Brenda Reid 12/9/25 Brenda Reid 12/9/25

God’s Children Rebelled, Too

God knows and understands what it’s like to have children who rebel. He had rebellious children, too.

Isaiah 1:2 “Hear, O Heavens! Listen, O Earth! For the LORD has spoken: “I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me,”

God kept His promise to Abraham to make him, his offspring Israel, into a great nation.

Genesis 12:2 “And I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great and you will be a blessing.”

Yet, in their greatness, they turned from God. It was a pattern- He would bless, they would praise, then they would become distracted, prideful and selfish. They would lose sight of God. He would chastise, they would return and for a while, be faithful, then it would cycle once again.

The Israelites knew what God expected of them. They understood His commands. Each day they would make sacrifices, but it simply became an act of going through the motions- a show of obedience when there was no willingness to worship Him. Their heart was not in it.

That’s why God told them “Stop bringing meaningless offerings!” Isaiah 1:13

As parents, our greatest prayer is that our sons and daughters would commit their heart and life to Christ. And our hearts are burdened when our sons and daughters don’t choose to follow Jesus and make Him Lord of their life. We were diligent to bring them up in the knowledge of the Lord. We took them to church, encouraged them to attend youth group, maybe Awana, Young Life, or Youth for Christ. But at some point, our children must make the decision for themselves. Who will they live for? Who will they serve? Being raised by believing parents is no guarantee that the children will choose to follow Jesus in faith. And when they choose a different path, our hearts are broken. Where did we go wrong? What should we have said, done, changed? Often we struggle with questions, doubts, and regret. But we need to remember, each one must choose for themselves. Though we parent adult children differently, we still pray as if they were our beloved little ones. And isn’t that how God looks at us? His little ones?

Joshua put the decision before the Israelites to state clearly who they would choose to serve:

“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,” Joshua 24:15a

Too often we (and I do mean all of us) get prideful and rebellious. We don’t want to be told what to do. We want to make our own decisions, be the captain of our own ship. The dialogue in our mind says, “You’re not the boss of me!” We reach a level of knowledge and experience that boosts our ego and our pride. And Satan loves it. He leads us on, feeds us thoughts and feelings that bolster our independent spirit. He lures us with the illusion of freedom from oppression when in reality, He is slowly binding us with the chains of slavery to sin. But we don’t see it.

Israel knew how to keep up appearances. They knew the language, the routines, the rituals, and the expectations. They could go through the motions. But God saw their heart and called them out on their lack of sincerity.

“But concerning Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”” Romans 10:21, Isaiah 65:2

Kids raised in church also know how to play the part. They know the words to say and the actions that demonstrate belief. But the heart is where the real truth resides. They see the truth of their own heart condition and it’s their decision as to where its affections will be directed.

Parenting adult children is challenging. Young people reach the age of knowing everything, right? They know better than their parents because they understand the trends, have the latest information, and are not ‘antiquated’ in their thinking. They're smart, switched on and progressive... they’re also deceived, prideful, and lost. They are easily entangled and led astray because of pride and foolishness.

We need to pray that God would call out our sons and daughters on their sincerity of heart toward Him. We cannot be their Holy Spirit. In fact, the more we address it, the greater the risk they will pull away and stop talking to us. We need to be thoughtful in our words, our timing, and our intention. We can’t change their heart- only God can. In our angst and urgency, we need to surrender our own expectations and timeline to the Lord- a living sacrifice to His will and His way. It’s better. It’s perfect. It’s sufficient. We need to trust Him.

No sin is too great and no distance too far. Nothing is too hard for Him. He can soften the hardest heart, unstop the deafest ears, and move the immoveable. Not us. God and God alone.

Here’s the thing, Israel’s rebellion meant the gospel came to the Gentiles. Think about that. God extended His mercy and grace to those who were not His children and He adopted us into His family and called us His children. He’s given us an inheritance. He put His Holy Spirit into us and marked us as His own, never to be snatched out of His hand. We are included in Abraham’s promise!!

God wastes nothing. There is a much bigger plan at play here. Although it is about your son or daughter, there are so many facets of the situation and individuals who are unknowingly part of God’s plan. Perhaps there is another who will come to Christ because of the current rebellion of your son or daughter. Maybe God will use this rebellion to soften more than just the heart of your loved one. Maybe, just maybe, God will use this season of rebellion to prepare your son or daughter for a powerful ministry that reaches many for Christ. Pray. It is what you can do and no one can stop you.

God understands the rebellious heart and He made a way to reconcile that heart to His own. Don’t spend all your time fussing and worrying about the ‘what if’ or the sin that entangles. You know it’s there. God knows it’s there. He can undo it. Pray:

That God would soften their heart

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

That God would bring believers into your son or daughters life who would speak truth into them

“And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.” 1 Thessalonians 5:14

That their eyes would be opened and their ears unstopped

“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,” Ephesians 1:18a

For conviction of sin

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10

That God would stir a longing for fellowship with Him- that they would hunger and thirst for righteousness

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6

That they would not resist the Holy Spirit

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” Ezekiel 36:36-37

God loves our sons and daughters even more than we do and He desires a relationship with them. He wants to be their Father, their Lord, their Savior and their Friend. He wants to give peace, joy, and fulfillment. He wants to remove their heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh, one that is soft and pliable to His ways and desires to worship and serve Him.

Only He can do that.

Today, pray through the scriptures above. Ask God to work in their heart and bring them to salvation in Jesus. Trust Him that He will work according to His will, in His time, and in His mighty power. Praise Him for what He will do!

Perhaps in reading this, you’ve realized that you need Jesus? Scripture says we’ve all sinned and fall short of the glory of God- even the kindest, most generous person cannot make themselves worthy of God and heaven (Romans 3:23) But God made a way! He gave Jesus to be the perfect, sinless sacrifice, once for all- we don’t need to keep sacrificing, Jesus paid it all! His death on the cross satisfied the wrath of God towards our sin. (Romans 6:10).

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9) God tells us that, “All are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. (Romans 3:24-25) It is for everyone- there is no sin too great that God will not forgive.

All you need to do is confess and believe. Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”” Romans 10:11

Simply pray this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner- from things I’ve thought, said, and done that are wrong. But I believe you died on the cross for my sin, paying the price so that I don’t have to. I believe you were buried and you rose again on the third day. I believe you sit in heaven at the right hand of God, advocating for me. And I believe when God looks on me, He sees You and Your blood that covers my sin. Please forgive me and be my Lord and Savior. Help me to live for You. I pray that the Holy Spirit would work in me to teach me, guide me, and protect me from spiritual attack. I look forward to standing in Your presence one day, redeemed, your beloved child. Thank you for forgiveness, for hope, and for life beyond the grave. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

If you prayed that prayer, send me a message! I would love to encourage you and pray for you!

Are you looking for a great Christmas gift? Consider 40 Days of Prayer for the Prodigal. This is a 40 day journey of prayer through Scripture and journaling that guides the reader in praying God’s word over the prodigal heart. Available on Amazon

I’m praying that you all have a blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year. Thanks for following this year!

Join the PAC is taking a break, but will return in January 2026 with new devotionals and prayers to encourage parents as they pray! Cling tightly, love deeply, and follow Jesus with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Brenda Reid 11/10/25 Brenda Reid 11/10/25

Praying for Godly Relationships

When I was growing up, my parents used to tell me and my sisters two gems of wisdom as we approached dating. The first was, every date is a potential mate. The second was a hard and fast rule…no ‘missionary dating’. My parents knew that it was important to be intentional about the relationships we cultivated, not only friendships, but those dating relationships that could lead to marriage.

We were brought up to guard our heart, to use wisdom and spiritual discernment to make wise decisions about into whom we would choose to invest our time, our efforts, and our hearts. is that young man a man after God’s own heart? Is he fully committed to following Jesus or does he just know the right words to say? Scripture tells us that marriage should be between believers, no ‘unequal yokes’.

What does that even mean? An unequal yoke? Think back to pre-industrial revolution farming- the days when farmers would use horses or oxen to pull their plows. It was important that the two animals be equal in size and strength, otherwise they wouldn’t work together. If you paired a Clydesdale and a Shetland, you would have disaster on so many levels. Nothing would be plowed, the farmer would be exhausted trying to wrangle two animals that could not, would not work together and, ultimately, people would go hungry because nothing would be planted or harvested. But if you put two Clydesdales together, man-o-man would you be getting things done! They pull together well, their temperaments are suited to the hard work, and they take joy in doing what they’re created to do.

God used the same analogy in 2 Corinthians 6:14 “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” When we step into dating or marriage relationships with others who do not have a personal relationship with God, it never goes well. Believers have the foundation of Jesus Christ, they rely on the Truth of Scripture, they are indwelled by the Holy Spirit. Someone who is not a believer is coming from a totally different perspective, value-system, and attitude of worship. What do they worship? If not Jesus, it is self-worship and idolatry. How then, can a marriage relationship work well? It cannot be God-honoring if one of the partners doesn’t choose to honor God with their life, their choices, their worship.

As parents, we need to pray for our sons and daughters, that they would wisely choose a husband or wife that is a growing believer, surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. We need to pray that our sons know the qualities of a noble woman and they use spiritual discernment to pursue someone who exhibits those qualities. It’s not enough that they ‘know’ Jesus.. Even the demons know Jesus. No, that potential mate needs to be in a committed relationship with Jesus Christ so that He is the One for whom they live and from whom they seek wisdom and guidance. Jesus needs to be preeminent in their life. And that other person should be seeking someone who lives and believes the same…if our son or daughter isn’t living that way, it’s unlikely they will find a spouse who is.

“An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.”
Proverbs 31:20

As believing parents, we must pray that our sons find an excellent wife, not just a pretty face. That word ‘excellent’ is the Hebrew word “hayil” and it means virtue, uprightness, and integrity (1). Proverbs 31 is a whole chapter dedicated to the description of such a woman. But take a look at the Book of Ruth. It is the account of a woman who lived out ‘hayil’ in so many ways. Both her future husband, Boaz and the entire village of Bethlehem noted her character and godly attitudes, using that same word to describe her (Ruth 3;11, Ruth 4:11).

Who will be a Godly wife to our sons? Let it be a woman of integrity, clothed in strength and dignity, one who opens her mouth with wisdom and kindness is on her tongue. Pray that the woman our son chooses is a woman who fears the Lord. (Proverbs 31:25-26,30)

We should pray, too, for our daughters, that they seek a man after God’s own heart.

When God chose a King for Israel, He instructed Samuel to anoint David, the youngest son of Jesse, the shepherd boy. Samuel looked at all of Jesse’s sons, the older, stronger, more valiant, more ‘worthy’, yet it was the shepherd that God chose.

“But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.””

1 Samuel 16:7

Who will shepherd our daughter’s heart? Let it be a man after God’s own heart. Pray that the man our daughter marries is one who would love her like Christ loves the church- sacrificially, selflessly, protectively and in a way that honors God above all (Ephesians 5:25).

Despite the fact that they’re adults, we can still shepherd our sons and daughters through prayer and as they navigate relationships, they need our prayers more than ever! It’s important that we ask the Lord to give our sons and daughters the spiritual discernment to look on the heart of another and recognize whether that person truly loves Jesus or if they only pretend for the sake of the relationship. Authenticity and a heart of worship towards Jesus cannot be feigned. There will be fruit, is it fresh or is it rotten? Pray that they can set aside their own desires, look beyond their own agenda, and pray for God’s will and direction.

Let’s activate some purposeful, diligent prayer, asking God to bring the spouse of His choosing to our sons and daughters with whom they would be better together. Pray for a marriage in which they would spur one another on to serve God and bring Him glory. Marriage is a covenant, not meant to be broken, and designed to reflect Christ and the church. Intentional prayer, asking God to design and effect this for our sons and daughters is a responsibility and privilege of believing parents. Let us pursue that prayer today!

“Oh, Heavenly Father, You are a good Father. You love us and gave your Son so that we might have life, and not just life, but abundant, eternal, joyful life in Your Presence! Lord, I know You desire that every marriage relationship would be a reflection of Christ and the church- a covenant that cannot be broken and is marked by sacrifice for the other. You desire to see a love that is demonstrated in patience, kindness, and humility, and genuine care for the other person, with attitudes of graciousness like Christ. Lord, I pray for (name) right now that You would lead them to a God-honoring relationship and marriage with the one You choose for them, in Your time. Help (name) not to be anxious or impatient but to trust You and Your timing. Help them to wait with hope that You are working everything for their good and Your glory. I pray for (name)’s future spouse. Grow them into the (man/woman) of God that You desire them to be. Bring other believers alongside them to disciple them, mentor them, encourage them and provide accountability for them. Lord, I pray that my son would be a man after Your own heart. I pray that my daughter would be a woman of excellent character, noble and worthy, fearing the Lord. Let their walk with Jesus be evident to others so that those attracted to them, would be attracted to their heart for the Lord. I pray Your hand of protection over them. Keep them from being distracted by charm- it’s deceitful. Keep them from being lured by beauty that is only skin deep. I pray that my son/daughter would be so committed to and in love with Jesus that they would have keen discernment to choose a spouse who believes the same and has a heart for God. Lord, I know that You are orchestrating their life, help them to be surrendered to Your leadership and Your timing. I pray that when they do marry, it would be a God-honoring event and relationship that would reflect Christ and the church in significant ways. Lord, use each of us to bring glory to Your name, in Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”

Pray without ceasing.

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

Are you praying for a prodigal? Don’t lose heart. God sees and He hears. Keep laying your burdens in prayer at the feet of Jesus. Trust Him, He is working. You may not see it, but He works in dimensions that are beyond our comprehension. Pray for those friends and associates that interact with your beloved prodigal, that God would use them to bring them to full surrender to Jesus as Lord.

40 Days of Prayer for the Prodigal is a powerful book for anyone deeply in prayer for the heart of their loved one. The book addresses the battle for the heart, mind, and soul of the prodigal through praying Scripture boldly and consistently with faith that God will bring repentance and restoration. Pray the words of Scripture in powerful and effective ways to plead with God about the condition and situation of your beloved prodigal and watch God work!

Grab your copy today!

Available on Amazon

Have you read 40 Days of Prayer for the Prodigal? Consider leaving a review! There are so many who could benefit from this resource, let them know! God is moving and working!

Brenda Reid 11/6/25 Brenda Reid 11/6/25

Seasons of Parenting

“For everything there is a season,

and a time for every matter under heaven:”

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Changing seasons can be hard, both on the calendar and in life. We find we get comfortable in a season and we want to stay there, enjoying what we know, managing what we’ve become accustomed to, and not wanting change or challenge. Too often, instead of celebrating something new, we grieve the changing of the seasons like there’s been a death and we mourn the end of what was that will never be again.

Parenting exists in seasons as well. Sometimes we fixate on the next season to come (Oh, when they’re finally sleeping through the night… when they’re potty trained…when they go to school) yet we miss the beauty and sacredness of the current season for the longing we have for the next. If we pined for summer when spring barely arrived, we would miss the beauty of new creation blooming from the softening earth, the flowers stretching toward the sunshine and the fresh green leaves unfolding to their full expanse, soaking up the warming rays of sun. There is much beauty in the Spring, in spite of the rainy, muddy, messy weather that often accompanies it.

Each new season brings new discoveries about us and our children. We learn new things about ourselves and we watch in fascination as our children discover the world around them. We encounter pain and loss, but with them come growth and maturity. We learn from mistakes and we watch as our children do as well, and the next time they encounter the challenge, they meet it with greater wisdom and practiced experience. Each new day is a day neither parent or child has lived before, isn’t that comforting? Both enter it as novices and finish it having mastered it as best they could and better prepared to do it again on the next new day. And God, in His graciousness, daily gives us new opportunities and new mercy to continue to learn, grow, and deepen our love for Him.

We watch our children grow up through the seasons and finally set out on their own and we see the autumn of our life creeping up on us, certain that our most vibrant years are fading behind us. But friends, look around you. The autumn season brings some of the most vibrant colors and earthy fragrances that remind us of cozy fires, sweet fellowship, and drawing near for warmth and comfort. Seasons are God’s way of renewing us and growing us in so many ways.

When we look at a tree, the rings inside tell a story. We can see times of growth, times of drought, and even times of fire. Our lives tell the same. The seasons that God leads us through grow us into the mothers and fathers He desires us to be. New growth in the spring often leads to mature fruit that flourishes in the summer. Autumn brings a change of color and each tree seems to become even more individual from the others, showing colors all their own and bursting with the oranges, yellows, reds and golds that shout the glory of God in the autumn sun. The individuality of each tree is more noticeable in the autumn. But then comes winter. The leaves fall off, dried, brown and crunchy or limp under foot. The branches are bare and the bones of the trees are exposed for all to see. There is little beauty in the exposed, brown bark of the winter tree. Yet there is still life inside and a resting and renewal process that is working under the surface, preparing for another season of fruit. Autumn isn’t the harbinger of death, it’s a signal of coming rest and renewal in which God does a deep work under the surface.

That’s how God works in us. We’re not always going to be bearing bushels of fruit 100% of the time. Psalm 1:3 tell us, “He [the man who delights in the Lord] is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Did you catch that? In its season. The Hebrew word is ‘et’ and it means a fit and proper time (1). God doesn’t push us to be fruitful before we’re ready. He prepares us, plants us, waters us, and gives us what we need to be fruitful for Him, as long as we remain rooted in His living water and the Truth of the Word. A tree doesn’t bear fruit right away, sometimes it takes years, the right climate, the right nourishment, and nurturing to help it grow.

We did that for our children, but friends, we need to be mindful of our own nourishment and growth. We need to recognize that just because the ‘nest’ is empty, does not mean our usefulness is complete. If we’re nearing the autumn of our life, there is still much to do and much glory to bring to the Lord! We need to be mindful of setting an example to our sons and daughters that our purpose in life was not simply to raise them, but our purpose was and is to glorify God and enjoy Him throughout every season of our lives.

Though our sons and daughters may be grown and flown, our nest is still useful! Titus 2 tells us that the older women should teach the younger women. Who is teaching our daughters…and whose daughters are we teaching? Men, what example are you setting for your sons and for the sons of others? Now is perfect season to dig deeper into scripture, learn more and grow in your knowledge, understanding, discernment, and love of God and His word. No longer are we consumed with diapers, play dates, sleepless nights and endless laundry. We have a quiet house that lends itself to focused study and prayer, we can be that tree bearing fruit in so many spectacular ways!

“But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” Titus 2:1-8

How will your ‘colors’ be on display in this autumn season of life? Will you choose to be vibrant and allow the Son to change you into something beautiful? Will you gladly share it with those around you? Why not be intentional to set a beautiful example for the next generation so that they will look forward to their next season of life, seeing that God works through us in each and every season to bring something beautiful that glorifies Him. Seasons are not the ‘end’ but the signal of a new beginning that holds promise and hope. Cling tightly to Jesus and let Him fill you in this season to be all He intends you to be for His glory.

”Lord, God, You are the Lord of the Seasons and each one has purpose and design to accomplish what You will for our lives. I pray that in this season of being a parent to adult children, You would help me to push my roots deeper into You, Your Word, and to pursue Your will authentically and purposefully. I know that until I stand before You, I am not finished here and although my children may be grown, there is more for me to do for You. Help me to see where You are leading. Give me opportunities to serve. Help me to be the Titus 2 man or woman that You desire, speaking truth and life into those who are younger, living out the example of a godly man or woman. Lord, I know there is beauty in every season. Help me not to mourn what is behind, but to look eagerly for what is ahead. You are a God of hope and of new mercy. Help me to live in that each day and embrace what it is You have for me to do. Lord, help me to live for Your glory alone and to celebrate your goodness each day. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Pray without ceasing.

H6256 - ʿēṯ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (esv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h6256/esv/wlc/0-1/

Brenda Reid 10/16/25 Brenda Reid 10/16/25

Parenting is Hard, Prayer is Vital

There, I said it. It’s hard. Social media would have you believe it’s all glorious and perfect…with just little hiccups between joyful photo shoots. Nope. It’s hard. It can be painful…and ugly. But parenting is also sacred and worshipful. The Bible shows us from the start that God is our Father and He works to build into us in ways that make us more like Him. Parenting gives us that opportunity to model God’s character and selfless love. It’s not easy, but it’s beautiful and it’s valuable.

As parents, we sometimes make the mistake of thinking that if we can just get through ‘this’ stage, it will be easier. But ask any seasoned parent and they will tell you, with each new stage come new challenges and yes, new joys, too. “I can’t wait until…” is often the mantra of the battle-weary parent, the one who is overwhelmed with sleepless nights, laundry, and diapers. Then, the toddler years arrive and the child seems to have 1000 hands, boundless energy, and insatiable curiosity. I can’t wait until…. School, all the activities, sports, then driving, and dating, and before you know it, they’re off to college and then working, married, and with their own children. How did it go so fast? "I can’t wait until they’re grown and I don’t have to worry any more.” Ah, that is a faulty expectation. When you love someone, you will always carry concern for them, whether they’re 2 or 32. Each new stage of parenting brings new and often more complex prayers.

Our parenting doesn’t end when our sons and daughters become adults. But our prayers change. They move from “Lord, please let them sleep… to Lord, please wake them up, spiritually.” The early years are filled with prayers for their physical growth and safety, along with their spiritual formation. But as they grow and age, our prayer becomes even deeper because, as a parent, we no longer have the daily influence or the ability to steer them away from negative influences and dark places. Our prayers take on a deeply spiritual direction, not that they were not before, but there becomes a greater urgency and a deeper understanding of eternity and their place in it. The physical needs, although still present, are secondary to their eternal state. We feel the heaviness of their spiritual condition and direction, we battle on our knees for protection from spiritual attack, and we plead with the Lord for His intervention…and for their recognition of it.

Parenting doesn’t get ‘easier’ it just shifts to another level of support, concern, and intervention- most of it spiritual. Are you prepared for that?

Some may say, “I don’t know how to pray that way.” Oh friends, prayer isn’t just for the ‘learned’ or those who have a long faith history. Prayer is a practice, a spiritual discipline. You just do it. You start where you are and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you. You have a complete handbook to use- the Bible. A great way to begin is by praying scripture over your sons and daughters; God’s word never returns void. It is guaranteed to bear fruit.

Remember, God works outside of time and space. He sees the end from the beginning. He’s weaving people, events, places, and resources together in ways we cannot begin to comprehend all to bring about that which He wills. When we pray, we not only need to lift up our sons and daughters, but we need to pray for our own heart, that we would be surrendered to what God wants and that He would align our desires with His will. Be cautious. Too often we pray with an answer or conclusion in mind. Let God lead.

Today, let’s do just that. Let’s pray Philippians 1:9-11. It’s straightforward and powerful. Write it down and carry it with you this week and pray for your sons and daughters that God would do a work in their lives, reflective of the passage.

“And this is my prayer: that (name)’s love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that (name) 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.” In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Pray without ceasing.

Brenda Reid 10/4/25 Brenda Reid 10/4/25

The Power of Forgiveness: breaking the chains that hold us hostage

“But I don’t want to!”

I’ll admit, that was my own response to the Lord when someone offended me. I wasn’t ready to forgive. I had all kinds of reasons to delay forgiveness. I wanted to hold onto the offense, coddle it, and hold it close because I was justified to do so (and others would agree, of course!) There was security and power in holding a grudge. That person wronged me, hurt me, did or said things that were not right. If I forgave them, I would be letting them ‘off the hook’ and that would be wrong…right?

We struggle to do what Jesus asks us because we think that if we forgive, we’re exonerating that person from their offense and we’re removing their accountability for what they’ve done. “Lord, if I forgive them, then they’re getting away with it!” Satan deceives us into that mindset, friends along with the delusion that we have that kind of power. Ultimately, God holds that ‘other’ accountable- He sees and knows. They will stand before Him and answer for what they’ve done. No one gets away with sin. No one. Sometimes the law or the church can successfully bring justice or resolution, but be assured, the offense will not be forgotten, nor will it be dismissed in the eyes of God.

But when it comes to our sons and daughters, our protective parental nature steps up to shield our kids and make sure they’re okay. We will fight for them when they cannot stand for themselves. And we’re even more cautious and hesitant to offer forgiveness because we’re protecting our family and we want justice and to see payment for the offense.

“Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Matthew 18:21

When Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” (Matthew 18:21). I’m sure Peter thought he was being generous and righteous, taking the higher road, to forgive someone seven times was going above and beyond, right?

But Jesus' response turned that around. “Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:22)

Why would Jesus say that?

You see, forgiveness is not just for the ‘other’ person. Forgiveness is for us who are offended and who struggle with the injustice of it. Forgiving once isn’t enough because those feelings of injustice, hurt, pain, anger, bitterness and more come flooding back into our hearts in ever increasing waves and begin to put distance between us and God. Oh, we justify it by saying we’re holding that other person accountable. But really, we’re poisoning our own hearts in our quest to justify our hurt and bring accountability to the other. Holding that other person accountable becomes our full time obsession and consumes our thinking, our being and steals our joy.

Studies show that harboring unforgiveness has a physical impact on our bodies.

“Chronic anger puts you into a fight-or-flight mode, which results in numerous changes in heart rate, blood pressure and immune response. Those changes, then, increase the risk of depression, heart disease and diabetes, among other conditions. Forgiveness, however, calms stress levels, leading to improved health.” (1)

Unforgiveness can damage us for life and lead to a premature death. It can be all consuming and ruinous. Why would we allow something to have that much power over us?

The act of forgiveness releases that pain, hurt, and poison. But it’s never a ‘one and done’ act. We need to forgive as many times as it takes for our head and heart to recognize and believe that we can trust GOD to hold that other person accountable and to be confident He will bring justice- it’s not for us to ensure. Oh, if laws were broken and restitution is needed, of course it’s important to engage the legal system. But friends, it’s even more important to engage our hearts with the Lord and surrender to His Lordship. Why would we let someone else’s offense damage our relationship with God? Then their offense becomes doubly-damaging.

It is not our responsibility to be the prosecuting attorney in the courtroom of the Lord. That’s just not our job. Essentially, when we do that, we are putting ourselves in God’s place and friends, that’s idolatry. When we refuse to forgive, we are telling God we don’t trust Him to bring justice and resolution. We question His authority, His power, and His lordship in our lives when we cling to unforgiveness. When we hold onto an offense, it becomes the ‘third wheel’ in the relationship and soon, it becomes the focus and God takes a back seat.

Instead, every time we feel that anger, bitterness, and pain bubble up, we need to say “I forgive them.” Say it out loud, say it in your heart, say it to the Lord, and pray that He would help you feel that forgiveness. We need to continue saying it until we truly feel the forgiveness that releases us from the bondage of bitterness that would damage our communion with the Lord. We need to say it until we are no longer consumed by it.

Jesus told Peter to forgive seventy times seven because He knew how an offense and the resulting bitterness linger and unless we’re willing to give it to the Lord and allow Him to be our avenger, we will become hardened, bitter, and a victim of that offense all over again, and again, and again.

“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Mark 11:25

Jesus also told Peter, “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” (Mark 11:25). Think about that! Do we want Jesus to forgive us? If so, then we need to forgive others.

Do you ever feel like your prayers are hitting the ceiling but not reaching the Lord? Could it be you need to do some forgiving?

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37

Now here’s an important parenting moment….of course our sons and daughters have encountered hurt and offense…how do we advise them? And do we carry a grudge on their behalf?

Oh, friends, when someone wrongs our kids, the “Momma bear” can come out and take over, right? But if we want to be an example of Christ to our sons and daughters, we need to model Jesus to them. Jesus forgave those who crucified Him. Think about that. Jesus forgave those who put Him to death. He knew that He held the ultimate power and that one day those same people would stand before Him…His love for them and His desire to see them know and follow Him as Lord and Savior eclipsed everything else. Would Jesus deny them salvation? No! That was the very reason He was willing to die. And friends, that same Savior who holds ultimate power is the One who lives in us. That same power that raised Him from the dead is the same power that works in us (Ephesians 1:18-20). The same Lord who conquered sin and death is the Lord who is in control of every aspect of our life. Why would we set that aside for the sake of holding onto the sinful attitude of unforgiveness?

Do we have a heart for others that, more than earthly justice and payback to others, wants to see lost people saved? Do we want to see lives changed and surrendered to the Lord or are we clinging to our need for personal justice and accountability at the cost of eternity?

True freedom comes by praying for those who have hurt you. Pray for their heart- that they would find forgiveness and purpose with life in Christ. And pray that Jesus would heal your heart and help you forgive. There is so much freedom in forgiveness. There is joy, there is purpose, and there is a pathway to serving the Lord free from the chains of bitterness and unforgiveness. Satan uses unforgiveness to hold us hostage, but freedom is found in Christ and in the forgiveness He empowers us to embrace.

“Forgive. Seventy times seven and keep forgiving until God grants you the freedom from the bondage of unforgiveness.”

The best thing we can do is to pray.

“Oh, Lord, it’s so hard to surrender control over the situations and people who have hurt me. I know I don’t have the ability to bring justice, to make them pay for their offenses, and to restore what was lost. Yet I’m afraid to let go and forgive because it seems counter-productive and in my mind and heart. In my human mind, forgiveness releases them from being accountable. But Lord, I know You see it and You will take it in hand. Psalm 10:14 reminds me, “But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.” I am not Fatherless, Lord, because I have You. I pray that You would see my trouble. See the trouble of (name), my (son/daughter). I ask that You would bring healing and freedom from the pain of the wrong done and from the bitterness and anger that fester. Give us courage and strength to forgive, not just for the other person, but to maintain our relationship with You. Please help us to not allow this to stand in the way of our fellowship with You. So right now, I choose to forgive (name) for what they did and the pain they caused. I forgive them Lord and pray that You would work in their life, bring confession, repentance, and redemption so that (name) would come to know You as Lord and Savior. Help (name) to recognize that hurting others only tightens the chains of bondage that Satan holds over them and to understand that there is boundless spiritual freedom in following Jesus as Lord and. Bring healing and freedom to all of us, Lord. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Pray without ceasing.

Forgiveness: Your health depends on it. Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2024, June 20). https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/forgiveness-your-health-depends-on-it

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Brenda Reid 9/23/25 Brenda Reid 9/23/25

Don’t Ever Stop Praying

Are you feeling weary? Does it seem like you keep praying, day in and day out, asking for change in your son or daughter’s heart, yet, each day goes by all the same? Don’t give up! God is working and it may be there is a wrestling going on in the heart of your son or daughter that you cannot see. Pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to bring conviction and surrender. Pray they would grow weary of the wrestling and surrender to God.

Remember trying to change your toddler’s diaper? At times it was like wrestling an alligator. The rolling and twisting was top rate. It was a battle of strength and agility, parental will pitted against toddler will with grunts, cries, and frustration on all sides. Anyone watching got to see a full-on wrestling match, all in an effort to just change a diaper. The toddler wanted their freedom, they had things to do, messes to make, and naps to avoid. But the parent, the parent just wanted to clean them up and get them out of the mess they were sitting in. They wanted the best for their little one.

God wants the best for us, too. He is willing to step into the wrestling to get us out of the filth we’re sitting in. Maybe that’s just what’s going on in the heart of your son or daughter, a wrestling between their will and God’s. They wrestle and resist, wanting their own way, telling Him He’s unkind, unreasonable, and too demanding of them. He’s restricting their movement, harshing their fun. They don’t see their mess…or if they do, they’re satisfied with it and just want to be left alone. But, yet, they’re wrestling…and that means they’re engaging with God on some level. Don’t stop praying!

Oh, how we want our sons and daughters to be surrendered to God so that He can do His work in their lives, don’t we? Yet, they wrestle. They resist. And if we’re honest, we do the same. We don’t want to be told what to do and heaven forbid God points out sin that needs to be addressed. No one wants to hear that. Yet, we have a loving Father who just wants to clean us up from the mess we’re sitting in. He wants to give us a healthy spiritual life that is reflected in a godly testimony to others. He wants us to live like Jesus.

“We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:3-6

Jesus didn’t wrestle with the Father, He submitted to Him. Even when the Father asked our Lord to surrender His life to pay for our sins, Jesus did it willingly. So when we wrestle with God, we’re not living as Jesus did. We’re fighting God, kicking against His will and defying the Holy Spirit.

Keep on praying. God is working and though we may only see the battle, He sees the heart. He hears our cries..and theirs. He is responding and working in ways we can’t fully understand. He will not let them go, He’ll see it through because they need to be changed. God refuses to let them sit in their filth forever.

Let’s pray Scripture over them today:

Luke 5:12 “While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” Lord, I know you can make [name] clean. I pray You would give them the desire to be cleansed and healed from sin. Draw them to Your side, urge them to ask You for healing and deliverance. Help them to stop wrestling and look to You for rescue, redemption, and restoration. I pray that [name] would pray Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

“Restore to [name] the joy of Your salvation and renew a right spirit in [name].” Ps 51:12 May Psalm 51:17 be the prayer of their heart, “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”

Oh what joy that would bring to my heart, and I know it would fill You with joy as well, Lord, to see [name] surrender to You and be in a right relationship with You.

Lord, conquer the wrestling spirit in [name] and give them the peace and joy that only comes from You. I pray, Father, that they would see You have their best in mind, You want to bless them with joy, hope, and peace. Clean them up, Lord. Give them a heart like Jesus. In His name I pray, amen.”

Pray without ceasing.

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Brenda Reid 5/24/25 Brenda Reid 5/24/25

Battling Destructive Thoughts and Words

“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Proverbs 12:18

Imagine an old brick house covered in ivy. It looks beautiful and mysterious. The ivy creeps over the walls and the house takes on a different personality as the ivy spreads. But the ivy plant has root tendrils on the vines that penetrate into the surface of whatever it climbs on. Those roots attach the vine to the brick and mortar and begin to draw out the moisture. The vines spread and the leaves cover the walls and windows, blocking out the light. The vines will work their way under siding, in through windows and eventually, the ivy will damage the brick and destroy the mortar, compromising the integrity of the structure. Though it looks ‘pretty’ it becomes a silent enemy that will eventually destroy a house.

The power of words

Words can be similar to that ivy. They may seem innocent at first, just a surface thing that doesn’t do harm. But they can penetrate and cause damage, blocking out the light of Truth and drawing away the Living Water. Words can become dark thoughts that linger and penetrate into the heart and mind and cause destruction.

Our sons and daughters struggle with the battle against destructive words, even if they won’t admit it, because we know we do too…even if we won’t admit it. If asked to remember the kindest thing someone ever said to us, we might take a few moments to recall. But if asked to share the hardest or most hurtful thing, we can almost immediately call it to mind. Harsh words stick like glue.

This world is hard and the messaging that is being thrown at our sons and daughters is brutal. Standards they should attain to, but that are nearly impossible to meet; negative messaging that tears down their self-worth; comparisons that daily steal their joy - it all accumulates and festers. It creates a narrative that becomes their daily soundtrack. Sometimes we recognize the struggle in our children, other times they hide it well, but we know the negative words and messages are bombarding them and making an impact.

As believing parents, we have a responsibility to keep speaking truth into their lives, not just when they need it, but all the time. Will we wait and just ‘admire the proverbial ivy’ while it slowly and steadily destroys them, or will we begin to speak truth in ways that could transform their hearts and minds? Will we begin to tear down the destructive “ivy” of negative words and dark thoughts that would penetrate and destroy? We need to ensure that the messages they are hearing are Godly and right and will impact them for good. We cannot risk them struggling with dark thoughts that become deeply rooted and cause cracks in their spiritual foundation.

We can and should speak truth in love and point them to the power of the cross and the resurrection, not just when we see them struggling, but at every opportunity. There is power in the name of Jesus and the gospel is for everyone, everyday, not just on the day of salvation.

The best way to preserve a house from the damage of creeping ivy is to remove it- all of it. It’s not welcome. It’s destructive. And so it is with the words we choose to listen to, the values we choose to embrace, the practices we choose to engage in. If they are not Godly and we allow them to cling to us and take root, they will begin to change our stability and alter our spiritual integrity and obscure the light of God from our life.

So how do we best combat dark, destructive thoughts?

Scripture says “Take every thought captive” that comes from 2 Corinthians 10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Demolish arguments.

What is it that you are listening to? What is trying to define you? What arguments are speaking into your worth and value? Evaluate their truth and pull down those lies from the pit that are trying to root themselves into your heart and mind. Don’t allow them to take hold and do damage.

The arguments are what the Greek calls “logismos” and it means a speculation or imagination (1). Do you see? There is little basis in truth, if any. It’s a guess, it’s an idea, it’s nothing that would hold up in court because there is little to no evidence to support it. Demolish it.

2. Demolish pretensions.

Pretentions are those ‘lofty thoughts’. The Greek word is ‘hypsoma’ and it means an elevated place or thing, or a barrier (2). What are the imagined barriers or those obstacles that situations or people put up in front of us? What are those things that exalt themselves over the truth of Scripture? Are they godly? Are they worthy? Are they deserving of our time, energy, and emotions? If not, knock them down. Detour around them. Break through them. Don’t invest in them because when you do, you’re redirecting your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual resources to something that is not of Godly.

3. Demolish every thing that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.

John 1:1-5 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Evaluate the thoughts and feelings against the truth of John 1:1-5. Where do they originate? Do they honor and exalt God? Are they thoughts and feelings God would give you? Do they speak life and light or are they representing darkness, confusion, and oppression? Rebuke any thoughts that do not represent Christ - they are of the enemy and should not have a place in your life. Do not give the enemy a foothold. Tear them down and focus on what is good, just, pure, and lovely (Phil 4:8). If something is set against God, it is not promoting or sustaining the fruit of the Spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). The fruit of the Spirit is a great standard by which to gauge the godliness of thoughts, feelings, words, and actions.

4. Take every thought captive and bring it into obedience.

The Greek word here is aichmalōtizō and it means to conquer, bring under control, or to master (3). We have the ability to ‘pump the brakes’ and stop our wrong thinking. We have the capacity to arrest the wild thoughts, bring an end to the oppressive, accusatory dialogue and to, instead, set our minds on things that glorify the Lord. Is it easy? No. Is it possible? Absolutely!

5. Finally, choose to make our thoughts obedient to that which pleases God.

We must choose to do what the Greek calls hypakoē, which means attentive listening, compliance or submission (4). We must choose to bring our thoughts and feelings into compliance to God’s will, not leave them to the mercy of the arguments and pretensions that set themselves up against God and against His image-bearer.

Colossians 3:1-3 is the confirmation we need.

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” Set your hearts. Make the choice. Be intentional.

The enemy wants us to live in the darkness of death. He deceives us into thinking that we are condemned and we have no hope. He lures us into lingering in the shadows- but our Savior walks through the shadows with us and it’s because of His light we can see the dangers and be confident of His protection! He prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies, Psalm 23. We can rejoice and celebrate because Christ has won! We are redeemed! The enemy holds no power over us unless we allow it, and why would we?

Demolish it. Take it captive. Bring every thought into obedience.

These are the steps to overcome negative, dark, depressive thinking. These are the steps to a victorious mindset. We must choose where we will allow our thoughts to reside. We must choose what we will speak into the lives of others. It is important and urgent that we choose wisely and encourage our sons and daughters with the same.

Commit to pray

“Father, God, You see the struggles I have with my own thoughts and feelings. I know You see (name), too. You understand their struggles, their fears, their doubts and self-doubt. You see the enemy trying to leech living water and spiritual nutrition from them as he entwines his dark thoughts and casts his shadow of worthlessness and doubt. I rebuke this in Jesus name! I pray that You would help (name) to take every thought captive. As soon as those negative, questioning, dark thoughts begin to linger, I pray that they would capture them, rebuke them, and shift their thinking to what is right and true. Speak into them, Lord, their worth as a child of God, chosen and dearly loved. Strengthen them through Your Holy Spirit to demolish the arguments that would set themselves up against Your Word, Your Character, Your Truth. I pray that they would daily, moment by moment, bring every thought into obedience to You and Your will so they can live in victory. I pray that You would bring to mind Scripture that would encourage them. Help them to evaluate what they hear and choose to believe against Philippians 4:8 “...whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].” (AMP) Lord, You are able to transform their mind and I pray You would do that, even today. Let the words of their mouth and the meditation of their heart be pleasing to You, Psalm 19:14. I pray this in Jesus name, amen.”

Pray without ceasing

If you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus and you would like to know more, keep reading! Scripture says we’ve all sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Though we live ‘rightly’, do good, give of our time and resources, it’s not enough. Our sin is too great for us to atone for. But Jesus, the Son of God, came in human form to live among us and to be a sacrifice for our sin- for the sin of the world. He lived a sinless life and died on our behalf so that we could be reconciled to God. In our sin, we cannot stand before a righteous and just God- we have no good in us. All of our ‘righteousness’ is just like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). But God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Jesus became the sacrifice for our sin on our behalf. He paid the price for our sin once, for all. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God looks on us and sees Jesus. We are made holy and just. We are acceptable to God because of Jesus’ sacrifice. When we choose to follow Jesus, we make Him the focal point of our life, we pattern our life after Him and we live to serve and please Him. He promises everlasting life in His presence and an inheritance unlike any other. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you are saved.” Romans 10:9 This is not religion, it’s not a set of rules or a checklist of things you must accomplish, it’s a personal relationship with the One True God, the Almighty, Creator of the Universe and lover of our souls. Would you choose to follow Jesus today? Pray this prayer,

“Lord, I know that I’m a sinner. I’ve done many things wrong, thought things that were impure, said things that were hurtful. Lord, I’m undeserving. But I believe Jesus died for my sin. I believe He rose again from the dead, conquering sin and death and that He lives eternally. I confess my sin and ask for Your forgiveness. I want Jesus to be Lord of my life. I ask Jesus, that You would be my Lord and Savior. Forgive me. Cleanse me. Make me new and give me life beyond the grave. Thank you for forgiveness and for the hope of heaven. In Jesus’s name, amen.”

If you prayed this prayer, reach out! I would be so happy to give you some resources and some encouragement! Knowing Jesus truly is life-changing!

G3053 - logismos - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3053/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G5313 - hypsōma - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5313/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G163 - aichmalōtizō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g163/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G5218 - hypakoē - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5218/niv/mgnt/0-1/

Brenda Reid 5/3/25 Brenda Reid 5/3/25

Questioning God

“How long, O Lord , must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.” Habakkuk 1:2-3

Some might think that questioning God demonstrates a rebellious attitude toward God, a lack of fear of Him, or perhaps a weak faith. Others would say it’s not for man to question God, yet God has given us a reasoning mind that, when we don’t understand something, will ask questions and seek truth and wrestle with things beyond our ability to grasp.

We may even hesitate to admit that we’ve questioned God ourselves in the midst of tragedy, pain, loss, or hardship. Why? Why, Lord? Why me? Why now? Why this? Why not healing, rescue, deliverance?

Our limited minds cannot grasp the eternal, limitless mind of God. Yet we try…and then we get angry or bitter towards Him when we don’t get the answers we think we deserve or we fall into despair thinking that we’ve been punished or abandoned. Oh how our minds jump to conclusions!

Just as we explained to our sons and daughters as we raised them, there is a right way and a wrong way to ask questions. The same applies when we talk to God. There is a right way and a wrong way to question Him. Below are some steps to ensure the questioning is with a right heart and doesn’t become accusing and bitter.

First, determine your motivation.
Are your questions coming from a place of truly wanting to know and understand, or are they motivated by bitterness, anger, and a desire to rail at God? Because one is inquiry and the other is accusatory.
“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23
Have a heart of humility.
Know your place. Who is God? Who are you? Where do you stand in that relationship? Before we bring any questions to God, we must acknowledge Who God is. We need to humble ourselves before Him.

“I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’” Isaiah 46:9-10
“Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” Exodus 15:11

A great Biblical example is the conversation between Job and God. Despite all of the suffering God allowed in Job’s life, He was still sovereign and still very much in control. When Job began to question Him, God responded and reminded Job of his position and of God’s eternal nature, perfect wisdom, unmatched power, and sovereign authority:

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
    Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Have you ever given orders to the morning,
    or shown the dawn its place,
Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea
    or walked in the recesses of the deep?
Have the gates of death been shown to you?
    Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?
Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?
    Tell me, if you know all this.
“Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?
    Let him who accuses God answer him!” Job 38:4-5, 12, 16-18; Job 40:2

Job responded in humility. He understood his place. He realized that the Sovereign God could choose to do whatever He planned. It was not for Job to question, but to trust.

Then Job replied to the Lord:
“I know that you can do anything,
and no one can stop you.”
“You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’
It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about,
things far too wonderful for me.” Job 42:1-3

3. Take time to learn the attributes of God.

As human beings, we have finite understanding and experience. We are time bound and limited; we struggle to grasp the eternal and really anything that exceeds our boundaries or occurs outside of our senses. If we learn about God’s character and attributes, we will gain perspective on our situation and our distress in light of eternity and in the bounds of God’s sovereignty. It can temper our bitterness to enable us to surrender in the Presence of God and to HIs purpose and plan:

God is Eternal

“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” Ps 90:2

“Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end.” Ps 102:25-27

God is Sovereign

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.” Isa 40:28

God’s wisdom and power is limitless and unsearchable

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.” Isaiah 40:28

God is omniscient, knowing all, and He is omnipotent-all powerful. He has purpose in whatever hardship He allows and is fully in control over them.

“But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you.” Psalm 33:18-22

God has plans and purposes beyond our understanding

“Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, Who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.” Isaiah 64:4

4. Know that any spiritual discernment and understanding of the situation will only come through the Holy Spirit.

Our limited, mortal minds cannot begin grasp the eternal, spiritual nature of God’s work. We need the intervention and disclosure of the Holy Spirit to enable us to discern God’s work.

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” 1 Corinthians 2:9

Corinthians goes on to say, “But God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 2:10

“We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.” 1 Corinthians 2:12

5. Respond, don’t react.

Instead of reacting to the situation and circumstances, we need to choose to respond. Lord, what would you have me learn? What is it I need to understand?

Rather than allowing ourselves to cave in to anger, we need to seek the Lord and ask the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts and minds to reveal to us what God is doing and what his purpose is. It is the difference between being godly over being fleshly.

“The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” I Corinthians 2:14

We must ask ourselves, is our response a reflection of wisdom or foolishness. Are we trusting in circumstances or the Sovereign Lord. Are we willing to walk in faith?

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1

It’s easy to trust when you see things playing out logically, or in ways that benefit your goals and dreams. But faith is trusting what we do not see and having confidence in the promises of God, even when it’s not easily discerned. We must remember,

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” 1 Corinthians 2:9

When our sons and daughters encounter trouble and hardship (and they will) we as parents, mentors, and friends have a choice. What will we say in response to their questions? How will we counsel them? Will we react in kind and lose our self control, becoming angry or hysterical, or will we respond with Godly wisdom and the peace that passes understanding? If we know Jesus as our Savior and are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we should always choose the latter.

Questioning God is something that we all will do at some point in our lives because we will all face circumstances and challenges that exceed our capacity to understand and surpass our coping skills and overwhelm our heart’s ability to embrace. Yet, God is there. He’s waiting to hear from us, He’s ready to answer, and He’s always present to supply our needs and sustain us through whatever it is we’re facing.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Far too often, our reactions demonstrate we have more faith in the power of our circumstances to destroy us than in the Sovereign God of the Universe to deliver us.

Let’s be purposeful to point our sons and daughters to the cross. Let’s be deliberate about doing the same when we face hardship ourselves. Our children learn by watching us- even as adults. Let’s give them something worthy to emulate. Jesus and only Jesus should be our focus, our desire, our comfort, our refuge, and our strength. If we’re drawing strength and peace from another source, it’s artificial and cannot sustain us. Let’s go to the Authentic Source of life, strength, purpose and peace. Let’s cling tightly to Jesus.

“Oh Lord, God of the heavens and the earth. Before this world ever began, You were. You are always present and working. You always will be- You are eternal. That is more than my mind can grasp and for that I am so grateful. I know that my God is bigger than anything I will ever face, stronger than any enemy, and Your wisdom is more profound than I can comprehend. I pray that You would give me strength, discernment, and wisdom to encourage my sons and daughters. I pray especially for (name) as they struggle. Lord, You see them, You love them, and I know You have a purpose and plan that is beyond our understanding. I pray that You will protect them from bitterness. Open their eyes to see whether they are responding to you or reacting in anger and bitterness. Give them a humble heart to listen for Your voice and trust Your work. Lord, even when they don’t understand, help them to rely on Your goodness, Your lovingkindness, Your Sovereign power and Your eternal plan. Remind them of Your attributes. Then, give them strength and wisdom to seek the Holy Spirit for discernment. Lord, if they do not know you personally, if they are walking a path that is not with Jesus, I pray that You would use this situation to bring them to repentance and to salvation in Jesus through His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. Fill them with joy in Your Presence so that no matter what circumstances they face here, they know you have far better things planned for them in eternity with You, things that our minds can’t even begin to imagine. I pray, Father, that through Your Son, Jesus and through the Holy Spirit working, alive and active in their heart, that they would listen for Your voice, be ready for Your answers, and be trusting that You will never leave or forsake them. Give me courage to support them correctly, using Your Word and Your wisdom to point them to Jesus, again and again. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”

Be still, my soul! the Lord is on your side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to your God to order and provide;
In ev'ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul! your best, your heav’nly friend
Thru' thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul! your God does undertake
To guide the future as he has the past;
Your hope, your confidence, let nothing shake;
all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul! the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he lived below.

Kathrina von Schlegel (1)

Pray without ceasing.

von Schlegel, K. (1752). Be still, my soul. Hymnary.org. https://hymnary.org/text/be_still_my_soul_the_lord_is_on_thy_side#Author

Brenda Reid 4/22/25 Brenda Reid 4/22/25

Remedy for a Troubled Heart

“Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27b

“Let not your hearts be troubled.”

That’s easier said than done, right?

“Let not your hearts be troubled.”

It was what Jesus’ said to the disciples.

It’s likely we’ve heard that statement a lot. We’re familiar with the passage of scripture. But have we really considered the meaning of those words and the context in which they were spoken a little more closely.

It was at the Last Supper, the Passover, when Jesus predicted His betrayal and death to the disciples. There was much going on, both around the table and in the spiritual realm. The disciples didn’t fully understand and there were whispers of “Ask Him who it is” and questions of “Lord, will I be the one to betray You?” The Lord was trying to prepare the disciples for what was to come both in the immediate hours and in the days, months, and years following.

Ponder that. Jesus knew His death was near. He understood the pain and suffering He would endure. He knew that His death and resurrection would seal eternity for all who confessed and believed in His name, but it would cost Him everything to secure that for us. He also knew the spiritual battles would be strong and the powers of heaven and hell would be raging. Satan would rejoice, thinking he had won- finally defeating the Son of God. The demons would become even more aggressive against anyone bearing the name of Christ. Heaven would sorrow at His death and then rejoice at the mighty victory over sin and eternal death. And Jesus knew His disciples would face persecution and death because they carried His name. The battle was only beginning.

In the context of all of that, Jesus said something profound that we should ponder. He said, “Let not your heart be troubled.” Let not… meaning, do not allow it.

Jesus knew the disciples would be faced with a choice: they could come undone at the death of their Lord and hide in fear, or they could embrace the power of the Lord Jesus and be bold and courageous and do what He had instructed them to do. And Jesus knew, centuries later, we would need to hear the same message because we, too, would be faced with difficult choices, with mistreatment and derision for our faith, and with hardship and suffering because we represent the name of Christ.

Philippians 1:29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,

In this world we will have trouble (John 16:33), because this world is not our home. This world is the kingdom of the Prince of the Power of the Air- Satan (Ephesians 2:2). And we are aliens and strangers here (1 Peter 2:9-11), unwelcome by and a target of the spiritual authorities under the control of Satan (Ephesians 6:12).

Anytime we are faced with a struggle, with pain, with hardship, with terror, with uncertainty, we have a choice. We can either allow our hearts to go ‘there’ and be filled with anxiety and paralyzed by fear, or we can take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5).

As a parent, this is a daily struggle, whether or not we choose to admit it. We worry. We panic. We fear. There are so many things that can threaten the safety and well-being of our sons and daughters. But friends, giving into that fear is a choice that we make. It is socially acceptable to be a worrying parent. We let our hearts be troubled and we don’t make an intentional choice to stop.

The word troubled, in Greek, is the word tarasso, and it means “to stir or agitate, as if to boil water, to trouble a thing by moving it’s parts to and fro; to cause one inward commotion, take away his calmness of mind, disturb his equanimity; to disquiet, make restless" 1

We allow our minds to run with all of the scenarios, we worry, we stress, we lie awake at night and our minds tumble like a washing machine on the spin cycle, all of the ‘what ifs’ are followed by the ‘and thens’ and we spend more time meditating on the troubles rather than on the Lord.

When we choose worry and fear, we choose to model to our sons and daughters a lack of trust in God. We’re demonstrating that we are not sure He will do the best thing for us and for our sons and daughter. We pray for what we need Him to do, yet balk at surrendering our will to His. We try to fix the situation ourselves. We stay awake at night, working through the details in our minds and praying for what we want to see happen or the resolution we believe is the right one. We wrestle with all of the feelings, but friends, feelings lie. The heart is deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9) and to give in to the angst is to play into the hands of the enemy who wants us consumed with anything but Jesus.

Jesus told His disciples, “Let not your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me” John 14:1. When we are troubled we need to stop and ask ourselves, “Do I believe in God?”. If the answer is “Yes” then the next questions should be, “How am I demonstrating that belief?”.

We need to work on taking every thought captive and making it into obedience to Jesus Christ. You see, those worrisome thoughts and nagging fears are the arguments and pretensions that set themselves up against the knowledge of God. They distract us from God and pull us from faith in His ability to solve our problems and from believing in His sovereignty over them…and isn’t that exactly what the enemy desires?

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” 2 Corinthians 10:5

When those fears arise, when that anxiety begins to swell in our throat, when our stomach churns with worry, we must be intentional to take every thought captive rather than marinate in the worry. (I’m preaching to myself here, friends. I struggle with this too!)

So, maybe we are determined to capture those thoughts…but then what? The next step is Philippians 4:8,

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

We have to be intentional to refocus our thoughts. We have to choose to dwell on those things that will strengthen our faith in the Lord. We need to focus on the promises of God and choose to obey what He commands us to do.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

“And when your faith is weak, pray as the father did who had a son possessed by a demon and asked Jesus to bring deliverance and healing, “I believe, help my unbelief.” Mark 9:14-27

Jesus knows how much we love our sons and daughters. We would give our life for them- He knows, because He gave His life for us, even when we were undeserving. He has compassion on us,

“As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;” Ps 103:13

But He also desires that we would grow in our wisdom and knowledge of Him and His Word so that we would not be easily tossed by hardship.

When you’re tempted to worry and fear, let not your heart be troubled. Don’t give into the temptation to feed the fear. Focus on the Truth of Scripture and of Who God is. The more you dwell on the Father, the further the fear recedes from your thoughts and from your heart.

Take time to meditate on these Scriptures:

Psalm 17:6 “I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.”

Proverbs 3:5 5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;”

Psalm 27:1 “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?”

Psalm 31:24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord .

Psalm 33:20-22 “We wait in hope for the Lord ; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord , even as we put our hope in you.”

Psalms 55:22 Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.

Psalm 62:8 “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”

These seven Scriptures can be your meditation throughout the week. Write them down, keep them where you can be reminded. Know that the Lord, alone, is your refuge. He hears your prayers and He will answer…He WILL. His timing isn’t akin to ours nor are His ways - they are so much higher and better. Be careful that you are looking for Him to work, not looking for Him to follow what you determine is the best course of action. Surrender yourself to Him, to His timeline and to His plan.

Take time to study God’s Word. The more you dig into HIs Word, the more reassurance you will have in His Sovereignty. You can rest in Him, knowing He will always do what is best. Grow in your knowledge of Him, meditate on His words, rest in His character.

There IS a remedy for a troubled heart…do you want it? Or would you rather wrestle with your angst and insecurities. Sometimes we become too comfortable with what we know, even though it’s painful and hard. Get to know the God of the universe! Rest in His power! Hide in the shadow of His wings. Nestle into His loving embrace.

“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[f] 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.” Colossians 1:9-14

“Heavenly Father, I give you all of my uncertainties. I release all of my worries to You. I trust You. My troubled heart is too focused on the cares of this world and I know that is not what You ask of me. Take my heart and mold it into a heart that loves Jesus and craves time with Him. Give me a hunger and thirst for righteousness, not a craving for drama and anxiety. I pray that I would model what it means to trust and rest in You to my sons and daughters. I pray for (name) that they, too, would learn to trust and rest in You, not in the daily troubles that surround them. Lord, lift their eyes to focus on what is eternal. Help them set their heart on things above (Col. 3) and set aside the weight and sin that weigh them down and, instead, fix their eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of their faith (Heb. 12:1-2). Lord, I pray for the prodigal who is running from You. Lord, they are dragging the weight of this world along with them, their heart is troubled and their mind is filled with everything the enemy throws at them, yet they refuse to surrender to You. Bring them to the end of their prodigal pathway. Let them hit the dead end that shows them there is nothing for them apart from You. I pray, Lord, that You would be a balm to their troubled heart. Help them to see that You are their refuge and strength. You hear their cries. You will carry their cares and sustain them through anything they might face in this world and You will guarantee an eternity at Your side, where every sorrow is erased and every tear is wiped away. Lord, work in (name)s heart and mind today. Be the balm and remedy for their troubled heart. May Jesus be praised in every moment, every change, every heart that cries out for Him. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”

Pray without ceasing. Rest in His promises.

1. G5015 - tarassō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5015/niv/mgnt/0-1/

Brenda Reid 4/13/25 Brenda Reid 4/13/25

The Importance of Godly Parents

Throughout scripture there are accounts of fathers and mothers who, despite the social and political pressures of the day, raised their sons and daughters to stand strong for the Lord. As parents, it is our highest calling and our greatest investment. Careers won’t matter. Portfolios will be worthless. Possessions will rust and fade. But our children are the godly legacy that carries on and impacts this world for Jesus.

The book of Psalms testifies, again and again, of David’s longing to be filled with the Lord, be satisfied by His words and comforted by His presence. David, a simple shepherd boy, who became King of the nation of Israel, not by his education, not by his networking with other power players, but because of his genuine heart for the Lord. God chose him. How did David develop that heart for God? He said in Psalm 86:16, “Turn to me and have mercy on me; show your strength in behalf of your servant;save me, because I serve you just as my mother did.” And in Psalm 116:16 he said, “Truly I am your servant, Lord; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains.” It’s clear that David’s mother played a strong role in how he understood and interacted with God. David had a heart of obedience to the Lord because his mother modeled it for him.

We’re all familiar with Proverbs 31 and the description of the virtuous woman. But we often skip the first nine verses of the chapter. Take a moment and read that first verse, “The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.” A godly mother bore influence on the chapter that defines godly womanhood. She had a powerful impact on her son, who in turn has influenced people for thousands of years. That’s some godly parenting!

Godly fathers, too, are vital and irreplaceable. From the time of the garden, God modeled what that relationship should look like, walking and talking with Adam in the cool of the day (Gen 3:8-9).

Abraham didn’t become a father until he was 99 years old. Yet, he was unequivocally dedicated to following the Lord, to the point he was willing to obey God and offer his son, his only son, Isaac as a sacrifice to the Lord. Yet, Abraham knew God’s promise- that he would be the father of many nations. He also knew that promise came through Isaac. Abraham obeyed God because he trusted that God would do a miracle. God was faithful to His promises. And Isaac, he trusted His father. He knew that Abraham walked and talked with God. He knew Abraham was a friend of God. His father’s obedience to God meant blessing for the generations to come. Isaac chose to model what his father did, he didn’t flinch, he obeyed too. At the right time, God provided a ram as the substitution for Isaac’s life. Abraham's obedience provided a picture of Jesus’ substitutionary atonement for us. God provided a lamb. (Genesis 22). Abraham’s faith was the example for not only Isaac, but for us as well.

God doesn’t just ‘hope’ that we’ll understand how to parent well, He provided specific instruction. Deuteronomy 6 gives guidelines to the Israelite men on how they should spiritually lead their homes and how they should teach their children about God and His commands and promises.

These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. (Deut. 6:1-2)
These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deut. 6:6-9)

Though our sons and daughters are grown, our influence as a parent is not. We can continue to impact them through all of our days, and even after we are called home. How do we live? How do we obey God? Are we modeling trust, faith, and obedience?

Consider the question, what are we impressing on our children? Political views? Social norms? Or the power of the Word of God? Are we building into them so they can be an influencer of this world or for the Kingdom of God? We have a heavy responsibility and we need to embrace it intentionally and with a sense of urgency…for such a time as this.

It may not be our words to our sons and daughters, but our words to the Father on their behalf, that moves them to a deeper relationship with Him and strengthens their resolve to follow faithfully and fearlessly.

We are called to teach, lead, guide, and protect the hearts and minds of our sons and daughters. Yes, that gets harder as they grow into adulthood because our influence diminishes. Yet the relationship remains and in that, we can point them to Christ, daily. It may not be our words to them, but our words to the Father on their behalf, that moves them to a deeper relationship with Him and strengthens their resolve to follow faithfully and fearlessly.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Eph 6:18

The days are dark. Time is short. How will we parent in this season of influencing adult children?

Romans 13:11-14 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

Today is the day. Don’t look to the past. The enemy will dredge up every parenting regret that we hold. Rebuke him. Look at today and look ahead. How will you impress these truths on your sons and daughters for such a time as this? How will you model living a life sold out for Christ? How will you daily point them to the cross so that when they must choose, they choose Jesus, only Jesus?

“Heavenly Father, I come to You in the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in me. This world is dark and I see the enemy working in dark ways, yet no longer hidden but boldly working with such evil and hatred that is made to look like a righteousness that the world craves. The evil that reigns is so antithetical to everything in Your Word and against Your nature, Your character, and Your will. Yet it is packaged as ‘justice’ and ‘goodness’, ‘tolerance’ and ‘love’. When I compare what I see with Your Word, I see the deception. Do my sons and daughters see it? Will they take a stand against it? I pray that You would impress righteousness on their hearts, Lord. Holy Spirit, move and work in (name)’s heart and mind so that they long to follow Christ with all they are and have. I pray that their conscience would be burdened by the evil they see- don’t let them look away or push it off for another to address. Lord, give them a hunger and thirst for Your Word (Mt 5:6) Draw them into a daily time to be still before You and know that You are God (Ps. 46:10) Lord, let them pray with strong conviction and courage, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (Ps 46:1-3). I pray, Father God, that You would raise (name) up to be a strong man/woman of God, uncompromising, convicted to follow You, and heavily reliant on Your wisdom and strength, not their own. Lord, help me to model that to them. Help me to be a father/mother who is uncompromising in my commitment to You and let my life demonstrate what it means to be a man/woman of God. Make (name) strongly rooted in Christ so that the fruit they bear is a testimony to their faithful walk with You. I pray these things in the mighty name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, amen,”

Prodigal Prayer

“Oh Father, (name) is choosing to not follow You. Their heart is far from You, pursuing and loving things that defy You. I know You have the power to turn their heart from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to the power of God. Holy Spirit, I pray that You would convict and bring (name) to repentance. Lord, they are living in a far off land, separated from Your love and goodness, separated from Your holiness. Bring them home, Lord. Open their eyes to see the emptiness of what they’re pursuing and the rottenness of what they’re ingesting. The emptiness is there, yet it’s packaged as ‘good’, but the good of this world is rotten and the food of this world is poisonous. Pull (name) out of the mud and mire and set their feet on the Rock- Jesus! You have the power, Lord. I pray, in the Spirit, that You would surround (name) and guide them to redemption and give them a heart that would love and serve You. Raise (name) up to be a man/woman of God, one whose testimony would be a powerful story of Your redeeming love. Lord, I know You can. I pray You will. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Pray without ceasing

Brenda Reid 3/18/25 Brenda Reid 3/18/25

Rapture? Millennium? New Earth? What Will Life Be Like?

Recently it’s occurred to me that we spend a lot of time learning about how to live an effective Christian life now… but we pay little attention to what life will be like once this life on earth is through.

So much of our walk with the Lord is built on hope! The hope of heaven, the hope of our inheritance, the hope of living in Christ’s presence. But we spend little time learning about what it is that we are specifically hoping for. That’s concerning. How can our sons and daughters live in the expectation and hope of eternity with God when we spend so little time teaching about it?

We talk about the millennium, but we have little understanding of what we will do. What will our purpose be?

We understand that God will make a new heaven and a new earth and we will live eternally with Him as our Sovereign Lord and King. Yet, if you ask any believer, I guarantee, there would be more questions than answers and most only have a vague idea, at best, of what our life will be like at that point.

It’s no wonder we hear young people say “I do want the Lord to return, but I want Him to wait until… (insert marriage, children, career, travel, etc.) Our sons and daughters lack the longing for being present with Christ because they don’t have a clear picture of HOW it will be better than what they know right now. They’re only told it will be.

If I’m honest, when I was young, I didn’t know much about life beyond that which I knew and experienced to that point. When I thought of heaven, I pictured masses of people, wearing white, standing around in a nondescript cavernous space, singing hymns to the Lord. I mean, don’t get me wrong, who doesn't love a good hymn sing? But for eternity? It just didn’t hold the massive appeal that my parents and older believers said it should. And no one took the time to teach about it. Oh, there was teaching on the Tribulation, for sure, but when we got to Revelation 21 and 22, it was a quick fly-over with few references to the other places in Scripture that described God’s promises. For an extroverted, visual learner, it was a colorless, bland outlook. I struggled with guilt because it was supposed to be what I longed for, yet I didn’t know much about it and it didn’t seem overly exciting.

As I lived my life, I found joy and pleasure in spending a day at the barn and riding a horse through the woods. I communed with the Lord in nature, enjoyed seeing, hearing, feeling all of the wonder of creation while riding and being one with a horse. There was something in that experience that I felt and couldn’t put into words. I enjoyed walking through the woods, exploring, listening to the sounds of the birds and talking to the Lord about my hopes, my burdens, and listening to Him. I loved spending time with friends, especially those who shared my values and convictions, those moments when iron sharpened iron and our friendships were deepened in conversations about the Lord. Could it be that God would give me experiences and pleasures like this in His presence? What was it about eternity that I could really look forward to?

What was it about eternity that I could really look forward to?

Why would God give us a lifetime of doing things we enjoy here, seeing beauty, knowing love, feeling joy and pain, heartache and bliss, only to have an eternity of monotony? He wouldn’t and He won’t!

Oh, dear friend, that’s not what He has planned at all!! This life is a foretaste!! It’s a shadow of what is to come!

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

If we have good things here, IMAGINE the good we will enjoy in His presence?!

If we have good things here, IMAGINE the good we will enjoy in His presence?! God gives us continual ‘hints’ of what we will enjoy…are we paying attention?

““For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.” “But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing and her people for gladness.”” Isaiah 65:17-18

Jesus said, “I will go to prepare a place for you.” Jn 12:2 When we invite someone to come and stay, we don’t just welcome them in the door and leave them standing in the entry. No, we bring them in, make them feel welcome, we give them a comfortable place to rest and we entertain them. We have a meal, conversation, and share our lives with them. Jesus is preparing a place for us, just for us! He’s getting ready to welcome us into His home- which will be our home, prepared just for us.

That heavenly banquet…

Will we enjoy food in Heaven? Absolutely!! Our Shepherd will dine with us in the most fabulous feast of perfect foods, delicacies from every culture and land- created by Him for our pleasure!

““I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven;”” Mt 8:11

Imagine sitting with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob while we enjoy a banquet! Leaning over to ask the Apostle Paul a question, gathering around Jonah to hear what it was really like in the belly of the fish, listening to Daniel recount his hours in the lion’s den, hearing Jesus tell us that He loved us so much He willingly went to the cross to bear our sin- and He would again and again, but once was sufficient for all. Imagine walking hand in hand with Jesus in the fields and meadows of heaven, feeling that nail scar touching our own palm and knowing that if it had not been for His love for us, that scar would be our own and our destiny so different.

Worship is a way of life and will continue to be

But what about work and hobbies? Oh, I believe He will give us joy in working and creating things that bring glory to Him. You see, worship isn’t just going to church on Sunday and singing songs, praying, and learning. Worship is a way of life. Everything you do points to what you value. So if we value Christ, our lives will reflect that in the way we speak, work, play, and rest. It will be reflected in how we interact with others, how we celebrate joy and how we grieve and mourn loss. All of that will be heightened in the presence of Christ- imagine! He will wipe away every tear! Our daily lives will be a living model of worship to the Savior in all that we do, using our gifts, talents, skills, and in our deep fellowship with others who are doing the same!

Then there is His wondrous, glorious creation that awaits us! Imagine, if we enjoy being outdoors now, how much more amazing it will be in the New Earth where there is no corruption of sin, no thorns on roses, no sting in the scorpion or bite from the mosquito?! If nature holds us captive with beauty in a fallen world, how much more will it be in a perfect one?!

“The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.
The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” Isaiah 11:6-9

Shalom, once again

The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord!! Everything will be at ‘Shalom’ once again- in perfect harmony with God and in worship and celebration of Him. There will be no coup attempt from the enemy to overthrow the Lordship of Christ because the enemy will be banished forever. We won’t have competing values, or struggles with temptation. We will live as God intended, a return to Eden of sorts, where we will walk and talk with the Lord in the cool of the day and enjoy the work that He gives us in the perfection of His creation. The tree of life will once more be available to us and oh, the sweetness of that fruit! Life-giving, refreshing, and boundless! Ours to enjoy!

“I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7).
“…On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month;” Rev 22:2

There is so much yet that we need to learn. And there is much we need to encourage our sons and daughters with, even today. Are they truly looking forward to eternity with Christ, or is it just what comes next? Do they have an excitement for life in a sinless world? Do they comprehend what God has in store? Let’s have these conversations! Do we know everything? Of course not, but imagine the joy of discovery as we learn together! It might offer a little taste of heaven that we can enjoy here!

Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters develop an eternal perspective of what is to come, the joy that is set before us when we step into Christ’s presence and the deep purpose and fulfillment that are promised for eternity in an uncorrupted world where God reigns unchallenged and forever.

“Oh, Father, You hold so much in store for us, yet we don’t understand it and we rarely seek to learn more about it. I pray that You would assure (name) that their eternal inheritance is so full of the very best of everything You create, all that You own, all that You can so generously provide that we will be overflowing with joy, gratitude and fullness in Your Presence. Give them tangible reminders of what You have in store. Assure them that they will have purpose. Remind them of the deep and refreshing fellowship they will enjoy with You and with other believers. Show them the wonders of Your creation here and remind them there is so much more they will see and experience. Open their eyes to see wonderful things in Your word (Ps. 119:18) that would affirm Your promises of what awaits us when we meet You face to face. Lord, we await Your return with anticipation, but please help us to learn and understand more of what we are awaiting! Our minds are so limited and this sinful world is all that we know. Holy Spirit, work in us to understand the things of God more clearly so that this world loses its charm and our hearts and minds long for the next. You are more than we can imagine and how amazing is that, because if we could, it would mean you are limited and small. Oh, great God and Father, thank You for being more than we can grasp and for giving us the promises of greater things! I pray that You would move and work in this generation. Turn their eyes to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

If you would like more resources on God’s promises and the hope of Heaven and life beyond the grave, I highly recommend Randy Alcorn’s book Heaven. You can also follow his ministry, Eternal Perspective Ministries. https://www.epm.org/

Pray without ceasing!

Are you praying for a prodigal?

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Brenda Reid 2/23/25 Brenda Reid 2/23/25

God is Moving!

Just this week, there was a massive gathering on the campus of Ohio State University, in the USA, where over 6500 students came together to worship and hear the good news of Jesus Christ (1, 2). Over two thousand young people came forward to accept Christ as their Savior (that should give you chills!). And this isn’t the first occasion, in the fall of 2024, the Ohio State football team led outdoor gatherings, sharing the freedom, forgiveness, and abundant life that Christ offers with hundreds of students. The resulting outpouring of surrender and commitments to Christ and the massive numbers of baptisms that followed to testify to the same were evidence that this is more than a movement of college loyalty or support for a team (3,4). And it’s not just happening in Ohio, there is an awakening stirring across the nation among this generation (5).

Far too often the stories we hear coming out of college campuses are those of wild parties, fraternities getting into trouble -students doing anything but actually studying. But these stories are different…and they’re happening more frequently. What is happening?

Friends, the Holy Spirit is moving and we are witnessing an awakening of spiritual hunger, a recognition of the deep need that only God can fill. Young people are looking for meaning and the Holy Spirit is lifting the veil, helping them recognize that without God, life is empty, directionless, and spiritually dark. Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that God has set eternity in the hearts of man. Each of us knows, deep down, there is more than what we can see in this life and there is a longing to find it. Each individual is created with a soul- that breath of life from God that longs for communion with Him. Yet so many lack knowledge of Him and their understanding of eternity is clouded by sin and brokenness. But God! He is stirring that longing to know more in the hearts of this generation. Oh that this would happen across the globe!

I know we pray for our sons and daughters on this page, but can we pray for this generation? They are searching. They KNOW there is more than the bill of goods they’ve been sold by their culture, academia, the media, and the entertainment industry. They are longing for answers. They’re thirsting for purpose and meaning. They’re hungry for more - for that which satisfies. They want freedom from the bondage of sin and darkness and that can only be found in Jesus Christ.

“Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind,for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” Psalm 107:8-9

Satan is attacking young adults like never before. He knows that this is the generation that could either stand for Christ and change the world, or reject Him soundly and be the godless generation that solidifies the Satanic stranglehold on sinful souls. We need to pray that the Holy Spirit would guide these young men and women to knowledge of the Truth- to faith in Jesus Christ, to forgiveness, redemption, and the promise of eternal life with Christ and to an unwavering commitment to follow Him, no matter what may come.

Will you commit to pray for them? Would you, daily, stop and pray for the protection and salvation of this generation. Pray that the believing ones would stand firm and share their faith boldly? Ask that God would raise up strong men and women of faith (our sons and daughters among them) who would speak truth without fear of repercussions or persecution (it will come, Scripture assures us). Ask the Holy Spirit to move in hearts and minds and bring unbelievers to the Throne of Grace for redemption and justification in Christ.

“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.” Colossians 1:9-10

Colossians 1:9-10 is an excellent prayer for others. So let’s commit to pray at 1:10 pm each day for this generation. Set a timer, write a reminder, put it in your planner. This doesn’t have to be complicated and it doesn’t have to be long. This is just a pause and a prayer that these young men and women would surrender to the Holy Spirit, give their lives to Christ and grow in knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of God’s will and word, bearing fruit and pleasing the Lord with their lives. So when that timer goes off each day, pray for even just thirty seconds. Imagine the many conversations at the Throne at that very moment!

Consider how encouraging it would be to see the responses of a few, of many, or even hundreds who are committing to pray daily?! (There are nearly 700 people who follow this page… we can pray together and be a mighty force!) If you miss a day, don’t worry, God gives us a new day, every day, to use for His glory. Just keep praying!

If you would commit to pray at 1:10 each day, just respond - Praying! Let’s be an army of prayer warriors, not just for our own sons and daughters, but for this next generation who need to know Christ and to stand firm for Him. Let’s ask the Lord to stir a global revival in this generation, unlike the world has seen before! 1:10 PM. Praying!