Psalm 15:3 Slanderous Words
Psalm 15:1-3
“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;
and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman,”
As we work through Psalm 15, praying each verse, we’re learning what God says about those He welcomes to live in His presence, and isn’t that what we desire for our sons and daughters? We know that God desires those whose walk is blameless, who do what is righteous and who speak truth (the opposite of slander) from their heart. They need to know God’s word and live by it. Psalm 15:3 continues by adding that those who are welcome to live in God’s presence should have no slander on their tongue- they set a guard on their mouth.
Slander is a wicked thing. We see it in the world around us, and most recently in a trial between celebrities. Untruths spread to damage another, to get ahead, to inflict hurt in return for hurt. That’s not how we’re called to live. Yet, that’s the example set by the world today. Our sons and daughters need to rise above it.
Have you heard of toothpaste words? Just like toothpaste squeezed out of the tube cannot be put back in…words spoken out cannot be retracted. Oh, you can try, but once said, those words are out there and will continue to make their way around, despite your best efforts to recall them.
Untruths willingly and eagerly shared to intentionally damage another's reputation are toothpaste words; they’re slander and it’s just wrong. When our kids were little, we monitored what words they used and corrected them when they said something unkind or rude. But, now that they’re adults, we just can’t control what they say. That’s true, but we can set an example and we can gently speak to them, adult to adult, about their words.
Friends, we live in an information-saturated world where everyone ‘speaks their truth’ and fights for the right to be heard. Yet, “when words are many, sin is not absent” Proverbs 10:19. We are called to a higher standard as believers.
What sets a believer apart? Their life, their actions and their words. Words carry weight and we need to be cautious how we use them. Yet, if we choose to slander, we’re sending conflicting messages to the world around us. On one hand, we speak the truth of Scripture and on the other, we share untruths that damage others. We need to love our neighbor, not use words as a weapon against them.
James 3:9-12 “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”
We might think that only happens ‘in the world’ but friends, it’s in the church, it’s in the small group, it’s in the friend group. It’s in Christian media and comes from Christian leaders. We need to hold ourselves accountable and to God’s word. We need to not be a party to the conversation. We need to step back and encourage others to speak truth that encourages others.
Unfortunately, many believers fall into the habit of sharing ‘hearsay’, sometimes thinly disguised as a ‘prayer request’ or shared out of ‘concern’ for a brother or sister.. But there’s a fine line between prayer requests and toothpaste words. And when we fall into that habit,, we run the risk of being known as a gossip, as someone who betrays another with information that is damaging and we become someone who is untrustworthy.
Ultimately, someone who slanders another is not respecting that other as one made in the image of God. Would we dare slander the Lord? Heavens, no! Then why would we be comfortable sharing untruths about one of His image-bearers?
Let’s pray Ephesians 4:29 becomes a guidepost in our lives and in those of our sons and daughters. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
“Father, I ask that You would be glorified in my words today. Put a guard on my mouth and stop me from speaking things I should not. I pray for (name) today that they would set boundaries on what they choose to invest in when it comes to conversations and words. Lord, give them discretion in what they believe about others. Help them to cling to the Truth of Your Word and rise above the harsh words, deception and ill-intent of others. Lord, let them always treat others as fellow image-bearers, even if that other has words and actions that are ungodly. I pray that (name) would be a light and would live and speak with integrity so that they are trustworthy and honest, representing Jesus well in a world that needs Him so desperately. In Jesus name I pray, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Psalm 15:2 Walking Blamelessly
Psalm 15:1-2
Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?
The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart;
We’re continuing to pray through Psalm 15 and this week, we’re focusing on verse two. Last week we discussed and prayed through what it means to live and dwell with the Lord. But not everyone will have that privilege. No, it’s reserved for those who follow God’s commands outlined through the remainder of Psalm 15.
Notice that verse two speaks about how the one who dwells with the Lord will have a life, actions and words that all reflect God’s Presence and power in their lives. Let’s dig into verse two.
What does it mean to be blameless? We might think it’s being free from guilt. But it’s more than that. If one is blameless, they are complete, unimpaired, ‘whole’ (1). Someone who is blameless understands and knows they are not missing anything- there is no longer a hole in their heart or an emptiness in their life. God has redeemed and restored them. They received the grace of God to cover their sin and they’ve been restored to fellowship with God that fills the emptiness that once lingered. Don’t we desire that wholeness for our sons and daughters? Of course we do!
One who is right with God has a deep desire- a spiritual conviction- to do what is right and just and to support that in every way. They can’t overlook or turn a blind eye to injustice and they can’t tolerate wrong. It goes against their new nature, indwelled by the Holy Spirit and called to follow Christ and His Word.
Finally, someone who is made whole and who pursues righteousness and justice will speak truth from his heart. In John 17:17, Jesus prayed “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”
A blameless person is one whose very life reflects the mighty change that God worked in them through their lifestyle, their actions and their words. There is no contradiction of saying one thing and doing another. They pursue God with their whole being and they cling to His Word because it is life.
When our children were little, they were around us daily and heard us speak and watched our actions. Oftentimes we would see or hear them imitate us. They were learning and putting into action what we modeled. When we abide in God’s Presence, we learn His words and we understand how we should live our lives and if we’re committed to the Lord, we’ll want to share that truth with others. Why wouldn’t we want to let others know about the peace and wholeness that comes from following Christ? Ephesians 5:1-2 “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
We long for our sons and daughters to live in God’s Presence each day. But not just ‘dwell’ as a tenant would, but as a member of the family, enjoying all that relationship has to offer. We want them to have a longing to live their lives in such a way that would show others that they live for a different Purpose than the world around them does.
This week, pray Psalm 15:2 over your sons and daughters. Ask that their walk would be blameless, that they would do what is righteous and that they would know God’s Word well so they are able to speak truth from their heart.
“Father, I pray today that (name)’s walk would be blameless. Lord, help them to be more concerned with what You think of them than what the world thinks of them. I pray that they would live with conviction to follow Your Word, and Your truth and they would speak with boldness so that others can hear the Truth of Jesus and see it lived out in their life. Holy Spirit, give (name) a conviction to live without compromise and do what is righteous..not self-righteous, but to live with Godly righteousness determining their steps, their words and their actions. Lord, protect them and use them for Your honor and glory, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”
H8549 - tāmîm - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h8549/kjv/wlc/0-1/
Pray without ceasing.
Psalm 15:1 Dwelling with God
We’re going to take some time to pray Psalm 15 over our sons and daughters. There is so much rich truth in this Scripture! But we’re going to take our time and go verse by verse, ponding the truths in each one. I would encourage you to memorize Psalm 15 as we go through it. It’s just five verses, but so full of encouragement and truth by which we should live!
Let’s take some time to read through and pray Psalm 15:1 “Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?”
What does it mean to dwell? Strong’s Concordance says it means to “sojourn, abide, remain, be continuing”. It also means to “seek hospitality with” or “stand in awe of” (1).
Imagine seeking hospitality with the Lord? What must that be like? How would He welcome us and make us feel at home? There is no place we could feel more at home, more loved, more cared for. There is no safer place than dwelling with the Lord. He provides peace and sanctuary from everything in this world that would steal our joy.
The word ‘sanctuary’ is ‘tabernacle’ in the King James Version. A tabernacle was a tent, used by nomads for their dwelling and safety. But there’s more to it than that. The tent went along with them wherever they traveled. And they traveled in groups- never alone. Nomads lived in community and there was a sense of belonging, looking after one another and supporting one another. When we dwell in God’s tabernacle, we are a part of His family. We are never alone and wherever we go, He is there as well. When we abide with Him, we listen to His words, we watch His example and we begin to live a life that is unlike that of the world around us.
Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters would choose to dwell in God’s sanctuary. Pray that they would find belonging in Him and peace in His Presence and they would remain there- not running off in pursuit of those things that can never satisfy. Pray that they would deeply understand they are never alone, but as God’s child, He is with them and will care for them, protect them and no matter where they go, their home is with Him.
As you pray through verse one; pray for your sons and daughters by name. Meditate on the scripture and what those words mean and represent, then take some time to journal about dwelling with God and write out a prayer.
Pray without ceasing.
H1481 - gûr - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h1481/niv/wlc/0-1/
It Matters Who You Follow
Matthew 24:23-27 “At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time. “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”
Once upon a time, two teens were leaving the house to drive to school. They’d recently moved to a different house but were going to finish at the school they attended through the year. Neither was very good at directions, so when they pulled out of the driveway and saw a school bus, they thought they were golden! “We’ll just follow the bus!” they thought. “Because the bus always goes to school, right?”
They wound their way along, past farm fields, houses and barns, neither was worried that they didn’t really know where they were. They were following the bus and that would lead them to school; they were certain. Imagine their dismay when they pulled into the school lot and it wasn’t their school at all! They’d followed a bus for a different school district. It ‘looked’ the same, but it wasn’t going to the same destination. They were fooled into believing it would because, at first glance, it was just like their school bus. They didn’t check for evidence, they just followed.
Who you follow matters. What you pay attention to makes a difference.
Far too often, there are things that ‘look’ like they’re Biblical, or they sound “Christian” enough that we don’t ask questions or dig deeper. We follow because we hear or see enough to make us comfortable. Yet, we might find ourselves following after something that isn’t really Biblical and that’s the goal of the Enemy. Jesus said in Matthew 24, that as the end of days neared, there would be great deception and if possible, even the elect would be deceived.
As parents, we need to pray seriously, specifically and continuously for our sons and daughters that as the days grow darker, they would follow Jesus without wavering. We need to pray that they would have discretion in who and what they choose to listen to and follow. We need to pray that they would spot deception. Pray that they would be sensitive to the Holy Spirit speaking and moving in their lives so that they will heed His warning when they encounter deception. Pray that they would be uneasy and alert to the present danger and wiles of the devil.
It matters who they follow and we need to stand in the gap in prayer as they navigate this life and the spiritual dangers around them. Just because they’re adults doesn’t mean they’re ‘golden’, it’s all the more reason to double-down on prayer for their spiritual growth and protection. This week, make a list of those things you want to pray over. Maybe put those items on an index card and carry it with you. Pray daily. Pray often. Pray using scripture and pray without ceasing.
Navigating in the Darkness
Psalm 89:15 “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.”
Have you ever driven at night in the countryside? It’s dark…really dark. There are no street lights and so few houses that there is little to light the way to help you see where you’re going. Headlights are a necessity. They illuminate the road ahead and when the light shines on the road lines, the glass beads in the reflective paint make the edges of the road easier to see. We can navigate those twists and turns in the road much better.
But headlights help us spot obstacles as well. When there is something in the road that shouldn’t be, we can see it ahead because our headlights shine far enough ahead to give us time to avoid something that might cause damage.
Headlights also illuminate critters- those wandering night animals who don’t quite understand the dangers of crossing the road. Sometimes we’ll see their eyes shine as they catch the oncoming headlights and we know to slow quickly and be aware. Other times, they might catch us by surprise, jumping out in front of us when we least expect it. They lurk in the dark and then, suddenly, they jump into the light and we react, hopefully quickly enough to avoid disaster.
But, headlights don’t just illuminate our way, they also help make us visible to others. Sometimes at dusk, people will forget to turn on their headlights. As their eyes acclimate to the growing darkness, they drive without realizing just how dark it is. While other drives will flash their lights to try and alert the driver, sometimes they continue, oblivious to the darkness and pending danger.
If our headlights are dim, we struggle to see well and our confidence is weakened. We might not drive as quickly or as far. We worry about what we cannot see and we wonder if the road ahead is safe.
Friends, this is such a picture of life, isn’t it? We desperately need the light of Jesus to navigate in the darkness of this world. There are dangers ahead that, without Jesus to help us discern, we may lose our way and stray from His path. Sometimes we find it hard to recognize the dangers in the darkness and we need His light to illuminate those things that are not of God. The enemy lurks in the darkness, putting obstacles in our way and attacking us unexpectedly. The Light of God’s Word and of His Presence offer wisdom, insight and protection. We can’t navigate this life safely on our own- our eyes are dim and we far too easily acclimate to the darkness. Sin is present and strong…but Jesus is stronger!
So today, let’s pray through these scriptures and ask the Lord to work in the hearts, minds, and lives of our sons and daughters, so they would live in the Light of Jesus and they would depend on His light to help them navigate the darkness.
Pray that our sons and daughters know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior and follow Him without compromise. He is the light of the world, without Him, we walk in darkness.
John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Pray that our sons and daughters have a thirst for God’s Word and a longing to spend time in His Presence each day. It’s important to listen and learn so we can be alert and aware of those dangers that we might encounter and be watchful of where God leads.
Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
Pray that our sons and daughters shine brightly. Pray that they are willing to stand and shine for Jesus in a world that is becoming ever darker. When we are believers in Christ, He shines through us. We need to reflect the light of Christ to others and be a testimony of His life-giving and light-producing presence in our lives.
Mt 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Pray, pray, pray that our sons and daughters do not veer off God’s path to follow those who walk in darkness.
Proverbs 4:19 “But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.”
1 John 1:6 “If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.”
Friends, let’s pray for our sons and daughters with a fervency and urgency that attests to the days in which we live. This world is full of darkness, but Jesus is the light of the world! Pray that our sons and daughters choose to follow Jesus, no matter what.
Pray without ceasing.
Expectations: Be Real
“May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.” Psalm 90:17
How often do we read Scripture and pray that our son or daughter would emulate someone whose walk with God jumps out from the pages and impacts us deeply. We may dream and pray that our son shows the wisdom and integrity of Joseph or our daughter the faith and determination of Ruth. Perhaps we pray that God would raise up a Joshua in our family or that our daughters would be bold and brave like Esther.
It’s important that we learn from those God used throughout scripture to serve as examples to us. And we DO need to pray that our sons and daughters will grow in the wisdom and knowledge of Christ and that their lives would display the character and faith that evidences that growth. But, friends, we need to be mindful of the process.
“We want to see the faith of Joshua!”. That’s great…but do you realize that before Joshua was a ‘great man of God’…
Joshua witnessed God bring the plagues on Egypt…He saw God work miraculously.
He was with the Israelites when God parted the Red Sea; He experienced God’s supernatural intervention.
Joshua saw God bring water from the Rock and manna from heaven
He followed the Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night- seeing God’s presence manifest before him.
He witnessed Moses raising the serpent in the wilderness.
He was there when Moses returned from the mountain and raised the tablets God gave him, introducing the 10 commandments.
Joshua was one of the 12 spies…and when he bravely entered the Promised Land to spy for Moses, he was approximately 40 years old (Joshua 14:7)
And, when Joshua stepped into leadership of Israel after Moses died, many scholars believe he was nearly 85 years old!
(http://www.biblecharts.org/thebible/interestingfactsaboutjoshua.pdf)
Joshua had an extraordinary example to follow in Moses. He witnessed miraculous things and endured hardship beyond what we will likely ever face. He was prepared by God over decades to step into a role of leadership only after nearly a century of listening, learning and obeying God.
Yes, we can pray that our sons will have the faith and boldness of Joshua, but we need to be realistic that it may take a lifetime and a “Moses” in their life before God brings them to that level of bold leadership. Let’s pray for God to work, but realize it may not happen quickly.
And then there is Ruth. Oh how we love her story! We take such joy in hearing her say in Ruth 1:16-17, ““Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”” Yet, do we really take account of all Ruth experienced that built her faith?
Her husband died.
Her brother-in-law and father-in-law both died as well.
She had no children.
She was without means to support herself. She was likely a perceived burden to her family as a young, childless widow with few prospects and a long life ahead.
Ruth faced a long journey with a mother-in-law who was struggling with her own will to live.
She chose to leave her country, her customs, her language and her family- all to follow Naomi, her mother-in-law, back to Israel, where she would be viewed as an unwelcome stranger and alien.
She was from Moab. She was one of ‘those’ whom God warned Israel against.
But wait, that’s not all…
Ruth and Naomi moved into a house that was ‘lifeless’ and neither had prospects of work or a way to get what they needed to survive…and they were women.
Ruth knew no one, she didn’t know “the neighborhood”, yet she went out each day, stepping out of her comfort zone to ‘glean’ in the fields of a stranger and faced being ostracized and mistreated by the locals who were also gleaning.
Ruth was totally dependent on a God she barely knew, yet she was willing to trust Him.
Ruth’s situation was not just hard, it was excruciating. Now, put your daughter in those sandals… Yikes! That’s hard to imagine, isn’t it? We would be swooping in to help, rescue, comfort and mediate each of those hardships, wouldn’t we? Yet, that would have interfered with God’s plan.
Ruth’s story is extraordinary and she is such an example of grace, faith, and beauty. Friends, we need to realize, those qualities were groomed in her by God at a great price. Those four chapters in the book of Ruth reveal years of endurance, learning, leaning and obedience.
We have a tendency to hit the ‘highlights’ when we read about these pillars of the faith… we see the 10,000 foot view. If we hold our sons and daughters up against these examples, expecting to see rich, abundant fruit, quickly, we create unrealistic expectations. Be like Ruth! Be like Joshua!” But we sometimes lose sight of the hardships and the years of struggle, pain and opposition that those ‘greats’ had to endure to become the leaders and examples they are to us. We need to temper our expectations and, instead of pressuring our sons and daughters, we need to pray for them.
Then there’s the danger of casually overlooking the mentors God placed in the lives of these ‘greats’ to help grow them and prepare them.
Joshua had Moses… a lifetime of Moses… and it wasn’t until Joshua was at least 85 years old and Moses died that Joshua began to lead Israel. That’s a long time. It’s very possible that Joshua’s parents didn’t see him become “Joshua” at all.
Ruth had Naomi. A broken, bitter woman who we might dismiss as not having a strong enough faith to impact the next generation- yet she did. And she was an ancestor of Jesus- that’s how He used her…and He continues to use her story and her example. Would we have encouraged our Ruth to stick closer to home and find a more pleasant and positive mentor?
Friends, let’s pray that God does grow our sons and daughters into strong men and women of faith, willing to be bold, to be used by Him and to obey in whatever way He asks. But let’s pray for our parent-hearts, too, so that we don’t place ungodly expectations on our sons and daughters to become something or someone before their God-approved time and in ways that circumvent His plan. Our sons and daughters may have to face famine, hardship, loss, pain, danger, and enemies. But God will use each of those things to teach them, stretch them and prepare them for what He is calling them to do. We may not have to wait until they’re 85 to see the fruit of bold faith, but, yes, we will wait, we must wait, and while we wait, we need to pray and allow God to work as He wills, not as we ‘expect’.
Today, let’s pray Psalm 90:17 and pray with conviction “May the favor of the Lord our God rest on (our sons and daughters); establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.”
What God establishes is not easily torn down. Isn’t that the hope and prayer we should embrace? Today, let’s pray with Godly expectation, not our own, and wait with realistic understanding that God works in His time to bring to fruition that which He planned long before we were ever born.
Pray without ceasing, friends.
Looking for Smoke, Watching for Fire.
Read Jonah 3-4
God called Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh to preach of His pending judgment for their sinful ways and call them to repentance. Jonah’s response wasn’t obedience, but a fast dash in the opposite direction and from God’s command.. But then, the storm, the fish, the 3 day ordeal and Jonah repented….or so we thought. His prayer in Jonah 2:8 was profound, “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.”
When we join him in chapter 3, Jonah is headed into Nineveh, a city of over 120,000 people. It was a large and influential city and a visit to all of Nineveh took no less than three days. That’s an important fact to remember.
Jonah began on day one, preaching “40 more days and Nineveh will be overturned”. Friends, this was one man speaking to a wealthy, influential city. Just one. We’ve seen accounts of someone storming a government meeting, shouting their warning- and being quickly whisked away, while all go back to their business. We’ve seen pictures of a man standing in a crowded city with a sign, “the end of the world is near” as people walk by, indifferent to his warning. Imagine Jonah, preaching God’s judgment in such a huge city- he was likely to be ignored, mocked or run out of town. But no. No, Nineveh listened. In fact, they listened so well that within a day, the entire city believed God’s warning. They began fasting and the king even made a decree that everyone should call urgently on the Lord.. Can you imagine a revival like that?! One day and the entire city was mourning their sin. That’s the power of God at work! Jonah 3:10 “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.”
You would think Jonah would be rejoicing- so overwhelmed, excited, and grateful that Nineveh responded to God’s message. But Jonah? He wasn’t impressed. In fact, he was angry. He was self-righteous and resentful. Jonah 4:2-3 “He prayed to the Lord, “O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”” Jonah then went outside the city, made himself a shelter and sat to wait and watch what would happen to the city (v. 5) He wanted to see Nineveh receive what they deserved- a fiery judgment from the Lord. So he waited. He watched. He wanted to see smoke. And his attitude kept him from seeing the blessing and grace of the Lord revealed to over 120,000 souls.
Here’s the thing, Jonah elevated his own standard of justice above God’s. Jonah resented God’s forgiveness of the Ninevites. He wanted to see them receive the just reward for their sinfulness. He was eager to see smoke and he was ready to be smug and say “you got what you deserved!” Yet, he was ignoring the sin in his own heart. Oh, he obeyed God…on the outside, but inside, he was still as resentful, rebellious and selfish as he was when he stepped foot on the boat.
Friends, I fear we are more like Jonah than we might imagine. We have a fierce sense of justice. We hate to see people get away with wrongdoing. We hate to see the wicked prosper. When someone wrongs another, we want to see them caught in their sin and punished for the pain they caused. Yet, what if they repent? What if they confess their sin and seek forgiveness? And what if they receive mercy instead of punishment? If we’re honest, we struggle with forgiveness and mercy toward those who did wrong because it’s not what that ‘other’ deserves. They deserve condemnation. They deserve for God to ‘smite’ them. Our sense of justice might demand they pay a little more, they suffer a bit longer, they earn their way back into grace. Oh friends, God’s justice is not ours. Isaiah 5:16 says, “But the LORD Almighty will be exalted by his justice, and the holy God will be proved holy by his righteous acts.” Psalm 89:14 “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.”
Jonah lost sight of his own sin. He couldn’t see that he was rebellious against God, too. He didn’t see the depth of God’s forgiveness and mercy for him- he could only see the ‘injustice’ of God’s mercy on Nineveh. Jonah was outwardly obedient to God’s command and inwardly turning his back to the Lord’s standards and creating his own. Jonah, himself, had a idol- craving his own sense of justice and fairness, and that idol robbed him of the grace he would receive from God through his surrender and obedience.
Oh, the story of Jonah holds much appeal for our little ones as they learn the miracle of his rescue in the fish. But friends, the story of Jonah holds much for us and our adult sons and daughters in the bigger story of his outward obedience but his inward bitterness and rebellion. It’s not difficult to live in such a way that we ‘appear’ obedient- especially if we were raised in church.. We check all the boxes; we show up as we should; we ‘talk the talk’. But, we can appear outwardly obedient and still rebel against God in our hearts. We can resent his mercy to those who are undeserving….and totally miss the fact that we are just as undeserving. Romans 5:6-8 “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. We were undeserving. Justice demanded that we pay for our sin with our life- for eternity. Yet, Jesus stepped in on our behalf. He showed us mercy when we deserved none. And if we accept His sacrifice on our behalf, God looks on us and sees Christ’s righteousness. That, friends, is amazing. It’s undeserved. It's a merciful redemption that changes our eternity. And we should rejoice when anyone believes, repents and surrenders to God.
Do we have a Jonah heart? Do we hold others' sins against them even when God has forgiven them? Are we giddy to see people receive punishment or do we pray for their repentance and that they would know God’s forgiveness? Friends, we have nothing to resent when someone is repentant and shown mercy- it should always be a reminder of the mercy we also received from God. We were and are undeserving. We should rejoice in the repentance of others. And if we can’t? Well, then it might be time to check our hearts.
And Jonah? He was the author of this book. He could have resolved the story and shared how he followed God faithfully. He could have painted himself in a much better light. But he didn’t. Jonah ended his story with God’s rebuke against this prophet’s rebellious, vengeful heart. There was no ‘neat little bow’ on top of this story. Instead, there was a hard lesson and an unresolved sin that leaves us to ponder how Jonah, the prophet and author, was used by God in spite of his heart. And he was used by God in mighty ways. Even unbelievers know the story of Jonah- and God can use those seeds to change lives. Our rebellion will never be powerful enough to prevent God from working…but it can be powerful enough to cause us to forfeit the grace that would be ours.
There is no doubt we’ll meet Jonah in heaven and when we do, I’m sure he will have quite a story…but it’s not just going to be about the fish. It’s going to be about his heart and the weight of God’s mercy toward him. Instead of looking for smoke and watching for fire, let’s look to see how God is working and rejoice when He turns hearts and lives to Him.
Let’s take time to pray today for our own hearts and for those of our sons and daughters. Pray for forgiveness. Pray for a surrendered heart. Pray for freedom from a judgmental spirit. Pray that God would use each of us in spite of ourselves. And pray that we would not cling to idols and forfeit the grace He wants to lavish on each of us.
Pray without ceasing.
No One Saw What Went on Inside the Fish.
Read Jonah, Chapter 2
Jonah was thrown overboard in the midst of a raging storm at sea and the storm stopped, completely. God used the storm to get Jonah right where he wanted him. Jonah hit the water and the next thing he knew, he was swallowed whole by a giant fish, perhaps a whale. The species doesn’t matter. But no one expected to see Jonah alive again.
Did the sailors see Jonah sink below the surface and disappear? Did they see the fish swallow him? We don’t know; Scripture doesn’t say. What we do know is that Jonah was swallowed and God used Jonah’s ‘capture’ to do a work in his heart. Here’s the thing, no one saw what went on inside the fish. There Jonah was, in the belly of the fish…alive, yet surely doomed...a least by human understanding. But God saw him. God knew exactly where he was and, he was exactly where God wanted him.
Jonah 2:1 “From inside the fish, Jonah prayed to the Lord his God.” Jonah prayed. That’s the first time in the record that Jonah prayed. He didn’t pray when the Lord told him to go to Nineveh. He didn’t pray when he was on the ship. He didn’t pray in the storm or when he was confronted with his culpability for the storm and the lives at risk. No, it wasn’t until Jonah could no longer run, that he prayed.
And here’s the thing…no one saw what went on inside the fish. It was between God and Jonah. Spectators were not required. The opinions of others did not matter. No one needed to weigh in on the process to provide guidance or approval. Sometimes God needs to take us to a place in life where all we can do is depend on Him- there is no other way out.
Jonah knew, keenly, that he was at the mercy of his Almighty God.. His prayer is one of confession, humility and acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty and might.
In his distress, he calls to the Lord for help, and he’s confident God hears him (v. 2)
Sometimes God allows our sons and daughters need to experience distress so they will call out to Him
He acknowledges God put him in this desperate situation; He threw him into the ‘deep end’ where he was unable to help himself. (v. 3)
God allows desperate situations. We don’t like to see them, but we need to trust Him. It’s all within His power to control and resolve. We are not the ‘lifeguard’, God is.
Jonah knew he was in a ‘no way out’ situation- threatened by the waters, surrounded by the deep and sinking to the ‘roots of the mountains’, and totally dependent on the mercy and grace of God (v. 5-6)
What will it take for our sons and daughters to recognize that without God, they are lost, doomed, sinking into the depths? Are we willing to allow God to bring them to that place?
Verse 7 “When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple.”
It wasn’t until Jonah was in a no-way-out situation, his death was imminent, that he humbled himself before the Lord. Psalm 139:16 “All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before any of them came to be.” All the days ordained… the life of our sons and daughters is well-within the hand of the Lord, even if they are not surrendered to Him. Unless it’s the day God ordained for them to die, they will not. He is capable of sustaining them through even the most dire situation and use that to turn their hearts.. Do we trust Him?
Jonah repented. He surrendered to God. verse 9 says, “What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the Lord.” And once Jonah repented, God completed the rescue, and gave Jonah a second chance to obey.
Jonah’s rescue was a two-stage event. First he was swallowed by a fish, because Jonah needed to be in a no-way-out situation so God could get his attention. He was swallowed whole- certain death, but in that certain death, Jonah found life in his Lord God. The second stage of the rescue was when Jonah was brought back to land. God didn’t just let him remain in the fish because God had more for Jonah to do.
Friends, sometimes God will take our sons and daughters into desperate, life-threatening situations. And we are afraid. We plead and cry out for them. We throw everything overboard in an attempt to save them. But that storm? It’s all in the hands of God. He is the Lord of the land and the sea (Jonah 1:9). He is the master of the wind and the waves, and they obey Him (Mark 4:39-41) You see, the wind and waves obey him, but his children often do not. We can trust Him that He controls everything our sons and daughters experience and He uses it for His purposes. The wind and waves obeyed God and did His bidding. The fish obeyed God and did His bidding. We might fear the storm, we might not see what goes on in the belly of the fish, but we can trust that the storm and the rescue are all in the hands of our loving Heavenly Father.
Today, let’s pray for our sons and daughters, that God would not necessarily calm the storm, but would use it to draw them closer to Him. Let’s pray that God would bring them to a place where they have no other option but to cry out to and trust Him. If God calmed the storm before Jonah was in the sea, he likely would have continued to run. Do we want calm….or do we want authentic surrender? If Jonah hadn’t been thrown into the sea, he wouldn’t have ended up in the fish- his no-way-out place of surrender. If we just want God to end the storm, we might forfeit the rescue and repentance that would result. Let’s pray carefully, focused on the Master of the waves and the Maker of our sons and daughters.
“Father, you see what’s going on in (name’s) heart and life today. You know whether they are surrendered to You or running away. Lord, I pray that You would use circumstances and other people to point them back to Christ. I don’t like to see the struggle, Lord, but I know you can use it. I would jump in and save them- it hurts to see them struggle. Yet I know You use the struggle to get their attention. Please work in them. I trust that You are the Lord and Master of the wind and waves…and they obey You. I know they will not consume (name) in defiance of Your will. I know You can provide rescue. Help me to trust Your work. No one saw what happened inside the fish, Lord. And I know that I don’t need to watch the process and weigh in on what You choose to do and how it unfolds. I just need to trust You. Lord, I’m willing to step back and allow You to work. I won’t cling to methods and plans of my own. I pray for mercy and grace. Lord, work in (name)’s heart ahd life today. Bring them to a place of surrender. Guide them to salvation in You and bring them to a life of obedience in Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
God Uses the Storms
Today, read Jonah, chapter 1
We all know the story of Jonah. But let’s have a quick recap, shall we? Jonah was a prophet of God, called to take God’s message of pending judgment to a city called Nineveh. Nineveh wasn’t just a city, the Bible calls it a ‘great city’- it had significance….and it was full of wickedness.
Jonah knew all about Nineveh and he was less than interested in going there to share God’s warning and in how they should repent. In Jonah’s eyes, they deserved what was coming.
So Jonah ran. He ran in the opposite direction, away from Nineveh and away from God.
Let’s stop here. Do you have a son or daughter who is running from God? He sees and He knows! Don’t despair. God is working…
Now, back to Jonah…God let him run. He let Jonah board a ship headed for Tarsus. And Jonah wasn’t shy about sharing why he was headed to Tarsus. He told the sailors he was running from God. (1:10). But the sailors didn’t know or fear the Almighty God. There were many gods among them and it was more of a “Hey, whatever works for you, man” sort of thing. So running from God wasn't a cause for concern…until the storm.
God brought a storm that was wild and fierce. It challenged these seasoned sailors and after doing all they could on their own to save the ship, they began asking who was responsible for making all this trouble. Clearly, they sensed a spiritual aspect to this storm.
And Jonah? He was indifferent…asleep in the bottom of the ship- so disconnected that the captain had to wake him from a deep sleep. You see, in his running from God, he’d stopped listening to the Lord and he became insensitive and indifferent to God’s working. (Sometimes, when we run from God, we reach a place where we no longer hear His voice, but God is still working).
Jonah owned up to his part in the storm. When he confessed that he worshiped the God of Heaven, who made the sea and the land, the sailors were struck with fear. Now, here is where the account grows even more interesting… Jonah’s solution to save the ship and the men on it was to have them throw him overboard. We don’t know what his thoughts were- had he had a change of heart? Did he know God would save him? Was he simply owning his defiance and accepting his ‘fate’? The sailors didn’t want to do it…they continued trying everything else, but finally agreed that in order to have any chance at survival, they must do what Jonah said.
They threw him overboard. And they pleaded with God to not hold them accountable for Jonah’s life. They pleaded to God. Did you catch that? God used this storm to bring these sailors to a realization that there is One True God. They prayed, offered sacrifices to Him. They feared the Lord and made vows to Him. (1:15-16) Sometimes the storm isn’t just about us. Sometimes, God uses the storms to impact those around us and He uses our storms to bring others to Him.
And Jonah? Well, God provided a fish to swallow him. And here’s the thing…no one saw what went on inside the fish. No one. Yet, God was working. Remember that.
Friends, is your son or daughter in the midst of a storm? Step back and look at the big picture. Maybe God will use that storm to speak into their life…or maybe He’ll use it to speak into someone else’s life. That storm might not only be for your son or daughter. Does it seem like they’re indifferent to God? Keep praying. God is still working. Does it seem like the consequences of their choices have swallowed them whole- all is lost, there is no hope? God is STILL working- remember, no one saw what went on inside the fish. But God did. And he put Jonah there for a reason. And He’s allowed your son or daughter to be where they are for a reason. He’s not done working. Trust Him. Continue to pray. Ask God to calm the storm and reassure your faith. The next part of the story is coming… and God uses it for good!
“Father, You are the Almighty God, Maker of Heaven and Earth, Lord of the sea and the land. I trust You. Lord, sometimes all I can see is the storm. I worry for (name) and long for them to surrender to You. I know You are working, yet, I don’t see it. Give me spiritual eyes to recognize that even in the storm, You’re working and You don’t stop. I pray that (name) would grow sensitive to Your voice. Make their heart tender toward You. Burden them with their sin, their defiance, their indifference and draw them to surrender. I pray, Lord, that you would use this storm to shake them from their complacency to stand before You and acknowledge You are Lord of all. Father, put (name) wherever they need to be in order to hear Your voice. And help me to trust You that even when I can’t see what’s going on ‘inside the fish’ that You are there and You’re moving, changing hearts and drawing those who have run away, back to You. Lord, I pray that You would draw (name) back to you today. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
A Prescription for Love
Mark 12:28-30 “One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’”
So much of life is performance based, isn’t it? We’re always evaluated by what we can say, do and accomplish. We get jobs based on our experience and skills. We gain friends and followers with our words and actions. We earn awards and recognition by our accomplishments. So, when it comes to our spiritual lives, it’s no wonder we often misunderstand what God expects of us and how we should love Him. So many ‘religions’ put emphasis on effort…man’s effort, in order to gain God’s love and approval.
What if…..what if we just followed Jesus’ words? What if we simply believed and obeyed? What if we removed all of the labels: “Baptist”…“Presbyterian”… “Methodist”, “teacher”, “preacher”, “member” and we were simply known as a “Christ-followers”? What if we simply loved Christ and, in loving Him, were able to let others see Him in and through us? It’s what Jesus calls us to do.
But the teachers of the law were very concerned about rules. They wanted to keep the law to a “T”. They missed the truth of the gospel in the midst of their obsessions with following rules. Too often, it seems, we do the same. We check boxes or sign statements that affirm we believe the right things. We do ‘all the things’ that demonstrate our commitment. But it becomes works based and we pat ourselves on the back for being so dedicated, so knowledgeable, so … ‘Christian’. Yet, we lack the very thing that God says is most important.
In Mark 12:30, Jesus told the teachers of the law what the most important commandment was- “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’”
He calls us to love Him. The Greek word used here is ‘agapaio’ (1) which means to welcome and entertain, to be fond of and to love dearly. It also means to be well-pleased and contented. Are we contented with Christ or do we seek out other people and things to fill us? Do we rely on our efforts and associations to prove our faith or are we so in love with Jesus that everything is an outpouring of that relationship?
Next, He says we should love with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. Isn’t it curious that Jesus doesn’t talk about emotions? Far too often we equate ‘love’ with how we ‘feel’, but emotions are a by-product, not the source of love. Hence, if people are dependent on emotions, they fall in and out of love because their feelings change; they no longer ‘feel’ for that other the way they once did. Jesus says, first we must love Him with our heart- the seat and center of our physical and spiritual life, the inner man (2).
Then He calls us to love Him with our soul-the very breath of life He breathed into us when He created us. Our soul is that spiritual force that animates the body and is not dissolved by death. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says God has set eternity in the heart of man. Our soul is ‘built’ for eternity. It is the spiritual part of us that can truly connect with God (3). It is the part of us that is drawn to that very relationship with Him.
Then, Jesus asks us to love Him with our mind- the faculty of understanding, feeling, and desiring (4). When we love with our mind, we make a choice to intentionally choose to commit our lives to Jesus. It’s a rational decision based on our understanding of Who God is and how He loves us.
Finally, Jesus calls us to love Him with all of our strength. That is what the Greek defines as might, ability, force, to hold oneself to a thing, be joined to- to the extent of one’s ability (5). He wants us to cling to Him with all that is in us.
Do our sons and daughters love Jesus well? Or, do we hear them saying “I just don’t ‘feel’ close to the Lord.”? Today, let’s pray that they will love the Lord with all their heart- the center of their being, with all their soul- the very part of them that connects to eternity, with all of their mind- an intentional choice to pursue Christ, and with all of their strength- clinging to Jesus with every ounce of ability He provides.
“Father, You love us so well. Thank You for being constant, faithful, unshakeable and merciful to us in our weakness. I pray for (name) today. Help them to pursue You with all that they are and have. Remind them it’s not about ‘feelings’ but about faith, commitment, and a choice to follow Jesus with all they have and all they are. It’s about obedience-no matter what. Lord, I ask that You would work in (name)’s heart- the very center of who You created them to be. Lord, You knew them before You formed them in the womb. Stir in their heart a desire to live for You. Draw them, Lord, and speak to their soul. Cause (name) to thirst after You (Ps. 63:1). Give them a longing for more than what this temporary world can offer. Satisfy them with a love that is far deeper and more fulfilling than any they’ve ever known. Lord, give them a clear understanding that committing to and loving Jesus is what they were created to do. Help them to make the intentional, wise choice to follow in obedience and love You with all that they are. Give them strength to follow through on their commitment, especially when life gets hard. Lord, in those difficult times, we waver, we falter, we lose strength and we despair. Sometimes our frail hearts and minds can’t understand and embrace the enormity of Your love and of Your promises to us. We filter things through our own human experience and understanding- but You are so much more!! Lord, I pray that today, (name) would see and understand how much You love them. I pray they would catch a glimpse of the beauty and soul-embracing love of God. Help them be satisfied, as with the richest of foods and may their lips praise You (Ps 63:5). I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
The Power of “Nothing”
Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
God tells us to be anxious for nothing. So, here’s the question, how can “nothing” hold so much power over us? Because sometimes the ‘nothing’ is all-consuming and it’s everything we think about, run from, struggle to carry and try, helplessly, to ignore.
Believers are not immune to anxiety. Let’s admit it. Years ago people would rarely acknowledge they might struggle with anxious thoughts because there was a stigma to it. We are not supposed to fall victim to anxiety or depression, right? We’re supposed to be ‘stronger’ than our anxious thoughts and victorious over the darkness. Yet, here we are. And we struggle. It’s okay to admit it. That “nothing” can actually render us weak and powerless.
One important thing to remember is that we don’t battle against flesh and blood, we battle against principalities and powers- those unseen but strong enemies that attack our thoughts and try to incapacitate our spiritual life (Eph. 6:12). How can the enemy make us ineffective? By consuming our thoughts with things that distract us from the Lord. That’s why scripture tells us to “demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (1 Cor 10:5)
Even King David, a man after God’s own heart, had his own struggles with depression and anxiety. Just take time to read through the Psalms and you’ll see time and again where David cries out to God, pleads for rescue from the mire and the waters that overwhelm him (Ps. 69 is a great example) Yet David always refocused his thoughts back on God and made it a point to praise God, even in the midst of his battles. He was honest about his struggle, but intentional about his choices.
Anxiety takes our thoughts off of Christ and onto those things that weigh us down. It consumes our thinking and paralyzes our mind. It is an attack that cripples our ability to be effective in living victoriously for Christ. For all those reasons, and more, we need to fight it by taking every thought captive and we need to pray for spiritual protection over ourselves, over our sons and daughters, and over the Church as a whole.
This is not to say that medical help isn’t necessary, because sometimes it is. And God has given doctors and professionals the wisdom and insight to see and understand how our minds, emotions and physical bodies work together (or sometimes against each other) and can provide help and support to aid in the battle.
But what else can we do? Philippians 4:8 says “Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.” That’s right, think on those things are are:
True (God’s word is truth, John 17:17)
Noble/honorable (of good character, Romans 5:3-4)
Right (righteousness revealed in the gospel, Romans 1:17)
Pure (wisdom from above is pure, James 3:17)
Lovely (the love of God, John 16:27)
Admirable (of good report- like Jesus’ ministry, Luke 4:14)
So what happens when we begin to take every thought captive and think on those things that God tells us are powerful, excellent and praiseworthy? The power of ‘nothing’ begins to lose its power over us. Remember, as believers, we have the same power working in us that God used when He raised Christ from the dead!! The power that broke the chains of sin and death lives in us! (Eph 1:18-21)
Don’t miss the powerful promise in Philippians 4:7! When, instead of being anxious, we make our requests to the Lord, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” When we stop focusing on the things that make us anxious and instead pray, God promises His peace will guard our hearts and minds through Jesus!
Today, let’s pray in power of the Holy Spirit for a hedge of protection around our sons and daughters. Let’s pray that the enemy would not be able to stir up thoughts and weigh down hearts with things that Christ has already conquered. Let’s pray that the helmet of salvation would protect their minds and the breastplate of righteousness would guard and protect their hearts so they would be anxious for nothing. Let’s pray that ‘nothing’ has any power to render us helpless or hopeless. We are more than conquerors in Christ!
“Father, You are the Almighty Sovereign God. I trust You and I know my soul can and does find rest in the shadow of Your wing. My soul clings to You and Your right hand upholds me (Ps 63:8) I pray this would be the prayer of (name) as well, today. Lord, sometimes anxiety wells up in us. But I pray that ‘nothing’ would hold no power over (name). Lord, be mightier than the thoughts that stack up in (name)’s head. Be stronger than the cares that would weigh (name) down. Each time they begin to feel overwhelmed, I pray that You would pour scripture and thoughts of truth, righteousness, honor, and those thing that are pure and lovely so their thoughts would be consumed by You rather than by what would distract them from You. Lord, in Ps 94:19 David prayed, “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” I pray that for (name) today. When anxiety is great within (name), please bring them consolation and comfort that leads to pure joy in You. Help (name) to be anxious for nothing. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
What the Heart Wants
As we watch events unfold in the news, we see people in Ukraine running for their lives. They’re not stopping to pack up their home decor or their favorite books. They’re not worried about that picture or piece of art. Their ‘good china’ holds little value. Their job isn’t going to save them and that salary or promotion really doesn’t mean anything. No, it’s life that they cherish and they run with the few clothes and food items they can carry. They don’t think twice. They run for safety and refuge, praying and dodging the enemy fire. They run because life is precious and nothing else matters. And when asked what they want, most say “I just want to go home.”
Yet, many likely will never get back to their home. They will resettle and start new lives, they will find new places to live and develop new routines, new friendships and new ways of living…yet they will always long for home. Why? Because that’s who they are. That is at the root of their identity. They can change locations, but they can’t change their heart’s longing.
What do our sons and daughters long for? Is it Jesus? Do they yearn to be where they ‘belong’, in His Presence? Do their hearts ache to spend time with him? Are their minds consumed with love for Him and His Word Do they have confidence in the Lord because their heart and mind are set on things above (Col. 3:1-2)? Or is it possible they’re charmed by the things they see, not by what is unseen.
As we see all this happening, what is it that we want most for our sons and daughters? If we strip everything else away, what do our Momma and Daddy hearts yearn for, what do we wish they would crave? We want to know they are walking faithfully with the Lord. Nothing else really matters, does it? When we stand before the Lord, the condition of our heart, what we love and what we choose to think on will be what matters to the Lord and will determine where our affections lie.
2 Corinthians 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Oh, how we want to know our kids are carrying the conviction of Christ Alone in their hearts and minds. How we want to hear them say they find their soul’s contentment in Jesus.
Is your heart heavy today? Don’t despair. God isn’t done working. Let’s pray very specifically for the hearts and minds of our sons and daughters. The scripture below gives potent promises that we can pray with boldness.
Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
“Father, I bring (name) before You today and ask that You would work in their life, their heart and mind, today. Lord, surround them with Your divine protection. Let them guard their heart today so that nothing in this world would pollute it and cause them to wander from you. Keep their eyes fixed on You, the Author and Perfecter of their faith. Stir in them a thirst to know You more and a longing to be in Your Presence- let them truly know that this life is temporary and eternal life is with You. I pray that, like David, these words would be the prayer of their life, “‘I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will also rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.’” (Ps. 16:8-11) Lord, You are able to do more than we could ask or imagine. Please work in (name)’s heart and mind today. Capture them with your love, satisfy them with living water, show them the beauty, wonder and joy of eternal pleasures that far outweigh anything this world could offer. I pray that (name) would confess “Only Jesus” today and always. Give me Your peace today as I wait and pray. Work mightily, Lord. In Jesus’ mighty, saving name I pray, amen.”
Keep praying that God would capture their affection and would draw their heart to Him.
Pray without ceasing.
Leaky Buckets
Jeremiah 2:13 “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”
Imagine standing at the window for a moment watching the kids playing outside, busy with ‘kid things’ and having fun. One of them has a bucket and is determined to bring water from the spigot to the ‘fish pond’ they’re constructing on the other side of the yard. But the bucket they found is one with a hole in the bottom. They fill it until they’re barely able to carry it, and then drag it, sloshing, across the yard. But the whole time they’re working hard to get to their ‘work site’, the water is draining out of the hole. They arrive only to realize they lost most of the water and they have to go back to refill, hoping that this time they’ll be able to return with more water. But each time, it yields the same result. Yet, they continue this fruitless effort. Trip after trip yields little compared to their effort.
We look at this and know exactly what the problem is and how to fix it. Yet, when something like this happens in our own lives, we’re oblivious to the spiritual significance. Far too often we work hard to fill ourselves with things that we think will satisfy, but we haven’t allowed Jesus to repair the ‘hole in our bucket’ and all the things we fill ourselves with simply drain out and leave us empty and unfulfilled. We become exactly those of whom Jeremiah 2:13 speaks- forsakers of Christ, digging our own cisterns that are broken and cannot hold water, working so hard to be filled yet not recognizing we will never be able to satisfy that thirst ourselves.
We are confronted daily with our own desires and the lies that tell us we’ll find our satisfaction in other things- whether they be relationships, careers, finances or experiences. And there isn’t anything wrong with those things, but when we set them on a pedestal as the answer to and fulfillment of our dissatisfaction and they become the things by which we determine our value, we set ourselves up for disillusionment. We create idols and false gods that we exhaust ourselves serving. It’s fruitless and empty. We are trying to fill a bucket that has a hole.
Colossians 3:1-2 says, “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.” If we belong to the Lord, our hearts and minds need to be focused on him.
Where is our focus? To Whom do we look for fulfillment and satisfaction? As our world grows darker and more tumultuous, our ‘buckets’ are sure to become battered and worn. Yet Christ is able to heal and fill us in extraordinary ways. He is the only One who can sustain us. Are we looking to Him?
And what about our sons and daughters? Are they digging their own cisterns, cracked and unable to hold the Living Water? Are they falling for the lies or are they protecting their hearts and minds in Christ?
Today, let’s take time to pray that our sons and daughters would not forsake the Lord. Pray that they would not try to satisfy their spiritual thirst with temporal things but that they would let Jesus fill them. Pray their hearts and minds would be set on Christ and they would be satisfied with His living water filling them afresh each day.
Pray without ceasing.
Nearsighted? Farsighted? Or 20/20 Prayer?
Ephesians 6:18 “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-.”
Prayer is an amazing conversation between us and the Lord. It’s a direct line to His ear, His heart and His mighty power. If we really think about it, our minds can be overwhelmed with the mystery and power of prayer. It’s a privilege God extends to us, His children! Just as we get excited for a call from our kids, God is delighted when we sit down to talk to Him and He has so much to tell and show us.
When our children were little, it’s likely we taught them to pray, first with simply prayers made of rhyming words but carrying the truth of Scripture. “God is great, God is good, and we thank Him for our food…”
From there, we morphed into prompting them to pray for family members and loved ones “God bless Mommy and Daddy…Grandma and Grandpa, and God bless Buster and Scooter”…yes the pets often received that honorable mention as well. We highlighted the personal nature of talking to the Lord and the unquestionable truth that He’s always listening and ready to help. We wanted our sons and daughters to know how to talk to the Lord. But our focus was often on those we knew and had relationships with already.
But here’s the thing, God calls us to pray for one another as the Body of Christ, as His saints and as brothers and sisters in the Lord. That covers those we know…but it also includes those we do not. It includes believers in closed, hostile countries like North Korea where being a believer means certain conviction to a labor camp…or worse. It includes brothers and sisters in China where speaking the name of Jesus can mean pushback and abuse from the government, loss of social credit or imprisonment. It includes brothers and sisters in African nations, trekking over dirt roads to share the gospel with others who need freedom in Christ or those in pushing deep into the jungle areas to those yet unreached with the gospel . Prayer needs to include tribes, nations and languages. Our prayers need to recognize that we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses…and one day, we will be counted among them (Hebrews 12:1).
It’s true, we get lulled into the comfort of our daily lives, our to-do list, the things that pull and weigh on us and yes, even our stress. If we’re going to have 20/20 prayer vision, we need to be intentional to look around and beyond ourselves and our sphere of influence and experience. We need to transcend borders, boundaries and time zones and put Ephesians 6:18 into practice, because, friends, there is a battle going on all around us…and that battle is not a physical one. Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rules, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Do we think what is happening in Ukraine is just a turf war? Think again. There is spiritual significance to what we see and we’re foolish to think it’s just political. And it’s not just there…it’s happening all over…yet we’re oblivious to it many times.
Have we grown in our prayer life enough that we’re moved by the struggles and injustice we see, even if it’s not something we’re personally enduring? And have our sons and daughters grown in their prayer lives as well? Or are they using ‘drive through’ prayers- placing their order and then waiting impatiently to pick up the answer, the provision, the deliverance?
Friends, because we’re human and limited, we run the risk of being myopic as we pray. Oh, it’s not intentional, but we pray for what we see, right? But, as believers, we wrestle with the unseen, the principalities and powers that battle against the Lord…and against us, His saints. So it’s important…no, it’s vital that we pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world. Ephesians 6:18 “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-”
Today and this week, let’s be intentional to pray for our brothers and sisters around the world, in each country, in each crisis, in each dangerous place. God is there, we can be confident of that. But as the Body of Christ, as the Church, we need to come alongside them in prayer. Imagine what we’ll encounter in Heaven when we meet other believers and Jesus tells us “This one!! This is who your prayers affected, protected and sustained!” Oh, beloved, let’s pray with power this week and encourage our sons and daughters to do the same.
Rather than a written prayer here, write out your own, revisit it through the week, add to it as you follow the news and believe that God is using each one of us in ways we may never see here…but our prayers are effective and powerful because we’re talking to the God of all creation whose child we are.
Pray without ceasing.
Action. Affection. Direction.
Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
Micah 6:8 is an oft-quoted verse that is so familiar. It’s on plaques and bumper stickers. It’s emblazoned on t-shirts and mugs. It’s a staple of ‘Christianese’.. And often we look at it, mouth the words and in our hearts say ‘Yes! Yes!’, but it’s likely we miss the real depth of the message. Oh, friends, it’s so much more.
God used the prophet Micah to warn the nation of Israel of pending judgment. But what was Israel doing that was deserving of judgment? Well, they strayed from God, followed false gods and were using their power to oppress others. They didn’t want to listen to God’s word and when Micha prophesied, they told him to stop. Their deeds were evil and their hearts were hard (see Micah ch. 2) Couldn’t that be a commentary on our world today?
But when faced with pending judgment, the Israelites were quick and ready to make sacrifices to show their repentance. But, that’s not what God wanted from them. As Micah’s predecessor, Samuel, told the Israelites earlier, “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22) God made it clear, through Micah, what He wanted Israel to do…and it didn’t involve sacrifice, rather, it involved submitting their hearts and lives. He said they must: 1. Do justly. 2. Love mercy. 3. Walk humbly. God addressed their actions, affections and direction.
This is big-picture thinking here. When we pray for our sons and daughters, we pray for safety, we ask God for wisdom, we pray for their relationships, we plead for protection from sin and temptation…and the list goes on. But, friends, that is all encompassed by these three things. Action. Affection. Direction.
Why is it that we struggle with these? “Do justly”. It shouldn’t be difficult, yet we hesitate, we don’t want to get involved, we don’t have time. But God loves justice and it’s a quality of His character. If we are to reflect God and bear His image, shouldn’t we be concerned for just treatment of all those who also bear Him image? (hint, that’s all of mankind, friends)
Then, we’re called to love mercy. LOVE mercy. Yet, we often mete out mercy based on who we think deserves it…and if we deem someone undeserving, we withhold mercy. But being merciful is another quality of God that we’re called to reflect. And we are ALL undeserving of His mercy, yet He gives us to us lavishly.
Here’s the thing…too often we fall into the lure of ‘head knowledge’ and we’re quick to show how much we know and perhaps we become ‘puffed up’ with our theological depth. We mistakenly think that knowledge is the ultimate mark of our spirituality and we lack mercy toward those who may not be as ‘learned’ as we. But our lives lack a reflection of the character of God. Oh, knowledge is good and important, but if we value knowledge above all, we are incomplete. There’s a name for that…it’s called being a Pharisee. Matthew 23:23 ““Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” You see, the Pharisees had a lot of knowledge, and they were quick to sacrifice….but they lacked an understanding and personal knowledge of the heart and character of God. In all of their knowledge, they didn’t reflect Jesus to others. And they lacked humility.
Finally, we’re called to walk humbly with our God. God calls us to secure our direction and ensure we’re moving with Him, not away from and not sitting idly by the way. Colossians 1:10-11 “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;”
Action. Affection. Direction. It’s what we’re called to. It’s what we must be mindful of and intentional to pursue in the context of our faith in Christ.
Let’s pray today that the Lord works in each of these areas in our sons and daughters so they are moved to be imitators of God’s character and followers of His leading in their lives.
“Lord, I pray today that You would empower (name) to act justly today. May their desire for what is right rule every choice they make. Let them be a defender of the oppressed and a lifter of those who need encouragement and help. Keep them from compromise that would desensitize them to the voice of the Holy Spirit. And Father-God, help them to love mercy. May the affections of their heart and mind always be centered on how you poured your love out to us through Jesus’ death while we were still powerless and drenched in sin (Romans 5:6-8) That that love be what motivates them to be merciful to others and demonstrate Christ in them to all those they meet. Finally, Lord, I pray that they would always, always follow after You. May their direction never waver and their moral compass always be true to Your Word and running the race You’ve set before them. I pray that their actions, affection and direction would always reflect Jesus and be a testimony of your saving grace in their life. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
What Kind of Knowledge?
2 Peter 1:2-4 “Grace and peace by yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
Wow! Those two verses are packed with rich truth and promises, aren’t they? Sometimes we plow into scripture and we’re focused on the quantity we consume, telling ourselves the more we read, the better. And, while in the big picture, that’s true- God wants us to spend time in His Word and not just ‘taste test’ but consume it cover to cover, He wants us to truly savor the richness of His Word as well. When we slow down and really dig into what scripture is saying, we often find a depth and richness there that we wouldn’t by just reading through to check off our progress.
Today’s verses have so much we can pray through for our sons and daughters. Let’s take a look!
Did you know that in 2 Peter chapter 1, the word ‘knowledge’ is used 5 times!! And here’s the thing we need to pay attention to -it’s not always the same word. Oh, in English it’s the same, but in the original Greek, there are two words for knowledge that are used. That’s important! Verses 2, 3 and 8 use the word ‘epignosis’. Verses 5 and 6 use the word ‘gnosis’. So, what’s the difference?
Epignosis is the knowledge that is distinguished by recognition (1). It’s indicative of a relationship. It comes from a root word, epignosko which means “thoroughly acquainted with” (2) and another word ginosko, which means “to become known” to be recognized by someone (3). This is not just ‘informational’ knowledge, it’s relational knowledge - a true knowing of someone who also knows you. It’s not knowing about someone and it’s not based on information and facts. It’s relational and experiential. It’s deep and personal.
Gnosis is a knowledge about and of something, an understanding and general intelligence of that person or thing (4). It’s the knowledge of the ‘culture’ of something- knowing the rules and the ‘lingo’, but gnosis does not indicate a relationship.
Do you see the difference?
There are many people with ‘gnosis’ of Christianity. They know the words to say and have an understanding of the expected conduct. Their words and actions may reflect the culture of Christianity, but they lack the ‘epignosis’, the relationship with Jesus.
2 Peter 1:2-4 explains the benefits we receive and enjoy because of our epignosis- our relationship with Jesus.
Grace and peace in abundance
Everything we need for life and godliness
Called by His own glory and goodness
Great and precious promises
The right and privilege to partake in the divine nature
Protection and preservation to escape corruption caused by evil desires.
Friends, that list is a powerful one and those benefits come because of the relationship with Jesus, not because we understand the culture and have the head knowledge of Scripture.
Someone can say they know the Queen of England. They might know her name, where she lives, what her favorite things are, the names of her family members, her accomplishments throughout her lifetime. But, if the Queen stepped into the room and that individual was there, would she recognize them? No, of course not. Why? Because they have no relationship with the Queen, they’ve never met. Knowing about someone isn’t the same as knowing them.
Oh, how we want our sons and daughters to have grace and peace in abundance and everything they need for life and godliness! We want that assurance that they’ve been called by God to enjoy His promises and be protected against the enemy and the ravages of sin. We want to know that they KNOW Jesus personally. The heart knowledge has to be there before the head knowledge is truly effective and life-changing.
Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters have ‘epignosis’ of Jesus. A true recognition and experiential knowledge because they walk in relationship with Him. Pray that they are ‘epignosko’, thoroughly acquainted with Him and know Him well, recognizing Him in all things, seeing Him at work in their life and that they enjoy ‘ginosko’, being recognized by God as one of His own children because of their relationship with Him
“Father God, I’m so grateful I can call You my Father. You see me and know me as your child. What a beautiful relationship! Lord, I pray today that (name) would step into a faithful, life-changing relationship with You. Lord, impress on their heart a deep need to know you more- not just ‘facts’ and ‘rules’ but a true growing relationship that is transformative. Holy Spirit, I pray that You would stir a hunger and thirst in (name)’s heart today. Convict them of sin. Create a desire to know You more. Let the ‘trappings’ of religion fall away. This is not about rules and good deeds. It’s about knowing Jesus personally as Lord and Savior and pursuing a real relationship with the One True Sovereign God. Please let (name) embrace and enjoy that relationship with You today. Lord, give them your abundant grace and peace. Set them in fellowship with other believers and help them learn Your Truth that will protect them and produce godliness in them. Remind them of your great and precious promises that are unbounded by time and borders, faithful throughout history and unmoved by the plans of men. Lord, I pray for your holy protection and preservation over their life that they would, through authentic relationship with You, be counted worthy to escape temptation and corruption by evil desires and the influence of the enemy. I pray that You would move and work in their heart and mind today. Call them to faithfully follow You. Help them to understand that knowing ‘about’ you isn’t the same as truly being in a relationship with You. Let them crave Jesus, in His name, amen.”
Take time to memorize 2 Peter 1:2-4 “Grace and peace by yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
Pray without ceasing.
G1922 - epignōsis - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1922/kjv/tr/0-1/
G1921 - epiginōskō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1921/kjv/tr/0-1/
G1097 - ginōskō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1097/kjv/tr/0-1/
G1108 - gnōsis - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1108/niv/tr/0-1/
Accomplished or Obedient?
Psalm 128:1 “Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to him.”
We live in a world where people judge others on their accomplishments. Just look at any awards show- the actors or musicians gather to celebrate achievements and accomplishments and those who get the attention are those who performed well and gained attention and accolades. Those who didn’t find their stars fading quickly. As popular as someone can be one year, they might be just a memory the next. The world would have us believe we’re only as valuable as our accomplishments. Unfortunately, this mindset often begins early and can set a trajectory for a son or daughter that implies their worth is based on what they can do or accomplish, rather than on their relationship to God.
Have you ever wondered, if Noah’s parents were present as their son worked tirelessly on the ark, what did they think? There he was, continually building that large boat when the world hadn’t even seen rain. Perhaps family friends pitied Noah’s parents… “He’s so smart, so capable, why would he waste his time on a silly project like that? Is he…..okay?” Meanwhile, other parents may have taken the opportunity to share their children's successes and accomplishments. Would Noah’s parents have tried to discourage him? Or would they have encouraged him to keep obeying the Lord and His commands? Would they build him up, reminding him that integrity is of greater value than fame and achievements? Would they tell him to ignore the other voices and focus on what God called him to do?
Then there’s Daniel. Oh, how his relatives might have been excited to see him work his way up through the ranks to the King’s service. But when he was thrown in the lion’s den for his insistence on praying so publicly where others could see his bold disobedience to the King’s decree, I’m sure others looked on with pity…or disdain. Were they embarrassed at how he seemingly ‘threw away’ his position and title? Or did they encourage him and pray for him, standing by his decision and trusting the Lord for his care and keeping among the lions?
What about Abraham? When he announced he was going to leave his father’s home and follow God - a God that his family didn’t know, were they angry or hurt?. He was stepping away from the cultural expectation that he would live alongside his father and continue the family business, traditions and carry on the family name. He was giving up his family’s reputation and wealth to follow God- a God they didn’t know or follow themselves. Or did Abraham’s bold faith move them to consider surrendering their hearts to a God that was greater than any they’d ever known?
Here’s the thing, each of these men chose obedience to God over accomplishments and associations. In each circumstance, it was clear the world deemed this the ‘wrong choice’. They could have chosen a different path that would have given them social acceptance, lucrative connections and power and fame. Yet, those choices would have ultimately led them away from the Lord and to death. Instead, they chose to obey and in their obedience, they were used by God to impact people and nations, not just in their time, but throughout history. Obedience brings life. The choices the world lauds leads to darkness….and death.
That, friends, is what we need to pray about today. How do we encourage our sons and daughters? Are we more concerned with their earthly success and financial achievements or are we burdened to see them following after the Lord? Do we care what the world says or are we passionate to see them hunger and thirst after Jesus?
Psalm 49:16-20 “Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases; for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them. Though while they live they count themselves blessed— and people praise you when you prosper—they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life. People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.”
Accomplishments or Obedience?
This week, let’s pray that our sons and daughters are moved to unwavering obedience to Christ and to following after Him rather than the world and it’s charms. Then, let’s begin to memorize Psalm 128:1 and pray it over our sons and daughters. “Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to him.”
Pray without ceasing, Friends.
Fear, Faith, & Examples to Follow
Matthew 14:25-33 “Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid. “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.””
Let’s look at the actions and responses of the disciples:
They saw Jesus, but they didn’t recognize Him, they were terrified.
They cried out in fear.
Peter stepped out of the boat at Jesus’ invitation and began to walk on the water
Peter got distracted by the wind and waves around him and began to sink, he cried out in fear
Jesus and Peter returned to the boat together
The disciples worshiped Jesus and acknowledged His Deity.
Now, look at the actions and responses of Jesus:
Jesus walked on the water to the disciples’ boat- He knew right where they were
He immediately reassured them when they cried out in fear
He invited Peter to come out on the water with Him (He didn’t rebuke his doubt or give a sermon, He simply said “Come”
Jesus immediately reached out to catch Peter as he began to sink. There is that word again…immediately
Jesus questioned Peter’s faith and his doubt
He climbed into the boat with Peter and the disciples.
Do you notice the difference? The disciples were focused on the situation. Jesus was focused on the relationship. Go back and read the lists again.
The disciples didn’t even recognize Jesus. He was there. He spoke to them, but their distraction at the things going on around them kept them from hearing His voice.
Then, Peter stepped out in faith to walk on the water. We need to ask, was he motivated to prove something to himself (that it really was Jesus) something to others (that he would be the one to walk on water) or was he fully driven to walk toward Christ- focused on Him, pursuing Him?
Jesus said “Come”, an invitation to join Him, an offer to pursue relationship and Peter was initially focused on Jesus, yes. But as soon as he got distracted, he shifted his focus to what was going on around him. He began to sink. Peter quickly realized the impact of fear on his focus, his faith and his position. He got distracted by the situation.
When we struggle with anxiety and fear and we pursue ways to control it, face it and conquer it, are we doing it to prove something to ourselves, to others, or to pursue Christ? Are we focused on the relationship, or on the events going on around us?
Friends, there is so much that can captivate our thoughts and our hearts. Where is our focus? Are we listening to Jesus, calling us to come to Him? Are we looking to Him alone in the midst of our storm, or are we too busy watching the wind and waves and anticipating what they will do to us? How often do we allow our fear and anxiety to consume our focus? …And if we’re sinking, what kind of example are we setting for others…for our sons and daughters?
Here are the things we need to remember.
In Matthew 14, Jesus knew exactly where the disciples were. He knows right where we are too. He knows where our sons and daughters are. He can be right there with them, reassuring them, calling them to ‘come’.
God will direct us into things we cannot handle on our own- we need to trust Him
The boat was buffeted by the waves…but as soon as Jesus stepped into the boat, the wind died down - When we invite Jesus into our storm, He brings peace. His presence calms our anxiety. The difficulty may still be there, but our focus shifts and our heart is assured because our Savior is at the helm. We hear His voice. We know and enjoy His presence. He brings peace and dispels our fear.
It’s no wonder, then, that we see Peter remind us in 1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” Peter knew that first hand.
Today, stop and talk to the Lord, He’s calling you to come. Focus on Him, not the storm. Invite Him into your ‘boat’. Rest in the fact that He sees and knows all. Nothing is out of his control. Let’s refocus. Let’s cast our anxiety and fear aside and look to the Lord. He’s calling us to come. Let’s set the example for our sons and daughters and pursue Christ instead of sinking in the sea of fear and worry.
Pray without ceasing.
Whatever happens… are we ready?
Philippians 1:27-29 “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,”
When we become believers and followers of Christ, we hear about the wonderful ways we’ll enjoy God’s blessings, mercy and grace. What we don’t often spend time considering is the cost of following Jesus. For those of us living in the West, that’s not really something we’re confronted with very often. But believers in closed countries where Christianity is outlawed, the cost is understood….and sometimes, believers pay with their lives. And they’re willing. That should make us pause and do some introspection. Is our faith strong or are we inch-deep with fragile roots? And are we ready….for whatever happens...?
There is an ever-growing pressure on believers, worldwide. Media, social and otherwise, decries our faith and our convictions as intolerant and abrasive. Believers are taunted, pressured, and shamed in an effort to pressure us to relent and relinquish the standards of our faith and soften our convictions. The goal is that we would substitute our Lord for a lesser god that would not be offensive to those living in darkness and pursuing sin. It’s true, to unbelievers Jesus is the Rock that makes them stumble and the stone that makes them fall (1 Pet 2:8). This world is trying to diminish the power of the gospel and defame the name of Christ. Christians are becoming more and more a target of ridicule and, in some countries, persecution and abuse. And, friends, it’s only going to increase. We are witnessing a battle between darkness and light unfold before our eyes. We have to be ready. So, how do we prepare our hearts and minds?
Scripture tell us we are called to suffer for Christ. Are we ready? When everything starts to circle the drain (and at some point, it will), nothing else will matter. When money is worthless and governments fall, when disorder reigns and religious freedom is a thing of the past, we need to be confident that our sons and daughters will stand firm in their faith. We want to be confident they will live by their convictions and they would be willing to give their all for Christ. Friends, it’s happening in some places now. Who is to say any nation would be immune? Will our sons and daughters have a faith strong enough to withstand the pressure, the persecution? Will they have an eternal perspective that allows them to view these light and momentary troubles as nothing compared to the eternal reward God has waiting?
We need to be on our knees praying a hedge of protection, a spiritual shield around our sons and daughters. And it’s likely we’re pretty good at that, it’s likely we’ve been pleading for God’s protection since they were born. But we also need to pray that they will be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Eph. 6:10). We need to pray that WHATEVER HAPPENS…. Whatever (that’s a hard word to wrap our Momma minds around, isn’t it?) Whatever happens, that our sons and daughters would conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel: suitable and befitting the gospel of Christ.
Let’s take time this week to memorize and pray through Philippians 1:27-29. God’s word never returns void. Scripture renews our minds. And you’ll begin to see how Philippians 1:27-29 applies to so many things around you. Memorize, and then let’s pray for our sons and daughters:
That whatever happens, they would conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Worthy of Christ- oh how we should crave that as our heart’s desire.
That they would stand firm in the Spirit. They need to be listening to and sensitive to the Holy Spirit in their life.
That they would strive, together with other believers, for the faith of the gospel. This means they need to be in fellowship with other believers.
That they would not be afraid of those who oppose them. (Can they spot the opposition?)
That they would have confidence they will be saved by the Lord- He’s marked them as His own.
If they are not walking with the Lord, pray that the Holy Spirit would stir in their heart and bring them to repentance.
Pray that they would be ready, and willing, to suffer for Christ. 1 Peter 4:13 “But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” and that they would be rejoicing that His glory will be revealed in them.
We have a full week’s worth of prayer here. Be sure to set aside time to enjoy focused prayer. It’s not a drive-through, it’s more of a sit down meal. Take your time to savor this time with the Lord.
Consider journaling your thoughts and prayers. Deepening your prayer life is not a ‘quick process’, but a deliberate one that requires you to be thoughtful and intentional and willing. Write down how the Lord is speaking to you and note how He’s taking you deeper into prayer. How do you see Him working? And if you’re willing, share with us!
Pray without ceasing, friends.
Philippians 1:27-29 “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,”
Resolutions or Resolved
Philippians 1:20 “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.”
The turn of the calendar causes us to reminisce about the year that’s complete and urges us to set goals and make resolutions in hopes of accomplishing something good. It’s a new start and often that fills us with hope that this time we’ll accomplish our goals. Sadly, many of those resolutions fall by the wayside quickly. Our determination wanes, our calendars and schedules fill up and we find that we just don’t have time and our once-bold enthusiasm just… isn’t.
Rather than make a resolution- an expression of a good intention, let’s be resolved- firm in purpose, determined.
A resolution is stated.
But being resolved is lived out.
Which do we want our sons and daughters to choose?
Our world is continuing to unravel. If we pause and look carefully, we have to admit, ‘end times’ doesn’t seem so far away. How will our sons and daughters choose to live? Will they make resolutions, or will they be resolved? One will only carry them as far as good intentions can, but will waver when tested…the other will help them stand for Christ in a dark and dying world.
Friends, now is the time to step up our prayer life and commit to pray with urgency, with hope, with fear of the Lord and with confidence that He will answer.
Philippians 1:20 says “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.”
This week, let’s pray through Philippians 1:20 and add in the name of our sons and/or daughters. Let’s pray boldly that they would be resolved to stand for Jesus Christ no matter what. There may come a day, soon, when they will be tested or asked if they belong to Jesus. We need to pray that, above all, they want to exalt Christ in everything.
Take some time and jot Philippians 1:20 on a notecard or put it in your phone where you can look at it. Make it a point to learn the verse and pray it over your family and loved ones today and in the week ahead. Be resolved to stand firm for Christ and pray that your sons and daughters are as well.
Pray without ceasing.