Hungry Lambs

Recently I read a story about a family raising a flock of sheep on their farm. One of the lambs was orphaned and needed special attention or it would fail to thrive.  The father brought the lamb into the house and the family bottle fed it, kept it warm and socialized it.  Soon, it was a part of the family, following them around and enjoying life in the house.  But eventually, the time came for the lamb to return to the flock.  They took the lamb outside, put it in the pen with the other sheep and went back inside for the night. Except that the lamb didn’t want to be with the flock, in the dark, outside.  It knew what life was like inside the house with the father. It cried and fussed and longed to be back in the house. Soon the family realized that, at least for the time being, it was better to bring the lamb back inside so everyone would get rest that night.

I Peter 2:2-3 “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

That little lamb knew what it was like to be fed in the father’s house, and because he knew it was good and plentiful, it’s what he desired. The lamb cried and cried until it was let back into the house where he knew he would be fed. It mattered to him.

It made me think, have our children enjoyed intimate closeness with God so that they long to be in His presence?  Are they eager to return to His house to spend time with Him?  If asked, would they rather be with Him than not?

Psalm 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

As parents, it is our duty, our responsibility to continue praying for our sons and daughters, even when they’re grown. We need to pray that they know what it’s like to be fed in the house of the Lord, with the words of the Word, nourishing and satisfying their souls. Oh that they would crave the spiritual food that would grow their faith, strengthen their knowledge and understanding, and deepen their love!

1 Chronicles 16:11 “Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His presence continually!”

Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters seek the Lord continually, not just on Sunday, but every day.  Pray that their deepest longing would be to know Him more, to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and to grow in their ‘epignosis’- their precise and correct knowledge of Him.

“Heavenly Father, You are a good Shepherd.  You lead us into lush green pastures and beside still waters so that our hunger and thirst are satisfied with the best You can offer.  Lord I pray for (name) today, let their spiritual hunger lead them straight to You. Don’t let them look aside to spiritual ‘fast food’ that is inch deep and overprocessed with thoughts and feelings of others. No, lead them straight to the Word where they can be filled with Truth that will change their life and draw them nearer to You. I pray that (name) would taste and see that You are good and in that, they would be spoiled for anything else. Lord help them to find joy in Your Presence so that they are continuously drawn back, again and again, to spend time with You. Lord, help me, as their parent, to model that. I pray that I would seek the Lord and His strength and His presence continually. Allow (name) to see an example in me of what it means to pursue God and find joy and pleasure in Him. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Pray without ceasing.

Friends, can I ask a favor? If you’ve purchased and/or read 40 Days of Prayer for the Prodigal, would you be willing to leave a review? I’m so convicted that this book can bring hope and encouragement to those praying for prodigals and I am praying God would use it mightily. Your review can help point those looking for solid Biblical resources to this book. Thank you!

Burdens and Remedies

Isaiah 53:4-6

Surely he took up our pain
    and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
    stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

Whatever you’re carrying today, Jesus already bore the weight of it all on the cross.  Think about that… all of the pain, sorrow, grief, sin… all of it from the beginning of time to the very end- He saw it, He knew it, He carried it to the cross, so that in His suffering, our suffering is never out of His control, but it’s present to remind us we are called to be like Christ. 

The picture above is profound. The entire scene seems to be overlaid with a fingerprint. There is no part of the man’s experience that isn’t touched by it. It’s representative of our lives. God’s hand is all over everything we face, even the dark, difficult, painful days are not out of God’s control and mediation. His hand is all over anything we might face and He meters what we must endure. It is all to draw us closer to Him and make us more like Christ.

So whatever you’re facing today, He knew it before you faced it and He’s already got the remedy.  Little sheep, listen to your Shepherd.  Follow Him closely, lean into Him, trust Him.  Don’t turn to your own way and don’t grow bitter.  There is safety in the fold of Jesus.  Find your place there.

There is no sorrow too heavy that He cannot carry it. Jesus is a Man of sorrows, He understands.

There is no grief too deep He cannot reach it. He is acquainted with grief. Let Jesus be your comfort.

There is no pain too intense He cannot bear it. Let Him be a balm to your hurting heart.

There is no darkness too great He cannot breach it. Look to the Light of the World to bring light to the darkness.

El-Roi- the God who sees

Jehovah-Jireh- the God who provides

Jehovah-Rapha- the God who heals

Jesus- the God who saves

 Maybe you’re praying for a prodigal and the sorrow, grief, pain and darkness are overwhelming. God is not overwhelmed. He sees. He knows. He is working. Even if you cannot see it, trust Him. He is Sovereign and He loves your precious prodigal more than you ever could. He wants all to come to repentance. Pray that it would be so!

Let’s pray that our sons and daughters find their safety and identity in Christ.  Pray that they would run to Him, not away from Him.  Pray that their hearts would be drawn to the One who already endured everything and carefully sifts what will touch their lives because nothing is out of His control.

Pray without ceasing.