The Battle of the Mind- Loving God with All of It
Matthew 22:37 “Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’”
Loving God with all our mind seems like a ‘no-brainer’, right? We know we should do that. We talk about it. We encourage others to do it. It’s likely we taught our sons and daughters this very scripture. But when it comes down to it, how do we really do that… and are we intentional about it? Do we really understand what it means to love God with all our mind?
The word ‘mind’ in Matthew 22:37 is the Greek word, dianoia. It means “deep thought, the ability of the mind or its disposition, by implication, its exercise: imagination, mind, understanding.” (1) That encompasses quite a bit, doesn’t it? If our thoughts are captive on God (2 Corinthians 10:5), we are spiritually setting our minds on things above (Colossians 3) and protecting ourselves from spiritual attack and oppression. We are intentionally exercising our minds in ways that will spiritually strengthen and protect us.
But there’s more. Let’s break the word “dianoia” down a bit more. It’s important to dig in so we really understand. The prefix of the word dianoia is ‘dia’, which means “through, over, across, the channel of an action”(2). The second part of dianoia is the Greek word “nous” which means, “mind or understanding” (3) and comes from the root word “ginosko” meaning to “allow, be aware of, feel, have knowledge, perceive, be resolved, be sure, understand.” (4)
Think about it. The Greek word for mind is vastly more detailed than what we might recognize by only reading the English. Dianoia involves the channel or direction of one's thoughts, the depth of their understanding and what one chooses to allow to be present and active in their mind; what they are pondering and meditating on. It’s the direction, the action and the permission of our thought life.
Dianoia isn’t a word we use on the daily. It’s likely we may be more familiar with the word ‘paranoia’. The prefix of the word, “para” means “beside, next to, near, against or contrary to”(5). When we focus on what is near or around us (para), it can stir fear. If we allow what is contrary to God to consume our thoughts, we are dwelling on things that do not support Godly thinking. What we choose to marinate in begins to saturate us. It colors our thinking. It flavors our choices. It overtakes us so that we think of Godly things less and less and we become more and more filled with the world around us. We need the ‘dia’ not the ‘para’.
The little things matter, friends. What we choose to watch and listen to. What we read and discuss. Who we fellowship with and how and where all impact our thinking. And our thinking impacts everything. Are we taking intentional time to think on God’s word and meditate on His precepts? Are we marinating in the honey of the Word or the acid of the world? We need to pray for our sons and daughters and, really, for all believers that as this world grows darker, we strive intentionally to love God with all our mind.
Are we marinating in the honey of the Word or the acid of the world?
“Love the Lord your God with all your mind.” It’s a straightforward command that we need to embrace with all that we are. We need to be intentional. God will not falter or cool in His love for us, be we can certainly grow cold in our love for Him.
“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,” Matthew 24:12
Today, let’s pray for our sons and daughters, for our friends and loved ones, that they would understand and pursue loving God with all their mind. Pray for purity in thought. Pray that they would choose ‘dia’ over ‘para’. If we look around, we’ll be overcome by the darkness and decay of the world, but if we choose to look toward God, we’ll be blessed and protected. We’ll know hope- elpis - the eager expectation of good and the confident joyful expectation of eternal salvation (6).
“Father, you call us to demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and to take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5). You know that Satan attacks our minds and it is there that the spiritual battle and downfall begin. Lord, help (name) to love You with all of their mind. Don’t allow them to give away little corners and pieces of their mind. Protect them from ‘marinating’ in ideas and activities that would have them dwell on ungodly things. Lord, let the helmet of salvation protect their mind from any attacks because we know our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12). Help (name) to set their mind on things above (dia), not on earthly things (para) and strengthen them to walk faithfully with You. Lord, time is short. Our world is dark. Satan will do anything he can to destroy believers and keep unbelievers from turning to Jesus. I pray Your mighty protection over each of my family and friends and over Your Church today and in the days to come. Lord, work mightily and may all the glory be Yours now and forever, in Jesus’ name, amen.”
G1271 - dianoia - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1271/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G1223 - dia - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1223/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G1223 - dia - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1223/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G1097 - ginōskō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1097/niv/mgnt/0-1/
Para-word meaning. Wiktionary. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/para-#:~:text=From%20Ancient%20Greek%20%CF%80%CE%B1%CF%81%CE%AC%20(par%C3%A1,against%2C%20contrary%20to%E2%80%9D).
G1680 - elpis - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1680/niv/mgnt/0-1/
Pray without ceasing.
*Join the PAC Prayer will be taking a short break for the month of March. See you in April! Until then, pray faithfully. Pray often. Pray without ceasing.
The Value of Influence (or, why parenting is never really finished)
We would all probably agree that when we were young we didn’t have perspective. The world was wide open in front of us and we had so much life to live! There was so much we had yet to experience that we were not necessarily eager for Jesus’ coming. Though we loved the Lord, we didn’t want to miss out. We would say things like “I want to get married first.” “I want to have children” I want to… the list was endless. There was much here that held our attention and charmed us. We didn’t fully comprehend the amazing promise of the hope of heaven and, though we looked forward to it ‘someday’, it wasn’t something we thought we were ready for…just yet.
But as we get older, we begin to realize just how flawed this world is. We see the brightness become tarnished. Perhaps we experienced the loss of a loved one or a tragedy close to home and it begins to bring eternity into focus. Our hearts begin to long for heaven because we know that’s where everything is made whole. Our ever-increasing awareness of the brokenness here makes us long for the place and the Person who will bring healing and wholeness. We grow to realize this temporary shadow of a world and of a life are not what we are made for and there is so much more. We begin to await the promise with an eager expectation.
Our sons and daughters are reaching that age and stage when they are, perhaps, not as forward-looking as they should be… or, rather, upward looking. They lack perspective because they lack years and experience.
Our task as parents is not to just ‘raise them right and hope for the best’. We are not done parenting when our sons and daughters step out on their own. Our parenting changes, yes, but it doesn’t stop. We should be just as committed to impressing the Truth on them as we were when they were little, but our tactics need to be appropriate to the age and the now adult-to-adult relationship that our grown sons and daughters need and deserve.
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Ephesians 5:15-17
Titus 2 gives us a great explanation of what God tasks us with as we mature and become the ‘older men’ and ‘older women’. It explains the responsibility we have to build up the next generation of believers. The chapter calls us to teach the younger men and women how to live godly lives- but to do that, we need to be always learning too! There is so much at stake. If we are Christ-followers, our lives should reflect that at every opportunity and it should not stop for our sons and daughters simply because they’ve created their own home and family. Our influence as parents does not and should not stop.
Titus 2:1-3, 11-14
1 You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.
2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good….
11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
So, what should this look like? First, everything we teach, what we say and do, must stem from and be connected to sound doctrine. And what is that? It’s teaching that is without error. That takes us right back to scripture. We, as the older men and women, need to study, to learn, to allow the Holy Spirit to work in us and give us discernment and discretion. It is an intentional pursuit of God’s Truth. We cannot influence others rightly if we’re not pursuing righteousness ourselves.
We must also be cautious as we sit under the teaching of others. It’s not about the position, status, and power of the individual who is teaching- if that’s becomes the method by which we evaluate truth, that can lead to error because we become enamored, following the person but neglecting to weigh and evaluate the accuracy of their teaching against the standard of Scripture. When we make assumptions about accuracy because of someone’s popularity, reputation and/or position, we become foolish, not wise. It’s okay to question what you hear and compare it to what Scripture says. Paul praised the Bereans for doing just that! (Acts 17:11)
Following the pursuit of sound in doctrine (an ever-continuing process of learning), Paul calls us, as the older adults, to some very specific tasks and responsibilities. Gentlemen, you are called to be temperate (sober), worthy of respect (have an honorable character), self-controlled and sound (uncorrupt and wholesome) in faith, love and endurance. That’s a big task with qualities that do not come naturally. They require maturity in faith and depth of knowledge of the Truth and an active, intentional pursuit of Christ and submission to the Holy Spirit. It requires honest introspection with the Word of God as your standard of comparison. It requires humility and authenticity.
Ladies, we also are called to some hefty challenges. We are to be reverent (actions and words that reflect God) in the way we live (our behavior and attitudes), we are not to be a slanderer or a gossip (watch your tongue…and watch how you share ‘prayer requests’), we are not be enslaved to things that would control us (Paul mentions wine, but insert whatever it is that would command our life, our love and attention, our choices other than God…ie: an idol) and we are to teach what is good (or, be a teacher of goodness).
We are called to teach, but here’s the thing. We can become really good at telling others how they should live. But if we’re not first inspecting and correcting our own lives, how can we then have the credibility to teach others to do so? If we’re not living it ourselves, our words lack integrity and any authority we might try to wield really has no power or influence. We’re ‘full of air’ and our words lack substance. We need to go back to that first instruction- know sound doctrine.
None of this is generated or sustained by our own ability or godliness. It’s generated and sustained by God’s presence and power in our lives.
2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
HIS divine power. Not our own. We are set apart and called. We are tasked with teaching those who are younger than we, whether they are our own sons and daughters or those related to us because of the family of God.
Let’s not lose focus, friends. Let’s not neglect our calling. Parenting doesn’t end because the kids grow up. Parenting should not stop because they’ve ‘aged out’ of childhood into adulthood. Parenting is taking every opportunity to share wisdom, to encourage and challenge, and to build up the faith of our sons and daughters, and those younger people God puts in our lives, in ways that are beneficial to them and to others. It is embracing our role as the ‘older’ to teach, encourage and guide the ‘younger’ to walk faithfully with Christ. Whether you have children or not, you are part of the family of God and there are those in the family who need the godly influence of an older, more seasoned believer. One who is still eager to learn more about God and increase their faith and their faithfulness until the day they stand before Him in glory. We need to live out the example until we become a part of that ‘cloud of witnesses’.
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.
Today, let’s pray for one another that we would have a hunger and thirst for righteousness. Pray that we would continue to learn sound doctrine so that we can teach and encourage correctly. Pray that we would be fully dependent on the grace of God to empower and guide our learning, our words, our actions and our lives so that our testimony would impact and encourage those around us who are younger and who need godly examples that model how to wait well for the blessed hope.
Titus 2: 11-13 “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,”
“Father, You have called us to be examples in how we live and influence others because, whether or not we intend to be, we are an influence. Help us to recognize that our words and actions make an impact and help us to speak and act wisely. Help us, as parents, to find effective ways to continue impressing Your Truth on our sons and daughters, ways that respect their adulthood but that allow them to understand they still have much to learn. Remind us that we are still learning, too. And if we don’t think we are or should be, teach us Lord to look and listen for You and to understand that until we stand before You, there will always be much to learn. Mold us into Titus 2 men and women who speak into the next generation with Godly wisdom and who act in ways that show others that Jesus lives in us. Help us to wait for that blessed hope- Your glorious appearing and I pray that we would not be ashamed at Your coming, but would rejoice that our faith becomes sight! Oh, Lord, move and work in this next generation. Raise them up to be mighty men and women of faith who speak boldly for Jesus. Give them a passion for You and compassion for those who don’t yet know You. I pray these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Pray without ceasing
Like a Thief in the Night
1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 “for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman and they will not escape. But you brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.”
We spend much time praying over our sons and daughters that they would have a heart for Jesus, an understanding of Scripture and would pursue holy living. But how often do we stop and pray that they would have an eye on the future? Sometimes it seems so far off that, although we know Jesus’ return could happen at any moment, we too easily find ourselves lulled into a mindset of ‘someday’ vs. ‘imminent’, “even today”. It should change how we live. It should determine our focus. It is the important thing by which we should prioritize our days, our choices, our lives. Yet, too often, it’s buried in the back of our minds as something that ‘might’ happen in our lifetime, but is probably unlikely because look how much time has gone by already? It’s been two thousand years. As days go on the imminence seems to lose its urgency, and isn’t that what Satan hopes will happen in the believer’s heart and mind? The Lord tells us we need to be aware and watching.
Look at current events- what do you see? Are things becoming more peaceful? Is crime becoming less prevalent? Are people caring for one another in ways that bring harmony and show kindness? Oh, governments and leaders will proclaim peace and tell us alliances are certain to assure us of the same, but Scripture tells us that’s the deception of the enemy. Satan is the Prince of the power of the air. This is his domain. He breeds chaos and pain. Matthew 24:7 says, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.” Watch what is happening and don’t be unaware.
Sin is rampant, this world is in deep decay and Jesus is the only remedy that will change anything. Yet, scripture tells us at some point, He will return and catch up those who confess His name and believe in their heart that Jesus is Lord. We call it the rapture. Some will say, “well, that word isn’t even in scripture!”. Hmmm. No, the English word is not in scripture. But the Bible wasn’t written in English. If you dig a little deeper you’ll see something very interesting in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, “After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” Those words ‘caught up’ is the word ‘harpazo’ which means “to seize, catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).” (1) It comes from the word ‘haireo’ which means “to take for oneself, i.e. to prefer, choose.” (2)
This ‘catching up’ of believers won’t come with a warning or a ‘heads up!’. That’s already been given in Thessalonians. We are told to live ready. Much like a special forces military officer lives always ready to go at a moment’s notice. Their ‘go bag’ is packed and ready so that when they get the call, they’re on their way immediately. When we get the call from Jesus, we’ll be out- in a moment, caught up and pulled out. It will be that quick. It will be unexpected. People will be caught unaware.
Matthew 24:36-44 says, ““But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
Jesus is coming back. Are we keeping watch? Do we teach and encourage our sons and daughters to be alert and aware? We need to pray that our sons and daughters live in the light of Jesus return, always watching, always ready, because this world is not where we are meant to be. This is not our home, so we shouldn’t get too comfortable. Pray that our sons and daughters would have a burden to share the hope that they have in Christ with those who are spiritually dying. Pray that they are excited to see His return because that will be the moment their faith becomes sight! Can you imagine? What an amazing, breath-taking moment that will be! Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!
“Heavenly Father, You assure us that Jesus will return for us. You also remind us in Your Word that the day and the hour is unknown to all but You. It could happen at any moment. But I fear we lose our focus too easily and we become comfortable here. So many years believers have been waiting, and we may wait even more. But that waiting is Your kindness toward those who have yet to believe (2 Peter 3:9). I pray that You would give us a fresh excitement and anticipation for Jesus’ return. Help us always to be watching with hope, waiting while being busy for Your kingdom, eager to see Jesus but burdened for those who don’t yet know Him. Lord, I pray for (name) today. Don’t let them live unaware. Remind them of the promises in Scripture that tell us this is not our home. Stir them to action and cause them to think about what they choose to say and do- would it please Jesus if He returned to find them doing it? Lord, affirm to us, even today, that You are working and that Jesus return is near. Don’t let us grow dull. Don’t allow us to become desensitized to the urgency. Lord, we long for that moment when our faith will become sight- I pray that (name) would long for that too! Lord Jesus, come quickly!”
Pray without ceasing.
Do you know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior or are you unsure of what you believe? Do you know where you will spend eternity or are you just hoping for the best?
If you have questions or would like to know more, please reach out! I would be happy to share the hope you can find in Jesus and point you to what He says in Scripture that gives confidence in His plan for our lives.
G726 - harpazō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g726/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G138 - haireō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g138/niv/mgnt/0-1/
Thanking God for the Family of Believers
"How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?" 1 Thessalonians 3:9
The word "thanks" in Greek is "eucharistia" which means more than just gratitude... it is speaking actively grateful language directed to God as an act of worship (1). That's a powerful thank you!
Our children bring us such joy, don’t they? As we watch them grow and mature, we marvel at who they’re becoming and if they’ve committed their life to Jesus, we’re filled with joy that they know the Savior and are walking with Him. And it’s pretty likely we thank God for that frequently. And if they have siblings, we remind them of what a blessing that is. Oh, they may not have shown love and gratitude for one another as kids, but as they grow and mature, we pray they begin to see the blessing of their brothers and sisters.
But when was the last time we genuinely thanked God for the family of believers and encouraged our sons and daughters to do the same? Are we intentionally mindful and grateful for our brothers and sisters in Christ, or are we just 'coexisting'? Do we embrace the fellowship of other believers, or do we act as if we simply want to be an ‘only child’?
Consider what a great blessing it is to have this eternal connection with others because of the blood of Jesus?! We have others who know the joys and sorrows; who can encourage us because of the difficult things they've endured too. As a spiritual family, we endure with hope, because we know this life, this world is not our reward, something so much better is promised! But are we being intentional to encourage and remind our sons and daughters of these things? We should. We must. We will not always be with them, but the family of believers will surround them in ways we cannot. It’s important they not only recognize this, but that they have gratitude toward God for His wonderful provision. It’s true, families can be messy, but there is a bond that goes deep and cannot, should not be broken. Gratitude to God should be ever-present and generously expressed. Eucharistia.
Take time today to intentionally and actively speak words of gratitude to God for His incredible blessing of the family of God. Let your words be an act of worship. If you're holding a grudge, confess it. If someone's blessed you, acknowledge it. And ask Him to show you how you can be a blessing and encouragement to others today.
I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God.
You will notice we say "brother and sister" 'round here,
It's because we're a family and these are so near;
When one has a heartache, we all share the tears,
And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.
I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God.
From the door of an orphanage to the house of the King,
No longer an outcast, a new song I sing;
From rags unto riches, from the weak to the strong,
I'm not worthy to be here, but praise God I belong!
I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of GodFamily of God- Bill and Gloria Gaither (2)
Then, let’s pray that our sons and daughters embrace a spirit of gratitude for their physical family, but even more importantly, for their spiritual family. Pray that they have a strong desire to remain in fellowship with other believers and that they would become an encouragement to others in their faith and their walk with the Lord. And if they’re not walking with the Lord, pray that the Holy Spirit would stir in them a longing for belonging, a craving for a place at God’s table and an insatiable need for fellowship and encouragement from believers. Pray they would become a source of joy for other believers because of their commitment to the Lord.
Eucharistia. Pray without ceasing.
G2169 - eucharistia - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2169/niv/mgnt/0-1/
The family of god - Bill Gaither. SongLyrics.com. (n.d.). Retrieved January 29, 2023, from https://www.songlyrics.com/bill-gaither/the-family-of-god-lyrics/
A Call to Parents: Encouraging Our Sons & Daughters
“For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.” 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12
We spend much time here at Join the PAC Prayer focusing on praying for our sons and daughters, but today we’re going to take a look at what God calls us to do as parents. What are we called to do? How can we do it well?
Paul wrote to the Thessalonians to encourage them in their faith. Throughout the first and second chapters, Paul urged them to remain true and faithful. He instructed them on how they should live and commended them for what they did well. In chapter two, he explained his ministry motives along with those of Silas and Timothy and the nature of their instruction. Then he gave the statement in verses 11-12 and it’s here we need to pause and take time to ponder because Paul explained three key actions that exemplify how a father (a parent) should deal with his children, “For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”
Let’s dig deep and get a better understanding of what God encourages us to do as parents.
Encouraging: Parakaleo
The first thing Paul mentioned is that he, Silas and Timothy were encouraging the believers. The Greek word for encouraging is parakaleo. It means to call near or call to one’s side; to exhort, console and comfort; to strengthen and instruct; it means to call in a loud voice; it’s not a silent, behind-the-scenes cheering on (1).
There is more to encouraging our sons and daughters than just saying “Good job! I knew you could do it!” The word ‘parakaleo’ comes from two root words, ‘para’, meaning beside or near, having proximity to (2) and ‘kaleo’ which means to call by name (3). So when we’re encouraging our sons and daughters, we need to call them near, call them by name, take time to be present and to teach and comfort them. We must be focused on them, and strengthen them in those things that are uniquely their own needs- it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s personal. It requires our presence and our mindfulness towards them so that we’re focused and our encouragement stems from knowledge of the individual son or daughter and knowledge from Scripture.
Like a paramedic is a medical professional who comes near to the patient, calls them by name and tends to their needs, our encouragement must be parakaleo, near our sons and daughters, calling them by name and meeting their needs to encourage them to walk faithfully, understand God’s word accurately and remain true to their faith and commitment to God.
Comforting: Paramytheomai
The next thing Paul mentions is comfort. The Greek word for the act of comforting is paramytheomai, which means “to speak to, address one, whether by way of admonition and incentive, or to calm and console” (4). It’s another form of encouragement. Note the prefix ‘para’ is once again a part of the word. It requires coming alongside of another to accomplish the purpose at hand. Paramytheomai means we need to be present and choose to be near, whether in person or, if that’s not possible, in communication and prayer. It’s an active role and not just that of an observer. The other portion of the word, ‘mytheomai’ means to speak, tell a story, a narrative. Often this word was applied to the sharing of genealogies in Biblical times. Consider what is your family’s story and how your sons and daughters could learn from it. Some questions to consider:
What is the heritage that undergirds your family?
What stories of faith are held forth?
What mistakes were made that should not be repeated?
Maybe the heritage of faith began with you … How did you come to know Jesus and begin a personal relationship with Him?
How can your sons and daughters carry on the Godly legacy?
How can you comfort them with lessons from the past and encourage them to be true to God into the future?
Comfort and encouragement can come through the stories of others and out of our own experiences. Those stories should be carried and shared by parents to their children to stand as encouragement and be cautionary as well.
Urging: Martyomai
Finally, Paul urged the Thessalonians to live a life worthy of God. The word used for urging is ‘martyomai’, which means “to be a witness, testify, charge or give evidence, bear record.” (5) Yes, it is related to the word ‘martyr’, describing those who gave their life for their faith. They bore witness and held fast to the testimony of Christ, even to the end. Paul urged, testified and bore witness to the Thessalonians in an effort to encourage them and teach them to hold fast to their faith.
The root word is martys means “one who is mindful, obeys”. (6) It’s not only what Paul wanted the Thessalonians to do, but it was what he held fast to as he lived out his testimony before them. And it’s what we need to do as parents. We need to demonstrate obedience to God and be mindful of what He calls us to do so that our words and actions testify faithfulness to Him to our sons and daughters.
The encouragement, the comfort and the urging are all directed toward helping our sons and daughters live wisely and follow Christ faithfully, or as the King James Version says, “that ye would walk worthy of God” who calls them into His kingdom. Isn’t that one of our most fervent prayers for our sons and daughters? We want them to live a life that acts as an example to others that we are Kingdom bound, sons and daughters of the Most High, His heirs and dearly loved children.
But what does it mean to “walk worthy of God”? The word for walk in Greek is peripateo and it means “to occupy oneself, make progress and follow; to make one’s way and make use of opportunities.” (7) It’s more than just heading in a direction. It’s being cognizant of where one is going, making use of opportunities along the way and always being mindful of whom you are following and the direction in which you are headed. The prefix, peri, comes from a root word, peran, which means, “beyond, on the other side.” (8) It’s directional and locational. It indicates that this walk is more than just a stroll. It’s purposeful. It has a specific destination. It requires mindful participation.
But here’s the powerful part: the remainder of the word, pateo, has a profound meaning. Let’s look at the original wording from Strong’s Concordance. Pateo means, “to advance by setting foot upon, tread upon; to encounter successfully the greatest perils from the machinations and persecutions with which Satan would fain thwart the preaching of the gospel.”(9) Wow!! When we pray for our sons and daughters to walk worthy of God, we’re praying that they will encounter successfully the greatest perils, deceptions, schemes of Satan and will overcome! We pray that they will live out and speak the gospel in ways that will defeat Satan and his demons and will overcome the ‘dangers, toils and snares’ of this life because they’re directionally moving toward the ‘other side’- the Kingdom of God…and Satan will do anything and everything to keep them from it.
These two verses are so rich and so powerful!! It would be beneficial for us to meditate on these Scriptures this week as we pray for our sons and daughters. He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. We have the power of the Eternal God within reach. He hears the cry of His children and He does not let it go unanswered. Take time today to pray for encouragement, for comfort and to urge this next generation to live victoriously. Why not write these verses down and carry them with you this week, memorize them and meditate on them, they are powerful directives and timeless truths and God can and will use them mightily.
Pray without ceasing.
G3870 - parakaleō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3870/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G3844 - para - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3844/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G2564 - kaleō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2564/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G3888 - paramytheomai - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3888/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G3143 - martyromai - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3143/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G3144 - martys - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3144/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G4043 - peripateō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4043/kjv/tr/0-1/
G4012 - peri - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4012/kjv/tr/0-1/
G3961 - pateō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3961/kjv/tr/0-1/
Burdens and Remedies
Isaiah 53:4-6
Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Whatever you’re carrying today, Jesus already bore the weight of it all on the cross. Think about that… all of the pain, sorrow, grief, sin… all of it from the beginning of time to the very end- He saw it, He knew it, He carried it to the cross, so that in His suffering, our suffering is never out of His control, but it’s present to remind us we are called to be like Christ.
The picture above is profound. The entire scene seems to be overlaid with a fingerprint. There is no part of the man’s experience that isn’t touched by it. It’s representative of our lives. God’s hand is all over everything we face, even the dark, difficult, painful days are not out of God’s control and mediation. His hand is all over anything we might face and He meters what we must endure. It is all to draw us closer to Him and make us more like Christ.
So whatever you’re facing today, He knew it before you faced it and He’s already got the remedy. Little sheep, listen to your Shepherd. Follow Him closely, lean into Him, trust Him. Don’t turn to your own way and don’t grow bitter. There is safety in the fold of Jesus. Find your place there.
There is no sorrow too heavy that He cannot carry it. Jesus is a Man of sorrows, He understands.
There is no grief too deep He cannot reach it. He is acquainted with grief. Let Jesus be your comfort.
There is no pain too intense He cannot bear it. Let Him be a balm to your hurting heart.
There is no darkness too great He cannot breach it. Look to the Light of the World to bring light to the darkness.
El-Roi- the God who sees
Jehovah-Jireh- the God who provides
Jehovah-Rapha- the God who heals
Jesus- the God who saves
Maybe you’re praying for a prodigal and the sorrow, grief, pain and darkness are overwhelming. God is not overwhelmed. He sees. He knows. He is working. Even if you cannot see it, trust Him. He is Sovereign and He loves your precious prodigal more than you ever could. He wants all to come to repentance. Pray that it would be so!
Let’s pray that our sons and daughters find their safety and identity in Christ. Pray that they would run to Him, not away from Him. Pray that their hearts would be drawn to the One who already endured everything and carefully sifts what will touch their lives because nothing is out of His control.
Pray without ceasing.
How Do You Measure the Love of God?
“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all of the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19
Remember when our kids were little and we’d tuck them into bed at night? The routine usually included a story and maybe a song, and prayers. Then, before we left them to fall asleep, we’d tuck them in and give them a good night kiss and remind them of how much we love them. Little sayings like “I love you to the moon and back!” or “I love you to the end of counting” would be the affirmations we would give. As our children grew, they would add their own affirmations back again. We just wanted them to know how much we loved them…and still do. What a sweet time of encouraging the hearts of our little ones.! It set the foundation for our relationship with them and gave them a small glimpse of how our Heavenly Father loves us.
When God tells us He loves us, He gives us affirmations, too. But in our limited human capacity, it can be hard to grasp and understand, mostly because we base our understanding of love on our own experience and the love we’ve received ourselves. So, our concept of love can be skewed, limited, and broken. God knew we would struggle with this, so He provided some strong word pictures to help our limited minds understand His limitless love.
First, God’s love flows from His glorious riches. His treasury of love is abundant- there is enough for every person from the dawn of time through eternity. That’s a lot of love!! It won’t ever run out- it’s abundant and free-flowing from the Father.
Next, to understand and fully enjoy the love of God, we have to be in a relationship with Him. God loves everyone, it’s true. But not everyone loves God. Unless you have a relationship with Him, you cannot begin to grasp the magnitude of His love for us and what it accomplishes on our behalf. When we enter into a relationship with God, we gain a foundation on which God builds us up in Him. We are ‘rooted’ and ‘established’. We become fixed, firm and founded in God. We have a ‘place’ and a ‘purpose’ and God’s love dwells in us.
Romans 5:5 “…God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
But here’s the best part…the dimensions of God’s love. When we try to figure out if something will fit into a space, we ask for the dimensions. How wide? How high? How deep? When we understand the dimensions of the item, we can gain an understanding of the ‘fit’. Friends, God’s love exceeds every dimension!! We can’t make it fit, we can’t limit it, yet it can fill us, follow us and consume us all the days of our earthly lives and follow us into eternity. The Psalmist tried to put it into words we can understand:
“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. … But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children’s children–with those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts.” Psalm 103:11-12, 17-18
“As high as the heavens are above the earth” Have you ever seen pictures of the expanses of space? Telescopes give us a glimpse of the vastness of the heavens…they go on and on… and galaxies beyond our own are so expansive, we just cannot comprehend how far they stretch. And the love of God stretches even farther.
“As far as the east is from the west” East and west will never meet- they expand away from one another. These cardinal directions will never meet, but will continually stretch endlessly. It’s another mind-blowing example of God’s love and His abundant forgiveness of our sin.
“From everlasting to everlasting” Forever. Always. Without beginning or end. God’s love has no origin and no finality. It always was, is and will be. It is an attribute of His character and nature and cannot fail. Read that again, friends…. God’s love can and will never fail!
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;” Lamentations 3:22
”Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love endures forever.” 1 Chronicles 16:34
As we begin this new year, let’s pray that our sons and daughters spiritual eyes are opened to see the magnitude of God’s love around, in and through them. Pray that they have confidence in the perfect love of God and that they don’t judge His love based on the flawed human examples or their own less-than-perfect experiences. God’s love toward us doesn’t cool, it doesn’t grow weary, it doesn’t dry up. It is steadfast and enduring, plentiful and perfect.
We need this next generation to know, firmly and without question, that God’s love is sufficient and abundant and it is readily available to them, designed for them, and freely given. We need them to be compelled to share His love, with conviction, to others who need to know the Lord. Time is short. Jesus’ return is near. This world needs to know there is a God who loves them desperately and dearly and who gave His Son for them so they could live rooted firmly in the love of God. Let’s pray with and for one another today and for our sons and daughters.
Why not share with someone today how they can experience God’s love too!
Pray without ceasing!
How to Pray When Our Sons and Daughters Reach a Crossroads, Part 2
This is what the Lord says:“Stand at the crossroads and look (see); ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
We began part one of “How to Pray When Our Sons and Daughters Reach a Crossroads” by looking at the words “Stand” and “Look” to really understand what God was calling the Israelites (and us) to do when faced with a decision of life, direction and conviction. They were not to wander, to sit or to linger but God said, “Stand” which in Hebrew meant to set firmly, take a stand, be still and endure (1). But they were not only to stand, they were to stand and “looK”. While they stood firm and endured, they were to see, perceive, consider and discern (2). They were to actively do the looking, they were to look for something specific and God would be (should be) the One prompting them to take the action of looking, no one or nothing else should be their motivation. But then what?
Well, as we might say, “Don’t just stand there!” God says, “ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is”. The word “ask” is the word “saal” in Hebrew and it means “ to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand.” (3) To saal is to ask with purpose and even a sense of urgency. It’s not a casual inquiry, but an intentional seeking of answers and information. Can you see the importance here? God is telling us we need to stand with purpose, look and then ask with urgency for the ancient paths. It’s important. It’s vital.
So, what are the ancient paths? Are we supposed to look for antiquated ways of doing things? No, not at all. That word “ancient” is the word “olam” and it means “enduring, perpetual, time out of mind, both past and future.”(4) God is telling us to look for the eternal ways, HIS ways, which are often concealed and hard to see, especially by those who do not walk with the Lord. But if we walk with the Lord, He will reveal them to us (remember, the word “look” has a causative nature… which means something or someone prompts us to do the looking… in this case, it’s God, calling us and causing us to look for and understand His ways.
Daniel 2:20-22 ““Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness and light dwells with him.”
God wants us to look for and pursue His ways (derek), not just any way. The word “derek” means way, but it also means “direction,habit, course of life and moral character.” (5) The ‘way’ God wants us to walk encompasses all of us (our being) and our direction. It is the way that isn’t seen with physical eyes but discerned with spiritual insight granted by God.
But here’s the thing, He doesn’t want us to just identify it by looking, He calls us to walk in it. When God calls us to walk (yalak), He calls us to “walk (literally or figuratively); to carry; bear, bring, depart, follow, grow, prosper, pursue, cause to run.”(5) Isn’t that such a picture of our Christian walk with the Lord?! We are to walk, follow, grow, prosper and pursue Him. We are to bring our burdens, bear our cross and depart the life of sin to walk in obedience to Him. All of that wrapped up in the simple, but not so simple word ‘yalak’ or walk.
1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”
God promises us that if we do these things we “will find rest for our souls”. Oh, friend, isn’t that what we long for? Rest for our souls. A spiritual rest, a relief from the oppression of sin, a balm for the pain and heartache of this life. Rest. “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.” Psalm 62:1
But the warning stands from Proverbs 21:16 “Whoever strays from the path of prudence comes to rest in the company of the dead.” It matters which path you choose and that choice determines where you will find your rest and in whose company you will be.
Jeremiah 6:16 doesn’t stop there, though. There is a final statement in the verse that is jarring. God told all of these things to the Israelites. But their response was, “We will not walk in it.” Think about that. God showed them. He called them. He gave them clear direction and a promise of rest. Yet they rejected it. They rejected Him. They made a willful decision to turn from God. How they were blinded!!
Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”
As our sons and daughters are at the crossroads, there is so much to bring to the Lord. Oh, there is promise of great things, direction, protection, growth, rest…but there is great danger as well and we can’t ignore that. The enemy wants nothing more than to blind this next generation so they cannot see and so they will not follow. He does not want them to find rest for their souls. We need to be on our knees daily asking God to intervene and protect, to open eyes and guide steps. Let’s do that now…and pray without ceasing.
“Father, You are good and what You do is good (Ps 119:68). You show us right paths and call us to walk in them. You desire good for us and Your word says “The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath. (Pr. 11:23) I pray that (name) would pursue righteousness so that their desires would be good and wholesome and that their heart would long after You. Lord, help (name) to pursue Biblical knowledge that will guide their steps so they won’t be a living example of Proverbs 19:2 “Desire without knowledge is not good - how much more will hasty feet miss the way!” Lord, help them not to have hasty feet, but let them stand at the crossroads and be resolute in their conviction to follow You. Let them have clear, right spiritual discretion so they will be able to spot evil and avoid it. Let them not be deceived by the enemy or led astray by things and people who are ungodly.”
“Lord, God, I pray that You would open (name)’s eyes and show them Your path. Enable them to see the eternal way that leads to life and rest. Give them strength to walk in it. Motivate (name) to consistently ask where the good way is and pursue it with all of their heart, soul, mind, and strength. I pray that (name) would walk with You unwaveringly. Father, protect (name)’s steps. Guard (name)’s heart. Keep (name)’s eyes always seeing clearly with correct spiritual discernment and never, never let them refuse to walk in the way You set before them. Lord, help them to be faithful and eager to follow You. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
H5975 - ʿāmaḏ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h5975/niv/wlc/0-1/
H7200 - rā'â - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h7200/niv/wlc/0-1/
H7592 - šā'al - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h7592/niv/wlc/0-1/
H5956 - ʿālam - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h5956/niv/wlc/0-1/
H1870 - dereḵ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h1870/niv/wlc/0-1/
H3212 - yālaḵ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h3212/niv/wlc/0-1/
How to Pray When Our Sons and Daughters Reach a Crossroads, part 1
“This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look (see); ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.”” Jeremiah 6:16
Crossroads. They’re fraught with uncertainty, difficulty and, sometimes, painful choices. Crossroads challenge us and stretch us. They demand that we evaluate our values, our goals and dreams and decide what is important and what is non-negotiable. Sometimes we don’t realize just how much hangs in the balance…and sometimes we do.
When we imagine someone at a crossroads, whether literally or figuratively, we think of someone who has reached a point of decision (or indecision), direction (or indirection) and they’re living in a ‘pause’ of sorts. We might see them as unsure, confused or even overwhelmed. A decision must be made, a direction chosen, but the individual might appear ‘stuck’, paralyzed, or even rudderless.
As parents, when we see our sons and daughters reaching a crossroads, we might get nervous or heavy-hearted, hoping and praying they make the right decision. But what God says in Jeremiah should make us reevaluate a crossroads. ‘Stand at the crossroads’ doesn’t imply uncertainty or confusion- a stopping and standing because we’re befuddled.
The crossroads is a decision point, a choice of direction and intention, yes. But when God says “stand” at the crossroads, He’s not calling us to simply stop and wait. No, that word “stand” is the Hebrew word “amad” which means “take a stand, present oneself, hold your ground, arise, endure and stand firm.” (1) There is nothing uncertain about it. It is being sure of your convictions and what you will not compromise Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”. Standing is the opposite of wavering.
Here’s the thing, when our sons and daughters reach a crossroads, is not the time to begin praying they stand strong in their convictions. That’s something for which we need to have already been praying. We should daily be asking the Lord to help them be unwavering in their pursuit of Christ so when they do reach a crossroads, there is no question about Who they will follow or what road they will choose.
But just in case we needed more encouragement, the Lord says, “Stand and LOOK”. The word look (also ‘see’) is the word ‘raa’ in Hebrew. It means to perceive, to have vision, to perceive and take heed (2). Let’s get a little “grammarly” here… the word “look” is a verb that, according to Strong’s Concordance, is transitive, intransitive and causative. But what does that even mean and why is it important?
Transitive means the word takes action on something. So when we’re told to “look”, it means to “look and see the way”. God wants us to direct our attention to the ancient ways, what God instructed the generations before to do and follow and to know and understand we should do the same.
Intransitive means there is no object, it’s directly happening. In this case, the believer is looking. You look. You see.
“Causative verbs are used when one person or thing is a stimulus that enables or causes someone or something else to carry out the main action in a sentence.” (3) The causative nature of the word “look” means that we’re being directed by God to do something. He’s calling us and enabling us to look and see- it suggests more than just vision with the eyes, but with the mind and heart.
Isn’t that profound?! One word, three uses! The action itself, the object toward which the action is directed and the cause of the action- who or what has prompted it. Isn’t it amazing that God can use one word to tell us so many things?!
So, friends, when we pray for our sons and daughters as they reach a crossroads, we first must pray that they are confident in their convictions and unwavering in their faith so that they will STAND. Then, we need to pray that they will LOOK- taking action to open their eyes, to see what is before them, that they will look for the ancient paths- the way God wants them to go that they would direct their gaze to the way that leads to life and godliness. Then, that they will look and understand and deeply perceive where God is leading and what steps He wants them to take, not just next steps, but life choices and direction of the heart and mind. Pray for the correct action, the correct object of focus and the correct understanding and discretion.
We’ll follow up on the next aspects of Jeremiah 6:16 later this week, but for now, let’s pray for our sons and daughters that they will Stand and Look in the ways that God desires.
“Father, so often we’re presented with crossroads in our lives, those moments when we’re faced with decisions and directions and it’s difficult and confusing to know what to do and which way to go. I want to pray for (name) right now. Lord, I pray that (name) would stand when they reach a crossroads. Let them be decisive in what they believe and why. Help them to be unwavering in their faith and their convictions. Help them to consider every choice in light of their relationship with You so that they would hold their ground and be firm in their commitment to Scripture and to You. Lord, I pray that (name) would do their best to present themself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15). And while (name) stands at the crossroads, I pray that they would look. Open their eyes to see what it is You would have them do. Help them to look for the way they should go and help them to actively seek your face, Lord. I pray that they would see not only with physical eyes, but with spiritual insight and discretion. Lord, do not allow a crossroads to be a point at which they will diverge from Your will for their life, but they would evaluate the best way, the godly way, the right way and would walk in it. I pray that You would be blessed by their actions and their insight and that their choices would bring You glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing, friends.
H5975 - ʿāmaḏ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h5975/niv/wlc/0-1
H7200 - rā'â - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h7200/niv/wlc/0-1/
Lohman, L. (n.d.). Causative Verbs | Causative Form in English: Overview & Examples. Retrieved from https://study.com/learn/lesson/causative-verbs-form-overview-examples.html
Tune My Heart
Psalm 125:4 “O LORD, do good to those who are good, whose hearts are in tune with you.” (NLT)
Have you ever watched musicians play their instruments? I mean, really watched them? They start by tuning their instruments, individually, and then together. Why? So the sound they produce is in harmony with one another and is a proper representation of the song. The ‘first chair’ will play a note and then all of the other instruments align their sound with that one to ensure they’re all on key- they’re all adjusted to the standard to ensure they produce a correct and pleasant sound.
But sometimes, instruments require more than just one tuning. If you’ve ever watched a band play bluegrass music you know the songs are often fast and the fretwork on the banjo, guitar and fiddle is intricate. The instruments are played with skill, finesse and very, very quickly. The stress can loosen the strings and begin to change the sound the instrument produces. The musician is always listening and attentive to whether the sound and ‘fruit’ of the instrument is correctly representing the notes and harmonizing with the other instruments. It requires a good ear and knowledge of pitch, otherwise the tuning can actually make the sound worse.
Tuning becomes a continuous effort, otherwise the instrument begins to sound ‘off’ and doesn’t harmonize well with the others. It begins to play its own tune, rather than what was written. So, every so often during the performance, the musicians will take a moment to adjust their instrument, tuning it so that it stays on key and produces a beautiful, pleasing sound. An instrument out of tune is a poor representation of what the composer intended and becomes a distraction and an offense to the ears.
This is such a picture of our spiritual walk. Walking with Jesus isn’t a ‘one and done’ moment. It needs to be a daily checking of our heart and mind to ensure we’re in tune with HIm and His Word- aligning our heart to what He asks of us and ensuring that our thoughts and desires are reflecting His truth and submitted to His will, not our own. We need to tune our hearts to the standard God sets for us. If we think we’re ‘in tune’ with the Lord, yet we don’t spend time with Him, we fall out of tune and we become tone deaf and unpleasant to listen to. We don’t hear ourselves and how ‘off’ we’ve become because we’re not listening to the Savior. We’re setting our own standard of “right” and “good” and that’s never right or good.
We need to submit to the work of the Holy Spirit in us, follow good teaching and be intentional to ensure that we are attentive to God’s Word- learning, committing it to memory and living it out. As Paul said in 2 Timothy 1:13-14, “What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” Just as the musician guards his instrument, continually ensuring that it’s in tune and working as it should, we need to guard our hearts so that we’re correctly representing Him and aligning our hearts with His instruction in Scripture. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters are not ‘tone deaf’ but that they are constantly listening to the Lord and checking their walk to ensure they’re in tune with Him. There is so much ‘noise’ in our world, noise that drowns out the good that we should hear and that can distract us from recognizing we’re out of tune with the Lord. We can begin singing out of tune and not even recognize it…and if we’re surrounded by others who are out of tune as well, we lose our pitch and our ability to correct and adjust ourselves. We must always, always look to the Savior. He is the only One to whom we should align our lives to ensure we’re walking in tune with Him.
“Father, You put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him. (Psalm 40:3) But, Father, if I’m out of tune with You, my song will be off-putting to others and won’t represent You well. How can I pray for my son or daughter to be in tune with You if I am not? I pray that You would daily help me tune my heart to You. I pray that my life would reflect Psalm 28:7 “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” And I pray for (name) today, help them to see that I long to follow after You with all my heart and that I trust You, no matter what. I pray that the testimony of my life and the song of my heart speak to them with more than just words, but that the life I live would reflect my total surrender to You. Encourage them, inspire them, move in their heart today so that they recognize their heart condition and they ‘hear’ any place that they are off key and out of tune with You. I pray that they would submit to You, Lord, and would allow You to work in them, correct the areas that need to be brought back into Your Lordship and that they would begin to sing a new song, a song of praise to You that would point others to the saving grace of the gospel. Lord, I ask that You- the Master musician- would skillfully take their life, their heart, their mind and their all and would use it to bring glory to Your name. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.”
Praying without ceasing
A willingness to pray “God, do what You must.”
If you’re a parent, you’re a ‘fixer’. It’s what we do. Whatever the situation, we’re always at-the-ready to find a solution, make it better, fix what is broken or soothe what is hurt. We hate to see our kids in pain or dealing with hardship. Our hearts hurt to know that they grieve or struggle. When we see it, we jump to try and fix it.
Yet, sometimes we can’t fix it. It’s not that we don’t want to, it’s that we’re unable to. That’s a hard place to be, isn’t it? When our son or daughter is going through a hard time, it’s difficult to watch and we want, more than anything, to make it better. But sometimes it’s beyond our ability. And if our son or daughter is running from God, we can’t change their heart or bring repentance. That’s something only God can do. No matter how much we desire it, we cannot ‘will’ them to change.
We become like the little child, bringing the much-loved broken toy to our Father saying ‘fix it’, ‘heal it’, ‘make it better’. But sometimes the situation and damage requires intervention that is difficult to watch and painful to endure. We don’t want our son or daughter going through pain- we’ve spent our lives working to spare them from it! We don’t want to see things get worse- our entire prayer directive has been that it would be made better.
It’s akin to someone needing a heart transplant. The hope for life and health lie in getting a new heart. But it’s not that easy. First, a new heart must come from a donor, someone who lost their life and was willing to donate their organ to be a life-saving opportunity for someone who is dying. Then, the patient must be willing to undergo extensive transplant surgery. They’re surgically opened up and their old heart is removed and the new one is put in place. It is radical, painful, and dangerous. But the hope for life overrides the fear of pain and the anxiety about the procedure. And the hope for life requires that the patient undergoes the painful process.
Friends, the prodigal has the same need. They need a new heart. Their current heart is damaged and diseased. Their situation will surely lead to death, perhaps not a physical death, but a spiritual death looms.. The enemy laughs and takes delight in the slow demise and the sure destination that a prodigal life assures. The process required to remedy this direction and destination means the prodigal has to die to themselves and be willing to allow the Lord to give them a new heart to remedy the damage that’s been done. It’s a painful process. It’s difficult to watch and we know what needs to happen. But it’s excruciating to see our son or daughter go through difficulty, pain, and suffering. But when we’ve done all we can and there is still no change, we need to step back and allow God to work.
Friends, are we willing to pray, “God, do what You must”?
Are we willing to pray, “God, do what you must”? That’s a hard prayer. It’s an anguished prayer. It’s a prayer of surrender, acknowledging that the rescue is beyond our ability to achieve. This prayer requires that we not interfere with what God chooses to do. We have to squelch the urge to rush in and rescue, to mitigate the painful consequences, to redeem the bad choices, to make it better, because really, we won’t make it better, we’ll only prolong the process. When we truly turn our son or daughter over to God to work as He wills, it is the ultimate act of trust. It’s trusting Him that He can parent them better than we can. It’s trusting that our God loves them more than we do. It’s trusting that His ways are higher than our ways and that He is the only One who can effect change and redeem the wayward heart. It requires full surrender on our part to achieve surrender in their heart.
It requires full surrender on our part to achieve surrender in their heart.
“God, do what you must, and help me to trust You.” It’s a prayer of surrender. Here’s another question…if we’re not willing to pray that prayer, are we fully surrendered to the Lord? Do we love Him more than we love our son or daughter? Do we trust Him enough? It requires some introspection into our own hearts and attitudes. It’s a peeling away of those things we’ve trusted other than the Lord. It’s a purifying of our own faith. We must be willing. But we can be honest with God, too, and tell Him how it scares us, because that prayer does bring fear of what may come. But, brothers and sisters, He is Lord of what may come. We need to rest in His goodness.
“God, do what you must, and help me to trust You.” Continue praying that prayer. Every moment, every day. Breathe it out. Remind yourself that God is Sovereign and He can do whatever He wills. He WILL do whatever He wills. We can either accept and support it, or fight it and be miserable. We must trust the Great Physician. He is able to give the prodigal a new heart and a surrendered spirit. Ezekiel 11:19 “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.”
“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish. Matthew 18:12-14
Today, write out a prayer of surrender and trust to the God who is able to do more than we could ask or imagine. He spoke all of creation into existence. He subdues nations. He rules over every power and principality. He can turn a heart of stone into a heart of flesh, tender and surrendered to the Lord. Trust Him. Ask HIm to work mightily and to show you that He is working and moving. Remember, His timeline doesn’t mirror our own, but He is Lord of the clock, Lord of the calendar and Lord of the one He created… He loves the prodigal and longs to see them return. Trust Him.
God is not done working!
Pray without ceasing, friends.
Psalm 145: 17-21
17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.
Lord, You are righteous, yet You love us, sinners condemned by our sin. It’s an example for us, who follow You, that we too can love others even if they don’t know You or follow You. They are image bearers and as such, we need to love them- how will they know? How can they see the love of God if we’re not willing to live it out in front of them?. Help us, Lord. Help us to love those who are ‘different’ than we, who do and say things we don’t like or approve of. Help us to know that by loving them, we’re not condoning what they do. By loving us, Lord, You are not condoning our sin, but You love us in spite of our sin. Your kindness leads us to repentance. Father, I pray that (name) would learn how to be loving to others and by loving them, show the power of God and the change it can bring in a heart and life.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
Father, You affirm that You are near to all who call on You, convinced without a doubt, that You will hear and answer. They trust and know that You are not indifferent or disconnected. You are faithfully present and supporting us even before we ask. I pray that (name) would believe without waffling or wavering that You are faithful and True and when (name) calls on You, You will answer and be near. I pray that (name) would understand Your trustworthiness and see Your faithful steadfast Presence in each day and night, in each joyful moment and dark season. Lord, You ARE near to all who call on You in truth. Thank You.
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
Just as we heard the cries of our children an ran to help them, You hear our cries. You save us, Lord, even when it seems like there is no way out, You make a way. “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.” (Ps 107:6-7) Lord, I pray that (name)’s heart desire would be refuge in the shadow of Your wings and a place in Your house that is their own, a belonging, a provision and a dwelling in Your Presence. Lord, lead them to a city of refuge because they fear You. Let (name) cry out to You today Lord. Direct their eyes, their heart and their plea to Your throne room where You hear and answer abundantly. Fulfill (name)’s desires in a way that brings glory and honor to Your name and that draws them nearer to You. Hear their cry and save them, Abba Father.
20 The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
Thank you, Lord, for Your watchful care. As a parent, our eyes were always watching for danger and seeking to protect them. But now that (name) is an adult, I can’t do that any more. I have to trust…I have to trust You that You will watch over and protect (name) so much better than I ever could. I pray that (name) would love You. Stir a deep desire in (name)’s heart and mind to run after You with all they have and are. Help them to see this world is temporary and the titles and promotions, the gadgets and trappings will all rot. But their heart…oh their heart is the most valuable thing they have and they need to ensure that it’s properly and rightfully invested. Please, Lord, let them invest themselves in Your kingdom. Let them surrender all they are and have to You. Don’t let them be counted among the wicked. Oh how we love them, but Lord, we know, unless they surrender to You and are counted as Your child, Your saint, Your beloved, unless that is their identity, they are among the wicked. Lord, it hurts our hearts to think that. Show us fruit, Lord! Watch over (name) and guide their steps so they remain faithful to You. If (name) doesn’t know You as their Lord and Savior, I pray that even today You would bring another believer into their life who would speak truth and share the life-giving hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Lord, I pray that (name) would confess with their mouth and believe in their heart that Jesus is Lord (Rom. 10:9). Lord, watch over (name) today and do a work in their life. I believe. I know You can and will. Bring fruit, Lord.
21 My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.
Oh, how I love You Lord! My mouth is filled with Your praise. My heart is overwhelmed by Your goodness and I want to share that joyful praise with others. I want to know that (name) is filled with joyful praise for You. May it overflow and cause them to wonder and be amazed at how praising You brings contentment, fulfillment and joy. Lord, to know that every creature will praise Your holy name is humbling. Today give me moments to sit outside or gaze out the window at Your creation and ponder what the praise of creation for You might look like When the trees sway in the breeze, are they praising You? When the birds sing, are they proclaiming Your greatness? We can’t know, but Lord, Your Word tells us that if we don’t praise You, even the very rocks would cry out in praise of You. (Luke 19:40). Creation knows its Creator. Help us to know You more and more and to live in a way that reflects that knowledge to others.. May the generations of my family praise You and carry on a commitment to follow after You for all their days, no matter what may come. May our lives exhibit praise for Your holy name, always and through eternity. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Pray without ceasing
Psalm 145:13-16
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.
Abba Father, how encouraging it is to know and be confident that the God we love and follow is eternal?! Lord, there is nothing that can shake your Kingdom- that is so reassuring. When our world seems to unravel around us, we can know without a doubt that Your Kingdom is secure and because of that, our future is secure. I pray that You would encourage (name) today with that truth. Give them confidence to know that nothing will ever push You from the Throne. No King will ever topple Your kingdom and no authority will ever exceed Your power and dominion. You are faithful to all of Your promises- we can be sure You will bring each one to pass.. Remind us of that today, Lord. Remind us of Your love. I pray that (name) would rest secure in Who You are and in how You love them.
14 The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
Thank You, Father, that you are strong enough to hold us when we falter and fall. You won’t let us go. You see our struggle and our weakness. You see when we stumble and when we fall. You are there beside us when life is too hard and You reach down and lift us up. We can’t do it ourselves and that’s why You are God and we are not. I pray that (name) would see Your strength, protection and Your closeness today. Let there be no shadow of turning. Lord, grab their attention and help them to see that You ARE there and You know all that they face, even if they hold it close to their heart without telling anyone. Lord, You see the darkness and the struggle and depression. You see the sin, the pride, the addiction. And You are strong enough to battle it all and lift us up, clean us off and set us back on our feet. (Name) needs to believe it, Lord. Work in their heart today. Let them know YOU are the rescue they need and the only One who is strong enough to win the battle, overcome the obstacle and lift the burden. Work in (name)’s heart today. Uphold them. Lift them. Love them, Lord.
15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.
I pray that (name) would look to You and no other. Help them to see that You, and only You, are the provider of peace, the remedy to the sick heart and broken mind, the lifter of the fallen and the healer of the broken. Remind them that Your timing is perfect. You are never early and never too late. Your clock runs differently than ours and although we’re impatient and have a sense of urgency, Your perfect will always is best. Help us to submit to that. Help us to wait, Lord. Psalm 27:14 tells us to “wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” So, instead of growing more impatient and losing our focus and our temper, help us to be strong and take heart while we wait for Your proper time. You will not fail us, Lord!
16 You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
Psalm 37:4 tells us that if we delight ourselves in the Lord, that You will give us the desires of our heart. If we delight ourselves in You, our desire will be to know You more, to obey You, to be like Jesus and honor You with our lives. I pray that today that (name) would delight themselves in You and that You would open Your hand and satisfy those desires. Grow (name) into a man/woman after Your own heart. May their desires please You and when You open Your hand, spiritual blessings pour out on (name) and fill them to overflowing. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.
Pray without ceasing
Psalm 145:8-12
8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
Oh, Lord. We are grateful for Your grace- it is so much more than we deserve. Your compassion is overwhelming to us, sinful as we are. You hear the cry of the afflicted, the cry of Your image-bearers and You answer with perfectly designed responses for each one. No cry goes unheard. No cry goes unanswered. Thank You that You hear us and that You care. When You reach down and pull us out of the pit, Your grace and compassion are at work. You set our feet on a rock, with our heads high above our enemies. Even when we were still in our sin, You loved us and ransomed us. Thank You for your plentiful, steadfast love. And thank You that Your anger is slow to kindle- I know we press in and test the boundaries far too often and we ought to receive Your wrath, but instead you show us your steadfast, plentiful love in the form of grace and compassion. You can’t contradict Yourself. Lord, help us to live worthy of You. We are blessed by You in so many ways. Today, help (name) to see your grace and compassion and realize that it is present and plentiful for them. No sin is too great for You to forgive. No distance is too for for You to find them and help them return to You. Lord, show (name) Your rich love today.
9 The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all he has made.
Lord, when I look at this world and the ways people rail against You and defy You, I know we deserve nothing more than Your wrath. But You are good to all, even to those who spit at Your name. You are Good! You nourish the earth with rain and sun. You bring forth fruit and grain for us to enjoy. You provide fellowship and protection. And when it comes to Your children, You nurture and care for us so that we can serve You well. Your compassion is akin to tender mercies- that of a parent cherishing, protecting and loving a growing child. Even when we rebel, You love us. Lord, I pray that You would help (name) to know Your love today. May they reject the lies of this world and follow after You. May they pursue You with their whole heart, overwhelmed by Your goodness and grace, convicted to live a life worthy of the love and mercy You so freely give. Don’t let them go, Lord. Chase after them with your goodness and mercy until they turn and follow you willingly and with joy.
10 All you have made will praise you, O Lord; your saints will extol you.
Heavenly Father, one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess, yet even in that moment, not every heart will be surrendered to You. I pray that (name) would be fully surrendered, living a life of obedience to You. I pray that (name) would praise You with their whole heart. Lord, help them sing with abandon, raising their hands to heaven in powerful praise of who You are and all that You do. Let their hearts be full and overflowing with joy. Lord, I pray that (name) would be counted among your saints, a child of the Most High God, counted worthy to escape everything coming in this world and worthy to stand in glory with You, blessing Your name for all eternity. Give them a head-start in that praise and blessing today and give (name) a glimpse of heaven so they are overwhelmed with the magnificence of what is to come- the promise of eternity with You. Never let Your name leave (name)’s heart and mind. May it always be on their lips, ready to share with those who need to know You.
11 They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might,
The glory of Your kingdom is more than we can explain with words, but I ask that You would give us words that would help bring understanding to those who need to know You; those who need to understand that Your Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and they can be a part of it!. Compel us to speak of Your power and might. We want to stand in awe of You, Lord, and in so doing, leave others in awe of You as well. I pray, Lord, that (name) would represent You well. Let the legacy of our family bring glory to Your name. Let our place in Your kingdom be a blessing to You and a testimony to others. Lord, wreck us with Your glory and goodness so that we have no choice but to praise and extol Your Name to all that we meet. Help each of us to put ourselves aside for the sake of Your plan and purpose. May our lives radiate the glory of the Lord because we are continually seeking to follow after You with abandon. Lord, help (name) to understand the importance of being sold out for Christ.
12 so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Burden us, Lord, for those who don’t know You. Help us to grieve for those who live in bondage and darkness. Change our plans, get our attention, and use us to bring the gospel to those who need to know Jesus. Give us words to share the wonder of Your mighty acts with those who don’t know. Remind us of your grace, compassion and Your rich love that offers forgiveness and redemption so we can share that hope with others. Give us insight to explain just how glorious Your kingdom is and that You desire that we all have a room in Your house, so that where You are, we can be there too. I pray that (name) would be homesick for You, Lord, and would take every chance to share the way Home with others who need Your hope and salvation. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.
Pray without ceasing
Psalm 145:5-7
Let’s continue to pray through Psalm 145
5 They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
Give my sons and daughters a glimpse into the glory of Your Kingdom, Lord. Show them that this temporal life is just a shadow, a mist, a quickly passing moment. Help them to see and understand that all that You have waiting for us is beyond comprehension. The glorious splendor of Your majesty should stun and overwhelm us so that we are stopped short and without words, leading us to meditate on your wonderful works. May it be so, Lord. May (name) pause today, overwhelmed by Your greatness and be moved to awe-filled wonder and meditation on all You’ve done through the ages and in their own life. Help (name) to meditate on Your word, filling their heart and mind with truth that will guide and guard them.
6 They will tell of the power of your awesome works,
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
Lord, let (name) speak freely about Your greatness, Your salvation and Your deep love for each individual. Move them to tell others about their relationship with You. Fill their mouth with praise for You so that others will see and hear and be drawn to follow You, Lord. Let (name)’s life be a witness to the life-changing power of God and the joy and hope that You bring. May (name) continuously share how marvelous You are and recount all the wonderful things You’ve done for them. Don’t let them forget, Lord, and don’t allow them to be silent.
7 They will celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
Celebrate! It’s what we are called do as believers! There is so much to be grateful for, Lord, yet too often we get distracted and discouraged by the darkness around us. Help us to see and have perspective that You are good and what You do is good and that there is so much more provided for us than we realize. There is so much more waiting for us than this fallen, broken world could ever offer. Open our eyes to witness Your hand at work every moment of the day, from a safe drive to work to the ability to get groceries or have a warm blanket. Lord, Your provision and protection are abundant. The joy of being able to worship You freely and openly should move us to live and celebrate You joyfully and out loud! Help (name) to celebrate Your abundant goodness…ABUNDANT goodness. Help them to see that they are blessed and favored. Put a song in (name)’s mouth and let their heart sing along today. I pray this all in Jesus’ precious name, amen.
Praying Psalm 145:1-4
This week we are going to pray through Psalm 145, verse by verse. No devotional. No extra thoughts. Just praying God’s word and watching it work powerfully in and through us.
Each day we’ll take a portion and pray it back to the Lord on behalf of our sons and daughters.
Journal what you see and learn this week as you pray. It will become a testimony for later days and future generations.
Psalm 145
1 I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
Lord, I ask today that You would enable my sons and daughters to exalt You. Fill them with wonder at the thought of You. Let their words and actions lift you high. May their life bring glory to Your name. I pray that they would deeply desire to live a life that honors You. Give them strength to praise You forever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.
Father, I pray that every day (name) would praise you. Let praise fill their heart and spill out of their lips. Let praise of You be a habit they will not abandon, because Your word says you inhabit the praise of your people. May (name) bless You every morning as they see You work, and Lord, let them see you work, clearly and powerfully so they will never cease their praise and wonder of You.
3 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
You are worthy, Lord, of all our praise. I pray that (name) would be amazed and in awe of Who You are and what You do. Lord, never allow us to be satisfied with our knowledge and understanding of You, because that would mean we’ve stopped seeking more of You. You are so much greater than we can imagine and understand. Just as it is impossible to fathom the depths of the deepest seas, so Lord, it is even more impossible to fathom all of You- the immortal, invisible, almighty God.
4 One generation will commend your works to another;
they will tell of your mighty acts.
Oh, Lord, how I pray that my sons and daughters would commend your works to the next generation and that the legacy of believers would continue in our family. Let (name) tell of your mighty acts- all the wonderful ways You’ve provided, protected and led our family through danger, hardship and grief. Let (name) boldly share the blessings You’ve given. May the joy that You pour into to those who love You be evident in (name)’s life. Let my children, my grandchildren and their children after them know Jesus, love Him and commit their lives to Him. May our family be mighty in our faith and humble in our following and may You bless us with generations who will follow after You faithfully, in Jesus’ name, amen.
(Maybe you have a family heritage of believers, or maybe you are the start of that heritage- either way, pray that the Lord continues the testimony of His saving grace through your family. What a beautiful legacy to pass on!)
Tomorrow we’ll pray through verses 5-7
When Things Don’t Go As Planned
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. Proverbs 19:21
Sometimes the outcome is not about the immediate satisfaction and completion of our plans, but more about the eternal impact that God will allow a story, a situation, and a change of plans to have on others.
When I was growing up, my family had friends who served as missionaries in Brazil. They were in a remote area and much of their ministry depended on a plane fitted with pontoons to allow for river landings. There were no airstrips in the jungle. (That’s likely still very true today.)
Every four years, this family returned to the United States for furlough. They would stay locally and then visit their supporting churches and update everyone on their ministry. It was a busy time for them, but for us, it was a time to catch up on friendships and enjoy one another’s company. The kids especially enjoyed playing together and renewing those friendships.
When I was in 6th grade, the family was home on furlough and there was much excitement as they were getting a new plane for their ministry. Dave, their father, asked my dad if he would like to go along with him to the west coast to pick up the new plane. My dad loved flying and had experience, having been in the Air Force. He was a great guy to have along- not only for good company, but he was good in a crisis. Dad eagerly agreed and the excitement began to build. The men would fly out to the West Coast to get the plane and then they would make their way back across the US. Their route was carefully planned and we had the list of airports where they would takeoff and land as they traveled. The trip would be complete when they landed in Philadelphia. Then, when the family’s furlough ended, they would take the plane back to Brazil where they served. There was much excitement about it all!
I remember watching my dad pack for the trip. He borrowed my suitcase and I was so proud that my dad wanted to use my suitcase. But along with the expected clothes and personal things he needed, he packed a special box. I was intrigued as I saw him put in flares, a knife, a first aid kit and other things that were very unusual for a trip. Curious, I asked him, “why?”. He explained that they were flying over some remote areas, like Brice Canyon, and if they had an emergency and the plane went down, they needed to be prepared for survival.
As an adult, this might have sparked worry and concern. Questions could have poured out about “what-if’s and why’s” But I trusted my dad completely. He was smart. He was kind. He never gave me reason to doubt his actions or his love for me. I happily went on my way and when the day came to say goodbye, we all saw the men off at the airport and then eagerly awaited updates as they made their way back.
They would take turns calling home. One night Dave would call his family, the next would be my Dad calling us. Each family would share updates and progress of the trip with one another.
But just a couple of days into the trip, we got a call that was confusing and unexpected. “We lost the plane.” “You lost the plane?” we asked. “How do you lose a plane?” “Where did it go?” We were so confused. There was no ‘facetime’ or skype. There were no mobile phones. Landlines and descriptive words limited the story and in order to not worry us too much, words were few. The story would unfold over the coming days.
We received another call that gave more information. “We went down.” “Wait, what?! You went down? But you’re okay, right?” Phone calls and messages flew back and forth and, in their own way, each man shared the story of what happened until the details started to become clear to those of us who were waiting and wondering.
Upon takeoff in New Mexico, things took a turn. The plane began climbing and then, encountered a wind sheer. They lost altitude and quickly went down. The plane hit the ground, flipped over and slid through a fence.
The workers at the small airport saw what happened and rushed to help, but they were afraid of what they would find in the mangled mess of wreckage. They knew it was unlikely to have a positive outcome. It was bad.
But when the airport employees got to the plane, both men were out of the plane, standing upright and surveying the damage. There was not a scratch on them! The only damage to person and property was a chipped tooth and a broken suitcase handle (yep, THAT suitcase). The plane was a total loss, but the lives of the men were perfectly preserved. It wasn’t until we saw pictures that we truly understood the magnitude of what our fathers survived.
God was so gracious. Things could have ended so differently, yet it was not in His plan to allow it. A few days later, we all trekked back to the Philadelphia airport to pick up the men who, just a few days before, left with much excitement and joy anticipating the adventure ahead. It was a full circle moment and yet, in the course of those few days, so much had happened we still couldn’t grasp it all. God was always in control. Even when it seemed things were spinning out of control, every second, every movement and every action was perfectly in His hand and meted out according to God’s sovereignty.
There were so many things we wondered, but foremost, why would God allow that brand new plane to crash? Why would He allow an investment for the ministry to be destroyed? Why didn’t He prevent this tragedy? The greater question was, and still is, what impact did this have on others and how would God use this?
God allowed the disaster to happen where others could witness the miracle. Those airport workers saw God perform a mighty act right in front of them and our dads were sure to tell them why they walked out of that plane. It was nothing less than God’s mighty hand of protection and His plan for their life that ensured they would walk away from that accident. Their testimony was strong.
God affirmed to our families that He is in control. We can plan all we want, but God determines the outcome. This time God made it clear that His plan looked differently than ours.
God showed his abundant mercy. He provided powerful protection in a situation that, by all accounts, should have left two families without their husbands and fathers. That wasn’t lost on us. We knew God’s plan and power defied human wisdom and understanding.
We understood that ‘fate’ shouldn’t be a word in the believer’s vocabulary. Psalm 139:16 “...all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” God ordains our days. He determines each one. We will only step into eternity and His presence when He decides our time here is done. Until then, we should live to serve Him and not fear the ‘what if’s’. When we invest our thoughts and emotions in worrying about the ‘what-if’s’, we delve into ‘fortune telling’ and exhibit a lack of trust for God and His sovereignty. Our God is bigger than our fears, our imagination and our insecurities. We can rest in that. We must.
Trusting God took on new meaning to each of us. It became a mighty object lesson that we could each recall and every time, it would bring a flood of assurance and comfort that God truly is in control and nothing happens that He does not allow. His ways are perfect; we can trust Him.
No, things did not go as planned. But there were two men, two wives and seven children who saw the power of God work mightily. There were several airport workers who witnessed a miraculous survival. The decades of testimony from each family member to others of God’s goodness and mercy continues. It’s evident that the plan was not to get a new plane to Brazil, but to share the testimony of God’s mighty protection and power.
I kept that suitcase for many years- the handle wired back into place. Each time I looked at it, memories of that event would surface along with reassurance that I could trust my Heavenly Father. He is smart. He is kind and He’s never given me reason to doubt his actions or his love for me. I can make my plans, but trust that if God opts to change them, it’s for good reason. I can rest in His sovereignty.
Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters are willing to trust God with their plans. Pray that when things don’t go as expected, that they continue to trust that God is Sovereign and His purposes are beyond our understanding. Pray that even when things come crashing down, they will believe, with conviction, that He works ALL things for good; they can trust Him completely. He is faithful. He is kind. He will never give us reason to doubt His actions or his love for us.
“Heavenly Father, I pray that (name) would always be willing to allow You to work in their life. Help them to be flexible enough to set aside their good plan for Your better plan, even if it seems to undo or be opposite of what they desired. I pray (name) never to be insistent and demanding to have their own way, fighting against You or competing with You. Help them to always hold the things of this world loosely so they would not be derailed when things don’t go their way. Give them insight and discernment to see that You are always working and help them to practice humility, to step aside and allow you to work. Lord, when devastating things come, and I know they will, give them courage to trust You and peace to know that You will work all things for good. But help them to understand that ‘all things for good’ is an eternal reference (Rom. 8:28) and that in this world, we will have trouble, but You have overcome this world (Jn 16:33).”
“I pray that (name) would understand that Your goodness and love is not gauged by how trouble-free their life is. Increase (name)’s faith. Help them to continue to grow stronger through each circumstance and hardship they encounter; and let them see You work and move- open their eyes, Lord. And if they can’t see you working, help them to trust and be confident that You are. Let them fix their eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Cor 4:18). Help them to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor 5:7). Lord, strengthen (name)’s conviction to follow after You with their whole heart. Don’t let them waver or stumble. Help them to continuously and joyfully surrender to You so that their life is a reflection of Jesus to others. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Under the Influence
“Influencer”. It’s the new-ish word to describe someone whose life, choices, actions, and preferences are followed by thousands, perhaps even millions of people. They really don’t ‘do’ much, but they’ve gathered a following of people who seem to hang on their every word, imitate their fashion and deem the products they pitch as the ‘best’. They garner a following on social media and their income is dependent on the numbers who follow and purchase the corresponding products. Interestingly, it has little to do with character and much to do with social appeal and surface appearances.
When you step back, it’s actually a bit disturbing. These people wield so much power and influence, yet they don’t really do much other than share their daily thoughts and purchase suggestions. They have little interest in their followers other than that they keep following.
So, who is influencing our sons and daughters? To whom do they look for guidance, for recommendations on how to live and how to present themselves?
In Scripture, we see the influencers sitting at the city gate. They were the ones who knew the Word and who had wisdom and authority to speak into situations and settle disputes. They were the elders and business people who proved themselves trustworthy and wise.
You see, the influences of the Bible were those who were motivated by respect for and fear of God. Their intent was to live with integrity and please Him. Their goal was to serve Him well. There was nothing selfish about it. Their goal wasn’t gaining followers, but following Him. Job 31:21-23 says “if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, knowing that I had influence (ezra) in court (or the gates), then let my arm fall from the shoulder, let it be broken off at the joint. For I dreaded destruction from God, and for fear of his splendor I could not do such things.”
The Hebrew word ‘ezra’ means to help. And to whom are these influencers in Scripture looking for help? They look to the Lord and His strength. That’s what gave their words, actions and decisions substance. But who do today’s influencers look to? They look to themselves and to others who can help promote them.
Here’s the thing, if ever a follower of today’s influencers would put out a cry for help, it’s unlikely the influencer would hear. Even if they were aware, it’s unlikely they would attempt to make a difference. That’s not what they do. It’s not why they ‘influence’. They are in it not out of concern for their followers but only for themselves. But when we follow the Lord, He is keenly aware of our needs and hears our cry for help. The Lord is our ‘ezra’, our help in times of trouble. When we look to the world, we are left wanting. When we look to the Lord, we are wanted, chosen, loved, and protected.
Isaiah 50:9 “It is the Sovereign LORD who helps me. Who will condemn me? They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up.”
It’s true that today’s influencers will wear out like a garment. Whatever is today’s ‘hot item’ can become tomorrow’s ‘old news’. This world and its preferences are fickle and ever-changing. But the Lord never changes. He won’t wear out and He won’t lose His power. He is the influencer we should all follow faithfully. Today, let’s pray these scriptures over our sons and daughters, putting their names in and speaking out loud the truth and power of God’s Word.
Psalm 28:7 “The LORD is (name’s) strength and shield; (name’s) heart trusts in Him, and He helps (name). (Name’s) heart leaps for joy, and with (his/her) song (they) praise Him.”
Psalm 54:4 “Surely God is (name’s) help; the Lord is the one who sustains (name).”
Psalm 199:173 “May your hand be ready to help (name), for (name) has chosen your precepts.”
“Father, I pray that You would be the influence that (name) follows diligently. Bring others around them who would speak Biblical Truth into their lives. Do not let them be distracted by the voices and influencers of this world who, by their flashy words and seemingly popular status want to make others think that life and happiness come from ‘things’, ‘status’, and ‘popularity’. Help (name) to see beyond the shallow, temporal veil that covers the emptiness of this world and the attractions it peddles. I pray, Father, that (name) would look to You for their help and their rescue. Let (name) know that You are their strength and shield, their sustainer and protector. I pray that You would deepen their commitment and resolve to only be deeply influenced by You and Your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Isaiah 41:13 “For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”
Pray without ceasing.
Grace and Peace
“Grace and peace to you from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
(1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2; Philippians 1:2; Colossians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:2; 1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4; Philemon 1:3)
Grace and peace. Charis and eirene. Two Greek words that have a lot of impact in the New Testament. Two words that, at face value, seem pretty simple and easily understood. Yet, we’re going to see when we really dig into them, there is significant spiritual depth to each and, when spoken together, they become a powerful blessing that we’ll want to pray over our sons and daughters daily.
The greeting and prayer of grace and peace were so important that the Apostle Paul began most of his letters with this blessing (note all of the references above!) What is it that Paul wanted to draw his readers’ attention to before anything else? What is it he wanted them to understand?
First the word grace, or “Charis” in the Greek, is a word that both ‘is’ and ‘does’. It has ‘presence’ and ‘performance’ It represents more than what a five letter word might imply. The word ‘grace’ means “that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech” 1
Think about that for a moment. The presence of grace in our life is what affords us joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm and loveliness. Without grace we would be fairly miserable, no? Friends, if we just stopped here and prayed this over our sons and daughters we would have a powerful day of prayer. But there’s more!
Grace performs powerfully in us because it is what God employs to draw us to salvation and to transform our life to become like Jesus. Grace is “the merciful kindness by which God, exerting His holy influence upon souls, grace turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of Christian virtues.” 1
Grace. It’s a lot to unpack, isn’t it? So much richness right there and surely something we should ponder daily. Now it makes a bit more sense as to why Paul would begin each letter with blessings of Grace and Peace to all of the believers. But grace always comes first. Why? Because without God’s grace, one can never know and understand God’s peace.
And what is peace? The Greek word is ‘eirene’ and it means “the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot.” 2
Another ‘wow’ moment, eh? When we’ve experienced God’s powerful grace in salvation and edification, why would we fear? What is there to fear? God has sovereignty over it all and we are His child! We can rest secure, knowing that we have eternal security in Christ, we have a promised inheritance and the gift of the Holy Spirit to speak into our lives, guide our steps and guard our hearts. Sin will have no power over us and death is swallowed in victory. We are chosen and dearly loved, kept by the Father.
Grace and peace. More than just two words. More than 10 simple letters. Grace and peace are powerful messages of salvation, hope and assurance. Today, let’s pray boldly that our sons and daughters would know God’s grace and peace in abundant ways.
“Father, may Your great grace bring a convicting recognition of the magnitude of our sin and of the even greater power of Your mercy toward us. May it drive us to deep repentance and a full restoration of fellowship with You, Lord, and with others. May Your grace be ever before us, reminding us of Your rich forgiveness and of Your calling on our lives (Eph. 1:4-6) May Your ever-present grace fill us and assure us that we are Your own, bought with a price and redeemed for a purpose, planned long before You ever breathed life into us (Eph 2:10). Let your grace in our lives be evident to others and draw them, too, to so great a salvation (2 Cor. 4:15, Eph. 1:7).”
“Lord, as we rest in and are consumed by Your grace, fill us with Your peace- an assured confidence that our life and eternity are hidden and secure in Jesus (Col. 3:3). You are my salvation and stronghold- I have nothing to fear (Ps. 27:1) Help me to always present my requests to You, thankful that I can call upon You for anything, and assured that the peace You give is abundant and perfectly measured and able to surpass anything in this world or in any realm beyond.”
“Father, without Your grace, we would not know Your peace. I pray that (name) would know and embrace both Your grace and peace. Help (name) to walk faithfully because they are sanctified and called to be holy (1 Cor. 1:2). Keep (name) strong to the end so they will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:8). In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”
Take some time this week to meditate on the truths of grace and peace. Don’t just make it a short visit, but plan an extended stay. Pray on the richness of these words and all they represent for the believer and the hope we have. Make this week a week of prayer for grace and peace in the lives of those you love.
Pray without ceasing.
G5485 - charis - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5485/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G1515 - eirēnē - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1515/niv/mgnt/0-1/
Testing the Narrative
Philippians 1:20-21 “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
As we watch events unfold globally, it’s both interesting and disturbing to see how often one side will choose to spin information in an effort to deceive and gain sympathy from those who will listen and believe the lies. The deception is often an effort to undermine the ‘underdog’ - those who are weaker and whose cause is often in the right, those who are defending their country and people. But the aggressor creates a narrative about the conflict in an effort to gain (or keep) the upper hand, to sway or intimidate others into support….or silence. Despite the fact that pictures and first-hand accounts of the victims are clear evidence against them, the aggressor continues to spin the story. They go as far as to celebrate their criminal actions and unjust ‘victories’.
Unfortunately, there are always some who believe the lies. Those supporters are convinced their leader is right and justified. They choose to listen to the narrative and they don’t look with discretion and critical thinking at the bigger picture that gives evidence of unjustified aggression, intentional deception, and a warped agenda. For those who stand apart, it’s easier to see the deep deception, but for those who are entrenched and surrounded, it’s blurry and difficult to discern.
Friends, this could be describing current events…but it can also describe spiritual warfare. Isn’t it interesting that both have similar qualities? Could it be that what we’re seeing play out in the news has a deeper, more sinister source and agenda? It seems so.
We live in a time when prophecy is unfolding. Current events are beginning to mirror scripture. It’s thrilling and terrifying all at the same time. What is it that God calls us to do? What is our role? Friends, we need to take an eternal view. We need to see the scope and nature of what is happening and understand that God is weaving His story and we are a part of it all. He doesn’t call us to build a bunker, hoard food and prepare for nuclear Armageddon. We already know Who wins and we need to rest secure in that knowledge! We need to step up and put our fear aside. We need to look, with clear eyes, at what our role needs to be. God is calling us to be salt and light to a world in desperate need of a Savior. We have work to do! Too many believe the deceptive narrative of the enemy. Satan is deceiving image-bearers and drawing them toward eternal death. It’s his agenda and his goal and he’s busy about his business.
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
1 Peter 5:8
As parents, we see what is happening and it’s not difficult to begin to fear the possibilities. We want, more than anything, to protect our sons and daughters from harm. We want to see them prosper and grow. We want to ensure their safety. We don’t want to imagine the ‘what ifs’, but as we watch and see what’s happening, we tend to think that way. But that way of thinking can become our ‘undoing’. And our fear can potentially hold our sons and daughters back from leaning in to obey the Lord and His call for their life. We don’t want to be a barrier.
As we read through Scripture, we see that God often uses young people in mighty ways by placing them in hard situations. Think about Daniel- taken hostage, led to a foreign country, impressed into the King’s service, learning a new language, new customs and, yet, mightily used by God to impact not only the nation of Israel, but the Kingdom of Babylon too. Then, there are his friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They refused to compromise; they refused to bow to an idol. They knew that obedience to God had eternal blessings versus giving way to the King for a temporary moment of safety. Friends, there are SO many examples: Joseph, David, Ruth, Jeremiah, the list goes on and on. And then, there’s Esther., about whom Mordecai said “For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Perhaps God is raising up our sons and daughters for such a time as this.
God may bring difficult times ahead. And He may call our sons and daughters to do hard things. Are we ready? Are we willing to stand for Truth? Are we willing to pray that our sons and daughters choose Jesus over a moment of safety? Can we authentically pray Philippians 1:20-21 for them?
“I eagerly expect and hope that (name) will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in (name)’s body, whether by life or by death. For to (name), to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
Philippians 1:20-21
That’s a difficult prayer, isn’t it? So, how do we do this. How can we wrap our parent-hearts around what may come and yet, pray with peace, ‘Thy will be done”?
First, we need to pray that our sons and daughters evade deception. This is a battle of the heart and mind, and victory is gained through having firm wisdom and knowledge of Jesus. They ARE fighting an enemy, every day. Do we pray as if they are?
“I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.”
Ephesians 1:16-17
It’s important that we pray that our sons and daughters are alert to the nature of deception and how Satan works. Pray that they are not led astray, but stand firm in Jesus with an undistracted, undivided heart.
“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.”
2 Corinthians 11:3-4
Next, we need to pray that our sons and daughters have keen discretion to identify false teaching, a false Spirit and a false Jesus. They’re out there friends, and they’re dangerous. They ‘sound good’. There is just enough truth to woo the unsuspecting mind. There is a smattering of ‘love’ to soothe the hurting heart. There is false hope that is dished out in plentiful portions, until the deception takes hold and the enemy rejoices. It’s dangerous and we’re not immune. Our sons and daughters are prey for the enemy and they’re headed to the front lines.
“For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”
Matthew 24:24
“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
2 Timothy 4:3-4
We need to ask the Lord to give our sons and daughters a strong grasp of Biblical knowledge and wisdom so they can test what they see and hear against the Truth of Scripture. Pray that they are always alert and on guard, ready to battle the enemy. Pray that they understand it’s not about ‘checking the boxes’ but living authentically. And friends, as parents we need to be intentional to live out that truth without compromise.
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
1 John 4:1-4
Finally, we must pray that our sons and daughters are ‘sold out’ for Christ. Pray that they value their relationship with Him and the promise of eternity over comfort and pleasure in this temporary life. Yes, I know, we’re praying hard things. We don’t want to imagine where this might lead, yet scripture tells us we will face hard times.
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33b
Are we expending our energy and targeting our focus and worry on the “what if” or are we fully investing our hope and trust in What IS - the Great I Am, the First and the Last, the Eternal One. Intentional, targeted Scriptural prayer is the key that we must grab onto and not let go.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
John 14:27
Will we choose to pursue peace in Christ or allow our earth-bound focus to stir turmoil in our hearts by putting too much focus on the events and direction of this world? Hard times may come. Our faith may be tested. We need to love the Lord more than life itself, because He is the Giver of Life.
So how do we shift our focus? We need to pray that God would help us to have a “Hannah Heart”, a willingness to allow our sons and daughters to serve the Lord, wherever He may lead them…and to trust that He will care and keep them and use them for His glory.
“I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there.”
1 Samuel 1:27-28
It’s daunting to consider what may come. But we KNOW our God is sovereign and there is nothing that will happen that is out of His control. We need to trust Him. We can absolutely trust Him- He is Faithful and True.
Let’s pray with great commitment. And let’s not only pray over this in the coming week, but in the days, weeks and months ahead. God is working, but so is the enemy. We can’t grow complacent or comfortable. We, and our sons and daughters, must always test the narrative to determine whether it is of God or of the enemy. Pray without ceasing, friends.
“Father, you see the turmoil in our world…and in our hearts. What we see is distressing and sometimes it sinks so deeply into our hearts and minds that we’re distracted, disturbed and distressed. Our focus becomes our worry and fear and our efforts shift to ‘fixing’ and ‘protecting’. Help us to get our focus back onto You- to take every thought captive and bring it into obedience to Christ. Whether our sons and daughters are walking a hard path because of their profession, or because of their life choices, You are capable of defeating the enemy that threatens them physically and spiritually. Lord, You are mighty to save. Help me to rest in that. Help me to remember that He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Remind me that You will cover them with your feathers and under Your wings they will find refuge. You will be their shield of defense and their rampart of offense. Your power can protect them so much more than my worry. Lord, I pray that they would be fully committed to Jesus, serving Him faithfully without wavering. Help them to identify deception and not fall victim to false teaching and those who would lure them from You. Protect them Lord. Make them mighty followers of You. Use them for Your glory and help me to pray faithfully. Bind my heart to Yours, Lord, so that I trust without wavering. Please help each of us to love You, the Giver of Life, more than this temporary life. You are our King and Savior. Keep us faithful, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Are you questioning where you stand with God? Do you want peace and assurance that your eternity is secure? Do you want to know more about having a personal relationship with Jesus? Reach out! I would love to talk with you and share how to have hope in Jesus Christ!
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
Romans 10:9-11