What the Heart Wants
As we watch events unfold in the news, we see people in Ukraine running for their lives. They’re not stopping to pack up their home decor or their favorite books. They’re not worried about that picture or piece of art. Their ‘good china’ holds little value. Their job isn’t going to save them and that salary or promotion really doesn’t mean anything. No, it’s life that they cherish and they run with the few clothes and food items they can carry. They don’t think twice. They run for safety and refuge, praying and dodging the enemy fire. They run because life is precious and nothing else matters. And when asked what they want, most say “I just want to go home.”
Yet, many likely will never get back to their home. They will resettle and start new lives, they will find new places to live and develop new routines, new friendships and new ways of living…yet they will always long for home. Why? Because that’s who they are. That is at the root of their identity. They can change locations, but they can’t change their heart’s longing.
What do our sons and daughters long for? Is it Jesus? Do they yearn to be where they ‘belong’, in His Presence? Do their hearts ache to spend time with him? Are their minds consumed with love for Him and His Word Do they have confidence in the Lord because their heart and mind are set on things above (Col. 3:1-2)? Or is it possible they’re charmed by the things they see, not by what is unseen.
As we see all this happening, what is it that we want most for our sons and daughters? If we strip everything else away, what do our Momma and Daddy hearts yearn for, what do we wish they would crave? We want to know they are walking faithfully with the Lord. Nothing else really matters, does it? When we stand before the Lord, the condition of our heart, what we love and what we choose to think on will be what matters to the Lord and will determine where our affections lie.
2 Corinthians 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Oh, how we want to know our kids are carrying the conviction of Christ Alone in their hearts and minds. How we want to hear them say they find their soul’s contentment in Jesus.
Is your heart heavy today? Don’t despair. God isn’t done working. Let’s pray very specifically for the hearts and minds of our sons and daughters. The scripture below gives potent promises that we can pray with boldness.
Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
“Father, I bring (name) before You today and ask that You would work in their life, their heart and mind, today. Lord, surround them with Your divine protection. Let them guard their heart today so that nothing in this world would pollute it and cause them to wander from you. Keep their eyes fixed on You, the Author and Perfecter of their faith. Stir in them a thirst to know You more and a longing to be in Your Presence- let them truly know that this life is temporary and eternal life is with You. I pray that, like David, these words would be the prayer of their life, “‘I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will also rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.’” (Ps. 16:8-11) Lord, You are able to do more than we could ask or imagine. Please work in (name)’s heart and mind today. Capture them with your love, satisfy them with living water, show them the beauty, wonder and joy of eternal pleasures that far outweigh anything this world could offer. I pray that (name) would confess “Only Jesus” today and always. Give me Your peace today as I wait and pray. Work mightily, Lord. In Jesus’ mighty, saving name I pray, amen.”
Keep praying that God would capture their affection and would draw their heart to Him.
Pray without ceasing.