My Dear Children…Continue in Him
“And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.” 1 John 2:28
Ask any parent who loves the Lord what they truly want for their sons and daughters. Most would be quick to say they want nothing more than to know their children continue with God, walk faithfully, hold tightly, trust unwaveringly.
Persistence is a characteristic necessary for life, isn’t it? If we don’t persist, we don’t learn, accomplish, grow, or survive. There are so many sayings that tell us to keep going- it’s a theme across all generations and cultures. Dory, in Finding Nemo, sang, “just keep swimming,” and people quickly picked up on the melody…and the positive message…to remind themselves to press on. Country music croons to us to “keep on keeping on.” Elisabeth Elliott, a Christian author and teacher, faced extraordinary circumstances when, as a young mother with a 10 month old baby, her husband was killed on the mission field. In the days following, she would remind herself to “just do the next thing” because life was so difficult and she struggled to know how to manage it.
Those who lived in Biblical times struggled to manage and persist, too. Life was hard. There was loss and grief; there were obstacles and opposition. The Apostle John knew there was even more to come- the Christian life was not easy and persecution was very real. He gently and lovingly wrote 1 John 2:28 to encourage the believers, “And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.”
Dear children, continue! Don’t give up! Persist!! Press on! It wasn’t a rallying cry for the sake of survival, but for the promised reward of standing before the Lord, confident and unashamed. John redirected their focus from the circumstances to the Purpose and the goal.
When we pray that our sons or daughters ‘continue’ in the Lord, we might picture a steady walk in the right direction, not wavering or wandering. But if we look at the word ‘continue’, ‘meno’ in Greek, it actually means, “to stay in a given place, state, relation or expectancy; to abide or remain” (1).
If we’re serious about praying for our children to continue in the Lord, we need to pray for these aspects of ‘continuing’ specifically.
Our place: When we hear someone say, “Know your place”, it’s often a reprimand to keep quiet, don’t presume you have a right to speak or interject. But in Christ, we have a place that qualifies us to step into His presence, speak to Him freely, live with confidence, and face the future with hope. We are children of the King! We have home and a place at His table. We’re not a visitor or a stranger, we’re family. We’re brought into His protection, welcomed and adopted as His very own. We have a place and we belong.
Psalm 23:5 “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
Ephesians 2:6 says, “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,”
Our state: As believers, our condition is confirmed. We are no longer condemned! The state of the believer is one that brings hope! We are forgiven, redeemed, justified, sanctified, and accepted with the promise of eternity in His presence. We are no longer slaves to sin and our sinful nature.
Romans 8:1-2, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”
Our relationship: Our relationship with and to the Lord is confirmed; we are His children and his heirs.
Romans 8:15-17 “...rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.”
Our hope: We can live with eager expectation and hope because we are His heirs and He’s promised us a life in His presence.
Ephesians 1:18-19 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”
Revelations 21:3-4 “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
When we pray for our children to continue in their faith, we’re not praying that they have the personal strength to keep walking…we’re praying they will remain in Christ, unmoved, not deceived, not led astray by false teachers or lured by temptation. We also pray that they would have a fixed position that is anchored in Christ. We pray they would understand God’s precepts and would live with conviction as a forgiven, redeemed, justified and sanctified child of God. A child who holds fast to their position in Christ and to their inheritance as an heir of the promise. We ask the Lord to help them live with hope, not looking to this world for satisfaction, joy and rescue, but to Christ alone. He provides everything they need for this life and for eternity. Finally, we pray that they will stand unashamed at His coming because they truly understand who they are and Whose they are.
Today, let’s pray that our dear children will continue in Christ and all that it means to do so. Colossians 1:9-12 is a great scripture passage to pray over our sons and daughters. Or take time to write out a specific prayer naming your child/children and praying over all of the aspects of what it means to continue in their walk with the Lord.
Colossians 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, 14 in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Pray without ceasing
G3306 - menō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3306/niv/mgnt/0-1/
Of Giants, Valleys, and Godly Parents
We’re all familiar with the story of David and Goliath. We know a bit about David’s family, too. Three of his brothers were in the service of Saul’s army, though he had 7 brothers, altogether. David was the youngest of them and he tended the sheep. Their father’s name was Jesse, the son of Obed, who was the son of Ruth and Boaz. David had a godly heritage.
But have you ever wondered about David’s mother? She’s not mentioned in the Bible, but her influence is there, if you stop and look.
But first, let’s agree on a major factor of parenthood. We strive to protect our children, right? We watch over them, teach them to be cautious and careful. We caution them against danger and we encourage them to avoid those people, locations, and situations that could lead to harm.
Now, imagine you’re standing in the sandals of David’s mother. An unnamed woman only referred to in Scripture one time (bear with me, we’ll get there). But her influence is evident if we look closely. And the impact she had on her son gave him wisdom and guidance for years to come, and impacted the heritage of the Messiah.
When David encountered Goliath, scholars estimate he was likely in his teens. His brothers were old enough to serve in the army, but David was not. Saul even called him a ‘youth’ (1 Samuel 17:33) Yet, in spite of his age, he demonstrated character, faith, and bravery beyond his years.
David went toward the conflict.
David, following his father’s direction, went to the camp of the Israelite army to deliver food and supplies to his brothers (1 Samuel 17:17-18). Any good mother likely would have added, “You go and you come right back- be safe!” Yet, David’s mother didn’t argue, resist or try and keep him from going toward the conflict. She didn’t shield him from it. That’s brave, friends.
Do we pray that our sons and daughters avoid the conflict, or do we pray they are kept safe in the midst of it?
David was prepared, even before he knew he would fight a giant.
David’s mother wasn’t there to tell him how to fight, but it’s likely she reminded him to always step out prepared. As a shepherd, he needed to defend his sheep and where there was one enemy or predator, there would likely be more lurking, awaiting the opportunity to attack. David’s mother knew that - she surely heard the story of the lion…and the bear (1 Samuel 17:34-36). So she certainly reminded him of the danger and encouraged him to be ready.
David also knew conflict typically wasn’t resolved with one stone or by one fight. He fully depended on God for the victory, but knew it might require more than one throw, so he collected five stones. (There is history to suggest that Goliath had 4 brothers 2 Samuel 21:15-22). David was prepared for whatever God led him into that day.
Do we speak into our sons and daughters so they walk out prepared? Are we reminding them of the spiritual dangers they may face? Training doesn't start after the battle begins. No, the training and preparation begin in order to be ready when the conflict occurs, and it will occur. Are we reminding our sons and daughters of the importance of time in the Word and fellowship with other believers to sharpen them? Are they cognizant of the dangers they may face and intentional to be ready when they come? We need to pray that they are.
David didn’t allow the taunts and words of others to deter him, deflate his courage, or damage his faith.
When David offered to face Goliath, David’s own brothers hurled angry words and insults at him, mocking his bravery and casting him aside. They had no faith in his ability and their warrior-egos were offended at the thought.
But Goliath’s words were what struck a chord with David. Goliath didn’t just mock Israel, he mocked God (I Samuel 17:36-37)
You see, David wasn’t defending himself. He was standing up for the fear and reputation of Jehovah, the Almighty God.
Parents, have we taught our sons and daughters to fear God? Do we encourage them to defend the name of Jesus Christ, no matter the cost? Believers in so many nations around the world know the cost of claiming Jesus as Lord, but Western cultures don’t often face that, in fact, we often are indifferent to the cost because we haven’t suffered. Someday soon we may come face to face with that. We must all be ready.
Oh how we need to pray that:
1. Our sons and daughters would listen for and hear the Word of the Lord over the words of the world
2. That they would defend the name of Jesus, no matter the cost
David stepped into the valley to face the giant.
David didn’t run away from the conflict, he walked toward it. The Israelite camp was on a hill on one side of the Elah Valley and the Philistine camp was on the other. There was no misdirection or error in David’s steps. He went down into the valley. Now, read Psalm 23:4
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
There is no evidence to say his Goliath encounter was David’s inspiration for Psalm 23:4, but it surely gives us something to ponder! It helps us look at it in a new light.
Do we encourage our sons and daughters to have strong faith in the Lord that will strengthen them as they face hardships? Or do we pray they avoid the hard things? Do we pray they are protected from suffering? Because if we do, we’re actually praying them to a weakened faith. Think about that. Our effort to shield and protect them can actually leave them weak and vulnerable!
Romans 5:3-5 ““we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.””
Now, back to David’s mother
Though David’s mother isn’t mentioned by name in Scripture, her influence is noted by David in Psalm 86:16 “Turn to me and have mercy on me; show your strength on behalf of your servant; save me, because I serve you just as my mother did.” (NIV)
“I serve you just as my mother did.” That’s a testimony that will preach, friends.
It brings two questions:
How are we serving God as parents?
How are we praying for our sons and daughters?
Our children will face Goliaths. They will walk in the valley. They will be mocked and taunted. But will they be prepared and will they fear God more than they fear man?
Today, let’s pray in the power of the Holy Spirit that God will transform our sons and daughters into bold spiritual warriors who will boldly face the enemy, not for their own glory, but for the name and fame of Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
“Almighty Father, I come to You in the name of Your risen Son, Jesus and through the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells me because of Calvary. Put Your hand on (name) today. First, draw them in to spend precious time in Your word before they start their day. Let their time be sacred and inspired, may it fill them with spiritual strength and boldness. Prepare them, Lord, for what they may face. Give them words to respond and courage to speak up for the name of Jesus. If You lead them into the valley, surround them with Your protection. Help (name) to fully realize that their victory is not dependent on their strength or wisdom, their cunning or skill, but fully on Your power and Presence in the battle. Lord, I know they will face conflict. I know they will walk through dark valleys in the presence of enemies, but I know You are greater, stronger and You are victorious. Lord, be their armor and their light. Open their eyes to see the necessity of being spiritually prepared. And Lord, I pray that my life would be a testimony of being surrendered to you, wholly and completely.. I pray that my sons and daughters would one day pray “Turn to me and have mercy on me; show your strength on behalf of your servant; save me, because I serve you just as my mother (or father)did.” In Jesus’ mighty, victorious name I pray, Amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
A Call to Parents: Encouraging Our Sons & Daughters
“For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.” 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12
We spend much time here at Join the PAC Prayer focusing on praying for our sons and daughters, but today we’re going to take a look at what God calls us to do as parents. What are we called to do? How can we do it well?
Paul wrote to the Thessalonians to encourage them in their faith. Throughout the first and second chapters, Paul urged them to remain true and faithful. He instructed them on how they should live and commended them for what they did well. In chapter two, he explained his ministry motives along with those of Silas and Timothy and the nature of their instruction. Then he gave the statement in verses 11-12 and it’s here we need to pause and take time to ponder because Paul explained three key actions that exemplify how a father (a parent) should deal with his children, “For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”
Let’s dig deep and get a better understanding of what God encourages us to do as parents.
Encouraging: Parakaleo
The first thing Paul mentioned is that he, Silas and Timothy were encouraging the believers. The Greek word for encouraging is parakaleo. It means to call near or call to one’s side; to exhort, console and comfort; to strengthen and instruct; it means to call in a loud voice; it’s not a silent, behind-the-scenes cheering on (1).
There is more to encouraging our sons and daughters than just saying “Good job! I knew you could do it!” The word ‘parakaleo’ comes from two root words, ‘para’, meaning beside or near, having proximity to (2) and ‘kaleo’ which means to call by name (3). So when we’re encouraging our sons and daughters, we need to call them near, call them by name, take time to be present and to teach and comfort them. We must be focused on them, and strengthen them in those things that are uniquely their own needs- it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s personal. It requires our presence and our mindfulness towards them so that we’re focused and our encouragement stems from knowledge of the individual son or daughter and knowledge from Scripture.
Like a paramedic is a medical professional who comes near to the patient, calls them by name and tends to their needs, our encouragement must be parakaleo, near our sons and daughters, calling them by name and meeting their needs to encourage them to walk faithfully, understand God’s word accurately and remain true to their faith and commitment to God.
Comforting: Paramytheomai
The next thing Paul mentions is comfort. The Greek word for the act of comforting is paramytheomai, which means “to speak to, address one, whether by way of admonition and incentive, or to calm and console” (4). It’s another form of encouragement. Note the prefix ‘para’ is once again a part of the word. It requires coming alongside of another to accomplish the purpose at hand. Paramytheomai means we need to be present and choose to be near, whether in person or, if that’s not possible, in communication and prayer. It’s an active role and not just that of an observer. The other portion of the word, ‘mytheomai’ means to speak, tell a story, a narrative. Often this word was applied to the sharing of genealogies in Biblical times. Consider what is your family’s story and how your sons and daughters could learn from it. Some questions to consider:
What is the heritage that undergirds your family?
What stories of faith are held forth?
What mistakes were made that should not be repeated?
Maybe the heritage of faith began with you … How did you come to know Jesus and begin a personal relationship with Him?
How can your sons and daughters carry on the Godly legacy?
How can you comfort them with lessons from the past and encourage them to be true to God into the future?
Comfort and encouragement can come through the stories of others and out of our own experiences. Those stories should be carried and shared by parents to their children to stand as encouragement and be cautionary as well.
Urging: Martyomai
Finally, Paul urged the Thessalonians to live a life worthy of God. The word used for urging is ‘martyomai’, which means “to be a witness, testify, charge or give evidence, bear record.” (5) Yes, it is related to the word ‘martyr’, describing those who gave their life for their faith. They bore witness and held fast to the testimony of Christ, even to the end. Paul urged, testified and bore witness to the Thessalonians in an effort to encourage them and teach them to hold fast to their faith.
The root word is martys means “one who is mindful, obeys”. (6) It’s not only what Paul wanted the Thessalonians to do, but it was what he held fast to as he lived out his testimony before them. And it’s what we need to do as parents. We need to demonstrate obedience to God and be mindful of what He calls us to do so that our words and actions testify faithfulness to Him to our sons and daughters.
The encouragement, the comfort and the urging are all directed toward helping our sons and daughters live wisely and follow Christ faithfully, or as the King James Version says, “that ye would walk worthy of God” who calls them into His kingdom. Isn’t that one of our most fervent prayers for our sons and daughters? We want them to live a life that acts as an example to others that we are Kingdom bound, sons and daughters of the Most High, His heirs and dearly loved children.
But what does it mean to “walk worthy of God”? The word for walk in Greek is peripateo and it means “to occupy oneself, make progress and follow; to make one’s way and make use of opportunities.” (7) It’s more than just heading in a direction. It’s being cognizant of where one is going, making use of opportunities along the way and always being mindful of whom you are following and the direction in which you are headed. The prefix, peri, comes from a root word, peran, which means, “beyond, on the other side.” (8) It’s directional and locational. It indicates that this walk is more than just a stroll. It’s purposeful. It has a specific destination. It requires mindful participation.
But here’s the powerful part: the remainder of the word, pateo, has a profound meaning. Let’s look at the original wording from Strong’s Concordance. Pateo means, “to advance by setting foot upon, tread upon; to encounter successfully the greatest perils from the machinations and persecutions with which Satan would fain thwart the preaching of the gospel.”(9) Wow!! When we pray for our sons and daughters to walk worthy of God, we’re praying that they will encounter successfully the greatest perils, deceptions, schemes of Satan and will overcome! We pray that they will live out and speak the gospel in ways that will defeat Satan and his demons and will overcome the ‘dangers, toils and snares’ of this life because they’re directionally moving toward the ‘other side’- the Kingdom of God…and Satan will do anything and everything to keep them from it.
These two verses are so rich and so powerful!! It would be beneficial for us to meditate on these Scriptures this week as we pray for our sons and daughters. He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. We have the power of the Eternal God within reach. He hears the cry of His children and He does not let it go unanswered. Take time today to pray for encouragement, for comfort and to urge this next generation to live victoriously. Why not write these verses down and carry them with you this week, memorize them and meditate on them, they are powerful directives and timeless truths and God can and will use them mightily.
Pray without ceasing.
G3870 - parakaleō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3870/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G3844 - para - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3844/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G2564 - kaleō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2564/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G3888 - paramytheomai - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3888/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G3143 - martyromai - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3143/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G3144 - martys - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3144/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G4043 - peripateō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4043/kjv/tr/0-1/
G4012 - peri - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4012/kjv/tr/0-1/
G3961 - pateō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3961/kjv/tr/0-1/
Psalm 15:2 Walking Blamelessly
Psalm 15:1-2
Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?
The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart;
We’re continuing to pray through Psalm 15 and this week, we’re focusing on verse two. Last week we discussed and prayed through what it means to live and dwell with the Lord. But not everyone will have that privilege. No, it’s reserved for those who follow God’s commands outlined through the remainder of Psalm 15.
Notice that verse two speaks about how the one who dwells with the Lord will have a life, actions and words that all reflect God’s Presence and power in their lives. Let’s dig into verse two.
What does it mean to be blameless? We might think it’s being free from guilt. But it’s more than that. If one is blameless, they are complete, unimpaired, ‘whole’ (1). Someone who is blameless understands and knows they are not missing anything- there is no longer a hole in their heart or an emptiness in their life. God has redeemed and restored them. They received the grace of God to cover their sin and they’ve been restored to fellowship with God that fills the emptiness that once lingered. Don’t we desire that wholeness for our sons and daughters? Of course we do!
One who is right with God has a deep desire- a spiritual conviction- to do what is right and just and to support that in every way. They can’t overlook or turn a blind eye to injustice and they can’t tolerate wrong. It goes against their new nature, indwelled by the Holy Spirit and called to follow Christ and His Word.
Finally, someone who is made whole and who pursues righteousness and justice will speak truth from his heart. In John 17:17, Jesus prayed “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”
A blameless person is one whose very life reflects the mighty change that God worked in them through their lifestyle, their actions and their words. There is no contradiction of saying one thing and doing another. They pursue God with their whole being and they cling to His Word because it is life.
When our children were little, they were around us daily and heard us speak and watched our actions. Oftentimes we would see or hear them imitate us. They were learning and putting into action what we modeled. When we abide in God’s Presence, we learn His words and we understand how we should live our lives and if we’re committed to the Lord, we’ll want to share that truth with others. Why wouldn’t we want to let others know about the peace and wholeness that comes from following Christ? Ephesians 5:1-2 “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
We long for our sons and daughters to live in God’s Presence each day. But not just ‘dwell’ as a tenant would, but as a member of the family, enjoying all that relationship has to offer. We want them to have a longing to live their lives in such a way that would show others that they live for a different Purpose than the world around them does.
This week, pray Psalm 15:2 over your sons and daughters. Ask that their walk would be blameless, that they would do what is righteous and that they would know God’s Word well so they are able to speak truth from their heart.
“Father, I pray today that (name)’s walk would be blameless. Lord, help them to be more concerned with what You think of them than what the world thinks of them. I pray that they would live with conviction to follow Your Word, and Your truth and they would speak with boldness so that others can hear the Truth of Jesus and see it lived out in their life. Holy Spirit, give (name) a conviction to live without compromise and do what is righteous..not self-righteous, but to live with Godly righteousness determining their steps, their words and their actions. Lord, protect them and use them for Your honor and glory, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”
H8549 - tāmîm - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h8549/kjv/wlc/0-1/
Pray without ceasing.
Navigating in the Darkness
Psalm 89:15 “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.”
Have you ever driven at night in the countryside? It’s dark…really dark. There are no street lights and so few houses that there is little to light the way to help you see where you’re going. Headlights are a necessity. They illuminate the road ahead and when the light shines on the road lines, the glass beads in the reflective paint make the edges of the road easier to see. We can navigate those twists and turns in the road much better.
But headlights help us spot obstacles as well. When there is something in the road that shouldn’t be, we can see it ahead because our headlights shine far enough ahead to give us time to avoid something that might cause damage.
Headlights also illuminate critters- those wandering night animals who don’t quite understand the dangers of crossing the road. Sometimes we’ll see their eyes shine as they catch the oncoming headlights and we know to slow quickly and be aware. Other times, they might catch us by surprise, jumping out in front of us when we least expect it. They lurk in the dark and then, suddenly, they jump into the light and we react, hopefully quickly enough to avoid disaster.
But, headlights don’t just illuminate our way, they also help make us visible to others. Sometimes at dusk, people will forget to turn on their headlights. As their eyes acclimate to the growing darkness, they drive without realizing just how dark it is. While other drives will flash their lights to try and alert the driver, sometimes they continue, oblivious to the darkness and pending danger.
If our headlights are dim, we struggle to see well and our confidence is weakened. We might not drive as quickly or as far. We worry about what we cannot see and we wonder if the road ahead is safe.
Friends, this is such a picture of life, isn’t it? We desperately need the light of Jesus to navigate in the darkness of this world. There are dangers ahead that, without Jesus to help us discern, we may lose our way and stray from His path. Sometimes we find it hard to recognize the dangers in the darkness and we need His light to illuminate those things that are not of God. The enemy lurks in the darkness, putting obstacles in our way and attacking us unexpectedly. The Light of God’s Word and of His Presence offer wisdom, insight and protection. We can’t navigate this life safely on our own- our eyes are dim and we far too easily acclimate to the darkness. Sin is present and strong…but Jesus is stronger!
So today, let’s pray through these scriptures and ask the Lord to work in the hearts, minds, and lives of our sons and daughters, so they would live in the Light of Jesus and they would depend on His light to help them navigate the darkness.
Pray that our sons and daughters know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior and follow Him without compromise. He is the light of the world, without Him, we walk in darkness.
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.”
Pray that our sons and daughters have a thirst for God’s Word and a longing to spend time in His Presence each day. It’s important to listen and learn so we can be alert and aware of those dangers that we might encounter and be watchful of where God leads.
Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
Pray that our sons and daughters shine brightly. Pray that they are willing to stand and shine for Jesus in a world that is becoming ever darker. When we are believers in Christ, He shines through us. We need to reflect the light of Christ to others and be a testimony of His life-giving and light-producing presence in our lives.
Mt 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Pray, pray, pray that our sons and daughters do not veer off God’s path to follow those who walk in darkness.
Proverbs 4:19 “But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.”
1 John 1:6 “If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.”
Friends, let’s pray for our sons and daughters with a fervency and urgency that attests to the days in which we live. This world is full of darkness, but Jesus is the light of the world! Pray that our sons and daughters choose to follow Jesus, no matter what.
Pray without ceasing.
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.