Direction or Distraction: Practicing Discernment
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11
New opportunities can be exciting! They can mean new locations, experiences, and relationships. The possibilities seem endless and the world is wide open. This could be what we’ve been waiting for…or not. But not every opportunity is one we should take. How do we discern what is the right choice? How do we guide our sons and daughters in the process?
Remember when our kids would come running in, breathless and excited, words tumbling over one another in an effort to tell their news, the exciting opportunity, the new discovery or adventure they just learned of? Maybe it was a ‘business idea’ (my daughter’s lemonade stand, in the middle of January, snow on the street and not a soul in sight) or the chance to go to camp (no, honey, you’re only in first grade, you have to wait a few years). But as our sons and daughters grew and matured, the opportunities also matured and grew, “Mom, I have to tell you about this guy…” “Dad, I’ve been considering signing with the Army…”. “Oh, we wanted to tell you guys, we’re moving….to another state.”
Throughout their lives, our sons and daughters will be presented with opportunities, or relationships, or even goals that would help direct and shape them. But just because it’s presented to them doesn’t mean it’s of God. That’s where discernment comes into play. The first question to ask is whether this is direction or distraction. Is God leading or is the enemy trying to derail us? Just because something is ‘good’ does not mean that God wants us to follow it or embrace it.
Discernment is something God asks us to practice. It helps us understand God’s will, His prompting and leading, and gives us clear direction to go and do or stay and wait. But it’s not something we just ‘grow into’ naturally. Discernment is provided by the Holy Spirit through our fellowship with Him and through our growth in our walk with the Lord. The Holy Spirit will provide clear spiritual discernment, but we need to be listening and willing to respond to His voice and His leading.
Paul says in Philippians 1:9-11 “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”
Discernment is a product of our love for God that is demonstrated in our pursuit of knowledge of Him and depth of insight into Scripture. The Apostle Paul isn’t just talking about the act of knowing information but the knowledge discussed in Philippians 1:9 is the Greek word ‘epignosis’ which means “precise and correct knowledge”. It is the word used for “things ethical and divine.” (1)
We don’t just pursue knowledge, for the sake of accumulating ‘facts’ and information, but we pursue a relationship with God. Knowing the Lord more deeply, understanding His character, pursuing His heart will enable us to understand His love for us and empower us to imitate Jesus Christ and reflect Him correctly (Philippians 2:5-11).
In addition to proper knowledge, Paul also mentions ‘depth of insight’ or good judgment in verse 9. The Greek word here is aisthesis and it means “perception or discernment.” (2 ) The growth in our knowledge of God brings discernment and that discernment is the ability to “test, examine, prove, scrutinize to see whether a thing is genuine or not.” (3) Isn’t that what we pray our sons and daughters would do when presented with an opportunity or decision? We want them to examine it carefully, not based on ‘feeling’ but on knowledge and insight of what and where God would lead.
It’s all connected. Precise and correct knowledge leads to effective discernment and, in turn, that discernment ensures effective decision making- the ability to know whether an opportunity is a direction or a distraction.
As parents, we must tread carefully as we listen and advise. We don’t have the liberty to tell our adult children what they can and cannot do- they are adults and regardless of how much we want to just say “No!” Or “Wait!” We need to practice discernment as well. If we are too vocal, we risk them backing away or perhaps withholding information to prevent our opinions and interference from swaying them or from guilting them into a decision. We don’t want their decision-making to be based on pleasing us, we want them to discern clearly and decide wisely based on God’s will for their lives. Colossians 1:9 is an excellent verse to pray over our sons and daughters as they make decisions and discern whether an opportunity is direction or distraction.
“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,”
Then, we can encourage them with these two steps:
When we are presented with opportunities that seem amazing, we need to pause and pray. Is this of God? How can I tell? How would this create opportunities to use my gifts and talents in ways that bring Him glory? Is there any ‘caution’ that I see in moving forward?
Proverbs 19:2 “It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.”
2. Next, we should seek wise counsel. Share with spiritual mentors what we believe God is leading us to and to get their insight into whether we are being wise or whether we are only seeing what we want or hope to see.
Proverbs 15:22 “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”
Ask if they’ve spoken to their pastor or a spiritual mentor. Pray with them. Pray for them. Ask the Lord to clearly show whether the opportunity is a direction or a distraction. And understand that our son or daughter may need to hear from someone besides us. Pray for that person. There is mighty power in prayer. It’s not the least you can do, it’s the best you can do.
As parents, we need to have honest conversations with the Lord. Ask Him to put up barriers if the opportunity is a distraction. Ask Him to reveal those things that are of concern and are not of Him. Pray that He makes it evident for all to see, especially our son or daughter. But if this is God’s direction, ask Him to affirm it. Pray that He would make it clear this is the path to follow. And pray that He helps our heart embrace His leading too, because sometimes He asks our sons and daughters to go places and do things that are far away and hard. Sometimes He leads them to decisions that are not our favored outcome. Take heart, obeying God is always better, even if the direction is not what we would have chosen.
Discernment doesn’t mean inaction. It doesn’t mean resistance. It means active pursuit of God’s will, understanding His heart, His leading, and His direction. The more you spend time with Him, the better you understand and hear His voice.
Let’s pray for discernment for our sons and daughters so they can clearly see His direction and avoid the distractions that would pull them away from following Him.
“Father, You are a good Father. You love and care for us in ways we often can’t see or fully understand. You are working all things for our good and Your glory. I pray for (name) today. As they face decisions and make choices on so many things: relationships, direction for their career or life, locations to live, work, and worship, I pray that You would give them discernment. Grow them in their knowledge of You. Give them depth of understanding of Scripture. Help them to bear fruit that would give evidence of a strong relationship with You. All of these are necessary for Godly discernment. Lord, make them pause if they are leaning on emotions or ‘feelings’. Affirm when they are moving in the right direction. I pray that You would bring other believers around them to speak truth into them, encourage them, and yes, also caution them about potential dangers or missteps that would take them away from You. Lord, if (name) does not have a personal relationship with You, I pray that even today Your Holy Spirit would bring conviction and a hunger and thirst for righteousness. Stir in their heart a desire to set aside every idol and to make You Lord of their life. Grow them in wisdom and knowledge so that their discernment would reflect that which glorifies Christ, not themselves. Give them a desire to serve You and to please You. Help me to parent well in this season of adulthood. Help me not be selfish or controlling but to trust You and Your leading. Your ways are better than mine. Give me peace as I pray for (name). In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing
G1922 - epignōsis - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1922/kjv/tr/0-1/
G144 - aisthēsis - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g144/kjv/tr/0-1/
G1381 - dokimazō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1381/niv/mgnt/0-1/
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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/
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
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/
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
Where Do You Go for Refuge?
“I will say of the Lord , "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."“ Psalm 91:2
Recently we’ve had some crazy weather in the Midwest, so safety is on everyone’s mind when the forecast starts to look nasty. When the weather turns bad, the news stations break in and the meteorologists begin a real-time explanation of what is happening. When you hear them say, “Get to your safe place, now!”, you know it’s time to run.
But before storm season even approaches, people are encouraged to be storm-ready, with supplies and a storm-safe space to which they can run for safety. The key is to be prepared, to know where to go, and to be ready.
Earlier this week was just such a time. I was in a deep sleep and was awakened to sirens wailing and my husband saying, “It’s time to go to the shelter!”. The urgency was palpable.
Here’s the thing. We knew exactly where to run. We didn’t ask questions. We didn’t stop to ponder if there was a better choice. We grabbed the pets and made our way right to our storm shelter. We stepped inside, closed and bolted the door, and then we waited, listening and praying. But we waited in confidence knowing that whatever happened outside, we were safe inside. We knew where to run. We were confident of its strength and stability.
Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
As believers, we have the ultimate shelter that provides supernatural ability to survive the storm. Do our sons and daughters seek the same safety and shelter in the storms of life? To what refuge do our sons and daughters run? Are they running to God or are they pausing to consider their options?
Far too often we fall prey to the schemes of this world. The lies that tell us our security is in our financial stability, or our possessions, or our relationships. Those lies only serve to pull us away from the Lord and turn our eyes to temporary, insufficient things that will not protect or shelter us from spiritual attacks. Sadly, too often God becomes our ‘backup plan’ if our other options don’t deliver.
We resist embracing the One option that is fail proof every time. Why is that? Why do we resist trusting the Lord as if He has a spotty record of success? Has He ever been unreliable? Has He ever failed?
God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:5b-6
God protected Daniel from the lions (Dan. 6), David from Goliath (1 Sam. 17), Noah from the flood (Gen. 7-8). Scripture is filled with His supernatural, omnipotent deliverance that reaffirms His love for us and His extraordinary ability to overcome whatever we might face. He is sovereign, there is none stronger or with more authority. The earth is the Lord’s; He reigns supreme. There is nothing under the sun that can harm us if God is our refuge and strength. He is faithful. We can trust Him.
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. Deuteronomy 7:9
Our hearts should be burdened if we see our sons and daughters running to hide themselves in a semblance of shelter that is not God. We should be speaking words of truth that point them to the Rock. We should model what it means to find our refuge in Him. If we sit idly by, we give passive agreement to their misdirection.
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Psalm 46:1-3
Let’s pray for and direct our sons and daughters to the One who is their refuge and strength, and ever-present help in trouble. God needs to be our first and only option every time. He is storm safe, refuge ready, and powerful enough to withstand anything the enemy can throw at us. He WILL keep us safe. But we need to run to Him. No wandering in the storm, wondering if there might be a better option. We need to run straight into His sheltering arms and trust that He will protect and sustain us, no matter what comes our way.
For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Psalm 27:5
“Lord, forgive me for too often trusting in things I can see, things that I can arrange for myself, those resources that peddle false security to the gullible. You are my refuge and strength, You alone. I pray for (name) today. Lord, speak into their heart. Help them to hear You clearly and see that You, alone, are their refuge and strength. Impress upon their heart a desire to run to You for shelter and protection. I pray that You would give me discernment to model this well. Lord, be my shelter- help me not to complain or seek solace from anyone or anything other than You. You are my safe place. When life gets hard, painful, and stretches me thin, be that voice that says “It’s time to run to the shelter!” I pray that (name) would hear Your voice. Give them refuge from all of the pressures and pains of this life, not that You would remove them, because I know hardship brings growth, maturity, and a deeper love for You. But protect them, Lord. Teach them in that quiet place under Your wings. Show them Your love and care. Set them on solid ground so that they can withstand the storm and find their rest in You. I pray that as they find refuge in You, they would sing for joy because they love You and trust You. Surround them with Your favor, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Prodigal Prayer
“Oh, Father, my heart is heavy for (name). They are seeking shelter and refuge in every place but You. Lord, they are in the storm and the enemy continues to deceive them. I pray You would open their eyes to SEE You. Make Yourself real to (name) today. I ask that they would run to You for refuge and would find protection and shelter in Your great name. Draw them, Lord. Let your Holy Spirit speak into their heart and mind so they can’t help but be drawn to the beauty of Your Presence and the protection of Your covering. I pray that even today, You would draw them into a personal relationship with You. Show them their need for a Savior. Bind the enemy so his lies cannot interfere. Bring (name) to salvation today, in Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing
But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield. Psalm 5:11-12
When All I Can Do is Pray
“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5:16b
Sometimes when we’re faced with agonizing circumstances or with situations that leave us feeling helpless and hopeless, we fall back on the idea that all we can do is pray. And in that statement, we resign ourselves to doing less than we think we should.
But friends, prayer IS doing the very best we can do!! It supersedes any human effort that we could put forth. It is reaching into a dimension that is beyond time and space and is powerful and effective beyond anything we could do on our own.! When we pray, we stop relying on ourselves and begin relying on the immortal, unchanging, all powerful God.
God is everything we need in every way at every time. He is the only One capable of meeting needs, solving dilemmas and saving from desperation. Why would we think that petitioning Him is weak and ineffective?
He is our Abba, our Father (Mark 14:36). The One who loves us as His very own, who made us His children, His beloved, and Who has given us a hope and a future, and an inheritance that is fit for a saint and royalty. He provides lavishly because He loves us.
He is Elohim- the God who is Creator (Genesis 1:1). If He creates each moment in which we live, He can craft a solution and resolution that will bring our loved one from desperation into redemption and freedom.
Our God is Yahweh, the Great I Am, the Existing One (Exodus 3:14-15). He always was, always is, and always will be. He is eternal and able to do more than we could ask or think.
We raise our petition to El Roi, the God who sees (Genesis 16:13). He has already seen the hardship and heartache. He sees the desperation of your situation-He knows every detail. He also sees exactly how and when He will resolve it. Nothing is beyond His scope. He is able!
We kneel before El Shaddai, the all sufficient One (Genesis 17:1). He is fully sufficient and competent to answer any question, meet any need, and intervene in even the most desperate of times. His answers are perfectly complete according to His will and are for our good and His glory. There is none better to whom we can bring our burdens and needs. Why would we imagine that we could do more than pray to Him?
We pray to Emmanuel- God with us. He will never leave us or forsake us. He is with us perpetually and perfectly (Matthew 1:23) in everything and in every way.
He is our refuge (Psalm 119:114), our strength (Psalm 22:19), our strong tower (Psalm 61:3), and our fortress (Psalm 91:2). He always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres because He is love incarnate (1 Corinthians 13:7) (John 1:14).
It is a deception of the enemy to think we are powerless and “all we can do is pray”. We should not think of prayer as our last resort and the least we can do, but instead, as our first and best line of defense. Prayer is powerful and effective (James 5:16). We have a direct line to the God of all Creation, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the One to whom every knee will bow and tongue will confess that He is Lord (Romans 14:11).
Let’s go before Him now, whether it is for healing, for deliverance for a prodigal, for salvation for a friend or loved one, He sees, He hears, and He answers. Bring your burdens and bring the requests of those you have committed to pray for, and lay them at His feet. He already knows and already has an answer prepared. Wait on Him. He is faithful.
“Abba, Father, I come before you with a heart of hope, yet burdened with so many things. I know You see, you are El Roi and nothing is too hard, too dark, too distant, or too complex for You to understand. Lord, I lift (name) to you. You know their needs, their struggles and their pain. You are El Shaddai, the all-sufficient One who will meet those needs and solve those problems better than I or anyone else ever could. Help me to understand and remember that prayer isn’t the last resort nor is it a lame excuse for help. It is the first and best thing I can do for anyone because I’m reaching out to You, the Great I Am, the One who created everything and Who created my heart. You are the One who seeks fellowship and communion with each of us and You gave Your Son in exchange for my sinful soul. Lord, how could I ever think that prayer is a patronizing response to a difficult need. Help me to pray in the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in me (Jude 1:20) and believe, in faith, that You will do more than I could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). I trust You Lord and I will rest in Your almighty power, Your sufficiency, and Your perfect timing. I pray these things in the powerful and perfect name of Jesus Christ, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
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!
The Hope God Provides!
Hope is powerful and it’s what everyone is looking for in this life, isn’t it? We long for hope. We look for it when we can’t go on; when we can’t do it ourselves. It is what helps us hold on and endure trials, hardships and grief and without it, we wither and we fail.
But hope needs to be anchored in something unchangeable, omnipotent, and secure. Otherwise, that hope we hold to is variable and insufficient, erratic and unreliable. We become a storm-tossed dingy headed for the rocks because our hope is tethered to that which changes and is storm-tossed as well.
The prophet, Jeremiah, was just a teenager when he was called by God to prophesy to Israel. He endured ridicule, abuse, and rejection because he shared God’s warning of judgement for Israel’s rebellion and Israel didn’t want to hear it. He had a message that was unwelcome, though it was from God. The book of Lamentations describes Jeremiah’s suffering as a servant of the Lord and his lament over the hardships and awful treatment. Jeremiah 3:19-21 is especially important to read, “I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:...” (emphasis added)
Jeremiah wasn’t waiting on a change of circumstances. He wasn’t expecting an apology from those who mistreated him. He wasn’t looking for things to ‘get better’ so that his heart could be at rest. No, his hope was anchored in something steady, sure, and unchanging. His hope was anchored in Who God was and is.
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”
Jeremiah prayed for rescue, that God would bring deliverance and vindication, but that change of circumstances wasn’t what drove him forward and what gave him hope. He was calling to mind the character of God- that unchangeable, ever-present power that is unwavering and always for us. He knew the God who created him, who created the world, who was Sovereign over everything was sovereign over his circumstances and he could trust Him. He reminded his heart and mind of these:
The Lord’s great love.
His unfailing compassion.
His faithfulness.
The Lord is his portion.
The Lord is good.
The Lord provides salvation.
You see, if we wait on our circumstances to change in order to assure and secure our hope, we will be disappointed, in fact, we will be ruined.
Oh that our sons and daughters would learn to anchor their hope in Jesus Christ and not in the things of this world. Seasons change, leaders come and go, finances grow and weaken, relationships falter, but God is ever-present and strong. If our hope is in Him, we have nothing to fear! If they’re waiting on something other than God to solidify their hope and bring contentment, they will wait a lifetime being unsure and unfulfilled and they will cultivate an erratic rollercoaster of emotion and insecurity. Because if our hope and peace are reliant on things of this world, we will never have either.
God made this clear in His covenant with Abraham. God swore on the only unchangeable thing- Himself, to assure Abraham that the promise would be sure and true. He would make Abraham a nation. But that served as a clear message to all who would come after, that God’s unchangeable nature is the one thing that makes our hope as believers secure.
When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. (emphasis added) Hebrews 6:13-20
As believers in Christ, we are the heirs of what was promised. We have fled to take hold of the hope set before us. The hope of redemption, forgiveness, mercy and grace, and an eternal inheritance with God in His Presence. THAT is our hope! Do we live like it is or are we shattered by what we see and experience? Do we wring our hands as if there is no rescue available? Do we live as if this world is our destiny? If so, we’re in that storm-tossed dingy, anchored to nothing stable. But if we know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, our eternity is secure. This life is temporary. We are here to do what He calls us to do for the short time that we have. Our hope is anchored firmly and securely.
What are our children holding onto? In who or what is their hope anchored? Let’s pray that they gain perspective and the right understanding that Jesus is their hope and anchor. Let’s pray that they begin to enjoy the stability offered by God that, no matter the circumstances, His love, compassion, faithfulness, goodness and salvation are unchanging and that He, alone, is their portion.
““Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.” (Jer. 32:17) I know that You can change (name)’s heart and perspective to recognize and believe, with conviction, that You are the only anchor they need. Lord, speak to (name) today. Make Yourself real to them. Show them the unchangeable nature of Your character so that they stop trying to put their hope in circumstances and other people and firmly anchor their hope in Jesus Christ, their Lord and Savior. Father, I know this world is getting darker and the enemy is seeking to devour anyone and everyone he can before he is cast away. Lord, I pray that You would protect (name) from deception. Protect them from despair. Provide their mind and heart so that even in difficult circumstances or painful events, You are the anchor that holds them steady. Protect them from drifting spiritually and ensure they remain firm in their conviction and understanding of Scripture. Lord, give them a hope that is anchored in You so that others can see the testimony of belief, trust, and confidence in Christ. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”
Prodigal Prayer
“Lord, (name) is not walking with you and has a ‘flimsy hope’ that is dependent on circumstances and things of this world. They are continuously disappointed, disillusioned, and lost because nothing brings hope. YOU are the hope they need. I pray that You would make Yourself real to (name). Show them Your mighty hand. Make Your Presence known. Nothing is too hard for You. Help me to cling to You, my anchor as I wait. I know that my timeline is different from Yours and You are Lord of the clock, the calendar, and of our very existence. You made a covenant with Abraham long before I was born, yet I was on your mind when you promised him a nation. Lord, help me to rest in Your strength and sovereignty. Bring (name) to repentance and salvation so they are anchored in Christ, and nowhere else. In Jesus name I pray, amen.”
~Pray without ceasing
Are you looking for a resource to help as you pray for a prodigal. Do you know someone battling in prayer for one who is wandering? Consider reading 40 Days of Prayer for the Prodigal, a great resource to help you pray for one who needs to come to faith in Christ!
And check out the companion journal too!
Find both the book and journal on Amazon!
The Time that Remains
As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. Psalm 103:15-16
Last week our news feeds were suddenly filled with the tragic stories of two different plane crashes. The first involved a military helicopter that collided with a passenger jet in Washington D.C.. It left 67 dead and the Potomac River filled with debris and the bodies of so many individuals whose lives held so much promise. Then, just two days later, a Learjet taking off on a medical flight plummeted to the ground at high speeds. The crash filled a busy street in Philadelphia, leaving a scene unlike people had ever witnessed. Cars and houses were burned and a crater and scattered debris was all that remained of the plane.
All told, 73 lives were lost and countless families were sent into a spiral of grief and disbelief. Both tragedies hit close to home here. The first in D.C. took the life of a student from a university at which I have many ties. The loss is felt keenly. The second happened in my hometown of Philadelphia, where so many who I know and love live and work, some close to the scene.
None of those 73 people knew that day would be their last. All had plans and dreams. Many were athletes, competing to earn their spot in the national and world rankings with hopes of the Olympics someday. Others were professionals, making a mark in their field and working to make a difference. They were sons and daughters, sisters and brothers, mothers and fathers all making their way to their destination with plans for the next day and appointments in their agenda. But it all stopped. Suddenly. Without warning. Life ceased abruptly. And those left behind are left wondering, weeping, and asking ‘what if’ questions that can’t change the outcome. Each one has a story. Each one was loved. Each one needed to know Jesus as their Savior. Some did. Others, likely did not. And that is the real tragedy.
When each traveler stepped foot onto their respective flight, none of them knew their time was short. They each expected to exit their plane on their own two feet, headed toward the baggage claim. Instead, their bodies were recovered and identified, families were notified, and grieving began to take hold. When we stop to think about it, it’s disturbing. It’s unfair. It’s heartbreaking. And the eternal consequences are sobering.
What if we had some idea of the time that remains…of our own or of others? Would we prioritize differently? Would we be bolder? More joyful? Would we have a sense of urgency to tell others about Christ? How would we live differently? Oh friends, none of us knows how long we have, yet we often fall into the lull of the ordinary and of expecting the expected and doing what was planned. If we knew that the time that remained was limited, I suspect that we might change what we choose to do and say so that we make the most of the time God gives us.
As parents, we help prepare our kids for the future. We send them to school, we help them define goals. We give them guidance on a degree, a career, a relationship. But when do we take time to talk to them about the temporary nature of life here in this current reality on Earth? We do talk about eternal life, but far too often that’s removed from the reality of today. It’s a ‘someday’ thing, but rarely do we talk about it as a ‘could be today’ thing. And far too often our children have an invincible perspective that doesn’t acknowledge the reality of the brevity of life here.
For each of those passengers, their last day was the regular day that became their entrance into eternity. Were they ready? Did they consider their souls as much as they considered their boarding pass? Were they mindful that there is more to life than what is lived here and now?
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:14
It’s time to begin talking about eternity today with our sons and daughters. Bring it into the conversation. It’s important to recognize that at any moment, we can step from ‘here’ to ‘hereafter’ and we change dimensions, but also at that moment, our faith becomes sight! There should be anticipation, not dread, and preparation, not procrastination. We should be so ready to meet Jesus that we step into eternity and into the arms of Jesus with a joyful gasp and cry of delight!
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. I Peter 1:3-5
To think that there are so many people who wouldn’t have the relationship with Jesus to be able to imagine that scene is heartbreaking. Too many people are unsure of what awaits after death. Some believe that death is the end, there is nothing, they simply cease to exist. Others ‘hope for the best’ but have no assurance. But we, as believers in Christ, KNOW for sure that we have eternal security with Jesus in heaven. Why wouldn’t we feel compelled to share the hope we have in Christ?!
Romans 10:9-11, 13, “That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
We need to model for our sons and daughters what it is to use the time that remains in a way that honors God and shares the hope of salvation with others.
This week, let’s pray that the Holy Spirit leads and gives us the words to share the gospel with someone. Don’t force it, but let the Spirit lead. Pray that He would give our sons and daughters the words to share with others around them! Be mindful of the time that remains, both for you and for others. Whether God calls us home or Jesus returns to claim His Bride, the Church, we have a job to do and an urgency to use the time well. Let’s pray that our sons and daughters do the same.
Romans 10:14, 17 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Let’s pray together:
“Oh, Lord, You created us in Your image to be Your vessels, yet so often we take matters into our own hands, or we lose sight of our calling to make Your name known. We waste time or worry over time when You are Lord of time and we are Your servants. I pray that You would give us boldness this week to share Jesus with others. I pray for (name) that You would help them gain perspective of the time that remains. None of us know how long we have. Oh that (name) would live for You each moment! Help (name) to share Jesus with others unashamedly, boldly, and with joy. Lord, they need to know You!! They need to have hope for eternity and strength for today. As believers in Christ, we have that hope because we know You as our Lord and Savior. There is nothing better than the confidence and assurance we have in Christ. Give us the words and the opportunity. I pray for those grieving after the tragedies this week. Comfort them, Lord. Help them to cling tightly to You. Draw them to cry out to Jesus for salvation. Lead them into green pastures where they can rest and be refreshed. I pray that You would empower believers to come alongside them and share the hope of Christ. Help each of us to stand strong in these last days and boldly proclaim the gospel in our words and actions. Help us to live rightly in ways that bring glory to Jesus. In His name I pray, amen.”
Prodigal Prayer
“Heavenly Father, my precious prodigal (name) is headed for eternal disaster without Christ. They are oblivious to the dangers or maybe they just don’t care. Holy Spirit, speak to their heart and mind today. Help them to recognize they are in desperate need of a Savior and that Jesus died for their sin so they could live eternally. I pray that you would sober them with the realization that time is short and they must decide who they will serve. Lord, open their eyes to see the reality of their destination without Christ and the hope and salvation that comes with surrendering their heart to Him. I pray they would crave forgiveness, redemption and a hope of eternity with Him. Please, Lord, redeem the time that remains, bring them to salvation, restore the relationships that have been broken and bring joy where there is grief. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior and you have questions about how to have a personal relationship with Him, reach out! I would love to share the hope of Jesus with you today!
Lord, Give Them Sight!
Mark 8:22-26 “They [Jesus & the Disciples] came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?" He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around." Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Jesus sent him home, saying, "Don't go into the village. "
Our sons and daughters are living in a time when information is so easily seen, heard, and accessed from almost anywhere. That said, the ease of access does not guarantee accuracy or completeness. We may ‘see’ a lot, but do we discern? Though information is abundant, sadly, wisdom and discernment are not.
The account of the blind man in Mark 8 gives us much to consider and pray about for our sons and daughters. Though his neighbors and fellow citizens brought him to Jesus for healing, it’s uncertain whether they believed in Jesus or just wanted to see a miracle performed. So Jesus intervened and worked in some unusual ways.
Jesus removed the man from the presence of others. He led him away from those who wanted to use him for ‘entertainment’ or to satisfy their own curiosity. An audience was not needed. Jesus protected Him from those who could have taken advantage of or distracted him.
Sometimes those around us don’t truly desire the best for us and Jesus needs to move us away.
Jesus led him by the hand because he could not see. But the man trusted Jesus enough to follow, even though he left everything and everyone behind. He trusted Jesus meant it for good.
We need to be willing to take Jesus’ hand and let Him lead us, even if we can’t see where He’s taking us. Trusting God means leaning into Him and letting Him lead.
Jesus led him away from the crowd, from the noise, to a place where the man could be one on one with Jesus and hear his voice. As a blind man, he likely had very sensitive hearing and being in the midst of the crowd would make it difficult for him to discern Jesus’ voice.
We need to quiet the noise in our life- those things that would drown out the voice of God and the prompting of the Holy Spirit. We need Sabbath- a time of rest and listening.
Jesus worked in an unusual way. The villagers wanted Jesus to touch the man and heal him. Stories abounded of that and of Jesus speaking and healing. But Jesus worked differently this time. He spat on the man’s eyes and then laid hands on him. Though it wasn’t the way the man expected to be healed, he trusted.
Too often we ‘plan out’ how God will answer our prayer or solve our dilemma. But He works outside of those things that restrict us. He is not bound by time or space. His power is limitless. His wisdom is infinite. He WILL work. We need to trust Him and His plan. His ways are higher than ours.
Healing wasn’t immediate. Jesus was fully able to heal instantly, the first time. But He chose to make it a longer process. Sight was partially restored, then fully made clear.
Oh how we struggle with patience. We want it NOW. Yet, God has a plan that may involve our waiting. It is for our good and His glory. He is GOD. Why wouldn’t we trust Him? Notice, the blind man never argued, asked questions, pushed back on how and where God was working…he trusted, followed, and believed.
Jesus told the blind man to avoid the village and just go home. Perhaps the man needed time to ponder his encounter with Jesus. He needed to adjust to his new ability to see clearly. He needed to process all that happened without being badgered by questions or arguments. Jesus wanted him to be still and know.
We need to not rush to jump back into the fray but ensure we understand what God did…and is doing, before we share. Do we see clearly? Did we obey? How has this changed us? What does God ask of us now?
“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4
We don’t know the name of this once-blind-but-now-seeing man. But he represents many of us. We were all blind, and when God healed us from our sin, our spiritual sight didn’t come into focus immediately. It was a gradual process of learning and growing. If we’re honest, we’re still gaining insight into God’s word each time we read and study.
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11
This week, let’s pray that our sons and daughters:
Move them away from people who would distract them from Him.
Hear the voice of Christ.
Trust Him to lead them, even if they cannot see where they are going.
Trust the process, even if it doesn’t make sense to our human mind and understanding.
Ponder all that God has done and is doing so that their testimony is strong and sure.
“Lord, your Word is so rich with examples and truth of Your love for us andYour compassion for our frailties. You used an unnamed blind man to show us the beauty of trusting You to lead, to protect, and to heal. I can just imagine meeting this man in heaven and hearing, firsthand, what it was like to be led by You, touched and healed, and pointed in the direction of Home. Lord, I pray that You would work in (name)’s life this week. First, remove any influences that would pull them from You. Whether people or information, in person or online, Lord protect them from anything that would distract them. Lord, open their spiritual ears to hear Your voice. Let them listen carefully and to be still and know. I pray that they would trust You to lead them. Help them to lean into You, even if they’re unsure of the next step, You are good to guide and will protect them from tripping and falling. Give them faith to believe and follow without question. Help them to trust You, even when things don’t seem to be happening, when circumstances continue to be hard, when healing is slow to come. Lord, You are leading, even through those times that are difficult, dark, and seem to be lacking hope. There is always hope in You- You are our anchor! Our hope is not in this world, but in the eternal life promised in Your Presence. Help (name) to focus carefully and steadily on those promises. Give them clear spiritual vision to see that You have a plan and will that is for their good and Your glory. “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18. Give them the ability to see the unseen, to fix their eyes on what is promised and to rest in Your guiding hand to lead them safely. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen,”
Prodigal prayer
So often what seems obvious to us as believers is veiled to those who don’t know the Lord. The spiritual truth can be right in front of them, but they cannot, or will not see. They are desperately blind to spiritual things, living in darkness and listening to the voices around them rather than the voice of the Holy Spirit. Let’s pray that God removes the veil and enables them to see and understand their need for a Savior.
“Oh dear Father, my heart is heavy for (name). They are so blinded to spiritual truth. They cannot see, no matter how evident the Truth appears nor how strongly it is presented. Only the Holy Spirit can move their heart. I pray that You would soften their heart and make it tender toward You. Open their ears to hear Your voice and open their eyes to see Your truth. I pray that one day, (name) will say the words of the other young blind man who was healed by Jesus, “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" (John 9:25b). Oh, Lord, enable them to see and believe! I trust You, even in the waiting. I know You are working. Please help me to continue waiting with hope. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Big Things are Coming!
It’s a new year and that often inspires us to make a fresh start, set goals, and reset our focus and priorities. But one thing stands unchanged, our need for Jesus, time in His Word and time talking, and listening, to Him. I hope that you’ll come along with us this year to deepen your commitment to pray for your children, your loved ones, and for those who don’t know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. There are exciting things happening here at Join the PAC Prayer, including a new book launching this month- 40 Days of Prayer for the Prodigal and a new initiative in praying for prodigals!!
Friends, time is short. Jesus is returning soon. This life that He’s given us here on earth is temporary and we’re not meant to ‘make it our own’ but to use it for His honor and glory! What can we do in the time we have remaining to make His name known? How can we encourage others to live for Him? How can we pray more effectively for the family of believers to represent Him well? My prayer is that God would use this page to encourage and inspire others to live for Christ, to be bold in their testimony, and to raise up Godly young men and women who would go into this world and unashamedly proclaim the name of Jesus in their words and actions. Will you join us to grow in faith, commit to pray, and stand firm in what God has called us to do?
The format is simple, each week I’ll post a devotional and prayer prompt, and this year I’m adding “Prodigal Prayer” - a simple prayer focus that we can pray for anyone who needs to surrender their life to Christ, whether son or daughter, spouse, parent or sibling, or dear friend or loved one. Satan is working hard to deceive, distract, and defeat. But we have the power of Christ! The same power that raised Him from the dead is the power that works in us! (Eph. 1:19-23) Let’s pray like we believe that!
Come along with me this year and Join the PAC. Share the site and encourage others to join in! Let’s pray together! “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).
Presents or Presence?
In this season of giving gifts and celebrating Christ’s birth with family and friends, we look forward to time spent together. If given the chance, most parents would likely say they would prefer seeing their children on the holidays versus receiving a gift from them. The gift is thoughtful, but having our son home for a visit, or eating together with our daughter, sharing conversation with our children and enjoying one another’s company means so much more. The relationship takes precedence over the gift. A gift can be thoughtful, but it doesn’t embody the person. It doesn’t talk to us or give the warmth of affection, personality, or life. It’s a gesture, not a relationship.
Much like an absentee parent might ply their child with expensive gifts to try and make up for their absence, too often we try to do the same with God with our acts of service, our ‘checklist of righteousness’, our talents and offerings. Yet we sometimes withhold the very thing He wants most- our heart.
The child is not fooled, and neither is God.
God doesn’t crave substitutions. He doesn’t desire our sacrifices for Him in lieu of our being with Him. He wants our presence, not our presents. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. All the riches of Creation are His. He lacks nothing and there is nothing out of His reach, beyond His ability or budget. The one thing He wants is our hearts. And that, friends, is the one thing we can withhold from Him, if we choose not to surrender. Oh, our heart’s cry should be that our sons and daughters surrender to the Lord with their whole heart- no compromise, no negotiation, no cheap substitutions, but an authentic relationship with God Most High.
God longs for us to abide in Him, to spend time in prayer, to commune with Him, rest in His Presence and find shelter, peace, and assurance in Him. When we opt to ‘do’ and ‘give’ and think that God should be impressed and delighted, we miss the point. Our gifts do not take the place of the relationship with Him. Nor do they make up for our shortcomings, failures, willful defiance, or conscious sin. God wants our being more than our doing. Doing without being found in Him is empty and really, it’s false religion.
King Saul did that very thing. He opted to do as He wished and give gifts to God to make up for His rebellion. But God saw through his ruse. God didn’t accept the gifts. And Saul’s willful defiance and attempt at ‘doing’ sacrifice versus ‘being’ obedient brought his downfall and his death.
1 Samuel 15:22-23 “Samuel said, “Does the LORD have as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than a sacrifice, And to pay attention is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as reprehensible as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as reprehensible as false religion and idolatry. Since you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king.”
What do we want most from our children this Christmas? We want them to follow Jesus- willingly and passionately. We don’t want them going through the motions, acting the part. We don’t want dramatic sacrifices that make big impressions on others. We don’t want lavish displays of talent ‘all for the glory’. We long to see authentic faith being lived out every day. We want to see our sons and daughters crave time with Jesus. We want to see fruit that gives evidence of a heart surrendered to Him. We want to see them living in the Presence of the Almighty God and Savior and, in turn, living a life that is a gift to Him, all day every day. Fully surrendered and loving Him intentionally and authentically. A present is short-lived. It often doesn’t fit, or we already have it. Soon after the holidays it may find itself on a pile to donate or put in a drawer or closet, to be forgotten until another time. But Presence doesn’t wear out. Presence brings a warmth and memory that endure. Presence is investment in the life of another by way of time spent, words spoken, arms extended and hearts knit together. This season, let’s pray that our sons and daughters practice presence with God, intentionally, authentically, and regularly- not just for this season, but for every day of their life.
“Holy Father, You make it clear your expectations of us. Yet too often we try and negotiate the terms. We try to do things our way, substitute gifts for obedience, acts of service for submission, and sacrifice in lieu of surrender to You. Lord, I know you see (name)’s heart. You see through the facade that we all put up and You see to the heart- the true condition of what lies there, our loyalties and our cravings, our willful sins and those that are hidden. Lord, I pray that You would speak clearly to (name) today. Holy Spirit, call them into fellowship with You. Open their eyes to recognize the emptiness of things and actions without Jesus. Help them crave time with You. Let their ‘being’ in Christ motivate their ‘doing’ that gives evidence of fruit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. A selfish heart can’t produce those, only a heart that is truly surrendered to You. Lord, have your way with (name). May they give You their whole heart, every day, without reservation, so that You, in turn, can give them abundant life. Lord, I pray that You would give me the gift of seeing (name) follow after You authentically and intentionally from this point onward. Lord, do a work in (name)’s heart and life. May You be pleased with them and may it be for Your honor and glory, in Jesus’ name, amen.
On a personal note…
Thank you for following along in 2024. It’s been a joy to have you all read and pray- I know God is working in our sons and daughters, and He’s working in our hearts, too!
I will be taking a brief break to spend time with my own sons and daughters for the next couple of weeks. But don’t worry, Join the PAC Prayer will be back in 2025 with more devotionals and prayers….and a NEW BOOK releasing on Amazon soon!! - Stay tuned for updates on the new title: 40 Days of Prayer for the Prodigal.
“For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” Romans 11:36
I pray you have a blessed celebration of Christ’s birth and a wonderful new year. Look ahead and be excited about what God is doing! He is moving and working and I’m confident He will show us great things in the year to come!
Pray without ceasing!
Prayer is Never Pointless
“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15
Friends, prayer is never pointless. Although we may not see anything happening, it's only because we are human, limited and bound by time and space. But we must be mindful, that all around us, there are conversations, battles, and mighty warriors (heavenly hosts) who are protecting, fighting for and guarding us with the Father's direction, permission and power.
“For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11
There are ministering angels who do His bidding and who support God's chosen and dearly loved children according to His will and the needs present.
“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1:14
There are realms that we cannot see (and I don't think we would want to), but we must acknowledge are there. The spiritual world is larger than the one we operate in daily... and that should be a comfort to us, because that means our God is bigger than anything we can comprehend and He is able to do more than we could ask or imagine. I trust Him.
So, today, though it may seem like your prayers are falling flat, trust that God is working in mighty ways, in and around you and in others who will impact you and whose lives may, at some point, intersect yours. Know that prayer is a threshold to eternity and we are welcome to step into that conversation with God any time, any place and bring our burdens and joys to Him. Friends, you can be sure He is working. There is more to this than just you and I...and isn't that a comfort?!
Here’s a challenge: set a time for five minutes, then get on your knees and talk to the Lord. Pour out your heart. List those things that weigh heavily. Name those people who need Godly intervention. Call out those battles, obstacles, and opposition that seem insurmountable. They are not too high, too wide, too long or too deep for God to overcome. When the time goes off, stop and consider, you just spent five minutes in the spiritual realm of prayer with the God of Glory. The Almighty Name above all names. The One to whom every knee will bow and tongue confess His lordship. You went there, and you can go again and again, as often as you like and stay as long as you wish. Prayer is a sweet time of communion with your Lord and Savior. Next time, set your timer for ten minutes and spend half of the time praying…and the other half listening. God longs to hear your voice, but He also wants you to hear His.
Pray without ceasing.
How Fresh is Your Fruit?
“But when he [John] saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” Matthew 3:7-8
When I was a little girl, my grandmother lived right next door. I spent time at her house nearly every day. Each time I walked up the steps and into her dining room, the first thing I saw was the dining room table with it’s centerpiece - a bowl of fruit. The bowl was a beautiful green glass with a ruffled edge and it had an unusual shape. But what really occupied my attention was the fruit inside of the bowl. It looked real to my little eyes, but it wasn’t. I would poke the apple and squeeze the grapes, yet they didn’t have any life in them. They looked the same, day in and day out.
At first glance, a visitor might see fruit that resembled something authentic, but upon closer inspection, they would realize it was fake. It had no substance. It provided no nourishment. It wasn’t the product of being connected to a tree or vine. It was plastic. Eventually, the plastic fruit was thrown away. It wasn’t worth keeping- it was fake. And when it was tossed, it didn’t sink into the earth to produce more fruit, no, it just went to a landfill- rubbish with no value.
John the Baptist called out the Pharisees and Sadducees on the same issue. He first called them a brood of vipers- snakes who were shrewd, sly, and full of poison. Then he challenged them to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance!”. The fruit these men exhibited was artificial- it was a product of following rules, of evaluating themselves in comparison to others who didn’t know as much or follow the rules as well (in that case, they were sure to always come out on top). Oh, the Pharisees and Sadducees knew how to use Scripture, of that we can be sure. But they didn’t use it to teach and encourage, no, they used it to intimidate and oppress others. Their knowledge was used to gain power over others and elevate their own standing.
These men stood in judgment over others as if they had the authority by God to do so. Their fruit was self-manufactured and synthetic. It didn’t give evidence of life, nor did it give evidence of being connected to the Vine- Jesus. It didn’t nourish others and it didn’t produce a harvest. No, it was just legalistic rule-following, all for show and to earn the praise of men. It manifested as anger, pride, arrogance, and entitlement. The Pharisees and Sadducees had plastic faith and fake fruit.
“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.” Ephesians 5:6
So what distinguishes real fruit from something that ‘looks’ similar, but is fake? Real fruit has a fragrance that draws people to want to enjoy it. It brings refreshment and nourishment. It is alive with colors that are vibrant because they’re all natural and a product of creation, not manufacturing. When the seeds of real fruit are planted they sink into the fertile soil and produce more fruit.
Isn’t that what the Holy Spirit does in our hearts? He cultivates real fruit that is fragrant and nourishing. The fruit benefits not only us, but those around us. He produces in us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. He grows those character qualities in us that are so appealing that others want to be near, to learn more, to be blessed by us because it’s not us...but God IN us that affects the change and brings the fruit. When we are in Christ, He works in us and through us to show others the life that is transforming us into the likeness of Jesus.
“For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” 2 Corinthians 2:15
Godly fruit is nothing we can manufacture in ourselves because we have no power to transform our own hearts and minds- that is always, only Jesus in us producing fruit in keeping with His likeness.
“For the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth.”Ephesians 5:9
This week, let’s pray that our sons and daughters have clear discernment to recognize fake fruit. There are ‘Pharisees and Sadducees’ all around us, even today. Pray that they would seek to listen to those who are connected to the Vine-producing real fruit and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide their words and actions versus those with selfish ambition and vain conceit.
Pray, too, that they would allow Christ to work in their heart and mind to produce authentic fruit- evidence of a life lived in pursuit of Jesus. Pray they would surround themselves with others who are also pursuing Jesus. Philippians 1:9-11 is a wonderful prayer. Let’s pray for real fruit
“Heavenly Father, You are the Creator and Sustainer. You cultivated the Garden and placed man there for fellowship with You. Though sin destroyed it, You made a way, through Jesus, that we can enjoy fellowship and life with You. I pray that You would work in (name) today. Cultivate authentic fruit in their life that gives evidence of their faith in Christ. Keep them from the temptation to be a people-pleaser, going through the motions and saying words only to get the affirmation of others or to ‘look the part’. I pray, Holy Spirit, that you would grow in them love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Those with fake fruit don’t demonstrate these qualities. Help me to give evidence as well, so that when my family sees me, they don’t see a synthetic faith, but genuine love for Jesus that produces fruit that is sweet and refreshing. Lord, change me, grow me, and help me to live out my faith with confidence in Jesus alone. Let the fragrance of my faith be such that others would catch the fragrance of Jesus and they would breath deeply of Him. Lord, I pray the words of Paul in Philippians 1:9-11 for (name), “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” Lord, fill them with the fruit of righteousness and let it grow, let it flourish, let it be authentic and beautiful for the glory and praise of Jesus, in His name I pray, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Teach Them to Love Jesus
“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5
We’ve taught our sons and daughters many things over the years, often by talking to them and repeating words and phrases and the truths of Scripture, but more often, by being an example to them. When we taught them how to tie their shoes, we didn’t just say it, we showed them- over and over, until they could do it themselves, and then we praised their efforts. We taught them how to be self-sufficient, mature, and how to live with integrity.
When it comes to teaching our sons and daughters the truths of faith, our words carry weight, but our example speaks more loudly. Friends, we need to live it out in front of them. Our words don’t have nearly as much impact as our actions, our attitudes, and the demonstration of our love and commitment to Jesus being lived out in our daily life. It cannot be “do as I say, not as I do”. They’re adults. They will do what they choose. But if we live out our faith, consistently, circumspectly, putting Jesus at the forefront, always, our lives will reflect His character and our actions will demonstrate our priority of faith. Because, if we’re honest, it’s not that we want our kids to do what we say…we want them to do what Jesus says.
Think back to your days in elementary school. Do you remember the lessons? Do you recall how you learned fractions or reading? It’s possible vague details will return, but if asked about your teacher, you would immediately begin to give a description of how your teacher interacted with you and made you feel important, seen, and valued. The teacher had a lot to say, but what impacted us was their character and actions toward us.
“I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.” Philippians 3:12b-15
As we live out our Christian walk, are we investing more time and energy into words, or actions? Are we trying to convince others (especially our sons and daughters) that what we believe is right and true, or are we modeling it to them? We must be cautious because we can weary others by always trying to prove our point. Paul says “and if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.” Paul was assuring the Philippians that by pursuing the Lord, God would make clear what is right and true. It wasn’t up to Paul and the church to correct people’s thinking. Should we speak truth? Absolutely! Can we demand or pressure others to follow it.? Not so much. It’s a heart-decision that only the Holy Spirit can motivate.
Though our sons and daughters are grown, we still feel that burden to know that they are walking with the Lord. That burden may inspire us to speak a bit too much, press a little too hard, to try and sway their thinking. But friends, we are still teaching them when we interact with them by living out our faith. We demonstrate how to be a disciple when we consistently follow the Lord, pursue personal time with Him, memorize His word and obey His commands. We model what it means to love when we are patient, kind, unselfish, and forgiving (1 Corinthians 13). We show them the strength and humility that accompanies asking forgiveness when we apologize for saying what we shouldn’t or doing something hurtful. We are not above that, at any age.
Our interaction with them says more than our words ever could. It communicates that God is what is most important to us and we will always submit to Him, making Him the head, the Lord, and the Shepherd of our hearts. He is the One to whom we surrender all of ourselves, and that will be reflected in our life, so more than in our words. Take a moment to check yourself, is that what your life demonstrates? Could others testify to it… would they?
Model Jesus to your sons and daughters at every opportunity. Let your actions speak loudly and let the Holy Spirit do His work.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:” Philippians 2:3-5
Pray that they would love Jesus authentically and that He would be the foundation upon which they build their life.
Pray without ceasing.
Praying for a Godly Spouse
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:10-12
As our sons and daughters grow into adulthood, our ability to impact their choices begins to diminish. We hope and pray that the things we taught them about God, about Scripture, about living a life that pleases the Lord, are deeply rooted. But we no longer have the ability to steer them away from influences that may be negative or unproductive and we have little say in the friends they choose, especially if they’re living at a distance. Parenting adult children is challenging.
When it comes to finding a spouse, there are challenges there, too. Though we hope our son or daughter would choose to make their decision based on our discernment and approval, by the time the relationship reaches that point, our beloved child may have already made up their mind… our input is just a formality. That’s hard to take, isn’t it?
But we’re not powerless! Not at all. We can make a huge impact on their life choices by talking to the Father and asking for His guidance, His intervention, and His protection. We can ask the He would give our son or daughter His best- better than we could choose or imagine!
So, how do we pray? Many of us likely began praying when our children were just little ones, praying that God would be preparing a godly husband or wife for them. Here’s the thing, don’t stop. Don’t stop praying like that. God will bring the right person at the right time, or make it clear He has a plan that asks our son or daughter to remain single. We need to be okay with that. We need to pray that our children would be okay with whatever God asks of them, too. Because isn’t that the best?
Here are some prayer points we can pray for both future husbands and future wives, and for our sons and daughters, all tied to Scripture.
Pray that they would be like Christ and that He would mold them and shape their heart and mind to be like Him. (Philippians 2:5; Ephesians 4:14-15)
Ask the Lord to make their words (and heart) authentic, not just filled with knowledge, but seasoned with grace (I Corinthians 13:1; Colossians 4:6)
Pray they would exhibit patience and kindness (1 Corinthians 13:4)
they would not be jealous or envious, but truly want the best for others and would celebrate when they have success or honor (1 Corinthians 13:4; Romans 12:15)
Ask God to help them value others before themselves (Philippians 2:3)
Pray that they would have a precise and correct knowledge of Scripture that would enable them to love others well (not to be puffed up with knowledge) and that they would be discerning in the teaching they listen to and the leaders they follow. (Philippians 1:9)
Pray that they would hide God’s word in their heart to keep them from sin (Psalm 119:11)
And pray that God’s word would be a lamp to their feet and a light to their path (Psalm 119:105)
Pray God’s protection over them, so they would keep their way pure by living according to God’s word (Psalm 119:9)
Ask the Lord to keep them legalism and that He would help them truly understand God’s grace and the freedom He gives to trust Jesus alone for salvation (Ephesians 2:8; 2 Timothy 1:9).
Pray that they would not lean into the world’s standards or be pressured to compromise to be accepted, but that they would stand for God’s truth, unwaveringly. (Hebrews 10:23)
Ultimately, pray that God would cultivate two people who, together, would have a godly marriage that would reflect Christ and the Church, surrender and obedience, love and protection, selflessness and sacrifice no matter the circumstances, because their hope is in Jesus and not in the other person to whom they are married.
There are so many things we can pray to this end; this is just the start. Add to the list as you pray and let the Holy Spirit guide your words and your petitions. The words of Scripture are always powerful and effective, it is the most you can do. Let’s God’s word do the speaking for you.
And pray for both the ‘unknown’ future spouse and for your son or daughter, that God would prepare their hearts and cultivate in them the qualities that are important for a God-centered relationship to be developed in His time and His way.
If your son or daughter is already married, pray that God would grow them in these areas. Pray that He would build a strong, God-honoring marriage that would be a testimony of His grace and redemption.
Why not write out a prayer, and then, when the time is right, share it with the one for whom you’ve been praying. What a precious gift that could be for the ‘other’, knowing that they’ve been prayed for and seeing the Scripture that’s been spoken over them, even before they were known to you.
Pray without ceasing!
God Teaches Us Prayer Through Parenting
It’s likely we all pray every day, in some form or fashion. Whether it’s giving thanks before a meal or a quick ‘rocket’ prayer for help or intervention. But what about a dedicated time of prayer each day when we’re talking and listening to the Lord, deeply and intentionally interacting with Him, being still before Him and waiting on Him?
If we’ve parented, or cared for children at all, whether they were our own or belonged to others, we’ve undergone a sort of prayer ‘boot camp’ whether we realize it or not. The skills and habits we developed in taking care of children are those God wants us to use to be more effective in prayer.
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2
The Apostle Paul used the word ‘devote’ to impress on us the need for more than just “minute prayers”. It is the Greek word ‘proskartereō’ and it means “to be earnest towards, to persevere, be constantly diligent, or (in a place) to attend assiduously all the exercises, or (to a person) to adhere closely to (as a servitor):—attend (give self) continually.” (1)
Constantly diligent. Doesn’t that describe parenthood? And if we had a busy, adventurous, adrenaline-seeking child, well, that diligence shot to a whole new level. Whether it is an infant, a toddler, really, a child of any age, a parent is constantly diligent because they need to be aware of the dangers, aware of where that little one is, what they’re doing, and be continually ready to intervene. Isn’t that so much like prayer? Always watching, diligently aware, ready to intervene, attending continually. Oh how God gives us such tangible examples of what our walk and talk with Him should be like! Do we recognize it? Do we practice that?
Then, He tells us to be watchful. The Greek word is grēgoreō and it means “to be watchful in, employ the most conscientious care in a thing.” (2) Again, our parenting prepares us well for how we should pray. And God tells us so often to be watchful:
Matthew 24:42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”
Matthew 25:13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
1 Corinthians 16:13 “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”
1 Thessalonians 5:6 “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake (alert) and sober.”
1 Peter 5:8 “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
We wouldn’t dream of leaving our children to fend for themselves for days on end, we wouldn’t dare let them venture into dangerous places or with questionable or unsafe people. No, we are always alert and awake, watching and caring. Even as they move into adulthood, our parental watchfulness isn’t easily released. Friends, that is how God wants us to pray. Alert to the dangers at hand and to the enemy who stalks; ever awake and watching for His return. It could happen today!
Finally, Scripture tells us to be thankful. eucharistia is “gratitude; actively, grateful language (to God, as an act of worship).” (3) Maybe it’s time for a checkup. Is our prayer life an act of worship? Or does it more resemble the ‘instacart’ of our spiritual life, checking off our order and waiting for the delivery?
Devoted, watchful and thankful. That’s the kind of prayer life we need to engage in daily and that which we need to model to our families and to the body of believers. Look around you. This world is on fire. Things are not getting better. Sin is rampant and celebrated. What is right is ridiculed as wrong and offensive. Those who stand for Godly principles are mocked, persecuted, and in some countries, executed. Time is short and Jesus’ return is near. What do we want our sons and daughters to know and remember? Our awareness of the times should increase and deepen our prayer life.
Let’s get on our knees this week in devoted prayer- constantly diligent. Let’s be watchful and pray for what is going on around us and for those who are engaging in spiritual battles. Let’s pray for the Body of Christ, the fellowship of believers, interceding for their spiritual growth and protection. Then, worship the Lord in prayer through thankfulness.
Be thankful we CAN pray- we have that privilege and access. Be grateful that God provides examples and encouragement to guide our prayer so we can align our words and actions with His word and expectations. Be thankful we still have breath and life to intercede for others. Then, let's pray for our sons and daughters that God would guide them to deeper, more effective, more worshipful prayer, too.
Set aside the list and get on your knees and commune with the Father, allow the Holy Spirit to intercede when your words cannot. Pray in Jesus' name for God to work and move powerfully. He will do it.
“Heavenly Father, I come before You in the name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is because of Him that I can enter Your throne room and sit at Your feet. I praise You for Your greatness. I surrender myself to You, the Great I Am, the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings- there is no other. What a tremendous blessing I have in being Your child!”
“Lord, I ask that my prayer would be an act of worship toward You, exalting Your name and bringing glory to You. Teach me to pray more effectively, keep me ‘awake’ so that I would be diligent in prayer- always recognizing the things I need to bring before You and readily falling on my knees to entrust You with each burden, care, and battle. I want to be so devoted to prayer that my sons and daughters would know that their parent prays daily, diligently, and authentically, not just for what I want or wish for, but in serious, spiritually-led prayer that is life-changing, life-protecting, and effective. Lord, I cannot pray well on my own. But You can guide me in prayer so that I please You with my words and with the attitude of my heart. Work in me so that I am always keeping watch, praying for those things You bring to my attention, and allowing You to guide my words and my heart. In Jesus’ precious name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
G4342 - proskartereō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4342/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G1127 - grēgoreō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1127/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G2169 - eucharistia - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2169/niv/mgnt/0-1/
God Gives Good Things
“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
Recently, while I was driving home, I pulled up to a stop sign. There, on the far right corner was a lady walking her large pit bull in a harness. The dog was pulling and straining and having fits as she looked across the street. When I looked over, there was a mail carrier on the far left corner, messenger bag and pith helmet in place. I thought, “Oh my, what those poor mail carriers have to contend with…he’s just trying to do his job.”
I wondered if he would cross to the opposite corner before going on his way, but no, he didn’t. That mail carrier stepped into the crosswalk and walked right toward the lady and her dog. The closer he got, the more the dog strained and pulled and then I noticed, the dog was wiggling, wagging her tail and honestly, she smiled. That assumedly “vicious dog” was eager to see her mail carrier friend and he was just as glad to see her!
The mail carrier pulled out a dog treat from his bag and the pup eagerly ate it up. There was no aggression, no fierce bark or growl. The dog knew the mail carrier brought good things and she waited with anticipation until they met and ‘talked’. And here’s the thing, the dog wasn’t at all bothered by how others might view her or the assumptions they held…she only had eyes for that mail carrier. She knew he valued her and she’d be getting a treat as soon as he came near. They trusted one another and enjoyed their impromptu meeting on the corner.
It made me think about we look to Jesus, or rather, how we should look to Him. Do we see Him and get excited to talk to Him because He brings good things? Or are we bothered about what others might think of us, of our affection for and commitment to Jesus. Are we “all in”, knowing all that matters is how God sees us and that He wants fellowship with us? Jesus sees our heart. He knows our value. He embraces us as His beloved child for whom He gave His life. He’s not bothered by those looking on, He only has eyes for us- His beloved. He desires good for us. And He longs that we would be excited to spend time with Him.
God didn’t create us to be ‘religious’, to check the boxes and go through the motions. He created us to enjoy a relationship with Him, to worship and adore Him and to enjoy all the benefits of knowing God personally. He wants us to desire to see Him, talk to Him, move closer and enjoy fellowship. He desires that we would trust Him and rely on Him for those good things.
Oh that our sons and daughters would be excited to wake up and talk to God!! Imagine if their eyes would light up at the mention of Him! Let’s pray that our sons and daughters take time with Jesus today because they’re excited to talk to Him. Pray that they would look for the good things He promises and to respond to Him with joy! Then, let’s lead by example! Spend time enjoying the Presence of your Savior today. Sit with Him, listen, worship, praise His name.
Pray without ceasing.
The Ultimate Desire
Fellowship with God is the core desire that we were designed to experience and pursue. It is the deepest longing and need we will ever know-whether or not we choose to acknowledge that fact. We experience this longing because God has set eternity in the hearts of men (Ecclesiastes 3:11) and that will always stir a deep desire for something more than this world can give us…it’s the desire for more of Him, more of His Presence and more of His peace.
But that we recognize it as a longing for God isn’t guaranteed. Too often we strive to fill that longing with inadequate substitutes that cannot satisfy our hearts, our souls, and we struggle because of it. We wrestle with restlessness. We wander trying to find our purpose. We pursue the ‘next thing’ assuring ourselves that will be the answer. We continue to pursue temporal things to fill that God-desire in us, Even believers are duped into the deception of the futile pursuit of satisfaction by other means.
Before we came to know Jesus as our Lord and Savior, “we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world” Galatians 4:3. But when we confessed with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believed in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we moved from eternal death to eternal life (Romans 10:9). And in that confession and belief, something in our heart, mind, and spirit changed. God placed His Spirit in us. “Because you are His sons, God sent the Spirit of His son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father” Galatians 4:6. And we began a relationship with God, unlike any we knew or experienced before. We began to experience the fulfillment of that longing that was set in our hearts from the time God created us.
“For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb” Psalm 139:13.
God designed us to desire a relationship with Him. Once we realize nothing else fills us and completes us like Jesus can and does, we are compelled to pursue more of Him. But if we turn back and pursue other means to fill that longing, our spirit still cries out for our Abba Father. We cannot run from it.
The world tells us to pursue what will fill us and make us happy. The job. The relationship. The ‘things’. Renovate, redecorate, relocate. Move up, move out, move on. But what the world offers will never fulfill that eternal longing, because the world doesn’t possess the means, power, and resources to fill what only God can. “For this world in its present form is passing away” 1 Corinthians 7:29.
This is Satan’s biggest lie- that we can satisfy the longing of our hearts with the things of this world- lesser things, things that are not God. And when we pursue that, we are dissatisfied, frustrated, and disillusioned. The result is that we often turn and rail at God because we are unhappy, lost, hurting, and unfulfilled. We blame Him for our discontent when we’ve tried to soothe it with everything but Him.
HE is all we need. ALL we need. Any attempt to fill ourselves with anything else will always result in frustration and emptiness.
“The Lord knows the thoughts of man; He knows that they are futile” Psalm 94:11.
So, how can we fulfill that desire? Read Colossians 1: 9-12
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.”
Take Action:
Be filled with the knowledge of His will- study His word and get to know it. The more we read Scripture, the more it sinks deeply into our heart, soul, and mind. We must allow our spirit to run freely in the environment it was created to- in the Presence of the Most High God. Our spirit cannot thrive when it’s seeking life from a source that is spiritually malnourished or empty of the things of God.
Cultivate spiritual wisdom. This comes when we spend consistent time in God’s word (see #1) and we begin to grow ‘smart’ in the things of Scripture. Our heart and head align in the context of the wisdom of God because we are saturating our mind with truth.
Desire and pursue understanding. The word ‘understanding’ in Greek is ‘synesis’ and it means “a mental putting together” (1). In other words, when we understand, we begin to perceive and interpret correctly; we connect the precepts, truths, and council of Scripture and understand how God reveals Himself through it. We begin to see how Scripture supports itself. God’s word never returns void (Isaiah 55:11).
Live a life worthy of the Lord. We have to make the conscious choice to put ourselves aside and live for Him. If we are forever pursuing our own happiness, we will be exhausted in the pursuit- it’s a perpetual cycle that goes nowhere and achieves nothing of eternal satisfaction. We will continue to be dissatisfied, disillusioned and unfulfilled. We must seek Him. “But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Deuteronomy 4:29
“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6
Who or what are we allowing to govern our mind? Pursue life. Pursue Peace. Pursue Jesus. Sit at His feet. Let Him speak into your soul. Live for Him and allow Him to fill that which is lacking in you. You will know a deep satisfaction and a fellowship like no other. You will be filled.
”Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.”Psalm 73:25-26
Take time in prayer that God would fill you with a desire for more of Him and would guide you in pursuit of that relationship. Then, pray for others to do the same. Pray for your family, your sons and daughters. Pray for your loved ones. Pray for your church and the global church at large. Pray for those in ministry. Satan wants nothing more than to have God’s people seeking that which will not satisfy and living in frustration because God isn’t fulfilling their misdirected desires.
Prayer is never pointless and it brings us to the Throne of the One who can effect change and bring all things under His Lordship where we can delight in fellowship with the One who made us.
Pray without ceasing.
G4907 - synesis - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4907/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G2556 - kakos - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2556/niv/mgnt/0-1/