Check Your Roots

Colossians 2:6-7  “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,  rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

As parents, we’re burdened to see our sons and daughters continue walking with the Lord and growing in their spiritual lives and understanding.  We want to see them living the abundant life!  We want them to live victoriously in a world that seeks to drag them down.  How can we pray to that end more effectively?

The Apostle Paul, in Colossians, encourages us with several directives that are aimed at strengthening our spiritual walk and protecting us from the enemy..  The first is to “continue” to live our lives in Him.  That word “continue” is the word “peripateo'' in Greek and it means to walk, to make one’s way, to progress or conduct oneself (1).  It’s the word from which we get the word ‘perpetual’.  So if we’re continuing in Christ it means that we are growing in our faith and our lives exemplify a continued progression toward Christ and toward becoming like Him.  It doesn’t stop.  We can not be static.  We’re not to be passive.  So our first point of prayer this week is that our sons and daughters would continue to walk with the Lord and grow in Him.

But that’s not all.  We’re told to be rooted.  “Rhizoo” (2) is the Greek word for “rooted” and it means to be planted…not just set or placed like plastic flowers stuck in a garden.  We’re to be firmly rooted, growing, digging our roots in and blossoming gloriously, bearing fruit.  We do that by digging deeply into the Word- not just listening and walking away, but taking it in and letting it change us, strengthen us and make us firm in our faith. We want deep roots, not shallow wimpy ones.  Prayer point number two is that our sons and daughters would have strong, healthy roots and that the ‘fertilizer’ they apply would be spiritually organic- straight from the Word and poured out by the Holy Spirit.  

The next directive is to be built up in Him.  Note that it’s not just a general “building up”, but being built up in HIM.  The Greek, epoikodomeo (3), defines this as being built upon.  Have you ever seen a beautiful majestic tree that was uprooted by a storm?  Although the tree looked sturdy, the roots spread broadly, but not deeply.   It lacked a strong foundation.  Whatever it chose to dig its roots into and around wasn’t strong enough to allow the tree to stand in the storm. When the storm came through, the tree was quickly toppled over.  The whole thing was uprooted and what was left after the storm gave  evidence that the tree lacked healthy roots... The ‘surface’ beauty of the tree belied the weakness of its foundation.

Our lives are the dwelling place of Christ.  We need a good foundation for our faith, but we need to be built in Him as well so that our lives reflect His Presence.  As parents, we likely laid the foundation with our children.  But now it falls on them to build upon it and make it their own according to the guidelines provided in Scripture- God’s building code..  Pray that our sons and daughters continue to grow and build their faith with solid teaching and wise understanding of the Word.

Finally, Paul encourages us to be ‘established’ or made firm and sure and abounding with thanksgiving.  If we’re established, we are strong in our faith and we’ll be overflowing with gratitude for the Lord’s blessings and the certainty of His promises.  If we’re growing, we’ll be overflowing! 

So today, let’s take some time to pray these things over our sons and daughters…and ourselves and the whole Body of believers.  Let’s overflow with thankfulness because the Lord doesn’t stop working in us but continues until He completes that good work He started in us!!

“Father, thank you for the promises in Your Word that encourage us and show us the way we should go.  I pray that You would help (name) today to continue to walk in You.  Lord, help them to stick to the narrow way and not veer off toward the wide road that leads to destruction (Mt 7:14).  Give them good teaching and healthy spiritual friendships and discipleship that will build their foundation and allow them to be properly planted.  Help them to flourish and bear fruit.  Lord, I pray that they would be established both in their own quiet time and in Church.  Give them relationships that would sharpen and encourage them and help them to overflow with thanksgiving for all that You’ve done and will continue to do.  I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Pray Without Ceasing.

1. G4043 - peripateō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4043/kjv/tr/0-1/

2. G4492 - rhizoō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4492/kjv/tr/0-1/

3. G2026 - epoikodomeō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2026/kjv/tr/0-1/

Take a moment and share Join the PAC with someone else- let’s get more people praying for the next generation!!

A Cry for Justice

Psalm 37:5-6 “Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”

Social justice is the rallying cry of this generation.  And justice is important- we long to see it achieved.  Too often we see the results of sin, the miscarriage of justice and we watch as what is right is overlooked, trampled upon and left in a hopeless heap.  We see people, image-bearers of God, mistreated, exploited, abused and neglected.  It’s grievous.  A lack of justice is indicative of great darkness.  And we want to see it change.

Yet, the way we go about pursuing justice is often just as broken.  Too often we speak as if we know, yet we’re ill informed.  We campaign for justice, yet we lack righteousness.  We assert authority where we really have none.  We cast judgment bue we, ourselves, lack clean hands and a pure heart.  Vindication becomes a personal mission and the rallying cry of those who agree with us.  Yet, we’re increasingly frustrated because the process seems slow…or immoveable.

What really lacks isn’t more power or funding, it is full reliance on God to accomplish what is His, alone, to do.  Does He ask us to stand for what’s right?  Of course.  But God is a God of order and His order is that first we pursue righteousness.  Righteousness and justice go hand in hand.  Yet, we seem to skip over that first part because this world screams for the latter far more.  Righteousness is disdained. 

We need to look at it through the lens of God’s Word vs the world’s angst.  God tells us to commit our way to Him.  That word ‘commit’ in Hebrew means to roll oneself or to wallow (1).  Picture that.  If we commit our way to God, we’re not taking the proverbial bull by the horns, we’re surrendering ourselves to God, luxuriating in His will and devoting ourselves entirely to His plan and purpose.  It’s not ours to manage, but His, and He is able!

But we don’t just commit.  It doesn’t stop there.  We also have to trust.  We must have confidence and hope that God will accomplish what He promises.  It’s not just wishing.  It’s a confidence that God will do what He promises.  That’s the dynamic duo of effective faith!  When we commit and trust, the Lord works in us and through us.  Note the order in which He works, though.  

First, He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn.  Picture the sunrise.  Everything is dark, and then that bit of light begins to break on the horizon.  EVERYONE sees it because it’s the only light visible in the midst of all the darkness.  Think about that.  Our righteousness will shine in the darkness to those all around us.   It’s not our experience, our credentials, our loud voice…it’s Jesus in us.  When there is just one source of light in the darkness, all eyes are drawn to that light.  It’s not the volume of our voice that garners attention, but the brightness of our life, surrendered to Christ.   We need to allow God to bring our righteousness into the light to combat the darkness..  That is the first step toward effecting change in a dark and unjust world.  And He WILL do it.  Scripture doesn’t tell us He might or that He’ll consider it.  No, He WILL do it.

But that’s not all.  If we commit and trust, our righteousness becomes radiant AND the justice of our cause will shine like the noonday sun.  Think about the sun at noon.  It doesn’t preempt the dawn, but follows in good order..  The sun at noon is at its highest point in the sky offering total sunlight.  Because it’s directly overhead, it illuminates everything and shadows are minimal.  Don’t we long for the justice of our cause to shine?  Don’t we want the least amount of shadow and darkness to inhibit the wheels of justice?  And scripture tells us again that God will do it.

First righteousness, then justice.  Too often we skip that first part to get to the second.  But again, God is a God of order.  He needs us to pursue righteousness first and be submitted to Him.  It cannot be our agenda, it must be His.  Righteousness illuminates truth.  Truth supports justice.  It is representative of God’s character.  “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.”  Psalm 89:14

Let’s change course.  Let’s approach a pursuit of justice by  first by committing our way to the Lord.  We can’t affect real change simply by being passionate.  The loudest voice in the room isn’t necessarily the one who makes a difference nor the one who is right.  Let's ensure our heart is in step with the Savior and allow Him to bring change.  He will do it.

“Father, there is so much in this world that grieves our hearts.  I know my (son/daughter) sees it and is frustrated and overwhelmed.  Our world pressures us to stand up and shout against injustice.  Yet, You call us to first commit our way to You and then trust You to accomplish righteousness in us and justice through us.  Lord, I pray that You would work in (name) and help them to understand Your order and what You desire for us.  It seems backward us “but God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” 1 Cor 1:27  Lord, help us to be weak so that You can be strong in us.  Help us to be willing to be ‘foolish’ in the eyes of the world so that we can be wise in the Spirit and effective for Your kingdom.  I pray that You would grow (name) in righteousness.  Help them to commit and trust and be willing to watch You work according to Your plan and Your will.  I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. H1556 - gālal - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h1556/kjv/wlc/0-1/

Friends, have you signed up yet for the weekly posts via email?  There may come a day when social media sites begin censoring and blocking posts that reference Scripture. You can still receive the weekly posts by signing up on our email list.  (We only send one post each week, so there’s no worry that you’ll be bombarded with emails.)

Do you know someone who needs encouragement or wants to pray more effectively for their loved ones? Why not share the page with them?

Pray without ceasing. God is working! Trust Him!

Focused on the Storm or the Savior?

Most people have heard about the miracle of how Jesus fed the five thousand with just a young boy’s lunch of five loaves and two fish.  He gave thanks and then broke it apart…and apart, and He kept going until there was enough to feed over five thousand people…with leftovers collected afterward.  If we were witnesses to that, we’d all likely be marveling for days afterward.  The disciples were front row witnesses.  Yet, despite that and all the other miracles they’d seen, their short term memory seemed fragile when they faced something scary, something out of their control.

That’s where we pick up our passage, Matthew 14:22-32.  Watch how the disciples react and respond; take note of the underlined portions.

“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land,  buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

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.””

There are six things we can learn from this passage that can encourage us as we parent and pray.

First:

“and the boat was already a considerable distance from land,  buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.”

How many times do we feel buffeted and beat up by life because it seems everything is against us?  Life is hard.  Circumstances are painful.  Other people are difficult.  The wind of life is often working against us and we’re pushed back, pushed down and pushed to our limits….but, friends, Who is the maker of the wind?  Our Lord and Savior Jesus…we need to remember that.  

Second:

“they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.”  

Remember, the disciples had just been with Jesus a short time before this happened.  Yet they panicked.  They suffered short term memory issues. They forgot that the Master of the Universe and the Lord of Creation was just a shout away…. We’re more like the disciples than we often care to admit.  When we are afraid, we often default to panic and the immediate need to fix or control the situation. Instead, we need to call on the Savior.

Third:

“But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.””  

Jesus sees our struggle.  He understands our fear.  He knows that we are mortal and fragile and we are overwhelmed and intimidated by things that are out of our control.  

When our children feared something and cried out, we didn’t wait until they’d suffered an acceptable amount of time.  We didn’t allow them to ‘tough it out’ to help them learn.  No, we would quickly move to comfort and soothe them, tell them we were there with them and tell them there was no need to be afraid.  Look at Jesus’ words above!!  Isn’t that just like a Good Father?.  God doesn’t wait until we’ve suffered long enough in our fear…He reassures us immediately.  He reminds us that He’s there with us and He tells us we have nothing to fear.

Fourth:

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”  

Ah, Peter; don’t you just love impulsive, energetic, passionate Peter?! Take note of Peter’s first words….Lord, if it’s you…..  

There was some doubt there and a bit of a challenge too.  But Jesus didn’t reprimand him.  Jesus didn’t ask Peter what his motives were.  He didn’t ask him whether he was qualified.  Jesus welcomed him.  He knows our hearts.  He sees our doubt and skepticism.  He understands our fear and our mistrust.  He sees that we want to believe, but our humanness gets in the way.  Jesus welcomes us anyway.  Step out and bring Him your doubt and fear.  Go on.   

Fifth:

But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”  

Peter took a few steps, then realized where he was and what He was doing….and he began to sink.  Yet, instead of wringing  his hands and wondering what on earth he should do, he cried out to Jesus.  

He got it right.  He didn’t try to solve it on his own.  He didn’t tell the Lord to wait until he figured it out.  He didn’t push away the hand that was there to save him, insistent he could do it himself.  He cried out, “Lord save me!”

Here’s the thing, every time the disciples took their eyes off of Jesus and focused on the situation and circumstances surrounding them, they became doubtful and fearful.  Peter saw the wind.  He felt the waves.  He looked down at the water instead of into the eyes of Jesus.  He succumbed to the situation rather than surrendering to the Savior.

When circumstances start to pull us under, all we need to do is cry out to Jesus “Lord, save me!”  

and then…

Sixth:

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”  

Jesus IMMEDIATELY reached out to save Peter.  He reached out and caught him.  He saved him.  He rescued him, not because he deserved it or earned it, but because Jesus loved him.

When we’re praying for our loved ones, whether our sons and daughters, family members or those  for whom we’re burdened, we can become overwhelmed with the circumstances and lose sight of the Savior.  And when we do that, we begin to doubt Him, we question His goodness, we become impatient with His timing.  We are uncertain of how He will answer and we start to lack confidence in His grace and mercy.  We may even lose trust…but why?  Because we’re looking at the circumstances and not the Savior.

Just to recap

1. The storm may be against us, but we serve the Lord of the wind and the waves

2. We can’t allow our fear to take the throne and control our responses. Let’s remind ourselves of the Lords power and faithfulness. He is able to calm the storm!

3. Jesus will always remind us that He’s with us, we have nothing to fear if we are trusting in Him.

4. Jesus sees our doubts. He loves us anyway and He’ll always welcome us to come to Him.

5. When we’re sinking, all we need to do is cry out for Jesus to save us. We don’t need to fix it ourselves.

6. Jesus responds to our cries! Always!

Do you feel like you’re drowning in a sea of circumstances?  Call out to the Lord.  Is your son or daughter in the midst of a storm?  Call out to the Lord.  Did you get a phone call, a text or a message that shook you?  Call out to the Lord.  He has a 100% response rate and His strength is unmatched.  Trust Him.  Let’s not lose sight of the Savior, friends.  

“Father, You know this storm (go on, explain it to the Lord)  But I know You are Lord of the wind and the waves.  Help me to focus on You and not on the situation.  Help me not to fear what might be, but be confident in what I know is True.  You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Right now I want to pray for (name).  You know their needs and their struggles.  You see them in the midst of the storm and the wind that is carrying them away from You, from Your safety and refuge.  I pray that You would go to (name), Lord.  Meet them where they are.  Make Yourself evident to (name) today.  I pray that in the midst of their turmoil, fear and doubt that Your voice would be loud and clear “It is I, don’t be afraid”.  Lord, calm (name)’s heart today and give them courage to trust You.  Lord, if they are drowning in the storm, reach out and save them immediately.  Draw (name)’s gaze to You.  Encourage them with Your comfort, your Presence and Your reassurance.  Jesus, they need You.  I pray that they would see their need and, instead of trying to fix it themselves, they would cry out to You.   I pray that You would stand in the midst of the storm with them and hold them close.  Lord, hear their cry and answer immediately.  I trust You and I know You can do more than I could ever ask or imagine.  I pray that You would be Lord of the storm today and bring peace, calm and rescue.  Bring (name) into safe fellowship with You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Do you know someone who is struggling today? Why not share this post with them and encourage them to cry out to Jesus.

Pray without ceasing.

Acid Tongue

Ephesians 4:29 “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.”

Acid burns.  It corrodes.  It’s sour.  Those qualities can describe our words,  too.  They hit hard, they burn and fester. Words can eat away at our heart and mind leaving them raw, exposed and hurting. Words can set our spirit on edge and cause damage that is not easily repaired.

Sometimes we may find ourselves using our words to try and motivate certain responses or actions - what we think our sons and daughters should do or be.  But that can quickly turn into using words as a weapon to accomplish our own agenda.  Our words can become passive-aggressive and just plain nasty.  Maybe we don’t intend them to be so; sometimes we don’t realize the weight and sharpness of our words.  But we should.

James 3:5-10 says, “Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.  All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind,  but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  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.”

Our words can pull others close, or push them away.  They can speak truth in love and be a balm to a  hurting heart.  Or our words can be caustic, burning as they hit and leaving scars as they sink deeply.  Our mantra should not be “well, the truth hurts”.  It should be “how can I speak like Jesus?”  You see, Jesus didn’t look for opportunities to tear others down, to speak ‘truth that hurts’ or to use passive-aggressive means to win souls.  He didn’t use His words to puff himself up or show himself ‘better than’. He didn’t use words to shame or humiliate.   No, Jesus was compassionate.  He was thoughtful.  

Yes, Jesus spoke truth- He IS the Truth.  But he spoke it in such a way that the ‘other’ was respected.  He spoke with words that intrigued the listener and supported the Holy Spirit’s work in them.  Even those caught in sin were spoken to in love, not spite or arrogance (that was the Pharisees’ approach).  The woman in John 8, caught in sin, wasn’t given a whole sermon on her depravity.  She wasn’t paraded out as an example to others and shamed for her actions.  Her missteps were not listed out for her and all others to hear.  She wasn’t humiliated because of her error, she was shown compassion, because Jesus loved her and He wanted His words to reflect His love and compassion.

Proverbs 12:18 “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”  

Let’s not allow our words to be dictated by which day of the week it is….- speaking sweetly on Sunday when we’re at church and then turning the switch to acid words when we get in the car and set our Bible aside.  Let’s stop and think, “will my response, my words, my questions and my encouragements make others love Jesus more…or will they begin to corrode the heart and spirit of the listener?”

The Lord calls us to love Him with all of our heart, our soul, our mind and our strength (Luke 10:27). If all of us is consumed with Him, then our words will be a by-product of that relationship. We’ll speak words of truth and life because that’s where our heart, soul, mind and strength are grounded . If our words don’t reflect that, it’s an indication that our focus might need some readjusting.

Friends, Jesus doesn’t need us to be another's ‘Holy Spirit’.  He’s got that covered.  He needs us to speak truth in love.  Yes, friends, it’s time to watch our words.  Let’s put aside the acid tongue and speak to one another, to our sons and daughters, to those who may be within earshot, with an agape vocabulary: one that shows affection, goodwill, benevolence and love.  “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”  Proverbs 16:24.

Today, let’s pray that we speak in ways that reflect Christ.  Pray that our sons and daughters would as well.  Pray that the Holy Spirit would put a guard on our tongues and prick our hearts when we begin to pour acid instead of honey.  Let’s impact our world with the Love of Christ, not the sting and stench of the old nature.

“Father, You are the Author of Truth and the giver of good.  If we are your children, we should reflect Your nature- help us to do that.  I pray that when I speak, it would be motivated by love and not my own agenda.  Lord, I so want my sons and daughters to follow after You.  But sometimes my words don’t encourage them and the example I set is not always one that reflect You.  Change me, Lord.  Make me more like Jesus.  Let the words I speak build others up- even if they’re just overhearing, let them be blessed because they hear Jesus in the way and words that I speak.  I pray for (name) today.  Let the words of their mouth and the meditation of their heart be pleasing in Your sight, Lord (Ps. 19:14)  Lord, help us to respond, not react, when we choose to speak.  Let our words be like honey, not like acid.  Lord, I love You and I want to represent You well.  Please work in me, work in my family, let our words point others to the cross, not to a wake of wreckage that we leave behind due to our acid tongues. Let us be known for the sweetness of our words, not an acid tongue. “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth: keep watch over the door of my lips.” (Ps 141:3”  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

Pray without ceasing, friends!

G26 - agapē - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g26/kjv/tr/0-1/

Fear Nurtures a Traitorous Heart

Matthew 14:22-33 “Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.  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.””

We’ve all likely felt the emotion- that ‘hair-standing-up-sending-tingles-through-your-body’ imminent danger of fear.  

But what causes fear?  According to dictionary.com fear is “a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid” 1

We fear when we encounter something greater than we are that has the power to cause pain, shatter our peace or destroy us.  We fear when something is out of our control.  Fear sets in when others in the situation or the elements surrounding us exceed our perceived ability to manage and maintain our preferences and comfort.  It’s a response to lack of control.  

Fear seems to be an ever-present part of parenthood.  When they’re little we fear that they’ll stop breathing, or choke on food, or run into the street or get sick or… the list goes on.  As they grow, we fear them driving cars, the other drivers, the ‘creepers’ who are out there, the temptations…that list goes on, too.  Now that they’re adults, the fears remain, they just change location and direction and intensity.

As parents, we can quickly descend into fear.  And when we do, we become like Peter in Matthew 14:22-33 when Jesus invited him to step out and walk on the water.  At first, Peter eagerly obeyed and began walking toward Jesus.  But then the reality of his surroundings, the deep water, the distance from the boat, the gravity-both figurative and literal- grabbed his attention.  He took his eyes off of Jesus and focused on everything around him that could threaten and harm him.  Fear stepped between Peter and Jesus…and he began to sink.  He permitted fear to gain power over him.  He allowed the situation to dictate his response rather than the Savior who controlled the situation.

When we look around at this world, it’s not hard to feel that fear welling up inside of us.  We want to protect our kids, and that’s understandable.  But we can easily cripple our heart and mind with fear if we dwell on all the ‘what ifs’.  But, friends, living in the ‘what ifs’ is a form of fortune-telling, isn’t it?  It’s imagining and expecting outcomes over which we have no control and allowing those expectations or fears to consume and control us.  We believe in the ‘what-if’s more than we believe in our Savior.  We stop trusting in the sovereignty of God and His mighty power.

If we live in fear, that’s an indication that a portion of our heart and mind are not surrendered to Christ.  It tells us that we don’t fully trust the Lord.  An anxious heart weighs a man down (Prov. 12:25).  That word ‘anxious’ means fear, being afraid.  When we’re afraid, our thoughts are not consumed with God, but with whatever is threatening.  When we fear, we’re effectively saying “God, I don’t trust that You can defeat this”.  An anxious heart is a traitorous heart.

Here’s the incredible truth, if we are in Christ, the very power that worked in Him to raise Him from the dead is the same power that works in us.  

Ephesians 1:18-20 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,”

God has no equal.  There is nothing that can put Him in danger, threaten His power or position, or overcome Him with evil.  He overcame evil when Jesus died on the cross for sin, descended into the depths to take the keys of death and Hades and ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father.  No other has that resume.  No other has the power to do that.

Friends…we have nothing to fear!  2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (KJV) If we are found in Christ, we are held safe in the shadow of His wing.  We are held secure in the refuge of His presence.  We are surrounded by the strength of His power and might.  We are victorious in His record of victory!

Our fear is a tool of the enemy to get our eyes off of Jesus and onto our troubles.  Fear is a poison that infects us quickly and renders us ineffective.  Let’s purpose to not give in to fear but to stand firm in our trust of our Savior. 

Let’s pray today that fear ceases to be a part of our parenting and that, instead, we live with confidence and joy and we exhibit an example that our sons and daughters should follow.

“Father, I pray that today You will eclipse any fear that wants to settle in my heart and mind.  Help me to focus on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable (Phil. 4:8). Lord, You are Sovereign.  You are Almighty.  You have no equal and there is nothing and no one who can challenge or overthrow You.  Lord, help me to remember that.  When fear threatens to creep in and steal my peace and joy, I pray that You would take my face and direct my eyes to You.  Lord, I pray that I would not live in fear and that I would not allow it to take root in my heart and mind.  It’s a poor example for my sons and daughters.  If I live in fear, I essentially demonstrate that I don’t trust You to do what You promise.  Forgive me for my fear, for my mistrust, for my wavering faith.”

“I pray that You would help (name) to trust You fully and rest in Your safe-keeping.  Don’t allow fear to distract (name) from following You with their whole heart and mind and strength.  Don’t let them cave to the taunts of the enemy who tries to get their attention and steal their peace. I know fear is a tool of the enemy, so I pray that you would empty his toolbox and render him powerless.  I pray that (name) would look to You for strength and that You would fill (name) with confidence in Your Sovereignty and Power.  That same power that worked in Jesus to raise Him from the dead is the power that works in us.  Lord, help us to live in that power today.  Give us victory over fear.  We are Your children and we know You are our Perfect Father who will always protect and watch over us. Help us to rest in that today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Why not share this today with someone who struggles with anxiety and fear? Let’s encourage one another in our walk with Jesus.

Pray without ceasing.

1. Dictionary.com. Fear definition & meaning. Dictionary.com. Retrieved from https://www.dictionary.com/browse/fear 

Holy by Association

Colossians 1:2  To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

Associations can make or break us, can’t they?  If we know someone of position or wealth, we may be tempted to name drop, saying, “I know (insert name of popular or famous individual), we’re friends!”  Our social standing is elevated and we have a measure of importance because of our connection..  We might even expect to receive preferential treatment or special access because of who we know.  Our value in the eyes of others may increase, not because of anything we’ve done, but because of who we know.  It becomes a point of pride and self-importance.

We’re also familiar with the phrase “guilty by association” and we fully understand what that means.  Just by knowing someone and being in their presence when a wrong is committed can cause us to be guilty by association.  Perhaps it’s a business partnership wherein one partner acts illegally..  The other partner is then ‘guilty by association’ due to the shared responsibility and benefits of that partnership. Guilt by association can stem from  the actions of a friend, family member or group to which one belongs.  We’re culpable not because of what we’ve done, but because of who we know. It becomes a point of disgrace and humiliation.

But holy by association?  What does that even mean and how does that happen?  

The Apostle Paul addressed this when he wrote to the church in Colossae, 

Colossians 1:2  To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

What did Paul mean when he called these believers “God’s holy people”?  Was it how they lived their life?  Were they exceptionally spirit-led and sinless?

Strong’s Concordance says the word ‘holy’ or ‘hagios”, means a people who possess distinction because of a connection to God.  They are sacred, pure, morally blameless and consecrated (1).  

Did you catch that… a people who possess distinction because of a connection to God.  If we are believers in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and we trust in Him alone for our salvation, we are holy by association.  How amazing is that?!  It’s only because of our connection to Him that we are spiritually set apart and recognized as God’s own.  It’s not just because we know Jesus, but because Jesus knows us and claims us as His own.  Nothing we do on our own could ever achieve this status.  It’s only through Jesus.  We are holy by association.

Scripture makes several references to this holy association.

Colossians 3:12   “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

1 Corinthians 1:2  “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:”

Romans 1:7  “To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Hebrews 2:11 ”Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.”

Did you note that last verse?  Both the one who makes people holy (Jesus) and those who are made holy (believers) are of the same family.  Jesus is not afraid to call them/us brothers and sisters.  We are holy by association.

That removes a whole lot of pressure to make ourselves ‘acceptable’, doesn’t it?  It’s not up to us.  We are chosen and made holy by the work of Jesus.  

Friends, we need to take time to gain perspective.  When we ‘name drop’ it should be the name of Jesus Christ, not to make ourselves more important, but to increase the fame of our Lord and Savior.  When we truly understand that we are holy by association to God, we should respond in all humility, not pride, and remember that it’s only through Jesus that we have such a standing.  We possess distinction because we are connected to God.  We don’t have to make ourselves better, achieve a certain standing, or have an “A” list of friends  in order to be recognized as holy.  All we need to do is believe in Jesus and trust in Him for our salvation and redemption.

Today, let’s pray for our sons and daughters that they don’t fall into the trap of self-importance or faulty concepts of performance-based “holiness”.  Pray that they would understand the immeasurable worth of their value in Christ Jesus- the One who makes them holy.  Pray that they would practice humility in understanding the price of their holiness was gained through the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus and the call to obey Christ. Finally, pray that they take their eyes off of human standards of connection and worth and lean into the Biblical definition of holiness as God’s chosen and dearly loved people.

Take time today to write out a prayer reflecting your understanding of holiness by association.

Pray without ceasing.

1. G40 - hagios - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g40/niv/mgnt/0-1/

The Decay of Sin & The Master Builder

1 John 3:2 “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”

Have you ever taken time to look at an abandoned house…I mean really up close?  They can look rather intriguing from a distance.  But the closer you get, the more you begin to see the decay.  Windows might be broken out, letting the weather inside.  And if the weather gets in, everything starts to decay.  What once was a beautiful home, filled with love and life, becomes a shell, rotting from the inside out.

It’s kind of like sin.  Sin takes a toll, doesn’t it?  Oh, we start out sturdy, solid and beautiful, but the effects of steady sin weathers us.  Sometimes the choices we make and the lives we choose to live wear us down over time and leave us battered and worn.  The inner beauty we once had gives way to rot and ruin.  Sin does that to us.

The window in the picture once framed a beautiful room.  It protected it from the elements, yet it also let the light in so that the room was filled with the golden rays of the sun.  And at night, in the darkness, it shone from the inside out so all could see its warmth and beauty..  But at some point, those living there left.  Then, that window broke and what was once a barrier to the elements and a protector of the beauty within no longer worked.  Now instead of a beautiful room, the glass is broken and lying on the ground, the curtains are shredded and the room inside is ruined by the elements.  The floors and walls are weathered with rain and it is no longer a place of love and shelter.  

There are so many analogies we could use.  But, suffice it to say, we’re a lot like those houses, aren’t we?  Oh, we may only leave our ‘window’ open but a crack, yet the weather of sin gets in and it slowly begins to destroy.  It might not be much at first, but after time, it’s catastrophic.  Even a small opening is enough for the Enemy to slowly creep in and begin to erode our foundation.  Sin ruins.  It ruins heavily, destructively and it’s not easily recovered from.  We might not see the effects right away- that’s another deception of the Enemy.  But the slow, steady influx of sin begins to rot our inner beauty into a dark, joyless heart that is in desperate need of God’s righteousness.  Our holiness departs.  We squelch the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit and we slowly decay. 

Look at the picture again… and look through the window not at the room, but back out the other window to the sky!  You can still see the light of day- not darkness! It’s a fresh new day on the other side of that window!  You can see hope!  You see, despite the decay happening inside, each day there is a new morning that surrounds this house.

Though it would take time and would come at a cost, this window and this room could be restored.  God sees through our brokenness and provides redemption and restoration for anyone who asks!  You see, God isn’t in the business of ‘redecorating’, He fully rehabilitates and restores.  He renovates and brings us back to life.  He sees the wreck that we are right now and the beauty that we will be once we allow Him to work in us.

Do you look at your son or daughter and see how their choices have caused damage and decay with the effects of sin?  It hurts our hearts because we know what they once were and we long to see that inner beauty restored.  But right now, all we can see is how the enemy has wreaked havoc.  The disease of sin and selfishness has stripped away the beauty and left a mess. You know they ‘know’ the Truth, yet they’ve chosen to open their lives to everything else, and it shows.

Friends, be brave enough to see through the damage and believe in what God can do!  He is the Master Builder!  Just as someone who comes along and begins restorative work on that abandoned house, there is hope when God begins to work on us!  We only see the house as it is now,  but you know the Builder is at work and oh!  It will be beautiful again!!  Friends, that is how God can restore a life. Pray to that end.  Trust in His skill.  He’s the Carpenter.  He’s the Creator.  He’s the Great Physician.  He can do artful work on even the most devastated life. He is Faithful and True and what He promises, He will do. “He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”” Revelation 21:5

Prayer for Restoration:

“Father, I pray in Jesus’ name that You would begin a restorative work on (name) today.  Lord, bandage their spiritual wounds, clean out the damage in their life.  Evict the things that don’t belong, tear out the rot and ruin and rebuild their life to reflect Your glory.  I know (name) is made in Your image, but right now, they don’t reflect that.  Lord, do a work in them.  Renovate their heart.  Restore their mind.   Holy Spirit, I pray that You would sanctify them to obedience to Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:2)  Lord, bring repentance and follow it with abundant grace and peace. May the joy of the Lord be (name)’s strength.  Help (name) to forsake all others and follow You solely, completely, wholeheartedly.  Lord, I know that You can do a work unlike anything I could ask or imagine.  I pray that You would restore (name) today.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Prayer for Protection:

Lord, I pray for (name) today.  I know they love You, Lord.  But I also know that as believers, we are all a target of the Enemy.  Lord, I ask that You would do some maintenance on (name) today.  Seal up any ‘cracks’ in their character or their life that would allow the enemy to get in and cause destruction.  I pray that they would put on the full armor of God: the helmet of salvation to protect their mind from spiritual attack; the shield of faith to deflect the fiery darts of spiritual warfare; the sword of the Spirit to defend against attack; the belt of Truth to guard against deception and lies; the breastplate of righteousness to guard their heart from deception and from temptation that would lure their love away from You; and feet shod with the gospel, so that their life, their words and their actions would be a testimony to others (Ephesians 6:10-18) .  Help them to live without compromise and to daily take stock of what they choose to watch, read, and listen to so that nothing sneaks in and begins to weaken and destroy.  Lord, I pray that you would guard them from ‘sneak attacks’ by the enemy.  Make their foundation solid and their protection sure.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.” 

Do you have a loved one who needs prayer? Feel free to reach out! Leave a comment or send an email. There is an army of sisters in Christ who are ready and willing to pray along with you!

Pray without ceasing, friend. And believe that God can restore a life!

Impressions

Deuteronomy 6:5-8 “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Did you ever notice your little one when they first woke up?  Maybe they slept with their face against a favorite toy or on a patterned pillow and the lines of the fabric shown on their little faces.  They looked funny and silly with wrinkles and lines embedded into their skin from pressing against that fabric.  And when we got down on the rug to play with them our knees pressed into the carpet. We had fun, only to get up and realize the pattern of the weave impressed on our knees.  Then there was the finger paint. Hands eagerly pressed into the paint and then pressed down onto the paper. The precious handprints were left behind, but the paint still clung to the skin and found its way into the cracks and crevices and under the fingernails. Despite washing up, the evidence of leaning into the paint was still present and visible. Oh, we can try and soothe the marks or scrub the paint away, but the impressions remain and they don’t fade quickly. 

It’s much the same in our spiritual lives. You see, the things we lean into or rest upon leave an impression. What we choose to spend time with marks us and it starts to mold us to it, whether good or bad.  Then others see the impact of our choices and where we’ve spent our time. The impressions don’t fade quickly. They remain for others to see.

Here’s a question for us as parents….What is it that we’re impressing on our children?  On our grown sons and daughters?  When they spend time with us, what is it that they carry away with them?   Can they see that we love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and strength?  Do they know that God’s word is so deeply impressed in our own hearts and minds that it marks us for everything else and that when anyone looks at us, they see the imprint of God on our lives?  Do our sons and daughters bear the marks of fellowship with the family of God when they leave us to go to their own home?

Friends, the more we look around us, the more we see the beginnings of the end.  We see wars and rumors of wars, we see people mocking God and living in lavish sin, openly and defiantly.  We see believers being harassed and persecuted.  We can’t be ‘fence sitters’ ; we must choose wisely and live intentionally.  What we’ve chosen to rest in and lean into will leave an impression on us for the world to see.  It will give evidence of which side we’ve chosen..  Is it leaving the impression of Christ or of the world? We can’t ‘do it later’. Time is running out. What example are we setting?

Oh friends, we spend a lot of time praying for our sons and daughters, as we should.  But let’s not neglect praying for ourselves and for other parents.  We need to stand with conviction and be an example of those who do not lean on their own understanding but trust in the Lord.  We need to set the standard for our sons and daughters and in our walk, our talk and our lives, exemplify that we love the Lord our God with all of our heart, our soul, our mind and our strength. We will not compromise.  We will not ‘talk the talk’ yet bear the impression of the world on our faces…and our hearts.  How will our sons and daughters follow?  Will they choose the impression of Christ or of the world? 

“Father, Today I choose You.  I choose to follow You, obey Your Word and live my life in a way that gives evidence to those around me that You are my Lord and Savior.  I pray today that You would help me to “Trust in the Lord with all [my] heart and do not lean on [my] own understanding.” (Prov. 3:5)  I pray for other parents today that You would strengthen them to stand firm.  Lord, help each of us to impress Your commandments on our children.  Let our conversations be pleasing to You and edifying to those who hear.  Lord, let Your Word and Your Truth be what is impressed on each of our hearts and lives so that when others see us, they see the marks of Jesus.  Keep us safe and unharmed by this world.  Keep us from sin and from oppression by the enemy.  I know that Satan would love nothing more than to destroy believers’ testimonies and disrupt families.  Guard us Lord so that we can be salt and light in this world.  Raise up the next generation to follow after You with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength.  May Jesus be glorified.  In His name I pray, amen.”

Pray without ceasing.

Despising a Vile Man

Psalm 15:1-4

1. Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?

2. The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart;

3. and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman,

4. who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his oath even when it hurts,

We live in a world of opposites, don’t we?  What is right is often ridiculed as being wrong, antiquated or intolerant and what is actually wrong and sinful is celebrated and exalted as the standard to follow.  Scripture tells us we should despise a vile man, yet this world will tell us that word is strong and should have no place in our lives.  “Tolerance” is the word of the day.  

So what exactly IS a vile man?   A vile man is one who rejects or spurns the Lord.  It is the opposite of one who accepts Jesus (1)  

And what does it mean to despise?  Strong’s defines this as holding in contempt, to disdain, not honor or admire (2)  Consider a court of law.  When someone speaks out against the judge or dishonors the trial process, they are held in contempt of court.  “Contempt of court, also referred to simply as “contempt”, is the disobedience of an order of a court. It is also conduct tending to obstruct or interfere with the orderly administration of justice” (3). Someone who is in contempt is not honored or celebrated, they’re reprimanded.  Yet, this world celebrates those in contempt of Christ- those who go against His rules of justice and righteousness.

But God tells us this:

1. We should hate sin and hate anything that is contrary to God, “To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.” Proverbs 8:13 

2. We are called to stand for the Lord, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Ephesians 6:13

3. We are called to defend our faith, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,” 1 Peter3:15 

4. We are strangers here and should be seen as in this world, but not of it, “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.  My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.”  John 17:14-16.  

5. We need to live as we are called, and not embrace the sin around us, but be separate, “ Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.  For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”  1 John 2:15-17)

We can’t be followers of Christ and approving of, celebrating, excusing or tolerating things that go against God and His word.  That’s being double-minded and will lead to instability in our faith (James 4:8).

And if we’re followers of Christ, we must stand by our commitment to Him, not waffle or wither when opposition comes (and it will) we must stand by our oath and be faithful to our commitment to God.  (I Peter 1:6-7)

Finally, we need to honor those who fear the Lord.  But we must be watchful and careful because there are many who claim to fear God, yet they use His word and His name to do ungodly things.  Discretion must be at play here and we need to be cautious we’re not lifting up those who are doing sinful things and hiding behind their ego, their knowledge of Scripture and their ability to manipulate others.  Friends, those would be considered vile men because they are not serving God, but themselves. Just because they are popular doesn’t mean they are Godly.

There is so much to ponder in Psalm 15:4.  Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters despise anything that rejects or stands in opposition to God and His word.  We’re not called to be tolerant of sin.  We’re called to stand for Truth.  Then, pray that our sons and daughters have discretion to know and discern who truly is a follower of Jesus and that they do not misplace honor that should not be given. Finally, pray that they would stand firm in their faith, not turning back on their commitment to God but keeping their conviction, even in the face of opposition, persecution and trial.

“Father God, Sovereign of the Universe, You chose us according to your foreknowledge for sanctification through the Holy Spirit for obedience to Jesus.  Give (name) strength and conviction today to hold to that commitment to follow Christ.  I pray that You would help (name) to be uncomfortable with sin.  When something is wrong- contrary to Your word, I pray that (name) would turn away, not defend it and not celebrate it.  Give them integrity to stand for Truth even in the face of opposition.  Give (name) the ability to love others as Jesus loves, but disdain the sin and the rebellion that is present.  I pray You would also give (name) discretion to know the difference between someone who simply spouts scripture versus someone who lives it out.  Lord, help them to follow You, not people or preachers or teachers.  Lord, we know this world will continue to worsen and sin will continue to corrupt.  Satan’s time is short and he’s doing all he can to destroy.  Lord, protect (name) from the enemy.  Keep them from being influenced by sin and evil.  Guard them in Your love and strength so they will stand in the day of salvation (1 Peter 1:3-9).  I pray this all in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Pray without ceasing, friends.

1. H3988 - mā'as - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h3988/niv/wlc/0-1/

2. H959 - bāzâ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h959/niv/wlc/0-1/

3. Legal Information Institute. (n.d.). Contempt of court. Legal Information Institute. Retrieved June 12, 2022, from https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/contempt_of_court 

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.”

1. 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.

1. 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.

1. 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.”

2. 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.”

3. 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.”

4. 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’…

1. Joshua witnessed God bring the plagues on Egypt…He saw God work miraculously.

2. He was with the Israelites when God parted the Red Sea; He experienced God’s supernatural intervention.

3. Joshua saw God bring water from the Rock and manna from heaven

4. He followed the Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night- seeing God’s presence manifest before him.

5. He witnessed Moses raising the serpent in the wilderness.

6. He was there when Moses returned from the mountain and raised the tablets God gave him, introducing the 10 commandments.

7. 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)

8. 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?  

1. Her husband died.  

2. Her brother-in-law and father-in-law both died as well.  

3. She had no children.

4. 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. 

5. Ruth faced a long journey with a mother-in-law who was struggling with her own will to live. 

6. 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.

7. She was from Moab.  She was one of ‘those’ whom God warned Israel against.

   But wait, that’s not all…

8. 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.

9. 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.  

10. 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.