Lenten Meditations- Live Like Jesus

Philippians 2:5 "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus."

Let’s keep on praying for believers, worldwide. We are the Church, the Body, and the Bride. How should we live in these days?

It's not about us speaking our mind, it's about us living, walking, and talking as if our relationship with Jesus is the most precious thing to us- it should be! The Church needs to have the same mindset as Jesus-
"Who made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!" Philippians 2:7-8

What do we need to die to today? What do we need to surrender to the Lord for His purposes and glory? Let's take on the role of God's servants- willingly doing what He calls us to do and finding joy in it.

Today, pray for the global body of believers that in these last days we can live like Jesus and model what it means to follow Him with our lives.

Pray without ceasing

Lenten meditations to prepare our hearts for Resurrection Day

How Should We Live?

"Be on your guard;
stand firm in the faith;
be men of courage;
be strong." I Corinthians 16:13

How might we live differently if we KNEW Jesus would return today? Would we share our faith more boldly? Would we live without worry and fear?

If our sons and daughters are believers in Jesus, they are members of the Body of Christ, the Church, the Bride of Christ. We need to pray they will actively pursue their relationship with Jesus and live it out so others can see the fruit.

Today, let’s pray the Church lives purposefully (confident in our 'why') and intentionally (making it happen), ready to meet our Savior and actively sharing the hope that we have with those who don't know Him.

Pray that believers around the world are watchful and vigilant, that they will stand fast and persevere in their faith in Christ, pray they would be brave and be ever-strengthened in their faith and commitment to Jesus.

Pray for the Body of Believers to live in genuine love.

John 13:35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

Love: agape= affection, benevolence.

By THIS. By living in and showing love everyone will know we are a Christ follower.

Not by our knowledge. Not by our music. Not by our preaching or spiritual words. Not by our approval. Not by our service. But they will know because they see the evidence of our love toward one another and toward those around us. It’s a love that’s given freely, it’s not earned. It’s not to be used as leverage, it’s poured out generously. It doesn’t ask to be reciprocal and doesn’t wait for an equal exchange. They will know that we, the Church, the Body of Christ, are His followers because our love is unlike that of this world; it is God-generated and God-sustained.

Our sons and daughters need to understand the 'basics' of what Christ calls us to...and we as parents, role models, older believers, need to live it out so that they can clearly see what Christ means by this.

“Lord, please work in the Body of Christ today so that everything we say and do is motivated by and eclipsed by Godly love. I pray that we would not show love based on how others treat us, accept us, or affirm us, but that we would love unconditionally. Help us to love the unlovely. Help us to love when it’s not the natural response we might have. Help us to love as Jesus loved so that when others see us, they really see Him. Work in Your Church today. Help us to love like You love so that others will know we are Christ followers, not by our words, but by our actions. Build up Your Church, Lord. Protect us and deepen our walk with You so that as days grow darker, we can be salt and light to show others You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

A Prayer for the Church: Let the Peace of Christ Rule

Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

As we anticipate the remembrance of Christ’s death and resurrection, it’s a time many often give something up to remind them of all Christ gave on our behalf. But instead of ‘going without’ why don’t we commit to praying for the Body of Believers, we who daily represent Christ to this world, those with whom we are joined as The Church and The Bride. We should pray, too, for our sons and daughters as they are members of the Body (or if they are not, they would be drawn to know Christ).

Dark days are ahead…in fact they are here and walking faithfully requires us to be intentional. Let’s immerse ourselves in Scripture that reminds us of who we are in Christ and how we are called to live as His church.

Let's commit to pray in the weeks building to Resurrection Day that God would move and work in His Church so that we would stand strong against the enemy and would uphold one another to remain faithful. Will you commit to pray too?

Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

The phrase "Let rule" is the word “brabeuo” in Greek and it means to arbitrate or umpire, to govern.

A question for prayer and meditation:

What are we allowing to rule in our hearts and govern our thoughts and responses?

Our Prayer point:

Pray that the Church would allow the peace of Christ to rule in our hearts individually and collectively and pray the world would see this extraordinary peace and be drawn to Christ.

Pray without ceasing

Dear Children…Don’t Let Anyone Lead You Astray

“Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is  righteous, just as he is righteous.  The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”

Have you ever been deceived?  It’s an awful realization, isn’t it?  When you believe and trust in someone or something, only to realize that what you believed to be true, thought you understood and wholeheartedly supported is not what it seemed.  It can throw you for a loop.  And watching someone go through it can be equally as difficult…especially when that other person doesn’t recognize the deception.

Deception is a slippery slope that pulls people further and further from the Truth and into false hope, misdirected loyalty, and often, victimization.  Deception leads to loss of resources, relationships, and hope.  It’s a ploy of the enemy to convince people to believe a lie, isolate them from one another and keep them from following Christ.

But how do you recognize deception?  How can you spot a ‘fake’?  Those who are trained to spot fake money and art look for certain characteristics and inconsistencies.  But in order to do so, they have to have intricate knowledge of the original before they are able to spot a fake.  Our sons and daughters need to have strong knowledge of Scripture and a consistent, growing relationship with the Lord in order to protect themselves from deception. Inch-deep knowledge and casual practice of spiritual disciplines leave us vulnerable to being led astray by teachers whose teaching “sounds similar” but whose doctrine weaves in error and deception.  

The enemy will try to convince us that what we’re following is “okay” or “not really as bad as we might think”, or even label it as “my truth” so others cannot tell us it’s wrong. If he can do that, then he is accomplishing his goal of deception and disruption.   Lord have mercy!  Our sons and daughters need to be on guard!!  

1 John 3:7-8 says, “Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.  The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”

So, how do we recognize and avoid deception?  How do we remain faithful? We need to pray that our sons and daughters will:

• Recognize God’s Truth:  

  • Colossians 1:9-14 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

• Be able to identify falsehood

  • Jude 1:17-19 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.”

  • 2 John 2:7, 9-11 “I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them.  Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.

• Avoid evil: 

  • Proverbs 16:17 “The highway of the upright avoids evil; those who guard their ways preserve their lives.”

  • I John 1:6 “If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.”

• Fellowship with other believers who walk in the Truth:

  • Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

  • 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.”

• Listen to the Holy Spirit Who lives in us- He will help us recognize those who walk with Christ in genuine fellowship vs. those who are ‘posers’.

  • 1 John 4:6 “We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.”

• Strive to maintain a testimony that gives evidence of Christ in us- our life should speak truth and give evidence of Christ to others

  • 3 John 1:3 “ It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it.”

Today, let’s pray these scriptures over our sons and daughters.  But let’s also pray for the Body of Believers.  Satan is strong, yes, but the God that lives in us is stronger and He holds the victory!!  Let’s pray He will surround us with His mighty protection and keep us walking faithfully.

Pray without ceasing.

My Dear Children…Continue in Him

“And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.” 1 John 2:28

Ask any parent who loves the Lord what they truly want for their sons and daughters. Most would be quick to say they want nothing more than to know their children continue with God, walk faithfully, hold tightly, trust unwaveringly.

Persistence is a characteristic necessary for life, isn’t it?  If we don’t persist, we don’t learn, accomplish, grow, or survive.  There are so many sayings that tell us to keep going- it’s a theme across all generations and cultures.  Dory, in Finding Nemo, sang, “just keep swimming,” and people quickly picked up on the melody…and the positive message…to remind themselves to press on.   Country music croons to us to “keep on keeping on.”  Elisabeth Elliott, a Christian author and teacher, faced extraordinary circumstances when, as a young mother with a 10 month old baby, her husband was killed on the mission field.  In the days following, she would remind herself to “just do the next thing” because life was so difficult and she struggled to know how to manage it.  

Those who lived in Biblical times struggled to manage and persist, too.  Life was hard.  There was loss and grief; there were obstacles and opposition.  The Apostle John knew there was even more to come- the Christian life was not easy and persecution was very real.  He gently and lovingly wrote 1 John 2:28 to encourage the believers,  “And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.”

Dear children, continue!  Don’t give up!  Persist!!  Press on!  It wasn’t a rallying cry for the sake of survival, but for the promised reward of standing before the Lord, confident and unashamed.  John redirected their focus from the circumstances to the Purpose and the goal.

When we pray that our sons or daughters ‘continue’ in the Lord, we might picture a steady walk in the right direction, not wavering or wandering.  But if we look at the word ‘continue’, ‘meno’ in Greek, it actually means, “to stay in a given place, state, relation or expectancy; to abide or remain” (1).  

If we’re serious about praying for our children to continue in the Lord, we need to pray for these aspects of ‘continuing’ specifically.

Our place:  When we hear someone say, “Know your place”, it’s often a reprimand to keep quiet, don’t presume you have a right to speak or interject.  But in Christ, we have a place that qualifies us to step into His presence, speak to Him freely, live with confidence, and face the future with hope.  We are children of the King!  We have home and a place at His table.  We’re not a visitor or a stranger, we’re family.  We’re brought into His protection, welcomed and adopted as His very own.  We have a place and we belong.

Psalm 23:5  “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

Ephesians 2:6 says, “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,”

Our state:  As believers, our condition is confirmed.  We are no longer condemned!  The state of the believer is one that brings hope!  We are forgiven, redeemed, justified, sanctified, and accepted with the promise of eternity in His presence.  We are no longer slaves to sin and our sinful nature.

Romans 8:1-2, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

Our relationship: Our relationship with and to the Lord is confirmed; we are His children and his heirs.  

Romans 8:15-17 “...rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.  And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.  Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.”

Our hope: We can live with eager expectation and hope because we are His heirs and He’s promised us a life in His presence.

Ephesians 1:18-19 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”

Revelations 21:3-4 “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

When we pray for our children to continue in their faith, we’re not praying that they have the personal strength to keep walking…we’re praying they will remain in Christ, unmoved, not deceived, not led astray by false teachers or lured by temptation.  We also pray that they would have a fixed position that is anchored in Christ.  We pray they would understand God’s precepts and would live with conviction as a forgiven, redeemed, justified and sanctified child of God.  A child who holds fast to their position in Christ and to their inheritance as an heir of the promise.  We ask the Lord to help them live with hope, not looking to this world for satisfaction, joy and rescue, but to Christ alone.  He provides everything they need for this life and for eternity. Finally, we pray that they will stand unashamed at His coming because they truly understand who they are and Whose they are.

Today, let’s pray that our dear children will continue in Christ and all that it means to do so.  Colossians 1:9-12 is a great scripture passage to pray over our sons and daughters. Or take time to write out a specific prayer naming your child/children and praying over all of the aspects of what it means to continue in their walk with the Lord.  

Colossians 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, 14 in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Pray without ceasing

1. G3306 - menō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3306/niv/mgnt/0-1/

My Dear Children, Do Not Sin

1 John 2:1 “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.  But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”

Imagine receiving a letter that begins with the words, “ My Dear Children”.  One immediately senses that it’s going to say some important things.  The greeting gets our attention; it identifies us as loved, important and connected to a family.  The sentiment “Dear children” tells us we are precious to the writer… a parent-figure, and isn’t that what our sons and daughters are to us?  Dear.  Beloved.  Cherished and important.  Stop and consider, if we would write to our sons and daughters, what would we say?

The Apostle John wove that very phrase into his letters to the early church.  He wrote often to the believers because had a burden to encourage them in their walk with the Lord.  He understood, better than most, the cost of discipleship and the dangers of our life in this earthly realm, the kingdom of darkness.   The book of 1 John is filled with encouragement, cautions, and reminders of how the believers should live and why. And many of those directives start with the phrase, ‘dear children’.  John loved the believers as his spiritual children and wanted to ensure they knew the words he was speaking to them, via the Holy Spirit, were words of love and conviction.

Over the next few weeks, we’re going to look at these “dear children” directives and pray through them for our own beloved sons and daughters.  What better way to encourage their walk with the Lord?!

1 John 2:1 “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.  But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”

Oh what words of direction AND comfort!!  Do not sin!  Don’t do it!  We need to pray that specifically and often for our sons and daughters because we all know, far too well, that the enemy wants nothing more than to cause us to sin.  Sin leads us away from the Lord, it defeats us, it tries to define us (although that is not how our Savior sees us, we’re deceived into believing we are what we do and our value is in our efforts).  We need to pray that God keeps our dear children from sin.  

BUT we can’t stop there!!  No!  We need to pray that next portion of 1 John 2:1 because it’s vital for our dear children to understand, and us as well, that if we DO sin (and we will, we’re fallen people), we have an advocate who speaks to the Father on our behalf- Jesus Christ.  

That word ‘advocate’ is the word ‘parakletos’ in Greek.  It means "one who pleads another's cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant; an advocate, and intercessor" (1)  We have our very own legal counsel who comes to our defense and clearly states that the price for every sin, past, present and future, is paid for by His precious blood sacrifice and is eternally effective because of His resurrection from the dead.  There is no sin that cannot be forgiven by Jesus and there is no failure for which He will not step up and advocate for us.  He is our paraclete- our advocate and our counselor.  He not only speaks to the Father on our behalf, but He speaks truth into us and reminds us of who we are and Whose we are.   Sin does not define us.

John was so adamant that the church understood this that he said it again in 1 John 2:12, “I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of His name.”  Yes, he encouraged them not to sin, but twice he reminded them that Christ paid the price for their sin and they had, and would always have, His forgiveness, not because of anything they might do, but because of His Name.  Oh friends, it’s SO important that our sons and daughters understand not only God’s commands not to sin, but also God’s complete and perfect forgiveness when they do!!  When the world wants to define them by what they’ve said and done and how they’ve messed up, God defines them as His child, loved, forgiven, redeemed and justified through Christ.  Today, let’s pray these very words for our sons and daughters.

“Heavenly Father, (name) is my dear child, whom I love very much, but I know You love even more than I do.  I pray that (name) would not sin.  That’s blunt and straightforward, but it’s so needed, Lord.  Keep them from sin.  It destroys and rots the life You would have them live abundantly in You.  Lord, please help (name) to remain in You- to abide and live a life that is consumed with You so that there is no room for sin to take hold.  But I know that in this world, this life, none of us can fully avoid sin.  We are a fallen humanity and the old self still lives in us.  We still wrestle with it every day.  So, as You keep them from sin,  I pray, too, that You would remind (name) that You, Jesus, are their advocate and You are the One to whom they should run when they’ve mis-stepped, or worse, fallen into steady consuming sin.  Jesus, You will always advocate for (name) to the Father, making a way for forgiveness and restoration.  Lord, keep (name) running to You always, clinging to You for counsel and defense.  Lord, keep them always, in Jesus’ name, amen,”

Why not text 1 John 2:1 to your son or daughter today?   “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.  But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”  Encourage them with scripture and pray without ceasing.

G3875 - paraklētos - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3875/niv/mgnt/0-1/

May the Lord Guard Your Coming In and Your Going Out

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip- He who watches over you will not slumber;

Indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you- the LORD is your shade at your right hand.

The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm- He will watch over your life;

The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

The LORD will watch over your coming in and going out both now and forevermore. 

As we prepare to wrap up 2023 and head into a new year, we likely will look back at what has been and forward to what might come.  We cheer the accomplishments and mourn the losses.  We keep count of what matters and resolve to do better in the new year to come.  We ponder those things that made us laugh and cry and those people whose presence made our year more memorable and meaningful, whether for good or for difficult.  We grieve what was lost, or what could have been, but was not.  The turn of the calendar is nostalgic and full of hope.

Yet, the change of date, turn of the page and setting of a new calendar year doesn’t change anything.  God is constant.  He doesn’t need a refresh.  He isn’t moved by new starts or resolutions.  He always was and always is and always will be. 

The photo above shows scripture from Psalm 121. It was found embedded in a mosaic on the floor of an ancient 7th century church in Jerusalem.  “May the LORD guard your coming in and your going out.”  As the believers traversed the floor, it was a ready reminder of God’s protection and goodness.

What a sweet and powerful blessing to pray over those we love!  As we come into 2024 and go out of 2023!

The Lord IS mighty and able to guard us in anything we might face. That’s such a comfort as we step into a new year, isn’t it? The word ‘guard’ in Hebrew is ‘samar’ and it means, “to keep watch, preserve, to hedge about, as with thorns, guard, protect, and attend to”.  It’s more than just watchfulness, it’s an all-encompassing protection.  When shepherds would care for their flocks, they would construct a hedge or barrier of thorns to keep the sheep safe from predators, especially those who lurked in the darkness.  When the Lord guards out going out, He encompasses us on all sides with His powerful protection and His attentive watchfulness, ready to keep us from harm and from the enemy that would seek to destroy us. This world is dark, but our Lord is mighty to guard and protect.

He guards out going out (yasa).  In Hebrew it means “to go, bring or lead out, both literally and figuratively.  It can also mean to go abroad, send with a commandment, spread, go to and fro.” (2) You see, whether we step out with intention, of maybe we wander a bit, perhaps we receive orders or a call to go somewhere specifically or take a step into something new, God is guarding and guiding.  He is good to go and be wherever we are.  What a sweet assurance and comforting blessing!  No matter where our sons or daughters go…or are sent, our God is with them.  We can rest knowing He’s there, even when we cannot be.

God guards our coming in, our ‘bo’ in Hebrew.  Bo means “to come, call, carry, enter, fetch, follow, pull in, grant, lead, or send.”  God may bring us in willingly, or maybe we are kicking and screaming…either way, our Father is present and active.  He grants us entrance into so many things: a new season, a new year, and new opportunities to learn and grow.  We may be called, led, carried or pulled, but God is right there.  Our going out and our coming in are all in His hands, and we are assured He will guard every step.

The amazing thing is that God’s guarding is not dependent on clock or calendar, nor on our willingness or submission.  God is not limited by those things that limit us.  He guards both now, right at this present moment and forevermore for all eternity, time without end.  Always.  Ever.  Without fail.

“May the LORD guard your coming in and your going out.” 

As we get ready to step into 2024, we don’t know what the year may hold, but it’s certain that some will have great joys and others, deep sorrow.  Some may be waiting, and the new year will be a time of expectant hope.  Some will recognize blessings overflowing while others may have abundant blessings, yet not recognize them for what they are.  There may be peace and joy or pain and longing.  But there is one constant of which we can be assured.  The Great I AM.  Jehovah- the Existing One.  Our God is steady and unchanging.  Though the calendar may change, and the weeks and months fly by, God remains ever present and watchful, always providing and protecting.  Nothing surprises Him or catches Him off guard.  There is nothing out of His reach or too strong for His mighty hand and outstretched arm to overcome.  Long before December 31, 2023, arrived, He knew what the day would hold and the year leading up to it.  And when we wake to see His new creation of January 1, 2024, we can know we are watching God fulfill His plan, set in motion before the world began, for that good day. 

Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” 

The calendar shouldn’t determine how we approach the next day or the next year, God is our portion forever.   Forever!  Though a new year will bring something new, our God is the Ancient of Days.  The LORD will watch over our coming in and our going out both now and forevermore.  Forevermore!!  Change is inevitable, but our Lord is unchanging and always present.  He is good and we can trust Him to work and do what is for our good and His glory.  Let’s not look to the ‘ball’ that drops as the sign that a new year will bring hope and good change.  Let’s look to the Lord who stands, ever present and strong. 

“My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip- He who watches over you will not slumber; Indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.  The LORD watches over you- the LORD is your shade at your right hand- The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.  The LORD will keep you from all harm- He will watch over your life; The LORD will watch over your coming in and going out both now and forevermore.” Psalm 121

Today, let’s pray for our loved ones as we welcome the new year.  Pray that what is behind doesn’t define or derail them.  Pray that what is ahead is powerfully held in the mighty hands of the Father and that they trust His strong grip on their life.  Pray that they look to the Lord for their strength and hope.  Pray that the Lord would watch over their going out of 2023 and their coming into 2024 and would keep them ever pursuing Him, following His steps carefully and listening to His voice attentively, a sheep of His pasture, eager to be His child, surrounded by His watchful care.

“May the LORD guard your coming in and your going out.”

What a generous blessing to pray over our loved ones!! 

Pray without ceasing.

1.       H8104 - šāmar - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h8104/kjv/wlc/0-1/

2.       H3318 - yāṣā' - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h3318/kjv/wlc/0-1/

3.       H935 - bô' - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h935/kjv/wlc/0-1/

Dabbling in Darkness

“If we claim to have fellowship with Him, yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”

1 John 1:6

Kids love water, don’t they?  Whether it’s a pool, a creek, or a puddle, there’s an attraction to get closer to just “look at it”.  We warn them not to get wet and we might hear the response, “Can’t I just put my feet in?”  And we all know, if the feet get wet, the rest of the child gets wet eventually.  They can’t help it, their “whole self” ends up soaked.  And when they come back, soaking wet, we ask them, “what happened, why didn’t you obey?”  The responses will likely include things like “I don’t know”, “It was an accident”, “I didn’t mean to get wet, it just happened” and the list goes on.

Sin is like that too.  There’s an attraction to just get a bit closer, but soon, we’re dipping our feet in and before we know it, we’re immersed.  We’re soaked in it.  We can tell others that we’re not dabbling in sin, but when we stand there, soaking wet with the evidence, our words hold no weight.

1 John 1:6 “If we claim to have fellowship with Him, yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”

That word, “in”, is important to note.  It’s the Greek word, “en” and “denotes a fixed position in place, time or state.”  Think about it.  If we’re ‘in’ we have a fixed position(1).  There is no halfway or just a little.  Either we’re in or we’re out.  There is no in between.  It’s a powerful word.  

When we walk in sin, even if we’re just “dipping our feet in”, we are in.  We’re immersed.  We’re sinning.  We can’t dabble in darkness and not be impacted by it.  1 John tells us that if we claim to have fellowship with God, but walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.  Our location says a whole lot about our heart condition and our commitments.  Our talk, talks and our walk talks.  But our walk speaks much more loudly than our talk when it comes to giving evidence of what our heart loves.  We can say we love Jesus, but if our actions demonstrate otherwise, which do you think people will believe more?  Are we making choices and living in such a way that gives evidence that we love Jesus…or that we love something or someone else more?

1 John 1:1-6 uses the word “proclaim” several times.  That word means to give a report, which indicates one has seen evidence of something, it’s an affirmation.  Yet, 1 John 1:6 uses the word “claim”...there is no pro.  That’s the thing with sin.  If we’re involved in it, participating in it, we can claim we walk in truth, but there is no evidence. Our lives are proclaiming otherwise and giving evidence of fellowship with darkness.  How we live matters and sin impacts how we live.

This world is dark and temptation is strong.  If we think we can resist on our own, we’re deceived.   We cannot just ‘say’ we’re following the Lord, we have to demonstrate it, our lives need to give evidence, otherwise our words are empty and our testimony is worthless.   Our sons and daughters need us to walk with the Lord and give evidence that He is our focus, our passion, our God.  They need to see their parents, their elders, their role models modeling what it truly means to follow Jesus.  We need to proclaim with our lives that Jesus is our King.  

We need to pray for spiritual protection for our sons and daughters every day.  Satan wants nothing more than to keep them from following Christ.  He wants to convince them that compromising with sin is okay, especially if it’s “just a little bit”.  He lures them to just dip their feet in the water of darkness, just their feet and nothing more.  But we all know what happens.  If you’re “in”, you can’t be in two places at the same time.  When we dabble in darkness, we take our eyes off of Jesus and allow our heart and mind to put something else on the throne and then we’re walking in darkness.

Today, and every day, let’s pray that our sons and daughters will be IN Christ- that at all times, in all ways, in all places, they are found in Him and that darkness has no place in their lives.  Pray that their choices in friends, in entertainment, in places they go, things they take part in and what they read and listen to all support their pursuit of Jesus and their lives give evidence of living and walking in His light.

Pray without ceasing.

1. G1722 - en - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1722/kjv/tr/0-1/

You Can Always Come Home

“Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.” Psalm 71:3

Home.  When we’re tired, it calls to us.  When we’re afraid, it surrounds us with safety. When we’re traveling and the days are long, it’s where we most want to go because we know we’ll finally rest and find comfort and relief from the frenzy.   It’s where we find peace and respite.  Home is a place of belonging and shelter.  It’s where those who know you the best, love you the most.  

Home is a place of stability, security, and safety, or it should be, and it’s something everyone wants, but not everyone enjoys.  Sadly, some can’t describe home as a safe, nurturing place.  But we understand the importance of home.  If we don’t have it, we long for it and grieve the absence or loss of it.  Home is embedded deep in the heart of every person and is a longing that doesn’t fade.

One thing nearly every parent will tell their kids, at some point, is that they can always come home.  Whether they just want to spend time with family or if things are not going well and they have nowhere else to turn, home will be there for them.  No matter where our kids live or how long they’re away, any time they return to us, they are coming home.    

Psalm 71: says, “Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.” Did you notice what God says there?  “To which I can always go”   Always.  At all times.  The word for ‘always’ in Hebrew is ‘tamid’ and it means “continually, constant, daily, without interruption, perpetual” (1).  How comforting is that?  God will always welcome us and give us refuge.  He is there, 24/7, throughout every day and night, through every season, throughout the years, an entire lifetime.  He was the God that sustained our ancestors in lean years when wars raged and He is the same God who sustains us now.  He protected and provided for us when we were in the throes of diapers, bottles, and sleepless nights and He will continue as we wrestle with sleep in the midst of concern for our adult children.  We can always, perpetually, constantly and without interruption go to Him for refuge and care.  Do our sons and daughters know this?  Is it at the forefront of their mind and heart?

When they were little and something bad happened, maybe a scraped knee or hurt feelings, their first thought was, “I need to go home!”.  Oh, beloved, our prayer needs to be that it would still be their first thought and that ‘home’ would be in the Presence of their Lord.  They need to run to Him for shelter and protection, for comfort and salvation.  He is always there, without interruption, ready to welcome them, shelter them, and comfort them.

As we pray for our sons and daughters, let’s ask the Lord to remind them of where to turn when they need safety, security, and reassurance.  Let’s pray that Psalm 71:3 becomes their heart’s cry, “Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.” 

“Father, You are Almighty God, strong and secure.  You make our paths straight.  You are the cloud that shields us by day and the fire that lights our pathway by night.  You are ever-present and You are Sovereign over all; nothing is out of Your control.  What a comfort it is to remind ourselves of that!  I pray for (name) today.  Holy Spirit, work in (name)’s heart and mind.  Remind them of the love their Heavenly Father has for them.  He longs for them to come home so He can shelter and protect them.  I pray, Lord, that (name) would recognize Jesus as their refuge and shelter, a strong tower that will keep them safe.”  

As our world changes, it is growing ever-darker and as believers, we need to be willing to stand up boldly for our faith.  As a parent that’s frightening, yet Lord, we dedicated each of our children to You at an early age.  They are Yours.  Use them.  Empower (name) to stand strong, but not on their own strength, but on Yours, Lord.  I pray that You would remind them, even today, that this world is not their home, but that ‘home’ is in Your presence, and that You offer belonging, purpose, and protection there, perpetually, daily, without interruption.  It is so much more than this world could ever deliver.  Lord, open (name)’s eyes to see the value and importance of relying on You in every moment and in finding their home in You.  Let (name) always run to You.  You are faithful and eternal.  You are mighty to save.  Be the rock of refuge to which (name) can always run.  In Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. H8548 - tāmîḏ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h8548/niv/wlc/0-1/

Prayers Against Spiritual Forces and Realms of Darkness

When conflicts arise across the globe, it draws our attention.  We might feel concerned, yet the conflict is often ‘there’ and not here, we’re not often touched by what’s going on.  But if things escalate and our troops are deployed, our concern grows and we begin to have a vested interest in what’s happening.  

Once we have someone ‘in the fight’, though, we start praying differently, don’t we?  We pray in earnest for their safety and for a quick resolution to the conflict.  We pray against evil and for good to prevail.  We think about it every waking moment and we plead with the Lord for their safety and deliverance.  We want to see things resolve quickly and peacefully.  But then, as things calm and normalcy returns we likely breathe a sigh of relief and return to our lives, glad that it’s over and we move on as if the danger is done.

Yet every day, EVERY DAY, our sons and daughters are walking around in a world that is rife with conflict of a spiritual nature and they are the target of the enemy.  Satan is at work and he doesn’t rest.  He has demons deployed throughout every inch of this earth…it is his kingdom, after all.  He’s seeking to deceive and destroy.  Believers are strangers and aliens living in the midst of his territory and he wants nothing more than to turn us to his side or destroy us and remove us from life here.  Just look at the news… it’s horrifying to see what people are doing to one another in the name of ‘freedom’ and ‘rights’... but it’s clearly motivated by pure evil and the enemy’s desire to destroy image-bearers.  

Exodus 15:9 “The enemy boasted, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake them. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword and my hand will destroy them.’”   

Isn’t this what our enemy intends?  Satan wants to overtake us and destroy us.  He laughs at evil and delights in destruction.  If he can make one of God’s children fall, he celebrates.  If he can pull one away from the cross, he counts it a victory.

1 Peter 5:8 “Be alert and of sober mind.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  

Parents, we need to step up our game.  We need to take this seriously and not just assume that our sons and daughters will ‘fight the good fight’.  Are we praying as if our sons and daughters are at war?  If not, we should, because they are.  They face an enemy that is far more devious and dangerous than those we can see.

Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

And how does Paul describe our enemy?  Pay attention, he uses words and descriptions that should sober us and take us to our knees. Each word is shown in Greek with the corresponding definition.

• Rulers- arche- “The beginning or origin, the first place, principality, rule, magistracy, the term is transferred by the apostle Paul to angels and demons holding dominions entrusted to them in the order of things.” (1)

• Powers- exousia- “force, capacity, competency, delegated influence:—authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.  The leading and more powerful among created beings superior to man, spiritual potentates; used in the plural of a certain class of angels.” (2)

• World forces- kosmokratōr- “lord of the world, prince of this age: the devil and demons, the world-rulers of this darkness.” (3)

• Spiritual forces- pneumatikos- “non-carnal, i.e. (humanly) ethereal, or (demonically) a spirit, belonging to a spirit, or a being higher than man but inferior to God, a wicked spirit.” (4)

• Wickedness- ponēria- “depravity, iniquity, wickedness, malice, evil purposes and desires.” (5)

• Heavenly places- epouranios- “the heavenly regions.” (6)

We, our sons and daughters, and all other believers are going up against the ruler of this world, all of the powers that work alongside him, throughout all time and across every inch of this earth, that are more superior to and more powerful than man; fallen angels, demons and potentates of regions and kingdoms that we cannot see but that we fall under as created men.  Think about that.  It is a darkness that is invasive and a wickedness that Jesus himself rebuked with scripture.  It’s an enemy that masters legions, personifies depravity and seeks to accomplish evil purposes.  How can we begin to think we should not be aware and on guard?!

And all of this takes place in the heavenly realms.  Take note, friends.  We live in more than just a tangible world.  There is more to what we experience than the three dimensions we can recognize with our senses.  We have a spiritual nature that supersedes this world and that, friends, is why we can enter the Throne room of God and plead with Him on behalf of our loved ones.  We can intercede for them as His child, His beloved.  We have access to the Almighty, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, the Great I Am who was, is and is to come.  We can stand against these spiritual forces, but only when we put on the full armor of God and acknowledge the dangers and powers of the enemy.  And we must.  

We cannot go up against such opposition with a casual approach.  Our sons and daughters must be aware and on guard.  The family of God is under attack and the easiest target is the one who is unaware and unconcerned.  Let’s not be easy prey.

We must daily lift up our families asking the Holy Spirit to guide, protect, and intervene on their behalf.  Are we praying that our sons and daughters learn how to use the armor of God with skill and regularity?  Friends, the war is unfolding all around us.  We are foolish to think it won’t touch us….or that it hasn’t already.  

This week, let’s pray Psalm 27 over our sons and daughters to specifically ask the Lord for protection and victory and for growth and fruit in their faith.  Insert their names in the appropriate places.  Pray often and with hope.

Psalm 27

1. The Lord is (name)’s light and (name)’s salvation—
       whom shall they fear?
   The Lord is the stronghold of (name)’slife—
       of whom shall they be afraid?

2. When the wicked advance against (name)
       to devour (them),
   it is their enemies and their foes
       who will stumble and fall.

3. Though an army besiege (name),
       their heart will not fear;
   though war break out against (name),
       even then they will be confident.

4. One thing I ask from the Lord,
       this only do I seek:
   that (name) may dwell in the house of the Lord
       all the days of their life,
   to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
       and to seek him in his temple.

5. For in the day of trouble
       He will keep (name) safe in His dwelling;
   He will hide (name) in the shelter of His sacred tent
       and set (name) high upon a rock.

6. Then (name)’s head will be exalted
       above the enemies who surround them;
   at His sacred tent (name) will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
       (name) will sing and make music to the Lord.

7. Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
       be merciful to me and answer me.

8. My heart says of You, “Seek His face!”
       Your face, Lord, I will seek.

9. Do not hide Your face from me,
       do not turn Your servant away in anger;
       You have been my helper.
   Do not reject me or forsake me,
       God my Savior.

10. Though my father and mother forsake me,
        the Lord will receive me.

11. Teach (name) Your way, Lord;
        lead (name) in a straight path
        because of their oppressors.

12. Do not turn (name) over to the desire of their foes,
        for false witnesses rise up against (name),
        spouting malicious accusations.

13.  [May] (name) remain confident of this:
        (name) will see the goodness of the Lord
        in the land of the living.

14. Wait for the Lord;
        be strong and take heart
        and wait for the Lord.

Pray without ceasing.

1. G746 - archē - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g746/niv/mgnt/0-1/

2. G1849 - exousia - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1849/niv/mgnt/0-1/ 

3. G2888 - kosmokratōr - Strong's Greek Lexicon (nasb95). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2888/nasb95/mgnt/0-1/

4. G4655 - skotos - Strong's Greek Lexicon (nasb95). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4655/nasb95/mgnt/0-1/ 

5. G4189 - ponēria - Strong's Greek Lexicon (nasb95). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4189/nasb95/mgnt/0-1/

6. G2032 - epouranios - Strong's Greek Lexicon (nasb95). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2032/nasb95/mgnt/0-1/

Giving Right Gifts

Any parent knows, our kids are not shy about telling us what they’d like to receive when it comes to birthdays, Christmas, or special occasions.  When they were little, their ‘wants’ were often communicated by the toy catalog left conveniently on the table with items circled in sharpie on nearly every page.  As they grew, their lists transformed to notes on the fridge and texts to our phones.  Now they have apps that help them share their lists, and there’s the ever-convenient Amazon wish list is always handy.  They’re always keen to let us know exactly what they really want. 

And gift giving is a wonderful thing, isn’t it?  It’s fun to receive them, but as a parent, we know how much joy we have in giving them!  It’s so much fun to shop for someone we love and wrap up that special gift so that it’s beautifully presented. Then we wait in anticipation while the recipient eagerly opens the gift.  But sometimes….sometimes we shop with OUR wants in mind, we choose things that we think they will like…or that we want them to like.  Then, as the open their gift, we watch their eyes go from sparkling with anticipation to thinly veiled disappointment when they realize we didn’t follow the request.  We didn’t give them the gift they really wanted, the thing they specifically asked for.  We didn’t follow directions and the gift falls flat.

Don’t we do that with God, friends?  We tend to offer him what we think He would like, giving Him the things we want to give rather than what He’s really asked us to offer.  We make sacrifices according to our preferences, but we neglect to pay attention to what God asks of us.  Then, we wonder why His response toward us is not what we hoped.  We gave.  We sacrificed.  But we didn’t obey. Our gift wasn’t welcomed because it wasn’t what He asked us to give.

It’s important that our sons and daughters learn how to make right offerings and sacrifices to the Lord.  Because it’s not about what we think the Lord will like, it’s very specifically about what He asks of us.  

Genesis 4:2b-7  “Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.  In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord.  And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering,  but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?  If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

Abel brought the right sacrifices.  He did what the Lord commanded.  He offered the best of his flock and shed blood to atone for his sin.  Cain brought what he considered a good sacrifice, his best produce- the fruit of the land.  Yet, it wasn’t what God commanded.  It wasn’t acceptable.  It was a poor substitution and unworthy. We know that Cain went on to kill his brother out of jealousy and then lie to God about the whole thing. 

But we need to ask ourselves, how often do we bring to God what we consider our ‘best’ yet it isn’t what He asks for at all?  We give what we want to give Him rather than what He requires.

Do you see?  It wasn’t the quality of the fruit and produce Cain brought, it was his disobedience toward the Lord in not bringing what the Lord commanded.  What God warned him of was exactly what happened, “if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”  The sin of jealousy and murder took over. 

Later in Scripture, the same was repeated with King Saul when He didn’t obey God’s instructions to completely destroy the Amalekites.  

“The Lord anointed you king over Israel. And he sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; wage war against them until you have wiped them out.’ Why did you not obey the Lord? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the Lord?”  “But I did obey the Lord,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king.  The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal.” 1 Samuel 15:17b-21

Saul did what HE thought best.  And his actions impacted the nation of Israel and threatened their very survival.  You see, years later, in the book of Esther, Haman, an official in the court of King Xerxes, tried to kill all of the Jews.  He plotted to destroy them and wipe them from the earth.  And who was Haman?  He was a descendant of Agag (Esther 3:1), the very king Saul was told to kill and did not.  Had it not been for God’s intervention through Esther and Mordecai, Israel would have been destroyed.  Saul’s disobedience had serious repercussions.  And his sacrifices meant nothing when they came from a heart that followed its own desires and not the Lord’s.

Our actions have consequences.  We teach our sons and daughters that very lesson when they are children, that obedience is important.  But as they grow into adulthood and gain their independence, the ease and desire to do what they want comes easily. Obedience to God can become secondary. We need to pray fervently that our sons and daughters will remember and practice the importance of obedience to God.  We need to pray that they will understand what right sacrifices and offerings are that God requires and not lean on their own understanding for what is acceptable (Proverbs 3:5-6).  We need to pray that they don’t ‘outgrow’ obedience.

The prophet Samuel called Saul to account for his selfish disobedience:

1 Samuel 15:22-23a ““Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord?  To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.  For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.”

Ultimately, his disobedience led to Saul losing his role as King, and his life as well. God doesn’t want our attempts to win His forgiveness and approval after we do what we want.  He wants us to obey him first and always.  He desires our obedience.  Let’s not try and ‘guess’ what God might want from us, instead, let’s dig into His word and learn what He calls us to do.  

God promises blessings when we obey, and not just on us, but on our children and grandchildren:

Psalm 103:17-18 “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.”

Isn’t that a gift worth giving?  Let’s commit to pursue obedience so that we can gift the Lord’s love and righteousness to our children’s children and leave a legacy of obedience and joy in following Jesus. Then, let’s pray that our sons and daughters do the same.

“Father, You call us to a life of obedience.  How silly of us to think that our limited, flawed, selfish hearts would know better than You what You desire from us.  Lord, when we veer off to our own ‘wish list’ of things we think You want from us, we selfishly pursue what our own hearts want rather than what You ask of us.  We know the heart is deceitful above all things.  Help us to do what is right because sin is crouching at the door, waiting for the opportunity to lure us away.  Give us an Abel heart- one that desires to sacrifice what You ask and to obey your commands.  Help us to pursue You with an undivided heart because double mindedness will certainly be our downfall.  May our obedience to You be the evidence to others of our faith and our hope.  “But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him:” 1 John 2:5  Lord, help us to set a right example for our sons and daughters and let them do the same for their children.  I pray that our family would have a Godly heritage that points others to Christ and brings honor and glory to Him.  In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”

Pray without ceasing.

When God Says, “Wait”: The Practice of Waiting Well

Waiting is hard and few people like it, but, whether or not we like it, it truly is a part of life.  We wait for the birth of our children.  Then, we wait for the milestones- sleeping through the night, crawling, walking, the first day of school, the list goes on.  

As they grow and learn more about the Lord, we wait and pray our sons and daughters will embrace a relationship with Jesus…and sometimes we wait for their return to Him, as well.   

Waiting.  Always waiting.

We ‘endure’ it, but all the while we wonder when God will move?  We ask why doesn’t He move now?  We have an urgency to get solutions, resolution and rescue-How long will it be…doesn’t He see?!   

Oh friends, He sees and He hears, but God is not restricted by time.  He is not constrained by space.  He has the ability to see our entire experience from start to finish- and He has mastery over it all.  Sometimes His waiting is a pause for us to see, to acknowledge, to surrender to Him.  God is not impatient, nor is he running behind.  God calls us to wait, not because He is slow or unkind, but because He sees the whole picture.  He has a plan.  

But our limited minds and hearts are so fragile and futile that when we are called to wait, we begin to question His goodness, we question His timing and even His ability or desire to fix and redeem our loved one or the situation that impacts them.  What we need to do is remind ourselves that God’s timing is so unlike our own. 

2 Peter 3:8-9 “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.  The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

The Israelites saw God part the Red Sea so they could walk through on dry ground.  They witnessed God’s perfect timing and miraculous rescue from being cornered with no visible way of escape from an army that would surely destroy them.  They SAW God part the sea.  They walked on DRY GROUND through it. Yet, just days later, they turned and made an idol to worship because too quickly they forgot the miraculous hand of God and His saving power.  They chose to ignore His deity and Sovereignty and exchanged their glorious God for a bull made by their own hands, Psalm 106:20.   The foolishness of man is great.  The shortsightedness is chronic.  The selfishness is terminal.

Waiting.  It’s a holding pattern that requires trust and patience.  It’s not what we would choose, yet if we choose to wait for Him, we submit to His will for us and learn more about our God and His heart for us.  Isn’t that best?  

The word ‘wait’ in Hebrew isthe word Qavah which means to wait for, to twist and bind, to expect, often with hope (1).   Think about the process of spinning wool or braiding rope.  It’s a constant twisting together, but that twisting brings a binding and creates a strength that otherwise would not be present.  The twisting and stretching brings together several strands that then hold together strongly.  They can then serve a purpose and provide an endurance that a single strand on its own would not.  Ecclesiastes 4:12b “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”  When we wait, we are binding our hearts and minds to the Lord, trusting His timing, and growing stronger in our faith and more content in our ability and willingness to wait on Him, knowing His purposes are beyond our understanding.

Isaiah 30:18 “Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He will rise up to show you compassion.  For the LORD is a God of justice.  Blessed are all who wait for him!”  

The King James Version states it just a little differently, 

“And therefore will the LORD wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you; for the LORD is a God of judgment; blessed are all they that wait for Him.”

God’s timing, love, and kindness are so evident in the story of Lazarus (John 11).  When Lazarus was sick, his family sent word to Jesus to come- they knew Jesus could heal him, they’d seen His healing power.  Yet, Jesus chose to wait.  He allowed Lazarus to die.  In fact, Lazarus was dead four days before Jesus arrived in Bethany.  He knew there would be grief and He, himself, grieved too.  Yet He waited.

John 11:3-6  “So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”  When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”  Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days,”

Did you see that?  Jesus loved Lazarus.  He loved the sisters.  Yet, He chose not to act on their timeline.  Why?  For God’s glory!  It wasn’t out of unkindness or indifference, it was out of a deep love for those who would witness the miracle.  He wanted His glory to be evident and their faith to be strengthened.  There would be no question of Who He was or what He could do.  His Godship would be evident to all.

Friends, sometimes we pray for days and sometimes we pray for years.  Whatever the timeline, God is not indifferent.  He calls us to wait because He knows exactly when He will act and how He will meet our needs for our good and for His glory.  He loves our sons and daughters even more than we do.  When it seems He’s not listening, we must remind ourselves that His timing is perfect and His ways are beyond understanding.

As we wait, let’s bind our hearts to Him.  Let’s impress His word into our hearts and rest in His promises.  Let’s trust Him.  He is able.  He sees.  He hears.  He is not indifferent to our cries.  Pray that He would act for our good and for His glory.  Pray that His Lordship would be evident to all and that He would bind our wavering hearts to His own in the process.

“Lord, waiting is so hard and we don’t do it well.  Our impatient, needy hearts want to see action and we want resolution sooner rather than later.  But in the waiting, we can learn to trust You more and to rest in Your timing.  Help us, Lord.  Help us not to run ahead.  Help us not to grow impatient or angry when we don’t see You move.  Help us to “Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!.” Psalm 27:14  Then help us to pray Micah 7:7 “But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.”  Lord, may the waiting bring me closer to You so that I’m fully surrendered to Your timeline and patiently resting in Your plan.  Lord, may the waiting strengthen my faith in You and may it be an example to my sons and daughters.  Trusting You is best.  Waiting on You is never for naught.  Let the waiting bring me closer to Your heart, Lord, in Jesus name, Amen.”

Pray without ceasing.  

Music can speak deeply to our hearts and point us to Christ in the hard times. Here’s a playlist to listen to in the waiting.  Let it remind you of the goodness and sovereignty of God as you pray and wait for His answer.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2qQTchds7QsIrbikoLorRF?si=db8e86ff4c664416

1. H5975 - ʿāmaḏ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h5975/niv/wlc/0-1/

Passing through the Valley

“Blessed are those whose strength is in You, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.  As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.  They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.”  Psalm 84:5-7

The Valley of Baka in Psalms is also known as the valley of weeping.  We can all likely look to a time when we experienced a difficult, dark time.  Maybe we encountered hardship and it seemed as if we were in a dark valley of grief or sorrow that weighed us down and seemed to last longer than we had strength to endure.   

It’s one thing to go through it personally, but ask any parent who has watched their son or daughter go through hard things and they’ll tell you, it’s not only difficult, it’s downright painful.  We want to fix it.  We want to bring it to a quick end.  We want to make everything okay and get things “back to normal”, yet, we’re powerless to do it.  

As parents, the valley experience of our children calls us to a deep and abiding faith in Jesus.  It calls us to trust Him more than we can see in front of us.  It calls us to rely on His strength and Sovereignty over our own power and ingenuity. It asks us to relinquish our parental ‘controls’ and trust in the One Who parents them best.  The valley is a tough place to be, that’s certain.  And, as parents, we can either be the voice of spiritual encouragement that points our son or daughter to Jesus, or a detractor that pulls their focus to their current situation and supports their despair.  

But Psalm 84 gives us a beautiful, powerful picture of the valley as a place of victory,  not defeat.  Yes, the Psalmist writes about being in the valley of weeping, but he says,  “Blessed are those whose strength is in You, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.”  Blessed.  It’s the Hebrew word “eser” and it means “happiness, or how happy” (1).  Our sons and daughters can experience deep happiness and joy, in spite of the valley experience if they’re focused on Jesus!  They may be in the valley, but if they’re still pursuing Jesus, they are blessed!!  Their location and their situation do not determine their joy.  Jesus is joy!!  That’s a lesson we should all be reminded of daily.  

The second thing to remember is that the valley isn’t their destination, it’s just a part of the journey.  And the valley shouldn’t be the focus of their heart, the passage to Jesus should be their focus! The joy is generated and determined by the Source of their strength.  The One who walks every step of the way with them through the valley and the One in whose Presence they long to stand. The journey is one of reliance on Jesus and trust in His Presence and leading.

Not only will the valley bring blessings, but it can become a place of refreshing.  Imagine that!  A valley of weeping becomes a journey of refreshing?! “As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.”  The word “spring” in Hebrew is the word “mayan” and it means "fountain or source of satisfaction” (2).  Psalm 87:7 gives us another perspective on Who and what that fountain represents, “All my fountains are in You.”  In other words, all of my blessings and Source of joy, delight and pleasure are in You, Lord.  The valley doesn’t supply the source of satisfaction, the believer traveling the valley does through his full reliance on Christ and his delight in His presence.  So, if our sons and daughters are in the valley, they can make it a place bubbling with delight, joy and pleasure if they remain focused on and grounded in the Lord.  Blessings bubbling over, generatd by the Source of Life.

Then, there are the autumn rains.  To some that may seem odd, but in Israel, the hot dry summer gives way to autumn rain that softens the soil and makes it pliable, easily broken up for cultivation and planting.  It creates fertile ground- and isn’t that what God seeks to create in our hearts?  The autumn rains in the valley of weeping can soften hearts and make them ready to receive the Word and be fruitful.  The springs and fountains of delight, pleasure, and joy along with the refreshing, nourishing rains that soften the hardened ground make the trek through the valley a journey from strength to strength.  This word, strength, is “hayil” in Hebrew and it means “resources, ability, and might” (3).  Do you see?  God uses the valley to bring joy in Him- not generated by our circumstances.  He brings delight, not in the location, but in His Presence.  He brings growth because of the believer’s focus and reliance on Him, not on the situation or location.  He draws the traveler to Himself and in doing so, the situation and location become secondary.

Finally, the destination of walking through the valley is the anticipation of standing before God, in His presence.  Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your Presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.”  If our heart is set on pilgrimage to God’s presence and Jesus is our Guide and Companion, there is strength and joy in the journey because we know the valley isn’t the destination, nor does it hold what we’re seeking, and there is so much more that awaits us.  We will ALL stand before the Lord, whether we intend that as our destination or not.  It is determined beforehand for us.  

How will we pray for our sons and daughters in their faith journey?  Will we pray the valley is short and the weeping is minimal?  That’s likely and why wouldn’t we? God understands our parent-heart well.  But, maybe we should pray that the focus of our son or daughter is Jesus alone and that He would be their source of joy, delight and strength.  And maybe, just maybe, we should pray for autumn rains that soften the ground of their hearts so they can receive the Word of God and bear fruit.  Perhaps we should pray that their journey is not just a short one, but is one of moving from strength to strength until they appear before God in Zion and that ultimately, they would hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Let’s pray that the valley is a place of blessing and growth and that if He wills, the Lord would allow us a window on all of it while we lift our sons and daughters in prayer.  There are features of the valley experience that can lead us and our sons and daughters to a stronger, more certain faith.  And yes, even deep joy. That’s how we can pray effectively and fervently for their journey.

Pray without ceasing.

1. H835 - 'ešer - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h835/kjv/wlc/0-1/

2. H4599 - maʿyān - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h4599/niv/wlc/0-1/

3. H2428 - ḥayil - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2428/niv/wlc/0-1/

What IS Perfect Love?

Ah, we all long for that ‘perfect love’ don’t we?  As parents, we hope and pray our sons and daughters will find ‘the one’.  When the main character looks at his love interest and says, “You complete me”, we melt and hope that someone, someday, would say the same to us.  We all love a sweet love story and a beautiful wedding. We gush over the newlyweds as the “perfect couple” with a perfect love.  Everything is rosy.

And then life happens.  What was once beautiful can become ugly.  What was once perfect compatibility becomes irreconcilable differences.  Love as we know it can fade and cool.  Its endurance and length of days are terminal.  Love is used as a tool for manipulation, a weapon to gain control, a bargaining chip to leverage and win battles.  It is meted out to those ‘deserving’ of it and withheld from those who do not.  There are separations and divorces, and attempts to try again, after the healing.   Love between two people will never be perfect because we’re all flawed and sinful and in reality, perfect love seems elusive.  We are prone to hurt one another because, at the heart, we are selfish people, aren’t we?  We all want and need something in return.  And when we look to another flawed person to fill that void, we expect them to provide something that, in their limited capacity, they cannot perfectly supply.  

And those are the parameters by which we, as fallen sinners, learn to define love.  We are finite and our experiences and understanding are as well.  We have an incorrect, even corrupt, understanding of love. We must ask, are we setting our sons and daughters up for a Biblical understanding of love, especially if we’ve experienced flawed relationships, hurt, pain, and disappointment ourselves.  What have our sons and daughters witnessed to shape their understanding of love? 

God tells us, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18.  What is perfect love?  The word perfect in Greek is the word “telios” which means to be complete, lacking  nothing to be brought to full completion (1).  And love, agape, means affection, goodwill or benevolence, to be charitable (see a need and move to fill it) (2).

But nothing we see around us seems to fit that description, does it?  And love, the lack of love, the need for love and the attempt to find love can generate such fear and heart-crushing disappointment.  Oh, friends, this is a prayer point that should drive us ALL to our knees- that we, our sons, and our daughters would have a correct, Biblical understanding of love.

Let’s look at perfect love through Scripture:

First, the focus of perfect love never resides with another person, but with God Himself.  When we look to another human being, even those who are in the family of God, to provide perfect love, we are expecting them to deliver something that exceeds their capacity and capability.  No man (or woman) is perfect.  Yes, they can mirror and reflect Christ, but they will never be perfect.  Perfect Love is from and in Christ.  His love is limitless, boundless, and eternal.  

John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”  

Jesus demonstrated that perfect love for us when He gave His life on the cross to pay for our sins and make a way for us to be justified, redeemed and restored to the Father.  

Romans 5:8 “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  

Perfect love is only and always generated from and sustained by God Himself.

Second, God’s love will never fade or become incompatible with us.  His love will not cool.  He will never become disinterested or disillusioned.  His is the ministry of reconciliation, always working and moving to bring us into intimate fellowship with Himself. He’s always reaching out and drawing in.

Colossians 1:19-20 “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Him (Christ), and through Him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”

Romans 5:17-19 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”

Third, God will always, always, always remain faithful.  There is nothing we can do to make Him not love us.  He won’t find comfort in the arms of another.  He IS perfect love and so He doesn’t need to look elsewhere for it nor does He need us to fulfill His needs.  No, He chooses to love us unconditionally so that we will find our complete fulfillment in Him!  He completes us!

2 Timothy 2:13 “if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for he cannot disown Himself.”  

Deuteronomy 7:9 “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.”

Fourth, our limited minds will always struggle to comprehend the unlimited magnitude of God’s love.  Though we try, we always default to what we know and have experienced, and thereby we evaluate God’s love by our own experiences.  But that is faulty and, honestly, that’s sinful.  We must teach our sons and daughters to have spiritual discretion, Scriptural wisdom and a heart and mind trained to hear the Holy Spirit and submit to and follow His teaching.  We cannot judge God by human standards, nor can we gauge His love by what we know in this fallen world.  The Apostle Paul gave us a powerful explanation in Ephesians 1.

“Among the mature, however, we speak a message of wisdom—but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.” Ephesians 1:6

The rulers of this age love to tell us what we should believe and how we should think based on their own ‘wisdom’.  They continually trot out their standard of “perfect love” that, given time, shows itself as short-lived, broken, and incapable of truly meeting the needs of the ‘other’.  It’s faulty. 

“Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”  But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit.  The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” Ephesians 1:9-10

God’s love far exceeds what we could EVER imagine!!  Isn’t that mind-blowing?  Nothing we’ve ever seen or experienced comes close.  It IS perfect, complete, and lacking nothing.  And it can be ours.  What joy!!  What mind-blowing generosity!!  Pure, perfect love meeting all our needs and providing eternal security, provision and protection!

Oh that we and our sons and daughters would understand the true and perfect love of God.  Let’s be careful not to create our expectation or judgment of perfect love based on what we see around us.  Let’s always be cautious and only look to Jesus as our example and as the true lover of our souls.  And then, let’s rely on the Holy Spirit to help us live like Jesus toward others, showing selfless, faithful love that isn’t based on what someone does for us, but offered freely because God loves them and created them in His likeness.

Today, let’s pray Ephesians 3:14-19 for our sons and daughters, asking God to help them get a glimpse of His perfect love that will eclipse anything and everything they know and have experienced yet in this life.  Go on, pray boldly!  Pray with hope!  Our God wants to lavish His love on us freely and continually!

“Father, Abba, the One who loves me dearly, I pray in Your Son’s name that You would work in (name)’s heart today.  “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen (name)  with power through his Spirit in (their) inner being, so that Christ may dwell in (name)’s heart through faith. And I pray that (name), being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that (name) may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”  May it be so, Lord Jesus.  Amen.”

Pray without ceasing.

1. G5046 - teleios - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5046/niv/mgnt/0-1/

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

Benefits of Believing: Lifetime Guarantees

“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6

 (blessings, assurances, guarantees)

We have a lot of things that follow us, don’t we?  Our reputations, mistakes, our regrets, even our shame all seem to attach themselves to us and we find them hard to shake off.  They follow us and seem to make themselves apparent at inopportune times, whether to others or just to ourselves as a grim and nagging reminder of all that we’re not.  

As parents, we would gladly unburden our sons and daughters from those things that would define them negatively and remind them of their failures and missteps.   It’s a form of bondage that the enemy uses to keep us from being effective, and it’s debilitating.

But God says differently.  He casts our sin aside because He paid the price for our sin with His blood and redeemed us at the cross.  Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”  

Our sin doesn’t define  us any more.  We are made new, the old is gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; The old has gone, the new is here!”

When we become children of God, sons and daughters of the Most High, different things follow us.  God ensures that all the days of our life we are hemmed in behind and before with His goodness and merciful love. Psalm 139:5 “You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.”  He reminds us that we are His protected child, Psalm 91:14-16 ““Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.  He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.  With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

God guarantees us this protection for ALL the days of our life, not some, not most, but all!!  

As parents, don’t we long for a lifetime assurance that our sons and daughters will be okay?  Believe me, God wants that too- He’s a Father after all.  

He’s assured us that if we are His sheep He will care for us, protect us, guide us, accompany us, and provide for us abundantly.  But He also promises that surely, SURELY, goodness and love WILL follow us all the days of our life.

The word surely in Hebrew is ‘ak’.  It’s an affirmation that means “certainly” or “nevertheless”.  “It’s a positive affirmation with emphasis on the expression of a truth: surely there is no doubt.” (1)

Throughout Psalm 23, God shows us all of the ways He cares, protects and provides for us.  Then, at the end, He affirms that He will, without question, bless us again (and again and again) with His goodness and loving kindness- always, forever, continually and without fail.  God will never ‘fall out of love’ with us.  Read that again.  God will NEVER not love us.  He cannot- it’s not in His nature to not love, because God is love, 1 John 4:11 “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.”

Oh how we want our sons and daughters to believe this and experience it for themselves!!  May they know the Love of God intimately, personally, perpetually so that their life is dominated and directed by it.  May it be all-consuming, ever-comforting, and perpetually present and tangible to them.  Today, let’s pray for just that.  That our dear ones would come to understand and experience the goodness of God and His relentless, unexpiring, comprehensive love for them.  

“Oh, gracious, loving Father, Abba.  You are the One who loved us before we ever knew You.  Father, I pray in your goodness and mercy, You would surround (name) today.  Show them Your mighty protection from the things of this world that would pull their gaze from You and would seek to deceive them with promises of fulfillment that will never satisfy.  I pray that as in Exodus 33:19, all of Your goodness would overflow abundantly to (name).  “And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”  I pray that not only Your goodness, but Your mercy would be present in (name)’s life.  Show them, Lord, how You protect and keep them.  Open their eyes to the spiritual shield around them.  Give them knowledge and understanding that Your Sovereignty ordains their steps and determines their days.  Help (name) crave Your goodness and Your mercy.  Lord, may they live out the scripture of Psalm 23, following You as Lord and Shepherd, knowing their needs are fulfilled, their whole being is safe and protected and that their inheritance in the saints is secure.  Lord, God, Almighty, I pray that You would draw their heart to Your own so that they desire and seek You all of their days.  May they abide in You so that when You call them home, they will abide WITH You, eternally.  I pray these things in the precious name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior, amen.”

Pray without ceasing.

1. H389 - 'aḵ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (ESV). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h389/esv/wlc/0-1/

God’s Powerful Anointing

“You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” Psalm 23:5b

(life-giving strength, proactive prevention, setting apart)

Did you know that Shepherds anointed their sheep? No, it’s not to set them apart for roles of importance or noble purposes, though human anointing historically served that purpose. The anointing of the sheep is an effort to protect them from insects that would harm them, from sharing disease-causing parasites and from infection caused by parasites (1,2).

The flies that swarm around the flocks pester the sheep and cause them distress. But the flies are not as harmless as one might think. They will lay their eggs in the noses of the sheep. The larvae burrow deeply into the flesh causing pain, infection and, sometimes, blindness. The Shepherd rubs oil all over the sheep's head to keep them from falling victim to those pests they cannot see nor protect themselves against (1,2). Consider how our Shepherd protects us from those tiny, invisible threats that we can’t see, but might render us weakened or blinded to Truth.

Then, the Shepherd also uses the oil to prevent the spread of parasites. You see, as the sheep mingle with one another, they live closely together in the flock, they bump into one another and ‘rub shoulders’. Sometimes the parasites on one sheep will quickly spread to the entire flock, infecting them all. The oil not only prevents the spread, but it accelerates the healing (2). Jesus in His wisdom, anoints us to protect us from false teaching and wrong influences that might spread through His flock. If we’re all anointed, we’re less likely to pick up foreign pests that could derail our faith and we’re more likely to heal quickly when we encounter insult and injury or endure trials and tribulations. His oil of healing is sufficient to heal our wounds.

Finally, the Shepherd rubs the oil on the horns of the sheep to protect them from one another. Sheep are known to butt heads…and aren’t people known for that too? The oil makes the horns slip more easily, preventing serious injury (1,2). Oh how we want to avoid hurting others as we sometimes disagree over how we should live in harmony, how we should do ministry, how we should follow Christ. As sheep, we don’t understand the dangers that wait for us, nor those we might cause to others, but our Good Shepherd does, and He diligently covers us with His protection and His anointing.

You see, as the Shepherd anoints each sheep, He can note any wounds because He’s focusing on each sheep, individually. The anointing isn’t a group event. It’s one by one, as each sheep needs. He carefully checks us over, ensuring that any wound is cleaned and any infection is treated. He removes any ‘invaders’ that might cause sickness or blindness. Our Good Shepherd anoints us each to care for us as individuals. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture (Ps. 100:3).

The New Testament uses the picture of anointing as God’s call on the believer’s life. We are chosen and set apart; we are children of the King. We are healed. We are cleansed. We are sanctified.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

God’s anointing accomplishes so many things… and it fills our cup, it brings spiritual satisfaction and a completeness because we are His own. His anointing on us sets us apart for eternity and ensures that the enemy knows we belong to Jesus. The infectious assault of the enemy can’t destroy us. The oil of healing from our Good Shepherd ensures we are protected and preserved.

Let’s pray that our sons and daughters understand how and why God has chosen them and they grasp the depth of that anointing and experience the overflowing blessings of being God’s chosen child. Let’s pray Scripture over them once more.

“Loving Father, it amazes me to think that You chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in Your sight (Ephesians 1:4) . We are chosen and dearly loved (Colossians 3:12). Today, help (name) to not only recognize this, but to understand it and be changed by it. I pray that (name)’s life would overflow with all of the blessings that come with being Your child, Your beloved, Your chosen one. I pray that (name) would personally experience Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.””

“Give (name) the confidence of 2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” Help them believe that Your blessings are abundant and to see those blessings filling and surrounding them today.”

“I pray Philippians 1:9-11 over (name) today, “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.””

“And give (name discernment to understand that Your blessings are not only physical in this world, but they are spiritual and eternal. In this world we will have trouble, that is certain, but You’ve promised us that there is so much more- help (name) not to lose heart. Give them confidence in their anointing and a steady faith that follows after You, no matter the circumstance. I pray that they would live out 2 Corinthians 4:15-17 “All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.””

“Lord, let your Word work powerfully in (name) to accomplish Your anointing on their life today, in Jesus’ name, and for His glory, amen.”

Pray without ceasing.

1. Ellis, N. (2022, September 11). Why Do Shepherds Put Oil On Sheep? Farm & Animals. https://farmandanimals.com/why-do-shepherds-put-oil-on.../

2. (n.d.). Why Do Shepherds Put Oil On Sheep? Animalovin. https://www.animalovin.com/why-do-shepherds-put-oil-on.../

Extravagant Provision, Abundant Protection

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” Psalm 23:5

(rich provision, mighty protection, filling Presence)

A banquet on the battlefield. It’s a sit-down affair, not a grab-and-go meal. God isn’t in a hurry to move us away from our enemies. He’s powerful enough to protect us from their aggression. Instead, God chooses to honor and celebrate His child, in the midst of it all. He doesn’t wait until ‘things are better’, He pours out His rich blessings on us right where we are! That’s our God!

He is mighty and able to hold off the fray and still be Present with us to sit down to a proper meal where it is safe to sit and eat and enjoy His abundance. Imagine the conversation at the table! Oh friends, God prepares good things for us despite the evil world we live in. He doesn’t make us wait until the battle is over- He wants us to open our mouths wide and savor His goodness now! We just have to be alongside Him, present with Him, listening to His instructions and trusting in His strong protection. It’s safe to sit and eat- He’s already won the battle!

Do we encourage our sons and daughters with the victory cry, or do we just sit and cry, worry, fret, and fuss because there are enemies present? Are we settling ourselves in the Lord’s Presence to fill ourselves with Him or are we too stressed (obsessed) and anxious to eat at the Lord’s banquet? Oh how sad that would be- because our God prepares a spread like no other! He wants us to take our fill of His rich blessings and provisions and that means we must fully trust and rest in what He’s doing…even if we can’t see it. He is ever-present, all-knowing, and isn’t constrained by time or location. He is the ultimate Protector and slayer of demons and darkness. He doesn’t need us to worry. He doesn’t need us to fuss or cry. And He certainly doesn’t need us to tell Him how to watch over our sons and daughters. He just wants us to sit at His table, enjoy His presence, savor His provision, and rest in Him. Let’s gather at His table and enjoy His company!

Let's pray that our sons and daughters (and that we) learn how to enjoy the Lord's Presence even in the midst of the battles of this life.

“Oh, Father, how easy it is for us to get distracted by the evil around us. We worry and fret. We fix our eyes on what we can see and that unnerves us and makes us afraid. We fear for our sons and daughters because we love them so. We worry about their safety and their security. We keep ourselves awake at night with all of the “what-ifs”, when all the while there is a beautiful banquet spread for us, just waiting for us to come, sit and partake of Your goodness. Help us to exhibit good habits for those we love. How can we encourage them to trust and obey if we can’t do that ourselves? Lord, move and work in my own heart, then do the same in (name)’s heart. You have not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Help us not live in fear but in faith and confidence. Remind us that You are the Victor! You already won the battle. The enemy holds no power over us. We can sit down at Your table and savor the rich blessings You provide for us. You’ve prepared a table for us - help us to accept the invitation to come and fellowship with You. Lord, fill our mouths, our hearts, our minds with Your praise- sweet as honey and satisfying to the soul. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Savor the goodness of our God.

Pray without ceasing.

Dark Valleys, Divine Protection

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley,” Psalm 23:4a  

(location, progression)

Dark valleys.  We don’t like them; we wouldn’t choose them, yet, most of us have encountered them at some point in our life.  The King James version calls it “the valley of the shadow of death”.  It could be the physical death of one we love or maybe it’s the death of a dream, a passion, a project or career, it may even refer to dying to ourselves so we can live for Christ.  The valley of the shadow of death means there is a deep loss that is present and abiding.

But look at the wording in Psalm 23:4…the valley of the shadow of death.  We only see shadows when there is light present.  The fact that there is a shadow in the valley tells us there is Light in the valley with us.  The Light of God shows us that death is just a shadow- it is powerless to harm us eternally.  Jesus conquered the power of sin and death.  “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Revelation 1:18.   There is nothing Satan can do to separate us from the love of God and from His protection.  “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

So, although death is inevitable for everyone, it’s not our final destination as believers and we need to cling to that truth.  Death, for the believer, is a doorway to the eternal life that God intends us to live with Him in perfect shalom relationship.  

Yet, the valley is there and it’s likely we’ll walk through it, perhaps many times while on this earth.  But take note of that other phrase, “even though I walk through”.  Did you see it?  We’re not staying.  We’re walking through.  The darkest valley isn’t where we settle.  It’s not where God intends for us to stay.  We don’t put down roots there.  We travel through with our Shepherd by our side.  It’s a temporary location for us, but not where He intends us to dwell.

Oh how we need to be reminded of this!  How our sons and daughters need this encouragement to help them to trust and obey, to follow without faltering, especially through the dark valleys.   Jesus endured death so we wouldn’t have to-  He conquered death so we could live a victorious life!  He walks through the dark valley with us so that we will be reminded that His presence is our light and our assurance.  Psalm 56:13 “For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.”  

“But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself.” Psalm 49:15

Let’s pray today that our sons and daughters have perspective and assurance when they encounter dark valleys. 

“Jesus, You are the light of the world.  What a comfort and assurance that is in this dark world.  It is so easy to be overwhelmed by the evil that surrounds us and feel as if we’re going to be overcome by it.  But  You told us that,  “whoever follows You will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).  I pray that (name) would cling to that Truth.  Help (name) to love light more than darkness and to follow after You with all of their heart, mind, and strength.  Keep them walking faithfully alongside You in the right paths You choose- even if they lead into dark valleys.  Lord, I know You walk with them, remind them of that.  Let (name) see visible affirmations of Your Presence today and assure them that wherever You lead them, You will be Present beside them, walking with them through the hardest of times and places.  Remind them, too, that the darkness is not where they live.  The dark valley isn’t their home.  You will lead us out of the valley, You will reach down and rescue us from the deep waters (Ps. 18:16).  Lord Jesus, I pray that whatever (name)’s location is, physically or spiritually, that You would give them the strength to move forward, not turning back or to the side and sustain them to endure whatever You lead them to, assuring them that  You will, indeed, lead them through it.  “The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” Ps 27:1  I pray Your mighty protection over (name), in Jesus’ name, amen.”

”I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4b 

(companion, confidence, protection, support)

I will fear NO evil.  None.  Not even just a little bit, not some, but NO EVIL.  How can we be confident of that?  How can we encourage our sons and daughters when we’re surrounded by evil in this world?  We see it everywhere and it can be overwhelming.

The first thing to remember is that second part of the verse, “I will fear no evil, for You are with me”.  God is ever-present and all powerful.  He will never leave us or forsake us - those are the very words He used to encourage Moses and Joshua.  “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)  Our God is faithful.  It is in his nature and character to be so.  

Remember, God has not given  us a spirit of fear ...so if we are struggling with fear, where is that coming from?  Ah, there it is!  The enemy!  Ephesians 6:12 says “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

As God shepherds us, He is strong to lead, protect, and save.  He’s not just a general who sits in the war room- watching from afar while we fight the battle.  He’s not just the captain on the battlefield, seeing only the fight in front of him.  And He’s not simply the ‘special forces’ sent in to complete an extraction when things are dire.  He is everything we need at all times surrounding us completely and holding us up through it all.  He holds fast the spiritual boundaries that keep us safe.  He is the strong arm that pulls us out of deep waters and dangerous pits, the sword and shield that hold off the enemy who would try to drag us away.  “You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.” Psalm 139:5

We have unrivaled protection and support from our loving  God.  We will fear no evil!  Let’s pray that our sons and daughters do not live in fear, but would have confidence that God is with them always, watching, caring, protecting and saving.

Let’s pray scripture over our sons and daughters today:

“The LORD is (name)’s light and their salvation— whom shall they fear? The LORD is the stronghold of (name)’s  life— of whom shall they be afraid?  When the wicked advance against them to devour them, it is their enemies and foes who will stumble and fall.  Though an army besiege (name), (name)’s heart will not fear; though war break out against (name), even then they will be confident.”  Psalm 27:1-3

Abba, Father, Almighty Lord, I pray Your word over (name).

(Name) “Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.” Psalm 37:1-2 

Lord, give (name) strong spiritual confidence in Your protection and watchful care.

“The way of the LORD is a refuge for the blameless, but it is the ruin of those who do evil.” Proverbs 10:29

Keep (name) walking and living blamelessly.  Guide them on right paths for Your name’s sake.  Keep them faithful to You and protect them from fear and from the enemy.

“Therefore, (name) put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”  Ephesians 6:13

“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen (name) and protect (name) from the evil one.”  2 Thessalonians 3:3 

I pray that (name) would “Fear no evil- sin and death are conquered”  Revelation 1:8

Give name strength to stand against the evil one and to live in victory through Jesus, in His name I pray, amen.”

Pray without ceasing, friends. 

God is Faithful to Restore Us and Lead Us

“He refreshes [restores] my soul.” Psalm 23:3

(spiritual renewal)

Restoration is hard work.  It is the effort to bring something back to its original condition when time, decay, and circumstances affect its beauty, its purpose, and its value.  Any shadow of what it once was or was intended to be has long since faded.  The beauty is covered in dirt, mold, and decay, the edges are rough, once-strong supports are rotted, the luster is dulled.  But an expert still sees the value and knows what it could be, if restored.  Restoration requires someone who is skilled and has vision and an understanding of what something once was or was intended to be in order to restore it to its original state.  

Jesus is our Restorer.  He created us, so He knows us intimately and He knows exactly who and what He intended us to be.  He is able to revive, refresh, and restore our spiritual selves to the “shalom” He intended us to enjoy in the garden, where everything was in a right relationship to Him.  Isaiah 60:1 says about Jesus, “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,”

We can pray Psalm 51:2, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”  Jesus is able; He can do it!

“Jesus, You are the Restorer of all things.  You promise that You will restore us and make us new.  2 Corinthians 5:17-20 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; The old has gone, the new is here!  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”  I pray that You would begin a work of restoration and reconciliation in (name) today.”

“Lord, strip away the rotten things that would cause decay in (name)’s life.  Replace the battered and worn parts with new.  Refresh their outlook and restore their heart to be aligned with Yours.  Work in them to stir a desire to be made new with a heart like Jesus.  Remind them that, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”  Ephesians 4:22-24.  Show them clearly that You love them and You desire that they would be brought into fellowship with You, welcomed into Your house and home for eternity.  Give (name) a heart for restoration so they would not only embrace the gospel and receive a new heart but that they would share the life-giving gospel with others so they, too, could be restored.  In Jesus’ name, amen.”

“He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.”

(direction, purpose)

When God restores us, it’s not for our benefit alone, although we do reap great benefits from the renewal of our heart, mind, and spirit.  But it is for His glory that He redeems us!  He gives us direction and purpose.

Ephesians 1:11-12 tells us, “In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory.”

He has a plan and purpose for each of us Philippians 2:13, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.” The phrase, “For His name’s sake” indicates that we are to live in such a way that we maintain his name and reputation (1).  If we fail to do that we take His name in vain- calling ourselves Christians but living like we are not.  “‘You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”  Deut. 5:11 (NKJV)  Our actions, choices and attitudes have bearing on the name we carry.  

  “Holy Father, Your name is Sacred.  You ARE the Great I AM.  There is no other like You   and Your supremacy is unequaled.  I pray that You would give (name) a godly fear and respect of You.  Lead (name) in paths of righteousness so that as they bear Your name, they would be righteous (not self-righteous), blameless (not deceiving others or themselves) and authentic in their faith and their convictions.  Lord, give (name) perspective that every blessing is from You and for the purpose of serving You and bringing You glory.  Strengthen them in their faith, their conviction, and their passion to follow You in the right paths You set before them, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Pray without ceasing.

1. H4616 - maʿan - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h4616/niv/wlc/0-1/