The Source of Goodness
Psalm 107:8-9 “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.”
Hamsters are funny critters and watching them use a hamster wheel is fascinating. They climb on and begin to run at breakneck speed. Round and round they go, but they never get anywhere. They run themselves ragged. Sometimes they lose their footing, but the wheel is at such a high rate of speed that the hamster is then mercilessly whipped around until the wheel finally slows down. Once it stops, they crawl off to recover and make sense of the world that is still spinning so furiously.
Life is like that sometimes, isn’t it? We climb on that ‘wheel’ and we are pulled and pushed, pressured and stressed and the world spins around us. We go and go, yet our speed and effort only tends to make things more complicated and dizzying. We see the brokenness and struggle around us and our frantic pace doesn’t change it. It’s hard to make sense of it sometimes. But, if we stopped and grounded ourselves in God’s Word, we would gain understanding and perspective. HE satisfies the longing soul!! He SATISFIES the longing soul!
Sometimes we run ourselves ragged, trying so hard to gain peace, contentment, joy, satisfaction...the list goes on. We climb onto the proverbial hamster wheel and before we know it, our pursuits have us spinning yet never reaching a destination. Instead of gaining satisfaction, we grow weary. We lose our bearings and find ourselves disoriented and exhausted.
Stop. Give thanks to the Lord for His goodness. Go back to the basics. Did you sleep last night? Give thanks; God gave you rest. Did you wake up this morning? Give thanks; God’s goodness is blessing you with another day to live, breathe and serve Him. Is life hard right now? Give thanks; you have the sense to understand and to realize the ‘hard’ only because it means you’ve also enjoyed good things to compare this ‘hard’ to...and God is faithful. He doesn’t make you walk through the hard times alone.
So often our discontent is connected to our disconnection from God. The Apostle Paul got it. Philippians 4:11-13 says, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Paul knew what it was to be satisfied with God so much that his circumstances didn’t drive his thinking and emotions. The circumstances were just another day, opportunity or situation that God walked through with him. He trusted God. Situations change. God does not. His peace was grounded in the One who is unchanging.
Today, let’s 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, and trust that He fills the hungry soul with goodness.
Pray without ceasing, friends. God hears our prayers.
IT’S ALL GOOD
Psalm 119:68 “You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees.”
There were two basic questions we asked when our kids were young. The first was “Who are they with?” And the second was “What are they learning when they’re with that person?”
What most concerned us about the ‘who are they with’ question was who was influencing our sons and daughters. Were they a good influence. What did they value? Did they use good language and were they careful in how and where they spent their time? Then, we likely wondered about the families of those ‘others’. Were they ‘good’ people?
The second question was one that set our parental sense of responsibility in high gear. We had to ensure that our children learned well! We were all about finding the right school for them. We wanted a ‘good’ school, one that had a good reputation, good teachers, and produced good results. We were all about the ‘good’. Why? Because we wanted our sons and daughters to have the best we could provide and we knew that good was better than just ‘okay’. We had certain criteria and expectations. We didn’t want them learning from ‘just anyone’ and we wanted to ensure the education was solid, worth the investment and would prepare them well for life.
Even though our sons and daughters may be grown, those two concerns- who they are with and what they are learning- are probably still our concerns today.
So we pray. We pray boldly that our sons and daughters will choose to walk with God and learn from Him by spending time in His word.
God is GOOD. Strong’s Concordance defines good in so many beautiful ways: As a noun, the Hebrew word “tob” (1), “good” means: to be good, be pleasing, be joyful, be beneficial, be pleasant, be favorable, be happy, be right, be better or good for, to do good and act rightly.
As an adjective, “tob”(2) covers so many things! To be pleasant and agreeable to the senses, to be excellent, rich in value, appropriate or becoming, glad, understanding, kind and ethical.
Read those definitions again, and ponder them. They’re so rich!! They’re so beautiful. That is our God. And that is the content and character of what He desires us to learn and to become.
Wow! Wouldn’t it be amazing if our sons and daughters could describe their ‘friend list’ with those words!! How incredible would it be if they told us they were learning the goodness of Scripture and incorporating it into their life?!
There is no one better to spend time with or to learn from than God. There is no other who will build our character and teach us integrity. He is GOOD and what He does is GOOD.
Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters crave the good that God gives and teaches!! And let’s pray that we do as well. He is good and what He does is good, let’s learn his decrees!
Pray without ceasing!
H2895 - ṭôḇ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2895/niv/wlc/0-1/
H2896 - ṭôḇ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2896/niv/wlc/0-1/
A Good God. A Strong Refuge.
Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him”
Tsunamis, storms, tornadoes, they all stir fear and give us visions of people desperate for survival. We see pictures and footage of people frantically clinging to something, anything that will anchor them from being swept away, torn from safety and carried off. In moments like that, people are not worried about superficial things. They are desperate for life, for survival, for their very breath.
When life becomes tumultuous, what do our sons and daughters hold onto for security and safety? The tenuous security of material wealth? That can disappear in moments. Perhaps a relationship? Any relationship involves imperfect people who will disappoint and can never provide perfect refuge or peace. Maybe a job or location that promises ‘better days’? The grass is rarely greener.
Or, do they find and cling to something good….really good…. As in the goodness of God, ‘good’.
When we anchor ourselves in Christ, we find a refuge and strength that will never be shaken because we’re rooting ourselves in the One who is good. He is able to withstand any storm and calm it with a word. He can stand up against any enemy- even spiritual forces, and render them powerless. He is able to ensure our very survival even in the most dire situation. Oh, friends, He Is Good!!
Let’s pray today 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.
“Lord, the abundance and depth of your goodness is beyond our understanding. We can never fully comprehend how amazing it is. It is always ready to comfort, shelter and care for us. Help us to see You as the ultimate GOOD and run to You for our refuge. Don’t let us fall into a sense of false security in things or relationships. They can be good blessings from You, but they cannot take the place that You should occupy in our hearts and minds. Lord, I pray that (name) would know and trust that You are good and a stronghold in times of trouble. Please, be the One they always turn to when they need a refuge. Always be the One they reach for when they need stability and strength. I pray that their life would exemplify someone who follows after You, proclaims Your goodness and testifies to Your perfect provision of refuge. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Putting Up Goodness
Psalm 31:19-20 “Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.”
Back in the day, Grandma might have been known to talk about ‘putting up’ corn, beans and peaches. What did that even mean? Well, she was preserving and storing food that might be needed later. If she ‘put up’ the fresh peaches in the summer, then the family would have wonderful, sweet canned peaches in the dead of winter. They could enjoy the sweet, tangy taste of peaches as if they were just picked from the tree. The goodness was preserved to be enjoyed later. And everyone knew those peaches were there on the shelf in the pantry….just waiting to be enjoyed. Oh, the anticipation!!
Did you know that God ‘puts up’ and preserves goodness for us to be enjoyed later? He doesn’t just give us ‘good’ here, but He stores up plentiful amounts of Godly goodness for us to enjoy for eternity! “Oh how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men!”
Did you catch that last phrase? “Which you have prepared for those who trust You in the presence of the sons of men”. God knows the opposition we face from others who mock, persecute, oppress and ridicule. He knows we are strangers and aliens in this world dominated by darkness. Yet, even in the worst of times, there is plentiful goodness from God that can and should be enjoyed. This world is not our home, it’s not where we’re meant to be comfortable and envision ourselves for eternity. But God gives goodness to give us a foretaste of heaven and what is to come. Oh, the anticipation!! That goodness i going to be SO good when we step into His presence!
When our sons and daughters face hardship and persecution, how do we encourage them? Do we remind them that God is laying aside goodness to bless them? Not only that, but He longs to shelter them from evil and from those who would seek to oppress them. (Honestly, we should remind ourselves as well.)
Let’s pray today that our sons and daughters run to His arms, find shelter in His embrace and believe He has goodness enough for them, both for today and for the future. 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.
Pray without ceasing.
Who Are Your Followers?
Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Have you ever felt as if you’re being followed by an embarrassing moment or mistake? Maybe you made a misstep that now seems to define you. Or perhaps you misspoke and now you worry that everyone’s perception of you is skewed because of that one unfortunate or unfiltered moment.
Sometimes it’s hard to live down our failures, isn’t it? They shake us when we least expect it and the enemy uses them to defeat us. Right? The sense of guilt and shame wash over us and we’re right back in that moment, feeling powerless and condemned. That’s how Satan wants us to feel and he’ll use our weaknesses to bring us down.
Are our sons and daughters struggling in this? Here’s the thing, if we, as parents, are not healthy in how we deal with our failures and faults, it’s likely our sons and daughters will struggle with it too. If we’re constantly reliving our failures, we’re failing to live in the goodness of God.
Scripture doesn’t tell us our mistakes will follow us forever, no, in fact, it tells us just the opposite!! Surely (for sure, absolutely, without a doubt) goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life!! All the days… goodness and mercy won’t just follow seasonally, they’re year-round! They won’t ever run out- the supply is endless! And their ability to meet our needs won’t wear out or fall short- they’re as steady and as powerful as God’s faithfulness. His goodness and mercy are part of his perfect character.
Here’s the thing, if we’re living in defeat, we’re putting too much emphasis on our ability to be ‘good’. If we’re living in defeat, we’re setting a poor example for our sons and daughters!
It’s not our goodness that we’re dependent on- if that were the case, we’d all be doomed. No, it’s God’s goodness and mercy, ever-present and all-sufficient. Not only does God promise us His goodness and mercy, but He also promises an eternal home in His house. Friends, we are SO loved and cared for!! Let’s camp out on those promises today and then use them to encourage our sons and daughters!!
Take some time today to share this verse with our sons and daughters and remind them of God’s goodness. In this crazy world that seems to be turning upside down, our God is the one constant, reliable Source of goodness that we can always depend on. Remind them that we have a Heavenly Father who is watching over them and following them anywhere and everywhere they go. They will never outpace His goodness and mercy, they’ll never reach the end of it and they will never exhaust the supply. It is all-sufficient and eternal.
Today, let’s pray that God’s goodness and mercy are evident to our sons and daughters...and to us.
“Lord, thank You for your never-ending goodness that You provide each day. Thank You too, for Your mercy, we don’t deserve it, yet you provide it daily because You love us. Help us to see your goodness today. Remind us of how you love and treasure us. I pray that (name) would be encouraged by your goodness today, so much so that they pay special attention to what You’re doing in their life and on their behalf. Help us not to dwell on our shortcomings. Help us to confess them and move on in your goodness and mercy. Lord, we can’t really comprehend the scope of Your goodness, but we know that it is sufficient for us. Help us to hold on to that promise that it will follow us ALL the days of our life. Thank You Lord! In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Sunday Worship
Hymn: We Walk By Faith, Frances J. Crosby, 1885
We walk by faith, and, oh, how sweet
The flow’rs that grow beneath our feet,
And fragrance breathe along the way
That leads the soul to endless day.
Refrain:
We walk by faith, but not alone,
Our Shepherd’s tender voice we hear,
And feel His hand within our own,
And know that He is always near.
We walk by faith; He wills it so,
And marks the path that we should go;
And when at times our sky is dim,
He gently draws us close to Him.
We walk by faith, divinely blest;
On Him we lean, in Him we rest;
The more we trust our Shepherd’s care,
The more His love is ours to share.
And thus by faith till life shall end
We’ll walk with Him, our dearest Friend,
Till safe we tread the fields of light,
Where faith is lost in perfect sight.
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.
Crooked Paths
“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.”
Proverbs 10:9
There is so much in this world, this life, that pulls on us, tempts us to make little compromises here and there. We may think it’s not a big deal…it doesn’t matter that much… or does it? A ship that just takes on a ‘little bit of water’ here and there will eventually roll. It will capsize, totally flipping it’s orientation. We are much the same, before we know it, compromise flips our loyalties from God to self and our motivations change our our ‘non-negotiables’ turn from following the Lord to following what our sinful hearts crave.
Today, we’re going to keep it simple and effective. Pray that our sons and daughters walk in integrity. It’s important. It reveals character and is a testimony to others that we are unwilling to compromise- our loyalties lie with the cross.
Then, pray that if our sons and daughters are taking ‘crooked paths’ that they would be found out. Yes, 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.
“Father, I pray that You would guard (name)’s steps today. Help them to walk with integrity and walk securely, guarded and guided by the Holy Spirit. Lord, if (name) is taking crooked paths, I pray that they would be found out, even today. Don’t let them continue in deceit and dishonesty. You see their heart and mind. I pray that they would learn to be loyal and true to You, most of all. Let their life be a reflection of Jesus living in them. In His name I pray, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Wedding Crashers
“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;”
Psalm 15:1-2
We’ve all heard stories of strangers who decide to invite themselves to someone’s wedding. They schmooze with the guests, enjoy the food and music and even get their picture with the happy couple. Everyone assumes they’re a friend of someone else….and afterward, it comes to light that, in fact, they were strangers who simply welcomed themselves into the event. They weren’t on the list, but somehow made their way in because they looked the part.
Some people may think that their entry into Heaven will be much the same. They may not know the Bridegroom personally, but they ‘look the part’ and they’ve convinced others they belong, so, they’ll get in, right?
But here’s the thing, there will be no wedding crashers at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in Heaven. The Bible is clear. “Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks truth from their heart.”
The only way we can have a blameless walk is when we walk with Jesus, fully surrendered to Him as our Lord. Colossians 3:1-3 “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God”
The only way we can do what is righteous is when the Righteous One lives in our hearts. Psalm 36:10“Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart” Romans 1:16-17 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.””
The only way we can speak Truth is by listening to His voice and by learning, studying and memorizing His word. “Sanctify them in the truth, Your word is truth.” John 17:17
God knows ALL of His children and each one will have a place at His table. But those who are ‘imposters’, posers pretending to be His, trying to carry His name, but living on their own terms- they will be excluded. They will not be welcomed to dwell in His tent or live on His sacred mountain. They will not be invited to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and there will be no opportunity to ‘self-invite’ or sneak in just by ‘appearing’ like they belong.
Are our sons and daughters seeking a blameless walk or are they giving themselves a ‘pass’ on sin? Are they pursuing righteousness or do they expect to simply ‘talk’ their way into the Kingdom? Do they know the Truth enough to speak it with conviction or do they just parrot things they’ve heard that ‘sound good’?
Friends, let’s pray today that our sons and daughters have a genuine, blameless walk with the Lord- one that will give them VIP seating at the Marriage Supper where we can celebrate the Lamb together!
“Lord God, You are our Almighty Father and Jesus, our Shepherd. You know Your sheep. I pray today that (name) would be one of Your own. If (name) has not yet surrendered their heart and life to You, I pray today would be the day. Get their attention, Lord and help them to truly understand the seriousness of following Jesus authentically and intentionally. If (name) is playing games and ‘posing’ as a believer but lacks the real relationship, I pray that today would be the day they get serious about running after You with their whole heart and mind. I pray that they would be burdened to live authentically for you and to share their faith with others. Lord, my heart’s desire is that my whole family would be part of your Kingdom, celebrating the Marriage Supper of the Lamb as true members of Your Church, Your Bride. Lord, work in their hearts today, draw them into a true relationship with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
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.
Who Directs Your Steps?
Jeremiah 10:23 “Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.”
Look around at the ‘inspirational messaging’ that’s being pushed these days. It often goes something like this: “You can do anything you want to do!”, “Dream it, Believe it, Achieve it!”, “Your only limit is your mind!”.
Ah, these are such inspirational words and it’s likely, on occasion, we’ve encouraged our sons and daughters with some similar things. Yet, when we do, what we’re saying isn’t necessarily Biblical advice. In fact, sometimes it’s quite the opposite. Often, the ‘inspiration and motivation’ are self-focused, not God-focused.
If we are believers, it’s not up to us to determine our steps. God has a plan for our life and we are called to lay down our lives, our dreams, our goals and, instead, seek the Lord and His will for our lives. Proverbs 20:24 says “A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?”
Look at Genesis and the story of Joseph. He likely envisioned himself a shepherd for life, settling down and raising his family alongside his many brothers and their children. He didn’t plan on his brothers betraying him and selling him into slavery. He didn’t ‘dream and achieve’ a life of bondage and imprisonment in Egypt. But, oh, he dreamed!! He dreamed exactly what God intended him to and God used those dreams to position Joseph as the second most powerful man in Egypt and, as such, save the nation of Israel. Did it play out how Joseph would have envisioned it? No, not at all. Yet, God did more than Joseph or his family could have asked or imagined - and it brought glory to God.
Then, consider Esther. Nearly every little girl dreams of being a princess, but Esther’s dream came about much differently. She was forced into the King’s harem and in the process, had to hide her identity as a Jewess. Yet, God placed her in the palace ‘for such a time as this’ and used her mightily to save His people. She never could have planned her steps to get herself into the presence of the King- that would have brought death, not life. She never could have had the impact on a Kingdom without God’s hand and protection. There is no way she could have single-handedly saved a nation without God upholding her and providing the strength and wisdom to accomplish His purposes.
Friends, God’s plans far exceed our own. Our limited minds cannot fathom or begin to imagine the vast impact of what He chooses to do with us, in us and through us. That is true for our sons and daughters as well. Let’s be careful that our ‘hopes and dreams’ don’t distract our sons and daughters from God’s intentions for them.
God’s plan for all of us was set in place before the world was even created. If left to our own imagination, our lives would be a feeble attempt at making a difference and being successful...and in no way would resemble the amazing story that God weaves for us! We need to encourage our sons and daughters to seek the Lord, fully, completely, and without ceasing. His plans and goals for them are far better than anything they could imagine and what He calls them to is exactly what He’s created them to do. Their path is already determined, it’s up to them to believe and obey.
Pray today that our sons and daughters would seek the Lord’s will for their life and follow the steps He’s planned for them.
Pray without ceasing.
Is it true or does it just ‘sound good’?
Proverbs 14:15 “The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.”
The simple believe anything.
Have you ever heard someone say “…..And, if you believe that, I have a bridge in Brooklyn I’d like to sell you!” That’s a phrase that’s been used over and over to point out someone’s gullible nature or to bring to attention that someone is perpetrating an obvious ‘con’. Yet, back in the early 1900’s, a man named George Parker actually convinced people he had the rights to sell the Brooklyn Bridge...and he did it over and over, convincing and conning money from so many people. These people lost their money and their pride and Mr. Parker got rich...and was arrested, many times, yet he continued to deceive people.
How could people be so gullible? It may seem obvious to us that this man’s scheme was a con, but he was so convincing that others didn’t ask questions, they just easily followed his story. They didn’t investigate, they simply followed along….and they paid the price.
Do we fall victim to spiritual cons? Do we allow ‘good stories’ and ‘promises of generous blessing’ to tickle our ears? Are we following a ‘Pied Piper’ who sounds good, yet lacks spiritual depth and Biblical truth?
Spiritual gullibility is a thing. Friends, there are believers who fall for anything that sounds good. It ‘tickles their ears’ but dulls their spiritual sensibilities. They find the Truth uncomfortable because it calls out their sin. Instead, they seek out teaching that soothes their conscience, satisfies their need for ‘importance’ or ‘recognition’ and gives them opportunity to ‘prove’ their spirituality through giving and works.
Satan is a deceiver and he is also a user of Scripture. He knows the Bible, friends, and he will use whatever schemes needed to pull us away from following Christ and aligning our beliefs with Scripture. He will convince us to compromise; he will lure us with temptations. He knows our weaknesses and leans on them with the most deceptive tactics. 1 Peter 5:8 says “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” He prowls...he lurks and conceals himself to convince us to let our defenses down.
But Christ is stronger; He’s already won the battle! We are called to stand firm and abide in Him. Colossians 3:2-3 “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” We are hidden with Christ in God. That’s a picture of spiritual protection and belonging that can shield us from falling prey to Satan’s schemes. But we have to abide. John 15: 4, 7-8 “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
Then, we are called to know His Word, so that we can avoid sin, identify deception and run from temptation. Psalm 119:11 “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Our alert and sober mind is only possible when we listen to and learn God’s word, memorizing it in our hearts and minds.
When we pursue Christ and remain in Him we gain wisdom and knowledge through His word. And by doing so, we infuse our hearts and minds with spiritual insight and discretion. Christ equips us to stand firm. Eph. 6:11 “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.”
Today, let’s pray for God's protection over our sons and daughters. Let’s ask God to:
Help them to have great spiritual discernment.
Pray that their spirit is uneasy with unsound teaching and deceptive leadership and that they would run from it.
That they would love God’s Truth and commit to memorizing it and studying it.
And, finally, pray that the Lord would help them grow in wisdom and knowledge.
Pray without ceasing.
Schoenburg, D. P. E. (2018). The Brooklyn Bridge - "If you believe that, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell to you". NYC Walks. https://nycwalks.com/blog/the-brooklyn-bridge-if-you-believe-that-i-have-a-bridge-in-brooklyn-to-sell-to-you/.
Keep in Step with the Spirit
Have you ever watched a marching band? They keep in step with one another, following the lead of the drum major. They all move in sync with each another and to the rhythm of the music. Those who choose to be part of the band understand that it’s not a solo performance, but the success of the band depends on everyone keeping in step and following the director.
As believers, when we “live by the Spirit” it is a similar calling. God gifts each of us differently, but we are all called to follow Him and use our gifts to bring Him glory and honor as a family of believers. Living by the Spirit is a descriptor of our motivation and our goal. When we live by and for something, it is our focus and our purpose. If we are believers in Christ and trust in His death and resurrection as payment for our sin, we are dead to sin and alive in Christ. God calls us, He draws us and He stirs in us a desire to follow after Him. We’re not living ‘solo’ but for God.
Romans 6:8-11 “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
When we cast the ‘old’ aside and live for Christ, the Holy Spirit lives in us and gives us a calling, a purpose, and helps us bear fruit. We no longer live for ourselves. We’re no longer bound by sin and death- they don’t rule over us any more. Are we still impacted by them? Yes, as long as we live in this fallen world, we’ll battle sin and we’ll face death...physical death. But we no longer face spiritual eternal death and sin doesn’t rule over us! We are alive in Christ!! The Holy Spirit indwells us and we are made more like Christ each day because of the Spirit’s work in our heart and mind.
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
When we become believers in Christ, we live by the Spirit who indwells us. He transforms us. We begin bearing fruit that reflects Christ in us. Galatians 5:22-24 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
Oh, that our sons and daughters would live for Christ and keep in step with the Spirit!
Today, let’s pray these things:
Pray that our sons and daughters, first and foremost, would commit their lives to Jesus Christ and trust Him as their Lord and Savior
Pray that they live for Jesus and not for themselves. Pray 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.
Guard Their Steps, Lord.
Psalm 37:23-24 “The Lord makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in him;
though he may stumble, he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand.”
We cheered when our sons and daughters took their first steps, but now we pray as they walk on their own. We can’t hold their hands to ensure they take careful steps. We’re not there to catch them if they fall. We need to entrust them to the Lord. He can guide their steps so much better than we ever could. Today, let’s pray that He does just that.
“Lord, today I pray that (name) would trust in You and find their delight in You. Make (name)’s steps firm. Ensure that they move alongside You and in the direction of Your will for their life. I pray that in every moment of every day, You would hold (name) close and would surround them with Your protection. Be a lamp to their feet and a light to their path. Keep (name from stumbling) but if that happens, Lord, I pray that they would cling tightly to Your hand and trust that You will hold them up and keep them secure. Grow them, strengthen them and mature them in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Sunday Worship: Standing on the Promises
Standing on the promises of Christ, my King,
Through eternal ages let his praises ring;
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.
Standing on the promises that cannot fail.
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.
Standing on the promises of Christ, the Lord,
Bound to him eternally by love's strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit's sword,
Standing on the promises of God.
Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
List'ning ev'ry moment to the Spirit's call,
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God.
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God, my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I'm standing on the promises of God.
Russel Kelso Carter (1886)
Pray it again!
God doesn’t tire of hearing our prayers. It’s important that we keep bringing our heart’s burdens to Him and lay them before Him. It’s not repetitive, it’s persistent, committed and trusting. We trust that He hears us and we are confident He will answer in His time and according to His will. Take time to review our prayer points from the week and pray them again.
Pray that our sons and daughters would be emboldened by the knowledge that our God is Sovereign, Almighty and always present with them. There is NO enemy that can overcome Him and no obstacle too great for Him to remove. Pray that they see God part the Sea for them and know that He will fight for them, they need only stand and be still.
Pray that our sons and daughters would cry out to God for help when things are difficult and they are ‘sinking’. Let Him be who they run to first and always.
Pray that in their crying to the Lord, they practice patience, understanding that He really does hear them and will answer.
Pray that they would have confidence that God would rescue them and give them a firm place to stand, no matter the crisis and no matter the time or day or night.
Pray that our sons and daughters know and claim Jesus’ victory over sin and death as their own. Pray that they stand firm and devote themselves to working for the Lord with all of their being.
Pray that our sons and daughters would: Be on their guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; and be strong
Let’s pray today that our sons and daughters are mindful of where and with whom they stand. Pray that they refuse to stand in the way that sinners take lest they find themselves on a road that leads away from the Lord.
Pray without ceasing.