Sunday Worship
Today, take some time and memorize one of the benedictions we prayed this week. By adding the scripture to our memory and to our prayer arsenal, we’re allowing God to equip us to use the Word of God in powerful, effective ways.
Ephesians 1:18-23
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. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Ephesians 3:14-21
“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”
Jude 1:24-25
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Hebrews 13:20-21
“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Then take the opportunity to pray a benediction over someone, whether in person or from afar.
Blessing, protection, promise. The Lord is good.
Pray without ceasing.
Saturday Review
What a week it’s been!! Praying benedictions over our sons and daughters has been refreshing and encouraging. As we wrestle in prayer, sometimes taking the time to just speak words of affirmation and life over those we love is so needed. It’s a reminder, too, that God desires good for us. His Word is powerful and effective. His promises are glorious and eternal. And His love for us is beyond understanding.
Let’s step through all of the blessings we prayed one more time. The power in these words is divine and able to break down strongholds.
Powerful Hope
Ephesians 1:18-23
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. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Powerful, All-Encompassing Love
Ephesians 3:14-21
“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
Sanctification and Strength
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”
Protection from Stumbling
Jude 1:24-25
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Fully Equipped
Hebrews 13:20-21
“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Fully Equipped
Praise God! He’s given us another day to live for Him! And here’s the thing…. God doesn’t just wake us up and then wait to see what we’ll do. He doesn’t leave us to ‘figure it out’. God promises to equip us with all we need to do His will; isn’t that encouraging? Today, let’s pray this blessing over our sons and daughters, asking God to do just that in their lives. May they be committed to following Jesus without compromise.
Hebrews 13:20-21
“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
More Than We Ask or Imagine
We pray ‘big, don’t we? But, really, how big do we pray? We ask for miracles...but even those miracles we imagine and hope for are constrained by a human mind that is limited by time, experience and the human condition. But God can do more than our limited minds could ask or imagine!! Think about that!!
What is it today that you hope and long for? What extraordinary thing do you pray for your sons and daughters? Nothing is too great for our God!
Today, let’s pray this beautiful blessing over our sons and daughters - and let’s wait with eager expectation to see God work!
Jude 1:24-25
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
May God Encourage You
Although we tend to spend time praying and pleading over the hard things, we can’t forget the value and benefit of some good, solid encouragement. Both first and second Thessalonians offer benedictions of blessing and encouragement and, although brief, they’re packed with rich truth that can encourage our hearts!
Pray this today, putting the name of your children in wherever it says ‘you’….and then, why not text it to your son or daughter? What a way to brighten their day!
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”
Pray without ceasing.
For This Reason I Kneel
Why do we pray for our sons and daughters? It’s certainly not just because it’s the ‘right thing to do’. If we made a list, there likely would be some very admirable reasons, some heart-wrenching burdens and some deeply rooted desires that motivate us to bring our family before the Throne. But if we strip away our wishes, hopes and pleas, the essential foundation of our prayer is that our sons and daughters would know Jesus, understand His love and be compelled to live for Him with every ounce of their being.
Today, let’s pray the benediction from Ephesians 3:14-21 over our sons and daughters. No need for extra words… God’s Word is enough. He is always enough.
“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
Pray without ceasing.
The Hope to Which He Called You
This week we’re going to pray blessings over our sons and daughters by praying benedictions from scripture. These powerful prayers put into words what our hearts desire for them. Today, as you pray, meditate on these words and… why not pray them more than once?
Ephesians 1:18-23
“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. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”
Sunday Worship
Psalm 107:1-3 “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.”
Oh, how we long for our sons and daughters to have a testimony of God’s redemption in their lives. Maybe one day soon they will sing the words of the hymn below…until then, let’s sing our own testimony of God’s goodness to us!
Blessed Assurance
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine;
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Fanny Jane Crosby
Saturday Review
As we wrap up our week let’s continue praying for the wanderer and prodigal. God is able to do more than we ask or think and remember, the Spirit intercedes for us when we don’t know what to pray.
The Father longs for our wandering sons and daughters to turn to Him. Let’s lift our heavy hearts to Him.
If you missed our study this week on praying for the prodigal, you can watch the youtube video here: How To Pray for A Prodigal Child It might be a great place to start your Saturday Review.
Pray that:
Our sons and daughters would mourn and lament their sin.
That the Lord would open the eyes of their heart to see how grievous their choices are and how much their sin and rebellion distances them from God.
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation.
Hearts are broken over pride, selfishness and rebellion.
That they see their path only leads to death and they are terrified by it.
Pray that our sons and daughters know life and freedom in Christ.
Pray for the change that will turn their eternity into one of hope, joy, light and life.
Pray the armor of God over our sons and daughters, and then pray for the Spirit to intercede on their behalf and work in ways that are beyond what we might imagine for them.
Then, finish by reading Psalm 77. As we pray these words to the Lord, let’s use them to remind ourselves of His goodness and faithfulness and His promises that never fail.
Pray without ceasing.
Psalm 77
“I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.
When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands,
and I would not be comforted.
I remembered you, God, and I groaned;
I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.
You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak.
I thought about the former days,
the years of long ago;
I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart meditated and my spirit asked:
“Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?
Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?
Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”
Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.
I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
Yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”
Your ways, God, are holy.
What god is as great as our God?
You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.
With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
The waters saw you, God,
the waters saw you and writhed;
the very depths were convulsed.
The clouds poured down water,
the heavens resounded with thunder;
your arrows flashed back and forth.
Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.
Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.
You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.”
Protected, Powerful Prayer
Ephesians 6:10-13
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
Romans 8:26-27
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”
Praying for a prodigal son or daughter can be overwhelming. It can drain us of joy, hope and energy, especially if we’re putting so much focus on pleading and interceding on their behalf that we neglect our own spiritual health.
Remember the days when our children were infants? We were exhausted just trying to meet their basic needs. It seemed all-consuming. Yet, we had to make the effort to eat, sleep and care for ourselves, because if we neglected ourselves too much, then we were not able to meet the needs of our little one.
Friends, it’s much the same with our spiritual needs. We are praying against the enemy himself and if we do not take time to ensure we are guarded, protected and shielded by our Savior, we run the risk of being a target as well.
We need to put on the full armor of God, daily. The FULL armor. We can’t go into this half-dressed. We can’t just grab our shield of faith and call it good. No, we need the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth and feet that are ready with the gospel. Only then are we equipped and ready to battle for the hearts and minds of our sons and daughters.
And when we don’t know what to pray? That’s when we cry out to the Spirit and ask Him to intercede for us. Who better to plead with the Father than the Spirit who knows what we need and can express it in words...rather groans that reach the heart of our Father. “He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” And isn’t that what we want for our sons and daughters? To be obedient and blessed in the will of God?
Today, let’s take time to pray the armor of God over ourselves and our sons and daughters, and then pray for the Spirit to intercede on their behalf and work in ways that are beyond what we might imagine for them.
Pray without ceasing.
The Battle of the Mind
Philippians 3:18-21 “For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
Here’s a startling statement: either we live for Christ, or we are His enemy.
What does it mean to be an enemy of the cross? That word, enemy, in the original Greek means hateful, hostile, at enmity with God (1). Often we think of hate as the act of rebellion and venomous speech, resisting and fighting against something with every ounce of physical and emotional strength. But hate can be a passive hostility, a rebellious spirit or a hard attitude against something or someone. Hate is a mindset. It won’t dissolve without a change. Unless the mind is convinced, the heart won’t follow.
And here’s the thing. The battle is all in the mind. Satan is the great deceiver. He will convince us, beyond a doubt, that his lie is the truth. He will deceive us into thinking that the darkness is where we will thrive. He will convince us to drink his poison to satisfy our thirst only to laugh and watch us choke on his evil. He will invade our minds and thoughts to keep us from submitting to God and will, rather, convince us that we can and should be our own god. Psalm 10:4 “In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.”
We need to fight this battle right where it’s happening. We need to ask the Lord to intercede in the minds of our sons and daughters and redeem them from the grip of the Enemy. We need to pray scripture to fight Satan. When Jesus was tempted, he answered Satan with scripture, He fought the battle of the mind with the very words of God. Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
Today, let's take time to pray scripture over the minds and hearts of our sons and daughters. God is able to intervene and turn enemies of the cross into faithful followers who love Him with their heart, soul, mind and strength.
Pray without ceasing!
1. G2190 - echthros - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2190/kjv/tr/0-1/
Praying for Change
James 4:7-10
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
What is it that we want most for our sons and daughters who are wandering...or straight up running away from the Lord? We want change. Honest, about-face, change of heart, mind and loyalty. But let’s dig in deeper. “Change” is a nebulous word. Let’s get specific.
What is at the root of their wandering or living as a prodigal? Often it’s rebellion, pride and selfishness. Our human nature rebels against God’s authority. We want to make our own rules and follow our own path. We refuse to see how God’s boundaries are really the lines within which we will thrive and flourish. The fertile soil, the protected land, the best irrigation and nourishment all lie within the boundaries God set for us. He’s marked off the very best ‘land’ for us to enjoy. Yet, we look longingly over the fence at what appears to be greener pastures. And we insist on pressing against the fence until it gives way. We want what we want….and we tell God “You’re not the boss of me!”. Oh, but He is.
We run, we laugh and mock, we revel in our ‘freedom’ only to find that we are lost, hunted by the Enemy and losing our ability to meet our own needs. It is dark, empty and the smell of death surrounds us. We reap the consequences of our ‘knowing better’ only to realize that we don’t. But sometimes, sometimes we are so prideful we refuse, even then, to admit our fault. We would rather sit in our own stench than submit to God.
But the remedy is simple and the change it brings is dramatic. All we need to do is submit to God. Submit and we will have the strength to resist the devil -he will flee! Submit and God will draw near to us. Submit and He will make us clean. Oh that our sons and daughters would see the benefits of following the Lord. But if they’re outside of God’s boundaries, they’re likely blinded to what is good and right because the Enemy has them in a stranglehold and bound in darkness.
Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters are confronted with the awfulness of their sin and that they are grieved by it. Pray that their hearts are broken over their pride, selfishness and rebellion. Pray that they see their path only leads to death and they are terrified by it. Pray that they truly mourn their slow death of sin. Because scripture says, blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted Matthew 5:4.
Jesus brings life. Jesus brings change!! Oh that our sons and daughters would embrace that change by submitting to God and letting all that He holds for them become their inheritance. Pray that they know life and freedom in Christ. Pray for the change that will turn their eternity into one of hope, joy, light and life.
Pray without ceasing!!
Don’t forget to join us tonight for our final Bible Study connected to the Without Ceasing devotional book!! We’ll be digging deeper into Scripture and talking about how to pray for a prodigal child.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J83ssz_JqEQ
Just go to the link and join us at 8pm EST. Can’t join us then? No worries, the video will stay on youtube and you can watch it later…and share with a friend!
Sorrow over Sin
2 Corinthians 7:10 “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”
This week we’re focusing on prayer for the wanderer and our scripture is aligned with the live teaching that will play tomorrow night (October 19) at 8pm. There are SO many things we can and should pray for our sons and daughters. Today, we’ll pray for sorrow over sin.
God wants us to see our sin for what it is… rebellion and disobedience against Him and His will for our lives. It’s a selfishness that puts our fleshly desires above those spiritual boundaries and expectations that God put in place. When we see our sin for what it is, we see that it breaks the heart of God. If we truly love God, we’ll be broken over our selfish rebellion and we’ll desire to be back into right fellowship with Him. Worldly sorrow only leads to death. It doesn’t bring that heart change that leads us from darkness into light and brings salvation. Worldly sorrow is drenched in darkness and has no power to transform us.
Pray that, if our sons and daughters are not walking with the Lord, the eyes of their heart would be opened to see how grievous their choices are and how much their sin and rebellion distances them from God. Pray that Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation. Pray that they truly mourn and lament their sin.
Pray without ceasing.
Sunday Worship: A Hymn of Praise
We Praise Thee, Lord, with Earliest Morning Ray
Author: Johann Franck
Translator: Catherine Winkworth
Psalm 59:16-17
But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. You are my strength, I sing praise to you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.
We praise Thee, Lord, with earliest morning ray;
We praise Thee with the glowing light of day:
All things that live and move, by sea and land,
Forever ready at Thy service stand.
The nations all are singing night and day,
Glory to Thee, the mighty God, for aye!
By Thee, through Thee, in Thee all beings are!
The listening earth repeats the song afar.
Thy name is great, Thy kingdom in us dwell;
Thy will constrain, and feed and guide us well:
Guard us, redeem us in the evil hour;
For Thine the glory, Lord, and Thine the power!
(lyrics are public domain)
Saturday Review
It’s good to review, isn’t it? It reminds us to go back and focus, once again, on the important things we’ve learned and remind ourselves to remain faithful and continue trusting the Lord.
Today, let’s review our prayer points from the week and pray, once again, for our sons and daughters spiritual health and growth. Pray about their boundaries. Boundaries are important; they can be life-saving. God is calling us to respect them and choose to value and abide by them, for our good and for His glory.
Pray:
That our sons and daughters seek God with all their heart and make a commitment to know and live His word so that they can be protected and be productive in their spiritual walk.
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Pray that our sons and daughters choose the way of the cross and depend on the Lord for their direction and guidance
Pray that our sons and daughters put boundaries in place to guard their hearts and minds in Jesus.
Pray that they set their thoughts and affections on things above so that Jesus has priority and their spiritual growth reflects His presence in their lives.
Pray that they would have integrity to respect the boundaries God put in place.
Pray they would flee the evil desires that they encounter and, instead, pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace
Pray that they would be intentional to surround themselves with friends and mentors who are believers and who would ‘sharpen’ them as iron sharpens iron.
Pray that they would run this spiritual race with eyes wide open, avoiding those who would cut in on them and potentially pull them away from the Lord
Pray for the battle of the mind, that our sons and daughters would take EVERY thought captive and bring it into obedience to the Lord.
Pray that they would understand their value and purpose and would guard it well, abiding by firm boundaries of the mind, allowing the Lord to be the Master of their thoughts and the One on whom they meditate.
Pray that the Enemy would be powerless to affect them and that their thoughts would be centered on all that is just, good and lovely according to the Lord.
There is so much to pray for, friends, but don’t lose heart; God is working!!
Pray without ceasing.
Boundaries of the Thoughts & Mind
2 Corinthians 10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.”
The battlefield of the mind is a dangerous place. There we struggle with thoughts and desires. We ponder sin...or make a firm determination to avoid it. We wrestle with doubt, anger, dark thoughts and depression. We relive memories that often contain vivid reminders of our faults and failures. The mind is certainly a battleground where the Enemy can disable and defeat us.
So what can we do? First, we need to demolish those arguments that fight against what we know is true according to God’s word. We DEMOLISH them. We don’t just set them aside or push them down, we need to destroy them. Then, we have to take every thought captive. If it’s not pleasing to the Lord or edifying to our hearts and minds, it’s gotta go. What are we meditating on? Do we want to feast on the fresh, spiritual food of scripture, or do we find delight in chewing on years-old, spoiled ‘leftovers’ from our faults and failures?
Next, we must remind ourselves of what is true. We are made in the image of God. Think about that. We bear the image of the Almighty God! He created us in His likeness (Gen 1:26). So we are God’s ultimate creation! Then, He set eternity in our hearts- giving us a sense of purpose and a longing for more than what we see and experience here on earth (Ecc. 3:11). So our value is rooted in the image we bear and the purpose we hold; they are spiritual, eternal, and gospel-directed.
The Enemy hates that. He will do all he can to destroy us. He HATES image-bearers. His arguments set themselves up against everything God says is right and true! So, when our thoughts and hearts veer from our God-given value and purpose, when they argue and war against what we know is right and true, we need to stop and redirect them back to God’s truth once again. Take every thought captive!! Don’t entertain them, don’t linger with them, don’t abide with them. Too often we get ‘comfortable’ with our negative thoughts. We live with them and maybe even feel consigned to carry them- it’s our ‘lot in life’. It’s just the way it is and although we don’t like it, we are so familiar with that mindset that to try and break out means abandoning our ‘comfort zone’, despite the dark discomfort it brings. Stop!! Do not give the Enemy space in your thoughts! Hang a ‘no vacancy’ sign and fill your mind with the Truth of scripture!!
But we don’t just take those thoughts captive and then sit there. No, we bring them into obedience to Christ. We have to shift our thinking. When Christ redeemed us, He pulled us out of the swamp of our sin. We were not meant to continue living there, up to our necks in the muck and mire of our iniquities. He changed our hearts, our minds and our spiritual destination. So, when we struggle with thoughts and feelings that are negative, dark and defeating, we’re heading back to the swamp. God placed boundaries for us to protect us from that space...let’s not jump the wall and head back to our sinful, hopelessness.
So, then, what do we think on? Whatever is true- we are made in God’s image, we are His children, we are holy and dearly loved. That is truth! Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life- think on Him!! Then, whatever is noble- that’s the stuff that’s honorable and honest, not the lies from the pit, but the Truth from the Word! Whatever is pure and unpolluted is what should be at home in our hearts and minds. Leave no room for filth and lies. If it’s of ‘this world’ it’s likely tainted...so fill your minds with scripture! Then, whatever is lovely. Friends, we can spot ‘lovely’ a mile away!! Run after that- seek to fill your minds with beautiful things of the Lord. If it’s admirable, embrace it. If it’s sketchy, kick it to the curb! Whatever is praiseworthy- think on it. If it’s not praiseworthy, it’s likely an intruder...a ‘plant’ by the Enemy to derail our walk.
Let’s pray for our sons and daughters today that they will take EVERY thought captive and bring it into obedience. Pray that they would understand their value and purpose and would guard it well, abiding by firm boundaries of the mind, allowing the Lord to be the Master of their thoughts and the One on whom they meditate. Pray that the Enemy would be powerless to affect them and that their thoughts would be centered on all that is just, good and lovely according to the Lord.
Pray for boundaries and protection, today and every day.
Pray without ceasing.
Boundaries: Hold the Line
2 Timothy 2:22 “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
Galatians 5:7 “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?”
“Flee the evil desires of youth”. It takes maturity to both identify something that is an evil desire and then to make the decision to run the other way. Boundaries are important, yes, but it’s someone’s values, standards and deep integrity that ensure boundaries are respected and maintained. Without integrity and a strong commitment to Christ, boundaries are, at best, ‘suggestions’ for living a good life, but to those who don’t follow Christ, they’re an annoyance or limitation that stands in the way of what they believe will make them happy. Our sons and daughters need to know how to identify sin and need to have the uncompromising character to stand against it and refuse to flirt with it. They need to hold the line. Following Jesus brings joy. Satisfying your own desires brings emptiness.
When we pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace and we’re surrounded by others who are doing the same, there is great encouragement and accountability. It is a ‘brotherhood’ of believers who are all pushing and pulling one another in the direction of the cross. Each one helping to carry the burden of the other, and with a like-minded goal of living for the Lord. God intended us to follow Him, but He calls us to fellowship with one another in the process, to pray together, worship together and lift one another up. When we’re doing that, we are more likely to respect the boundaries God put in place because we have the encouragement and accountability of others. Together, we help one another hold the line God put in place. When one feels weak or tired, the others are there to help, lift them up and refresh them so they can stand firm.
The fellowship of believers is important and boundaries in friendships and relationships ensure that we’re ‘sharpening’ one another. A knife is best sharpened by another metal… It doesn't work to sharpen it against wood or cloth. And no matter how much time you spend trying, it just won’t work. This is why God calls us to interact, befriend and fellowship with other believers, without that, we become dull. Our friends and closest companions should be ones who sharpen us, challenge us and keep us accountable to follow Jesus.
Our sons and daughters need friends and mentors who are committed to the Word of God and to an uncompromising life that follows after Him. When we have friends like that, they also protect us. It’s true, there is strength in numbers! Godly friends can help keep the Enemy from cutting in and derailing our walk with the Lord. Encouragement, prayer, caution, accountability- they are all marks of a good and Godly friendship and can help us identify and hold to the truth of the Gospel, without wavering.
God has so many protections in place for us, we need to be mindful and be willing to accept those boundaries as the ‘guardrails’ for our path, ensuring that we’ll arrive in His presence safe and well, having run the race Jesus set out for us.
Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters:
Hold fast to integrity to respect and abide by the boundaries God put in place.
Run from temptation
Pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace
Surround themselves with friends and mentors who believe the same
Find friends who sharpen them
Be wary of those people who would potentially pull them away from the Lord.
Pray without ceasing.
Boundaries of the Mind
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.”
Ah, remember the days of getting the kids cleaned up to go out somewhere? We would get everyone changed, washed up and ready to go when we’d suddenly realize someone went back outside to play...in the dirt. Why?! Well, although WE wanted to go out for dinner, it’s likely their heart was not in it. They had values that drew them back to getting dirty again. It’s much like our spiritual lives, isn’t it?
When we make the decision to follow Christ, we make a shift in our affections, our values and our pursuits. We leave those things that stained our hearts and minds and we begin pursuing God and His heart. It’s no longer about ‘us’ but about Him. We forfeit ‘self’ because the pursuit of what pleased us before Christ no longer captivates us...in fact, we likely find it empty.
But the draw, the temptation to go back to the old life is always there. We are sinful, fallen people and as much as we love the Lord, the fleshly part within us battles for our affections and will always try and lead us into temptation and back into sin. Romans 7 states it well:
Romans 7:15, 18-25 “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.”
And where does the struggle take place? Satan is subtle and cunning. He attacks the heart and mind and they become the battlefield of spiritual warfare. Because of that, we especially need to set boundaries that protect and guard us in those areas. We need to seek Christ and His glory through our thoughts, words and actions.
Colossians 1:1-3 provide great directives and boundaries for our lives. Because we’ve been raised with Christ, we need to set our hearts on things above. That’s an intentional action on our part to love the Lord and choose to pursue what honors Him. Everything around us will battle for our affections- we must choose and pursue Christ.
We also need to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. We’ve been changed!! Why would we go back and wallow in the things that soiled our hearts and minds? And it’s not a ‘one and done’ effort. It requires daily attention, commitment and intention. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16) Let’s embrace that daily renewal, let’s put boundaries in place and commit to follow Jesus well.
Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters put healthy boundaries in place to guard their hearts and minds in Jesus. Let’s pray that they set their thoughts and affections on things above so that Jesus has priority in their lives and their spiritual growth reflects His presence and preeminence in their lives.
Pray without ceasing
Bible Study-Tonight!
Join us at 8pm tonight for an in-depth study on praying boundaries for our sons and daughters!! Grab a cup of tea and settle in for some great teaching and conversation!
The link opens at 8pm, but if you can’t make it, just check in later- the video will remain on youtube and can be watched anytime!
Praying For Boundaries Without Ceasing - YouTube
Is your adult child struggling with healthy physical, spiritual and mental boundaries? Do you feel equipped to pray bold prayers and ask the Lord to help them draw lines for their lives and be drawn back to God? Let's learn practical ways to pray that our children define their boundaries
Good Directions
Psalm 119:32 “I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.”
Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”
Psalm 119:32 shows us the freedom that comes with following Christ “I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.” There is great encouragement in knowing where you need to go and Who is providing the directions. You can move ahead without fear or uncertainty, or, if there is uncertainty, you know He will provide direction at the right time, you just need to wait and trust. You can be confident that you’re on the right road. But the key is, being aware of those commands and following God’s directions. You have to be attentive to God’s word.
When we don’t know the directions or Who to ask, it gets difficult. Asking directions can be a humbling experience, right? Not only are you admitting you’re lost, but you’re surrendering yourself to the mercy and kindness of others to point you in the right direction. And who knows if they even know… and maybe they’re embarrassed or stressed and they don’t want to look like they don’t know...so they tell you ‘something’ but perhaps it’s not even correct. No wonder few people are eager to admit their need for directions.
At some point, the GPS was invented. People jumped at the chance to buy one and forever (hopefully) banish the humbling process of asking for directions altogether. This way they could look like they knew what they were doing...as long as the GPS was working...and as long as it could connect to the satellite. But, if you traveled to another country, that same GPS wouldn’t work well, if at all. It didn’t have the software needed for that country and if you asked for directions, there was likely a language barrier as well.
Direction can be difficult, but God provides us with a perfect GPS for life through His word. When we become Christ-followers, we need to depend on Him for clear direction, because this is, indeed, a foreign land. We are aliens and strangers here. And we must exhibit great caution, because few speak our ‘language’ of the cross. If we depend on guidance from others who are not Christ-followers we can end up confused, on the wrong road, or worse, following a map to nowhere. But here’s the thing, God is always correct. He’s always ‘switched on’, He doesn’t need an update or a software fix. He’s not dependent on a satellite and He is fluent in every language.
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Can we pray today that our sons and daughters choose the way of the cross and depend on the Lord for their direction and guidance? They can’t afford not to.
“Lord, I pray that (name) would reach out to you, even this morning, asking You to guide and direct their day. I pray that they would be humble to recognize they don’t know everything and wise enough to reach out to You. Keep them from following others who don’t acknowledge You as Lord and Savior. Protect their path and guide their steps. Encourage them to continually look to You and trust You, even when the way seems dark and unclear. You are always trustworthy and always in control. Help them to lean in and let You lead. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.