact that God will allow a story, a situation, and a change of plans to have on others.
When I was growing up, my family had friends who served as missionaries in Brazil. They were in a remote area and much of their ministry depended on a plane fitted with pontoons to allow for river landings. There were no airstrips in the jungle. (That’s likely still very true today.)
Every four years, this family returned to the United States for furlough. They would stay locally and then visit their supporting churches and update everyone on their ministry. It was a busy time for them, but for us, it was a time to catch up on friendships and enjoy one another’s company. The kids especially enjoyed playing together and renewing those friendships.
When I was in 6th grade, the family was home on furlough and there was much excitement as they were getting a new plane for their ministry. Dave, their father, asked my dad if he would like to go along with him to the west coast to pick up the new plane. My dad loved flying and had experience, having been in the Air Force. He was a great guy to have along- not only for good company, but he was good in a crisis. Dad eagerly agreed and the excitement began to build. The men would fly out to the West Coast to get the plane and then they would make their way back across the US. Their route was carefully planned and we had the list of airports where they would takeoff and land as they traveled. The trip would be complete when they landed in Philadelphia. Then, when the family’s furlough ended, they would take the plane back to Brazil where they served. There was much excitement about it all!
I remember watching my dad pack for the trip. He borrowed my suitcase and I was so proud that my dad wanted to use my suitcase. But along with the expected clothes and personal things he needed, he packed a special box. I was intrigued as I saw him put in flares, a knife, a first aid kit and other things that were very unusual for a trip. Curious, I asked him, “why?”. He explained that they were flying over some remote areas, like Brice Canyon, and if they had an emergency and the plane went down, they needed to be prepared for survival.
As an adult, this might have sparked worry and concern. Questions could have poured out about “what-if’s and why’s” But I trusted my dad completely. He was smart. He was kind. He never gave me reason to doubt his actions or his love for me. I happily went on my way and when the day came to say goodbye, we all saw the men off at the airport and then eagerly awaited updates as they made their way back.
They would take turns calling home. One night Dave would call his family, the next would be my Dad calling us. Each family would share updates and progress of the trip with one another.
But just a couple of days into the trip, we got a call that was confusing and unexpected. “We lost the plane.” “You lost the plane?” we asked. “How do you lose a plane?” “Where did it go?” We were so confused. There was no ‘facetime’ or skype. There were no mobile phones. Landlines and descriptive words limited the story and in order to not worry us too much, words were few. The story would unfold over the coming days.
We received another call that gave more information. “We went down.” “Wait, what?! You went down? But you’re okay, right?” Phone calls and messages flew back and forth and, in their own way, each man shared the story of what happened until the details started to become clear to those of us who were waiting and wondering.
Upon takeoff in New Mexico, things took a turn. The plane began climbing and then, encountered a wind sheer. They lost altitude and quickly went down. The plane hit the ground, flipped over and slid through a fence.
The workers at the small airport saw what happened and rushed to help, but they were afraid of what they would find in the mangled mess of wreckage. They knew it was unlikely to have a positive outcome. It was bad.
But when the airport employees got to the plane, both men were out of the plane, standing upright and surveying the damage. There was not a scratch on them! The only damage to person and property was a chipped tooth and a broken suitcase handle (yep, THAT suitcase). The plane was a total loss, but the lives of the men were perfectly preserved. It wasn’t until we saw pictures that we truly understood the magnitude of what our fathers survived.
God was so gracious. Things could have ended so differently, yet it was not in His plan to allow it. A few days later, we all trekked back to the Philadelphia airport to pick up the men who, just a few days before, left with much excitement and joy anticipating the adventure ahead. It was a full circle moment and yet, in the course of those few days, so much had happened we still couldn’t grasp it all. God was always in control. Even when it seemed things were spinning out of control, every second, every movement and every action was perfectly in His hand and meted out according to God’s sovereignty.
There were so many things we wondered, but foremost, why would God allow that brand new plane to crash? Why would He allow an investment for the ministry to be destroyed? Why didn’t He prevent this tragedy? The greater question was, and still is, what impact did this have on others and how would God use this?
God allowed the disaster to happen where others could witness the miracle. Those airport workers saw God perform a mighty act right in front of them and our dads were sure to tell them why they walked out of that plane. It was nothing less than God’s mighty hand of protection and His plan for their life that ensured they would walk away from that accident. Their testimony was strong.
God affirmed to our families that He is in control. We can plan all we want, but God determines the outcome. This time God made it clear that His plan looked differently than ours.
God showed his abundant mercy. He provided powerful protection in a situation that, by all accounts, should have left two families without their husbands and fathers. That wasn’t lost on us. We knew God’s plan and power defied human wisdom and understanding.
We understood that ‘fate’ shouldn’t be a word in the believer’s vocabulary. Psalm 139:16 “...all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” God ordains our days. He determines each one. We will only step into eternity and His presence when He decides our time here is done. Until then, we should live to serve Him and not fear the ‘what if’s’. When we invest our thoughts and emotions in worrying about the ‘what-if’s’, we delve into ‘fortune telling’ and exhibit a lack of trust for God and His sovereignty. Our God is bigger than our fears, our imagination and our insecurities. We can rest in that. We must.
Trusting God took on new meaning to each of us. It became a mighty object lesson that we could each recall and every time, it would bring a flood of assurance and comfort that God truly is in control and nothing happens that He does not allow. His ways are perfect; we can trust Him.
No, things did not go as planned. But there were two men, two wives and seven children who saw the power of God work mightily. There were several airport workers who witnessed a miraculous survival. The decades of testimony from each family member to others of God’s goodness and mercy continues. It’s evident that the plan was not to get a new plane to Brazil, but to share the testimony of God’s mighty protection and power.
I kept that suitcase for many years- the handle wired back into place. Each time I looked at it, memories of that event would surface along with reassurance that I could trust my Heavenly Father. He is smart. He is kind and He’s never given me reason to doubt his actions or his love for me. I can make my plans, but trust that if God opts to change them, it’s for good reason. I can rest in His sovereignty.
Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters are willing to trust God with their plans. Pray that when things don’t go as expected, that they continue to trust that God is Sovereign and His purposes are beyond our understanding. Pray that even when things come crashing down, they will believe, with conviction, that He works ALL things for good; they can trust Him completely. He is faithful. He is kind. He will never give us reason to doubt His actions or his love for us.
“Heavenly Father, I pray that (name) would always be willing to allow You to work in their life. Help them to be flexible enough to set aside their good plan for Your better plan, even if it seems to undo or be opposite of what they desired. I pray (name) never to be insistent and demanding to have their own way, fighting against You or competing with You. Help them to always hold the things of this world loosely so they would not be derailed when things don’t go their way. Give them insight and discernment to see that You are always working and help them to practice humility, to step aside and allow you to work. Lord, when devastating things come, and I know they will, give them courage to trust You and peace to know that You will work all things for good. But help them to understand that ‘all things for good’ is an eternal reference (Rom. 8:28) and that in this world, we will have trouble, but You have overcome this world (Jn 16:33).”
“I pray that (name) would understand that Your goodness and love is not gauged by how trouble-free their life is. Increase (name)’s faith. Help them to continue to grow stronger through each circumstance and hardship they encounter; and let them see You work and move- open their eyes, Lord. And if they can’t see you working, help them to trust and be confident that You are. Let them fix their eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Cor 4:18). Help them to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor 5:7). Lord, strengthen (name)’s conviction to follow after You with their whole heart. Don’t let them waver or stumble. Help them to continuously and joyfully surrender to You so that their life is a reflection of Jesus to others. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Holy by Association
Colossians 1:2 To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
Associations can make or break us, can’t they? If we know someone of position or wealth, we may be tempted to name drop, saying, “I know (insert name of popular or famous individual), we’re friends!” Our social standing is elevated and we have a measure of importance because of our connection.. We might even expect to receive preferential treatment or special access because of who we know. Our value in the eyes of others may increase, not because of anything we’ve done, but because of who we know. It becomes a point of pride and self-importance.
We’re also familiar with the phrase “guilty by association” and we fully understand what that means. Just by knowing someone and being in their presence when a wrong is committed can cause us to be guilty by association. Perhaps it’s a business partnership wherein one partner acts illegally.. The other partner is then ‘guilty by association’ due to the shared responsibility and benefits of that partnership. Guilt by association can stem from the actions of a friend, family member or group to which one belongs. We’re culpable not because of what we’ve done, but because of who we know. It becomes a point of disgrace and humiliation.
But holy by association? What does that even mean and how does that happen?
The Apostle Paul addressed this when he wrote to the church in Colossae,
Colossians 1:2 To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
What did Paul mean when he called these believers “God’s holy people”? Was it how they lived their life? Were they exceptionally spirit-led and sinless?
Strong’s Concordance says the word ‘holy’ or ‘hagios”, means a people who possess distinction because of a connection to God. They are sacred, pure, morally blameless and consecrated (1).
Did you catch that… a people who possess distinction because of a connection to God. If we are believers in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and we trust in Him alone for our salvation, we are holy by association. How amazing is that?! It’s only because of our connection to Him that we are spiritually set apart and recognized as God’s own. It’s not just because we know Jesus, but because Jesus knows us and claims us as His own. Nothing we do on our own could ever achieve this status. It’s only through Jesus. We are holy by association.
Scripture makes several references to this holy association.
Colossians 3:12 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
1 Corinthians 1:2 “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:”
Romans 1:7 “To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Hebrews 2:11 ”Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.”
Did you note that last verse? Both the one who makes people holy (Jesus) and those who are made holy (believers) are of the same family. Jesus is not afraid to call them/us brothers and sisters. We are holy by association.
That removes a whole lot of pressure to make ourselves ‘acceptable’, doesn’t it? It’s not up to us. We are chosen and made holy by the work of Jesus.
Friends, we need to take time to gain perspective. When we ‘name drop’ it should be the name of Jesus Christ, not to make ourselves more important, but to increase the fame of our Lord and Savior. When we truly understand that we are holy by association to God, we should respond in all humility, not pride, and remember that it’s only through Jesus that we have such a standing. We possess distinction because we are connected to God. We don’t have to make ourselves better, achieve a certain standing, or have an “A” list of friends in order to be recognized as holy. All we need to do is believe in Jesus and trust in Him for our salvation and redemption.
Today, let’s pray for our sons and daughters that they don’t fall into the trap of self-importance or faulty concepts of performance-based “holiness”. Pray that they would understand the immeasurable worth of their value in Christ Jesus- the One who makes them holy. Pray that they would practice humility in understanding the price of their holiness was gained through the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus and the call to obey Christ. Finally, pray that they take their eyes off of human standards of connection and worth and lean into the Biblical definition of holiness as God’s chosen and dearly loved people.
Take time today to write out a prayer reflecting your understanding of holiness by association.
Pray without ceasing.
G40 - hagios - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g40/niv/mgnt/0-1/
The Decay of Sin & The Master Builder
1 John 3:2 “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
Have you ever taken time to look at an abandoned house…I mean really up close? They can look rather intriguing from a distance. But the closer you get, the more you begin to see the decay. Windows might be broken out, letting the weather inside. And if the weather gets in, everything starts to decay. What once was a beautiful home, filled with love and life, becomes a shell, rotting from the inside out.
It’s kind of like sin. Sin takes a toll, doesn’t it? Oh, we start out sturdy, solid and beautiful, but the effects of steady sin weathers us. Sometimes the choices we make and the lives we choose to live wear us down over time and leave us battered and worn. The inner beauty we once had gives way to rot and ruin. Sin does that to us.
The window in the picture once framed a beautiful room. It protected it from the elements, yet it also let the light in so that the room was filled with the golden rays of the sun. And at night, in the darkness, it shone from the inside out so all could see its warmth and beauty.. But at some point, those living there left. Then, that window broke and what was once a barrier to the elements and a protector of the beauty within no longer worked. Now instead of a beautiful room, the glass is broken and lying on the ground, the curtains are shredded and the room inside is ruined by the elements. The floors and walls are weathered with rain and it is no longer a place of love and shelter.
There are so many analogies we could use. But, suffice it to say, we’re a lot like those houses, aren’t we? Oh, we may only leave our ‘window’ open but a crack, yet the weather of sin gets in and it slowly begins to destroy. It might not be much at first, but after time, it’s catastrophic. Even a small opening is enough for the Enemy to slowly creep in and begin to erode our foundation. Sin ruins. It ruins heavily, destructively and it’s not easily recovered from. We might not see the effects right away- that’s another deception of the Enemy. But the slow, steady influx of sin begins to rot our inner beauty into a dark, joyless heart that is in desperate need of God’s righteousness. Our holiness departs. We squelch the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit and we slowly decay.
Look at the picture again… and look through the window not at the room, but back out the other window to the sky! You can still see the light of day- not darkness! It’s a fresh new day on the other side of that window! You can see hope! You see, despite the decay happening inside, each day there is a new morning that surrounds this house.
Though it would take time and would come at a cost, this window and this room could be restored. God sees through our brokenness and provides redemption and restoration for anyone who asks! You see, God isn’t in the business of ‘redecorating’, He fully rehabilitates and restores. He renovates and brings us back to life. He sees the wreck that we are right now and the beauty that we will be once we allow Him to work in us.
Do you look at your son or daughter and see how their choices have caused damage and decay with the effects of sin? It hurts our hearts because we know what they once were and we long to see that inner beauty restored. But right now, all we can see is how the enemy has wreaked havoc. The disease of sin and selfishness has stripped away the beauty and left a mess. You know they ‘know’ the Truth, yet they’ve chosen to open their lives to everything else, and it shows.
Friends, be brave enough to see through the damage and believe in what God can do! He is the Master Builder! Just as someone who comes along and begins restorative work on that abandoned house, there is hope when God begins to work on us! We only see the house as it is now, but you know the Builder is at work and oh! It will be beautiful again!! Friends, that is how God can restore a life. Pray to that end. Trust in His skill. He’s the Carpenter. He’s the Creator. He’s the Great Physician. He can do artful work on even the most devastated life. He is Faithful and True and what He promises, He will do. “He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”” Revelation 21:5
Prayer for Restoration:
“Father, I pray in Jesus’ name that You would begin a restorative work on (name) today. Lord, bandage their spiritual wounds, clean out the damage in their life. Evict the things that don’t belong, tear out the rot and ruin and rebuild their life to reflect Your glory. I know (name) is made in Your image, but right now, they don’t reflect that. Lord, do a work in them. Renovate their heart. Restore their mind. Holy Spirit, I pray that You would sanctify them to obedience to Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:2) Lord, bring repentance and follow it with abundant grace and peace. May the joy of the Lord be (name)’s strength. Help (name) to forsake all others and follow You solely, completely, wholeheartedly. Lord, I know that You can do a work unlike anything I could ask or imagine. I pray that You would restore (name) today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Prayer for Protection:
Lord, I pray for (name) today. I know they love You, Lord. But I also know that as believers, we are all a target of the Enemy. Lord, I ask that You would do some maintenance on (name) today. Seal up any ‘cracks’ in their character or their life that would allow the enemy to get in and cause destruction. I pray that they would put on the full armor of God: the helmet of salvation to protect their mind from spiritual attack; the shield of faith to deflect the fiery darts of spiritual warfare; the sword of the Spirit to defend against attack; the belt of Truth to guard against deception and lies; the breastplate of righteousness to guard their heart from deception and from temptation that would lure their love away from You; and feet shod with the gospel, so that their life, their words and their actions would be a testimony to others (Ephesians 6:10-18) . Help them to live without compromise and to daily take stock of what they choose to watch, read, and listen to so that nothing sneaks in and begins to weaken and destroy. Lord, I pray that you would guard them from ‘sneak attacks’ by the enemy. Make their foundation solid and their protection sure. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Do you have a loved one who needs prayer? Feel free to reach out! Leave a comment or send an email. There is an army of sisters in Christ who are ready and willing to pray along with you!
Pray without ceasing, friend. And believe that God can restore a life!
Praying in Desperation
Psalm 143:5-7 “I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land. Answer me quickly, LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit.”
Do you feel like you pray and pray but nothing changes? Are you desperate for an answer? Is your heart growing weary? It’s times like these that our fragile hearts need a good reminding of God’s faithfulness.
David understood that helpless desperation well, but rather than wallow in self-pity or allow his dark thoughts to overwhelm him, he used that as a call to remember all that God had done for him and as proof that God would not abandon him.
Remember the days of long ago- what are those things that God has done for us throughout our life? What are the ways He’s shown himself faithful? Are there stones of remembrance we can stack up as a reminder of God’s goodness and faithfulness? We need to write them down. Meditate on them. Remind ourselves of God’s goodness. Consider what His hands have done. Those reminders are the precious anchors for our weary souls that keep us grounded in the Truth that God never fails and never forsakes us.
“I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land.” Sometimes, in our desperation, we become so consumed with our own needs... our pleading prayers, that we lose sight of Who we should desire most of all. Stop. Let’s check our hearts. Do we want that answer to prayer more than we want Jesus? Has the thing we are praying for become more precious to us than our Savior? What if His answer is ‘no’? What then? When we’re fully satisfied with our Savior and long for Him more than anything else, we can manage whatever the answer will be because we know it comes from His good heart...even if it’s not the answer we prayed for. Thirst for Him, friends, and trust Him. Want Him more than anything else.
“Answer me quickly, LORD; my spirit fails.” Sometimes we have desperate prayers and we’re so emptied of anything else. We have nothing more to pour out, and in those times we just need to cry out to the Lord. Period. We don’t need a long explanation. We don’t need fancy words. When our children were little and needed help quickly, they didn’t go into a long explanation, they just cried out our name and we came running. Why would we think our Heavenly Father would do anything differently? When our spirit fails, we can cry out to Him and be heard. He will not hide his face, He will not let us go down to the pit. He will hear and answer. We can trust Him.
Today, remind yourself of these things. And pray. Trust Him that He will hear and answer. He intends good for you. “I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land. Answer me quickly, LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit.”
Pray without ceasing.
Time is Short but His Mercy is Great
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
The events going on in Afghanistan are heartbreaking. The news is devastating. Desperate people are scrambling to get into the airport for a chance to leave the country. They’re climbing walls and fences and even clinging to the sides of a transport plane as it taxis for takeoff. Parents are desperately trying to give their children to anyone who might carry them to safety outside of the reach of the Taliban. They’re trying to leverage who they know and what they’ve accomplished to buy their way out of the country. The panic on their faces and the fear in their eyes communicate much more than words ever could. They see how this is going to end and they want to do everything possible to save themselves and their loved ones.
But why didn’t they leave last week? Yes, there was concern in Afghanistan, but no real desperation. Although the threat of evil was present, it wasn’t as visible. They thought they had more time.
Friends, this scenario is very much akin to the spiritual condition of the world right now. Things are getting worse and Jesus’ return is near, but few seem to be concerned. People think they have ‘more time’, they’ll get right with God ‘later’, yet, when that moment of Jesus’ return is upon us and believers are taken from this world, there will be massive panic and desperation. People will be scrambling to find a way out. The pages of Revelation will come to life and those who thought they had more time to get right with God will be desperate. But who they know and what they’ve accomplished will mean nothing.
Admit it. We are overwhelmed with the evil that we see and we just want God to smite the evildoers and be done with it. Yet, He waits. Why? Because He wants to give many the opportunity to turn their hearts to Christ. He doesn’t want any to perish...and neither should we.
Rather than complain and worry about how bad things are getting, let’s pray. Really pray. Let’s point our sons and daughters to the value of an eternal focus and get them to pray as well. Pray for those being persecuted. Pray for those who fear for their lives. Pray for believers, that they would stand strong in their faith and pray for unbelievers, that they would come to know Jesus. We can do that, right?
But here’s a challenge for you….pray for the evildoers. That’s a shocking thing to think about. Maybe it startled you to read it. Good. Jesus died for them too. They are image-bearers. Despite the evil that indwells them, they have a Father in Heaven who longs to have relationship with them. 2 Peter 3:9 says “not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” That “ALL” includes even the most evil people. They need Christ. It is not for us to decide who deserves prayer. It is just up to us to follow Christ in obedience. Matthew 5:44 “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”
God has the power to do more than we could ask or think. Today, sit down and make a list of the most unlikely people to be prayed over, and then do it. Pray for them, sincerely. Pray for those you struggle to love. Pray for those whose actions repulse you. Pray for those who seem too far gone to ever be saved. “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” Pray for them by name or affiliation and ask God to work in hearts and minds. Ask Him to let them see Jesus. His mercy is great.
And then pray for our sons and daughters that they would have a heart that longs to see others know God’s mercy.
Pray without ceasing.
Saturday Prayer Review
Don’t stop praying!! Even when we don’t see progress, God is working! Even when we can’t understand what He’s doing, He’s got a plan!! Trust. Pray. Believe.
Take time to name your worries and lay them before the Lord. Remind yourself of God’s faithfulness and that He is the Creator who commands the wind and the waves. He can calm the storm in our hearts and minds. Meditate on the Lord’s faithfulness, strength and protection. Trust Him with your precious ones and pray for them by name.
Pray for that our sons and daughters would walk faithfully with the Lord. Pray for those who are wandering off or running away. He knows what path they will take and, like a watercourse, He can and will direct it. Remember, sometimes He allows us to follow our rebellion, but He’s still in control. We need to trust Him and pray for softened hearts and ears that hear, eyes that see spiritual truth and minds that understand.
Thank the Lord for all of the times He’s shown His faithfulness to you and to your family. Recount the ‘Stones of Remembrance’ that will serve as reminders for future generations.
Pray Lamentations 3:22-23 for our sons and daughters today. “The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”
Now, pray Psalm 33:4 “For the Word of the Lord is upright, And all His work is done in faithfulness.” Thank the Lord for His faithfulness and ask Him to continue working in the hearts of your sons and daughters.
Pray without ceasing, friends. God is faithful!
Daily, Abundant Faithfulness
“The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23
“For the Word of the Lord is upright, And all His work is done in faithfulness.” Psalm 33:4
“Tomorrow is another day” “Things will look better in the morning” “One day at a time” These are all good reminders that hint at something of more substance, something that is coming that should encourage us. But as believers, Lamentations 3:22-23 are the ‘golden nugget’ verses that we should carry with us. God’s lovingkindness never ceases- never!! And...it’s new and fresh every morning!! His compassions NEVER fail and his faithfulness is great. Wow!! (Someone should put that on a poster! ;-))
Friends, how do we encourage our sons and daughters? Do we just tell them ‘things will look better in the morning’ or do we go all-out and give them Lamentations 3:22-23? What would WE find most encouraging?
When our sons and daughters say “I messed up today” “Today was awful” “I can’t wait until this week is done” - it’s a perfect opportunity to encourage them with those promises from Lamentations.
But, when things are difficult for a prolonged time, what then? Friends, this is when we talk to our sons and daughters like the adults they are. This life was not meant to be ‘all the things’. We live in a fallen world and what God intended for us was corrupted by sin. Yes, there will be pain and suffering. Yes, we will face disappointment, betrayal and injustice. But ALL of God’s work is done in faithfulness. His work in our lives is to make us more like Christ- a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3) If we lived our best life here, would we long for Heaven? If everything was pleasant all the time, would we realize our need for God? Oh, ALL his work is done in faithfulness. We need to trust Him. His mercy is new everyday and is always enough for what we will face while we walk with Him. Today, encourage your sons and daughters with these scriptures.
“Lord, thank You for the promises You give us in Your word that assure us of Your faithfulness and strength for each day. I pray that You would work in (name)’s heart and mind today to encourage them. Give them Your assurance. Help them to see that You are always faithful and You have purpose in each and everything they might face. Give them strength to keep walking with You. Feed their soul today with Your Word. Bring others alongside to encourage them. I pray that they would personally know your new mercy today and would draw on that to sustain them. Don’t let them try and ‘conserve’ or hoard it… it’s new every day, let them lean on it fully. Let them drink eagerly from Your well of living water and know with confidence it will never run dry. Lord, sustain them today, I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Faithful Promises
Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”
Have you ever held onto a certificate or coupon, guarding it carefully, only to realize it expired, lost its value and is now worthless? That once-treasured ticket of much value is only paper now.
Hebrews chapter 10 explains how Jesus’ blood sacrifice and resurrection open the way for us to stand in the Holy of Holies- in the very presence of God. If we have faith that Christ’s substitutionary atonement was and is sufficient to atone for our sin, we have an eternal promise from that Lord that He sees us as His own. He is faithful. He doesn’t go back on His promises. His guarantee never expires and the seal of the Holy Spirit on our lives, marking us as saved, redeemed, adopted and beloved, that seal will never lose its value or expire.
Let us hold fast to the confession of our faith without wavering- because He who promised is FAITHFUL!!
Friends, do our sons and daughters have this depth of confidence and security in their faith? Do they trust that once saved, they will always belong to the Lord? God doesn’t offer salvation and indwell us just to change His mind and cast us aside. We have an anchor for our souls that can weather any storm, whether physical or spiritual. Our Lord is faithful!!
Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters fully understand the depth and longevity of God’s faithfulness to them.
“Heavenly Father, thank You for your Faithfulness to us- it’s hard to comprehend with our finite minds the infinite nature of your Faithfulness and Goodness to us. I pray that even today, (name) would begin to really understand just how faithful, reliable, and true You are. Lord, grow their faith and deepen their trust. Strengthen their grip so they can hold fast to the faith they have. Make them strong, Lord, so they don’t waver. This life is unpredictable, but You are steadfast. Circumstances can become difficult and tumultuous, people can be unreliable and hurtful, but You are steady; You are peace; You are the anchor for our souls in the hard of this life. I pray that (name) would know this, believe this and live with confidence in Your faithfulness to them. Lord, build their faith and trust today. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Faithful, Despite Our Choices
2 Timothy 2:13 “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.”
Sometimes our hearts ache to see the path our children choose. Oh, as a child they loved Jesus, so very much. They were excited to go to church. They sang songs with their whole heart; and the joy they had in knowing the Lord was contagious. Their passion and energy inspired us!
But along the way, something changed. They grew indifferent, or even cold. They bristle at the mention of His name. They are arrogant and confident that they don’t need the Lord.
Friend, is your heart aching this morning?
Jesus sees and He knows. His word does not return void. Even the hardest hard isn’t impenetrable by the Word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit. If our sons and daughters made a commitment to the Lord, He will not disown them. ! Corinthians 6:17 says “But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.” He will remain faithful. He cannot deny Himself.
We only see what is ‘right now’. We can’t see the future. But we can pray and trust, because God is already there. He exists outside time and He is the Master of all things, time included. He knows what path our son or daughter will take and like a watercourse, He can and will direct it. Sometimes He allows us to follow our rebellion, but He’s still in control. We need to trust Him and pray for softened hearts and ears that hear, eyes that see spiritual truth and minds that understand and discern wisely..
It’s not too late, really, it’s not. Keep trusting and resting in the sovereignty, power and faithfulness of God.
“Lord, You know the burden in my heart for (name). I pray that even today, Holy Spirit, You would move and work in them. Open their eyes to see the rebellion they have puts them on a spiritual trajectory to a dead end. Bring them back to the joy and passion they had for You when they were a child. I pray that even as they sleep, the verses they memorized would flow through them and ignite a hunger and thirst for righteousness. As they go through their day, bring those beautiful scripture songs to mind to renew their first love. Thank you for Your faithfulness Lord. I pray that even today, You would bless us with a glimmer of change, a softening of (name)s heart and a step toward repentance and restoration in Jesus. It’s in His name I pray, Amen.”
Pray without ceasing. God is faithful.
Faithful Protector
2 Thessalonians 3:3 “The Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.”
Be honest, sometimes as parents we get anxious. We worry about our sons and daughters, where are they? What are they doing and who are they with? Are they making good choices? Then we worry over their safety, are they taking risks? Are they safe on the road? If our brains kick into overdrive we can have them off the side of the road, in a ditch, alone...in the dark in just a matter of seconds. Then we can’t sleep; we worry, we stress and, Oh! Our minds can carry us farther and faster than a NASA rocket. Just one suggestion (or news story) can start our minds spinning and our stomachs churning.
Friends, the Lord is faithful. He’s faithful! He will always be steady, reliable, protective and loving. He’s 100% all the time. We can always rely on Him.
Not only is He faithful, He will establish us. What does that mean? Strong’s Concordance defines ‘establish’ as: to set fast, i.e. (literally) to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or (figuratively) to confirm:—fix, (e-)stablish, steadfastly set, strengthen. (1)
HE will establish our sons and daughters. If they are following Him, He will ensure they are set in the right direction and He will strengthen them. Can we trust Him to do what He says? Of course! Will we, though? We need to check our hearts on this.
Then, He will guard us from the evil one. Not ‘He might’ or ‘He could’ but HE WILL. He will guard us.
Why not take our worry-energy and pour it into prayer? Rather than dwelling on the ‘what-if’s’ we should meditate on the ‘what IS’ and the ‘Who’ that commands the wind and the waves. He can calm the storm in our hearts and minds. Meditate on the Lord’s faithfulness, strength and protection. Trust Him with your precious ones.
“Father, today I pray for your faithful care and protection over (name). Help me to trust You and not slip into having an anxious heart and mind. I know You are faithful, always. I know you are stronger than anything (name) might face today. I know you are able to keep them from the evil one. I pray that You would do each of these today. Lord, guard my own heart and mind in Christ Jesus and let me be an example to (name) of trusting in You and resting in You in every circumstance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
G4741 - stērizō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4741/kjv/tr/0-1/
Sunday Worship
Psalm 57:7-11
“My heart, O God, is steadfast,
my heart is steadfast;”
“I will sing and make music.
Awake, my soul!
Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.”
“I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.”
”For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.”
“Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.”
Pray It Again
When we ride a Ferris wheel, we don’t just go around once. Why? Because once isn’t enough. We take several trips around and each time, we take in something new, appreciate things more as we get to see them once again, and we have a richer experience because we get a perspective that we normally would not. Praying through our prayer points again gives us a chance to look at things more deeply, pray over things yet again, bringing those burdens and requests to the Lord.
Pray that God’s goodness and mercy are evident to our sons and daughters.
Let’s pray today that our sons and daughters run to His arms, find shelter in His embrace and trust Him for His goodness. Let’s pray that their eyes are opened to the plentiful goodness of God around them, despite the brokenness of this world. Pray that they can see and be encouraged by God’s provision for them.
Let’s pray that our sons and daughters believe with all their hearts that the Lord is GOOD and that they trust Him, fully. And let’s pray they look to the Lord for their safety and refuge, always.
Pray that our sons and daughters crave the good that God gives and teaches!! He is good and what He does is good.
Pray that our sons and daughters would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to them. Pray that they would find satisfaction in Him for the longings of their soul.
Pray without ceasing.
Saturday Review- Pray It Again
It’s Saturday and the day we review all of our prayer points from the week.
Here’s a recipe for God’s favor and protection: decide that we will faithfully pray for our sons and daughters, commit to do it each day, repeat often for best results.
Pray that our sons and daughters would:
Fear God - respect and be in awe and yes, truly fear Him- He is God, there is no rival or equal.
Walk in obedience to Him- not in rebellion, but to submit and walk in the ways that He ordained for them and obey by studying His Word.
Love the Lord- have true affection for Him
Serve Him with all their heart and soul- not half-hearted and not in name only.
Pray that our sons and daughters would not walk with the ungodly but would be intentional each and every day to seek the Lord and His direction in their life.
Pray for God’s protection over and around them today.
Pray that the spiritual eyes of our sons and daughters are opened to the light of Christ and that they truly discern those around them who are ‘fake’ Christians.
Also, pray that they can identify and run from false religions and false teachers trying to imitate light and vie for their affections.
Pray that the Holy Spirit stirs in their heart a desire to walk in true relationship with Christ.
Pray that our sons and daughters would be genuine brothers and sisters in Christ, part of the Body and welcome to celebrate the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Pray that they walk in integrity.
Finally, pray that if our sons and daughters are taking ‘crooked paths’ that they would be found out. Let them be caught in their compromise and called out on their dishonesty and deceit. Whether they’re deceiving others or themselves, they need to face it, and change it.
Pray without ceasing.
Walk in the Light
John 8:12 “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””
Have you ever visited a new place but your first encounter was at night, in the dark? You gain a distorted perception of how things look-if you can see at all, and it’s so difficult to really understand the landscape because you just cannot see. And if you try to walk? Well, it’s hard because you can’t really see where you’re going.
Then, the next morning, everything looks so different in the light! You see your surroundings and can view longer distances. You gain a perspective of how things relate to one another in the geography and you can navigate with confidence because you can make sense of things so much better. You can see where you’re walking and you see clearly because in the light of day, things make so much more sense!
Before we knew Christ, our view of life was distorted and our understanding of our place in this world was difficult to discern. Our ability to comprehend the bigger picture was skewed and darkened. We were walking in spiritual darkness. But, when we accepted Christ as our personal Savior and trusted in His death and resurrection as the full and complete payment for our sin, the fog lifted, the light filtered through and we gained an eternal perspective that was shadowed in darkness before.
Then there is the difference between natural light and artificial light. “Natural light is full spectrum and dynamic. Full spectrum means that light contains all the colors of the rainbow. Dynamic means that the intensity and mix of colors changes with the time of day.(1)” Artificial light mimics natural light, but will never be able to fully replicate it.
We’ve all seen people who go to church and play the part. And sometimes, they can fool us...for a while. They know the lingo and are ‘good people’. But they lack the light of Christ in their life. They can’t replicate it on their own. Their ‘religion’ is an imitation of Christianity, but without the light of Christ, they will never radiate a true reflection of the Savior.
Do our sons and daughters truly, honestly and authentically walk with Christ, or are they following an artificial imitation? Do they see with healthy spiritual eyes, or are they straining in an artificial light that dims their sin and deceives their perception of God’s expectations?
Oh, we WANT them to walk in the light of Christ, don’t we? Eternity hangs in the balance and nothing artificial will stand.
Today, let’s pray:
That their spiritual eyes are opened to the light of Christ and in that light they truly discern the imposters and poor imitations that surround them. Pray that they see clearly those false religions and false teachers trying to imitate light and vye for their affections.
Pray that the Holy Spirit stirs in their heart a desire to turn away from “religion” and, instead, walk in true relationship with Christ, desiring to live in His lightm truth, and genuine communion with Him.
Pray without ceasing.
1. Natural light versus artificial light. Sunlight Inside. (2017, June 4). https://www.sunlightinside.com/light-and-health/natural-light-versus-artificial-light/.
Don’t Be Directionally Challenged
“Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,” Psalm 1:1
We’ve all heard stories of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. We’ve also heard stories of those who narrowly avoided disaster because they changed locations just a few minutes before the event. Responses like “What a blessing I was not there….” “I feel so fortunate that I left just before…”
When we choose to walk uprightly, the blessings are not random and the protection isn’t circumstantial. Our intentionality to walk with God protects us from being in the wrong place at the wrong time. “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked.” God promises us blessings when we choose to walk with Him.
Are our sons and daughters being intentional in their walk with the Lord, or are they just ‘assuming’ they’ll end up in the right place. Are they mindful of their steps and who they ‘walk’ alongside? It matters, oh friends, it matters so much!! We can’t ‘hope’ that we’ll end up in the right place, we need to continually be checking our direction.
Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters would not walk with the ungodly but would be intentional each and every day to seek the Lord and His direction in their life. Pray God’s protection over and around them today.
“Father, You see (name) this morning. You know where they are headed, even if they have yet to step out the door. I pray that You would impress Your word on their heart. Help them to walk in Your truth. Keep their feet from stumbling and make their steps firm- following after You in everything. Guard and guide them, Lord, and keep (name) always mindful of You. Give them an undivided heart, so they follow you willfully, joyfully and faithfully. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
How are they walking?
Deuteronomy 5:33 “Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.”
Deuteronomy 10:12 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, “
It matters how we walk. It matters where we walk. When we’re mindful of our steps, we avoid danger and guard our safety. When we step outside of those parameters, we put ourselves at risk. Oh, we may think we’re fully in control, but there are factors we cannot control that make the danger greater. When our children were little, we didn’t let them run into the street. Yet as adults, some are doing just that in their spiritual lives.
We have to be mindful of how we live our lives and how and where we choose to ‘walk’. We can’t just claim Jesus’ name as an ‘identity’, a symbol of belonging or strategically-arranged social connection or spiritual insurance. If we desire the good that God gives, we must be willing to submit to His commands and obey. He desires that we walk according to His Word and His will.
Jesus made it clear. We need to walk in obedience. There is no middle ground. We must choose sides and we must walk with intentionality toward the cross, toward self-sacrifice, toward giving up our own desires in order to embrace Him. It comes with a cost in this life, but with great reward in eternity. The question is, will we trust Him? Do we believe that He means what He says? And if we do….do we live like it? Can other people discern where our loyalties lie by the way we walk?
God required Israel to:
Fear Him - respect and be in awe and yes, truly fear Him- He is God, there is no rival or equal.
Walk in obedience- not in rebellion, but to submit and walk in the ways that He ordained for them.
Love Him- have true affection for Him
Serve Him with all their heart and soul- not half-hearted and not in name only.
And why did God require this of them? Because they bore His name. They were His nation, His children, and His chosen people. He wanted to bless them extravagantly because He loved them. But they needed to obey. It’s the same with us. God so desires our obedience and allegiance to Him and He wants to bless us, spiritually. But we have to walk with Him. Ephesians 1:3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”
What do we most desire for our sons and daughters, really? Where have we focused our encouragement of them? A degree? A job? A relationship? An income?
Friends, THE most important thing we need to do is encourage our sons and daughters to honestly walk with the Lord, to love Him and to serve Him.
When we stand before the Throne, nothing else will matter. Nothing. Either they love Him, or they don’t. Either they give their heart to Him, or they are an enemy of the cross. There is no middle ground….and they cannot claim our faith. They must make it their own. How and where they spiritually walk right now is important- it has eternal consequences.
Do you have a sense of urgency? You should. Time is short.
Today, let’s pray that list for our sons and daughters, pray in all seriousness and with a sense of urgency. The enemy wants to steal the hearts of this next generation. Let’s do everything we can to stand in the gap and plead God’s protection and preservation over them. Pray that our sons and daughters would:
Fear Him - respect and be in awe and yes, truly fear Him- He is God, there is no rival or equal.
Walk in obedience- not in rebellion, but to submit and walk in the ways that He ordained for them and obey by studying His Word.
Love Him- have true affection for Him
Serve Him with all their heart and soul- not half-hearted and not in name only.
Pray without ceasing.
Saturday Prayer Review
Prayer isn’t a ‘one and done’ event. We need to continually bring our praises, thank you’s, burdens and pleas to the Throne. God wants to have a constant communion with us, an open, honest, vulnerable conversation that allows Him into our deepest thoughts and concerns and builds a trust and understanding with Him. Today, review our prayer points for the week and lift them up to the Lord once again. Know that He hears and will answer in His perfect time.
Pray that each day God would guide our sons and daughters steps.
Pray that our sons and daughters, first and foremost, would commit their lives to Jesus Christ and trust Him as their Lord and Savior
that they live for Jesus and not for themselves.
that they would bear fruit that reflects His preeminence in their lives.
Pray that they keep in step with the Spirit- walking in the Way that He shows them, obeying what He calls them to do and honoring Him with their choices.
Pray for God’s protection over our sons and daughters.
Ask God to help them be discerning and to love His Truth.
Pray that the Lord would help them grow in wisdom and knowledge.
Pray that our sons and daughters would seek the Lord’s will for their life and follow the steps He’s planned for them.
Pray that our sons and daughters look to Jesus and follow after Him, walking as He did and measuring their steps to match His
Pray without ceasing.
Follow His Steps
1 Peter 2:21 “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”
Remember walking through the snow with our little ones? We would tamp down the snow with our boots and clear a path for them. We didn’t try to outpace them or take steps that were too far apart, making it impossible to follow. When we took measured, steady steps it was easier for them to follow because they could see the path we took and step into our footprints and follow along.
Jesus does the same for us. He set an example that we can and should follow. He came to earth, God in the form of man, and lived among us, showing us how to obey. He walked this Earth as a real man, dealing with all of the struggles, pressures and conflicts that come with life here, yet He was God, too, and set a perfect example. John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
What example are our sons and daughters following? Who’s steps do they imitate. Are they following in the footsteps of Christ or of someone else?
Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters look to Jesus and follow after Him, walking as He did and measuring their steps to match His.
“Heavenly Father, You are so good to give us the example of Jesus. His stride is not too long, His steps are manageable and His expectations are realistic for us. I pray that (name) would be diligent to follow in His steps. Help them to watch and step carefully so that they remain faithful to Jesus. Let their life reflect a commitment to following Him. I pray that today, they would be mindful of where they step and why. Lord, let others see that (name) is committed to You in every way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Pray without ceasing.