Obedience Is Greater than Sacrifice

“Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to him.” Psalm 128:1

Israel begged God for a king. They wanted a king like all the other nations so that when they went into battle, the other nations could see their leader and they would be successful. But what Israel didn’t understand is that they DID have a king…God was their king. Unlike any other nation, God was on Israel’s side and the other nations saw the power and might of Israel’s God. Yet, Israel rejected Him and begged for a human king. So, God relented and chose Saul to be the first king of Israel. Israel’s rejection of God led to hardship and heartache. And their king? He started off good, but got distracted by fame, by power, and by selfishness. He did what he wanted and then offered sacrifices to earn God’s approval.

Saul was anointed king, but he struggled with obedience to God. He seemed to think that his way was better than God’s way. He was impatient to wait for God’s timing, going so far as to offer the sacrifices himself rather than wait for Samuel, the priest, to manage the sacrifice as required by the Law (1 Samuel 13). The last straw was when God told Saul to destroy the Amalekites, every man, woman, and child, every herd and flock, take no spoil, leave nothing intact. But Saul thought better of that and chose to capture the King, Agog and bring him back to Israel, alive. Saul’s men plundered the best of the flocks and herds to “offer in sacrifice to God” (1 Samuel 15). Was this what God asked of them? No, it was not. Was this better than God’s plan? No, it was not. Did this put Israel at risk? Oh, yes, yes it did. Yet Saul didn’t see it. He continued to make excuses and offer platitudes. He blame-shifted and spoke bravely and self-righteously. Samuel, the high priest, wasn’t having it, neither was God. 

“But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”” I Samuel 15:22-23

Samuel called Saul out on his disobedience and proceeded to tell him that God was grieved that He chose him as King. As a result, God removed His blessing from Saul and chose another to take his place. Saul, in all his efforts to engineer his fame and success had offended and disregarded the One in Whose hands his fame and success were held. He missed the whole point. Saul was God’s servant, a tool to be used to bring Him glory and accomplish His purposes. Yet Saul opted to be his own master and make it look good by offering sacrifices after the fact. Saul did not fear God. He did not respect God. Saul tried to manipulate God, and it didn’t work.

Saul isn’t unlike us, is he? How often do we, or our children, choose to do what WE think is best, ignoring God’s commands and compromising our integrity, morality, and spiritual testimony to satisfy our selfish desires?  We think we know better. Do we balk at what God asks of us, instead pursuing an alternative and ‘dedicating it to Him’? Or, in an effort to ‘make up for it’ we offer sacrifices, we ‘do’ things to honor God or ‘give’ to bless Him. Our disobedience and efforts after the fact are offensive to Him. Yet we think we can engineer our life, our choices, and our results. We cannot. God is Sovereign. He is in control. He sees our heart. He sees that we fear failure, suffering, and loss more than we fear Him. He sees that we put more faith in our own efforts and plans than we do His. He sees. He knows. And He will respond.

God saw Saul’s heart. He saw that Saul was more concerned with his own fame and success. His offerings and sacrifices to God were an effort to appease Him rather than an act of worship to bring pleasure and delight to God with a fully surrendered heart. He was not a servant of God but was serving himself. Isaiah 65:5 says, “Such people are smoke in my nostrils, a fire that keeps burning all day.” Their fake sacrifices are a stench, not a pleasing aroma.

Today, it’s time to take stock on what and how you sacrifice to God:

• Is our heart surrendered to Him? 

• Are our motives pure? 

• Do we ask God to bless our actions after we take them? Or do we search out the heart of God before we act?

• Do we consider how our words and actions will testify to our love for and fear of God?

• Are we more concerned with honoring Him than with getting the desired outcome for ourselves?

• Are we willing to do whatever He asks or do we resist, instead trying to bargain with Him and offer compromises?

Obedience is greater than sacrifice. 

Deuteronomy 28 gives a very detailed description of the benefits of obedience and the dangers of disobedience. He wanted Israel to understand the blessings of obedience and to see that they were nothing the Israelites could ensure on their own.

• The LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. (Deut 28:1)

• You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. (Deut 28:3)

• The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. (Deut 28:4)

• Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. (Deut 28:5)

• You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. (Deut 28:6)

• The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. (Deut 28:7)

• The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you. (Deut 28:8)

• The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your God and walk in obedience to him. (Deut 28:9)

• Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will fear you. (Deut 28:10)

• The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. Deut 28:13

Wow! That is a list of blessings that no man could ensure for himself- only God. And all of these blessings were what Saul was longing for, and yet he chose to pursue his own path and ended up losing it all. 

When we teach our children obedience, it is not just for their compliance, but for their good, their protection, and their success. As they become adults, we pray they carry those lessons with them. And we pray, too, they understand the value and importance of obedience to God.

Even if obedience does not make sense, we need to remember that God’s ways are higher than our own. His wisdom is eternal, His plan is divine, His methods are not human. We can choose to go our own way and suffer the consequences of faulty, limited, unwise humanity, or we can choose to obey God and rest in His eternal, Sovereign, all powerful ways that will protect us and prosper us according to His will and for His glory. These are good things to remind our sons and daughters.

It’s a hard lesson to learn, isn’t it?  Obedience is always more powerful than sacrifice. It carries a stronger testimony and offers Godly protection. Obedience glorifies God. Sacrifice without obedience is a stench.

Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters understand obedience to God and pursue it with their whole heart. “Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to him.” Psalm 128:1

“Heavenly Father, You are a good God who asks us to pursue You with our whole heart. You promise blessing and protection in our obedience. I pray that You would surround (name) today and impress upon them a desire to obey You. Please keep them from compromise. Keep them from going their own way and then trying to offer sacrifices to appease Your disappointment and anger. Lord, we cannot bargain with You. That is not how You work. You require our obedience, yet You’ve given us a free will to choose whom we will follow and obey. I pray that (name) would always choose You. Lord, show them the rewards of obedience. When things do not make sense, give them an unshakeable trust in You and Your plan. Help them to rest in the knowledge that You are all-knowing. You are all-powerful. You are the King of kings and Lord of lords, there is none greater, stronger, or wiser and there is salvation in no one else. Jesus, You are the Messiah, our Savior, Redeemer and Friend. I pray that (name) would trust and obey You each and every day. Help me to live a life that demonstrates obedience and surrender to You. I pray these things in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Pray without ceasing!

We are Not of Those Who Shrink Back to Destruction

“But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.” Hebrews 10:39 (NASB 95)

As I read Hebrews 10:39, it immediately brought to mind the Titanic disaster. The ship was deemed unsinkable. Yet it became one of the worst maritime disasters ever recorded.

Everyone had firm trust in Titanic’s construction and its ability to withstand any storm or challenge. The engineering was cutting edge, the materials of excellent quality, and the craftsmanship unmatched. People boarded the ship with solid confidence in its ability to deliver them safely to New York City.

Such was the strong faith in the ship that even though they encountered a field of icebergs in the North Atlantic, the captain didn’t slow their pace because he and those who designed the ship wanted to achieve the fastest Atlantic crossing in the unsinkable Titanic. That was, until they struck an iceberg and the ship began to sink.

Still, in the midst of the pending disaster, there were those who balked at getting into a lifeboat. It wasn’t comfortable. It was cold, they might get wet. They wanted to stay with their family. They trusted the ship- it was unsinkable, right? They had plenty of time, or so they thought. Isn’t this so like those who balk at the gospel of Christ? 

We delay making things right with God because we’re not ready. We look for other, ‘easier’ options- just one way to God seems too restrictive and even unkind. We search for things WE can do to make ourselves righteous and to earn salvation because surely it has to be our own effort. Yet, all of these things still lead to destruction.

Those who eagerly climbed into the lifeboats on that dark, frigid night were those who saw their desperate need to be saved. They understood the ship was going down and their only hope was to put on a life preserver and climb aboard one of the lifeboats, bringing nothing with them but their life and breath. They didn’t shrink back. They didn’t debate the timeline, wondering how long they could remain on the ship before climbing onto a lifeboat. They understood the desperation and urgency and they took the only option that would save them. They did not shrink back. The Greek word for ‘shrink back’ is hypostole and it means to withdraw, to be timid and retreat (1). There were only two options available- remain on the ship and lose your life or get into the lifeboat and be saved.

We face those same two options, spiritually. We can either remain tethered to this world, seeking our own way and cementing our eternal destruction, or we can turn to Jesus, the One who died to pay for our sin, who was buried and rose again to affirm His Authority and Lordship. The One to Whom every knee will bow and every tongue confess. He is our Savior, our assurance, our hope for eternal life. Jesus is the only option that will save us from sure destruction of our soul.

Some will say, I’ll make things right with Jesus before I die, but I have time yet before I must. So many on the Titanic thought they had time as well, some continued playing card games, some went back to bed. But all the while, the ship was sinking and they were running out of time. They were destined for destruction and could not see it.

Some were hesitant to part with their belongings. Many of those on board were wealthy beyond comprehension. They traveled with jewelry, furs, priceless paintings purchased in Europe, and motorcars parked in the cargo hold. Nothing of value could be saved. Only life. But in the end, is that not the most valuable thing one possesses?  Yet, their tethers to their ‘things’ were strong, so strong that it prevented some from being saved.

There was only one way off of the Titanic. The truth, whether the travelers wanted to believe it or not, was that the ship was sinking and the lifeboats were the only salvation. Calls of “SOS- save our ship!” went unheeded. Life was only saved by climbing into the boat. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (ESV)  There is no other way to God. There is no other avenue to ensure the eternal peace and salvation of your soul. The Truth is that Jesus saves. No other. Not Buddha. Not Allah. Not Hinduism or any other system of belief and practice. Jesus is the only God who gave His life for men so they could be saved. Every other religious system asks for a man to give his life for the god…and even then there is no guarantee, no assurance. Did you do enough? Did you sacrifice enough? Did you suffer enough?  There is no soul rest with any but Jesus.

“Jesus says, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”” Matthew 11:28-30 (NASB 95)

Far too many people are trying to construct their own lifeboat. They’re working to create their own road to heaven, their own plan of redemption, and their own checklist of accomplishments and ‘good things’ that would certify their status as acceptable to God. But there is already a way, a lifeboat already exists. Jesus paid the price for our sin so we would not have to endure eternal separation from God because of our sinful condition. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God looks on us and sees Jesus. His sacrifice bought our freedom. His death was our life preserver. 

So, how do you get into the lifeboat with Jesus?  Oh, friends, it’s easier than you would imagine. There is no work to be done. It is simply confessing with your mouth that you believe Jesus is Lord, and believing in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9). Reach out and take His hand. Let Him bring you into His kingdom. Let Him be your Lord and Master. He already did the work. You just need to believe. Trust Him and obey.

Is your son or daughter pursuing redemption through the world? Are they building their own lifeboat that will never withstand the storms of life? We need the power of the Holy Spirit to bring conviction, to remove the veil that blinds them to the Truth, and to move their hearts to want to embrace Jesus as Lord. Pray for that today.

Maybe a parent is resistant or defiant, consumed with doing things as they’ve always been done, honoring ancestors, traditions, and working their way to redemption. Pray that the Holy Spirit would overshadow all of these chains and obstacles that keep them entangled to the lies of the enemy. Pray that He would open their eyes to the Truth of the gospel and bring a change in their heart that would empower them to embrace salvation in Jesus.

Perhaps it’s a friend or co-worker, someone for whom you care deeply but whose life is hostage to things that keep them from true freedom in Christ. They are pursuing success, and climbing the ladder to the ‘next thing’ they hope will bring happiness and purpose. They are entangled in politics and arguments, trusting that being ‘right’ will ensure their survival. The Holy Spirit is powerful to break the addictions and silence the distractions. and voices that dissent. Pray that the Lord would intervene and show them true freedom in Christ.

Our prayers are powerful and effective. Sometimes we think that ‘just praying’ is a weak response, but friends, when we pray, we unlock a spiritual realm that is beyond our ability to see with our eyes and we engage power in God that will crush the enemy. Praying is the best thing we can do. We have the Almighty on our side- who better to fight the spiritual battle?  Who better to man the lifeboat? Today, let’s pray that those we love are in the lifeboat and know for certainty that they have faith in Christ to preserve the soul. 

“Oh Lord, our great God and Father, You are mighty to save. You made a way for us to be delivered from this dying world and from the bondage of sin and death. Jesus, You are our wonderful Savior who, because You love us so, took the punishment and shame that would be ours. You endured it so we would not have to. My heart is heavy for (name). They need to know You, Lord. They need Your salvation and deliverance from all the lies and distractions that keep them from Jesus. Holy Spirit, I pray that You would fall upon (name) today. Overwhelm them with Your love. Bring conviction over sin. Stir a sorrow in their heart that only You can soothe. I pray that (name) would surrender their heart and life to You, Lord. Give them a hope that is eternal and a faith that is sure. Help them not to look to those things they can see, but to see with their heart those things that are unseen yet certain. Lord, give them faith to believe and courage to continue. Don’t let them shrink back to destruction but give them mighty faith in Jesus that will preserve their soul. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”

Pray without ceasing, friends. God is still and always working!

1. G5289 - hypostolē - Strong's Greek Lexicon (ESV). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5289/esv/mgnt/0-1/

Criticism vs. Discernment

What is the difference between criticism and discernment? 

My spirit has been bothered recently at the amount of criticism flying on social media and other engagement platforms, especially between believers. It is a chorus of people railing at one another for their stance or conviction on issues, events, and leaders. Some have embraced social media as their platform to ‘bring change’ but their method is criticism. It is destructive and hurtful. But to understand why, you need to look at the meanings of the words.

The word, criticism, is the Greek word momaomai (1) and it means to blame, find fault with, mock at, to censure and discredit. 

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 6:3, “We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.”  He did not want his words or actions to cause mockery or censure of his ministry. What is a stumbling block? Words, actions, and attitudes that do not reflect Christ or that promote our agenda, not His.

The Old Testament also addresses criticism. The Hebrew word is harap (2)  and it means to expose, to carp at, to defame or reproach. Nehemiah uses this to describe a plot by ungodly men to cause him to sin and thus discredit him. “He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me.” Nehemiah 6:13 These men were cultivating a reproach against Nehemiah.  Judges 8:15ff shows Gideon using the same word when others taunted him, trying to gain an edge in a power struggle. Gideon was pursuing what was right. The others were pursuing their own power, benefit, and reputation.

We use criticism to correct. Yet, has someone’s criticism ever encouraged you to change your mind? Has it pushed you to do better? I don’t know about you, but criticism breaks me down. It discourages me and pushes me further away from that person and what they’re trying to accomplish. Yet, we fall into the trap of thinking we’ll change people’s minds and hearts by criticizing. 

Friends, the act of criticism is not discernment. It is used to bring others down and in so doing, make ourselves look better, smarter, more godly. It is a horizontal engagement between people that does little to point others to Christ. Criticism breeds self-righteousness. It is a sin.

Discernment is vastly different. There are two Greek words for this, the first is dokimazo (3) and it means to test, approve, examine, scrutinize to see whether a thing is genuine or not. It is to have the ability to recognize something (or someone) as genuine. That is only accomplished when one is very knowledgeable about the truth and what is precise and correct. It is not founded on personal knowledge or opinion. It is not based on feelings, but on Truth. One must know the Truth of Scripture in order to discern what is deceptive, incorrect, or evil. 

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

We need to recognize that discernment is not based on knowing the issues, knowing the candidates, or knowing our personal convictions. It is solely based on knowing God’s truth and being able to recognize, in our spirit and our mind, what aligns with Christ and what is anti-Christ. 

Philippians goes a step further  using another version of the word for discernment, aisthesis (4). It means perception, judgment, and cognition not only by one’s senses, but by their intellect as well. It requires knowledge. 

“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,” Philippians 1:9-10

The typical Greek word used for knowledge is the word gnosis (5) which means experiential knowledge, relationship knowledge, but not necessarily Christian ‘culture’ or Biblical precepts.  But Paul makes a significant distinction in Philippians and uses the word epignosis (5) and it means full discernment and precise and correct knowledge. It is knowledge of God and His word, not of our own intellect and perception of people, events, and information. Do you see the difference? Discernment is grounded in Biblical Truth and it is a vertical interaction between us and God for the purpose of discernment of Godly things. It is knowledge that impacts our behavior and attitudes so they reflect God more accurately in our vertical interaction with Him that impacts our interaction with others. It is vastly different from criticism based on average, common knowledge and for the goal of bettering ourselves in a horizontal interaction with others. 

We need to pray for our sons and daughters that a spirit of criticism does not take root, or if it already has, that God would remove it and instead give them a heart and mind ready for and able to practice discernment. Pray that they are burdened to see Christ glorified and authentically reflected through their lives. Pray that they are willing to set aside ‘being right’ for allowing God to work through them and make them more like Him. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to do His work. He doesn’t need our help in tearing one another down with criticism. Our responsibility is to pursue truth and live it out with discernment.

“Heavenly Father, You are so good and patient to continue teaching us. You are kind, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. You are faithful to pursue us, encourage us and teach us, ensuring that we do not stay where we are and what we are, but you daily transform us into the likeness of You Son, Jesus. I pray for (name) today that You would continue to transform them into Your likeness. Remove any spirit of criticism that would overshadow their desire to know You more and represent You authentically. I pray that the vertical relationship with You would be their priority. Remove any vain desire to be ‘right’ toward others in a way that would tear them down, belittle them or turn them away from the gospel. Keep them from the sin of self-righteousness. Cultivate in them precise and correct knowledge of Your Word. Let them hunger and thirst after righteousness. Let their light shine before others so they would see their good works and glorify You. Lord, You do not need us to defend You. You are mighty and strong. You need our obedience. I pray that (name) would have strong discernment to obey, to remain quiet when You ask them to, and when they speak, to speak words of life that are like honey, a balm to those to hear them and encouragement to those who need to know You are the Living Water they thirst for. Lord, I pray that You would help me to not be critical. Put a guard on my mouth so that I do not say things that would be ungodly or hurtful. I pray that You would continue to teach me so that I can live out the example You desire for my sons and daughters. Thank you for Your faithfulness to me and to my family. May You be glorified through us. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Pray without ceasing.

1. G3469 - mōmaomai - Strong's Greek Lexicon (NIV). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3469/niv/mgnt/0-1/

2. H2778 - ḥārap̄ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (NIV). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2778/niv/wlc/0-1/

3. G1381 - dokimazō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (NIV). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1381/niv/mgnt/0-1/

4. G144 - aisthēsis - Strong's Greek Lexicon (NIV). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g144/niv/mgnt/0-1/

5. G1108 - gnōsis - Strong's Greek Lexicon (NIV). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1108/niv/mgnt/0-1/

6. G1922 - epignōsis - Strong's Greek Lexicon (NIV). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1922/niv/mgnt/0-1/

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God Sees It All

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:13

The other day I had the joy of going to a wedding shower. It was about an hour away, so I was on the highway, listening to some praise music, enjoying the drive and watching the GPS because I would have to soon exit onto another highway. Suddenly a large SUV came flying by my left side and nearly cut me off. He pulled into my lane, nearly hitting me, then proceeded to weave in and out of traffic across four lanes and was speeding close to 100 mph (161 kph) (the speed limit was 70mph). It startled me at first, it was so reckless. Then I was concerned and a bit annoyed. I literally prayed out loud, “Lord, let the police see that person and pull them over before they cause an accident!”.  The words were hardly out of my mouth when another vehicle passed me quickly on the left … It was a state trooper. I laughed out loud, God heard my prayer and answered within moments!  That trooper was driving fast, trying to catch up to the one who was driving even faster and recklessly. There were no lights. No sirens. Just an intentional focus and purposeful driving to catch the one who was breaking the law. He wasn’t making a ‘big deal’ of his pursuit so that others were aware. But he saw, he knew, and he was taking action. His goal wasn’t to catch and punish but to stop the behavior that was putting people at risk. Yes, there would be consequences, but the goal was safety and rescue.

I had to take my exit and continue on a different highway and didn’t see the outcome, but I’m pretty certain that the individual who was speeding found himself getting a hefty ticket and a stern talking to about his driving. He had to give account for his choices that were seen and called out by the police.  God struck me with the spiritual significance of what I just witnessed. That police officer was like the Holy Spirit going after someone who is running from the Lord. He saw the individual’s choice to sin. He went after them to bring them to account, but also to keep them safe from the danger they were pursuing. He did it quietly and with intention. He had the authority to do so. And hopefully, there was a lesson learned in the process. Yet, few people around really noticed the officer working. He didn’t announce it for all to see. He stayed focused on the one who needed his intervention, even though that individual did not want the attention.

Sometimes our sons and daughters are going their own way, they’re running from the Lord, choosing to sin, indifferent to those around them, or just too focused on their own desires to see how their choices are putting their spiritual safety at risk. They don’t see the heartache they’re causing. But the Holy Spirit is there, He sees, and He’s following them, intent on reaching them to stop them from their destructive ways. He doesn’t come with ‘lights and sirens’; He often comes unexpectedly. But, He sees. He knows. And He is following them. We may not see Him working, but we need to trust that He is. We may be frustrated, “Lord, why don’t you act?!” But He is moving with purpose and intention to accomplish His will in that individual’s life. 

The Holy Spirit is working, even when we cannot see it. We may get frustrated, “Lord, why don’t you act?” When, in fact, He is working. But our limited vision doesn’t see His hand. This is what faith is about…trusting in the unseen and resting in the omnipotent power of the Lord of lords. We don’t have the power and authority to intervene just as I didn’t have the power or authority to pull over that speeding driver. I had to trust that law enforcement would do their job. The officer was watching even when I didn’t see him working- it was comforting and a sobering reminder. 

God is eternal. We know that, but sometimes we lose sight of what that means. He knows everything. He sees the direction we will go before we even take a step. He’s watching our choices, our thoughts, and our intentions. When we are caught in our sin, we’re often oblivious to the Holy Spirit until He’s right there, upon us, revealing our sin and stirring our conscience, and leading us to repentance. God sees your beloved son or daughter. He knows where they are and what they’re doing. Psalm 139:2-4 tells us, 

“You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you, LORD, know it completely.” 

There is nothing that escapes God’s attention. He is not slow to act. He is not insufficient in His responses. The difficult part for us is waiting and trusting. We want to see a resolution now. We want assurance that our sons and daughters will walk with the Lord. We want relief from the worry and pain. But we need to trust Him that He will intervene and He will work in His time and according to His will. 

We need to choose to parent with purpose and intention. When our sons and daughters are going their own way, will we allow that to send us into a frenzy of worry and grief or will we move forward with quiet trust in the Lord? Will we carry our burdens of pain, sorrow, and worry or will we lay them on the altar for God to manage?

When we pray, we are stepping into the supernatural realm with the power of God in us. We are communing with the Great I Am, the King of Kings and Lord of lords, the God of gods. We have access to the Throne room of the One to whom every knee will bow and every tongue confess His Lordship. Why would we allow ourselves to wring our hands and worry our hearts? We have the power of the Almighty on our side.

Whether your son or daughter is walking with the Lord or not, they need prayer. Time is short and Satan knows it. This generation is his target - if he can capture their heart, and their mind, he will be one step closer to his goal of destroying mankind- the image bearers of the Most High God.

Let’s pray with purpose. Let’s pray with intention. Let’s pray a portion of Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 2:1-3 and 10:

Holy Father, Lord of lords, I want to pray like Hannah who said, “My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high.” Oh, Lord, You are the One who exalts and who brings down. I pray today that You would work in (name)’s  heart today. Get their attention, bring them to repentance. Hannah also said, “My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance.” You are the only One who can bring deliverance. Why would I trust in any other? Lord, take my worry, take my grief, soften my heart to be surrendered to Your will and Your timeline. Hannah understood Your authority and praised you saying, “There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.” Help me to praise you, too, and to rest in Your power and authority. Keep me from speaking words that do not honor You or voicing my frustration that things are not yet resolved. “Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the Lord is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed.” I pray that (name) would understand that You know and You will weigh their choices, their thoughts, their desires. Give them a heart that longs after You. I know that You see. I know that You are acting, even if I cannot see it yet. I trust You Lord, help me to rest in that trust. You are my hope and salvation. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”

Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior?  If not, who are you trusting in for your eternal salvation?  The Bible says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:2

It’s not about being “good” or doing good works to achieve righteousness because nothing we can do would ever be enough to justify ourselves before a righteous God. “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” Isaiah 64:6

But God loves us so much that He made a way. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” John 3:16-18

So, how do we believe? How do we receive so great a salvation that when God looks on us, He sees Jesus, perfect, holy, and righteous? Romans 10:9-11 says, “If you declare 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 profess your faith and are saved. As scripture says, “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”  Romans 10:9-11

“God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance.” Romans 2:4  Will you embrace God’s kindness today?  Will you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead? Any other religion asks you to give your all for their god, but Jesus gave His all for us so that we could be reconciled to Him.

If you want to surrender your life to Christ today, pray this prayer, “Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I am lost and separated from You because of my sin- my wrong thoughts, actions, and desires- I confess that. But I believe You died for me, You paid for my sin so that I could stand before You forgiven, justified, and redeemed. I ask that You would be my Lord and Savior. Forgive me. Cleanse me. Make me Your child. I believe that God the Father raised You, Jesus, from the dead so that death and hell have no power over me. I know that one day I will stand in heaven with You as Your child, redeemed, loved, and chosen. Thank you for new life, for Jesus, and for Your mighty forgiveness. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

If you prayed that prayer, would you let me know so I can be praying for you? You now have so many brothers and sisters in Christ who intercede for you and your spiritual growth and protection!  Welcome to the Family of God!

If you’re praying for a prodigal, consider this powerful resource, 40 Days of Prayer for the Prodigal. This book walks the reader through 40 days of intentional prayer for the heart of the one who is running from God. It includes a focus on God and His attributes, then an honest explanation of the sin and sorrow that pulls the prodigal away from God. Prayer is scripture-based and journal prompts allow the reader to thoughtfully record what they are praying and learning throughout the 40 day journey. Order your copy on Amazon today!

Don’t stop praying, God isn’t finished

Desiring Good that God Gives

“Do good to your servant according to your word, Lord. Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands.” Psalm 119:65-66

How do we determine what is ‘good’? What is the standard for deciding that? You see, there is ‘good’ according to the world and then there’s ‘good’ according to the Word. One is temporary, the other lastingly eternal. One is visible by the eyes; the other may only be perceptible by the heart and mind.

Knowledge according to the world is being ‘smart’, gaining learning, pursuing degrees and experience that will propel you forward to success. But Godly knowledge is knowledge of Him that is not just stored up in the mind, but in the heart. It’s knowledge that will propel someone forward in a walk with the Lord and toward an eternal reward, living side by side with Him. Godly knowledge is gained by a hunger of the spirit, seeking to know more of Christ, eagerly seeking to spend time in His word and committing it to mind and heart. It’s knowledge that puts everything else into perspective and that protects from everything that would lead to falling away from the Lord.

I remember trying to get my toddler to eat something and would repeatedly tell them, “It’s good! Just try it!” and they would turn their nose up, tightly close their lips and refuse. Until they tasted, they didn’t believe. Oh how that is such a picture of our spiritual heart! Until we taste the goodness of God, we don’t believe it will be sweet and pleasing. We balk at the suggestion that God is good. We resist the appeal. And then…oh, then, we take a taste and, “OH!”, it’s more than we imagined!

I want my family to desire the good that is from the Lord. I want them to taste and see that it is good! I want them to crave the knowledge He instills that would protect them from the enemy, give them discernment in this dark world, and would guard their heart and mind in Jesus. Let’s pray that for our sons and daughters and for us, as parents, too.

"Father, I pray that today you would do good to (name). Your word says that ‘good’ is pleasant to the senses, that which is excellent, valuable, appropriate and better. Please be gracious and bless my son/daughter in each of those ways and extend your goodness to them.”

“Help them recognize that the good they enjoy is a blessing from you. Lord, let them understand that Your good also includes gaining knowledge of you. Help them to seek it with all their heart. I ask that you would help (name) be teachable. Soften their heart, tune their ears to your words, help them discern what is right, true, and worthy and let them pursue it diligently.”

“May (name) throw him/herself on you, resting in your strength, trusting your wisdom and leading, and being confident of your protection. May the knowledge they gain today be godly and may their judgment reflect that. Guard and guide them today. May others see Your goodness in their life and long for a relationship with You as well. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Pray without ceasing.

Full Surrender

“Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” 

“Here I am,” he replied. 

Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”” 

Genesis 22:1-2

The story of Abraham and Isaac is a powerful one. If we grew up going to church and learning the Bible, we likely were introduced to the story as children: Abraham offering his son Isaac on the altar as God commanded. It may have seemed odd and even cold. But, as children, I doubt many of us understood the deep sacrifice God was asking Abraham to give. 

But when we become parents, that story takes on a whole new meaning. Could we even imagine God asking us to sacrifice the life of one of our children as a burnt offering - a sacrifice to Him?! We would be ready to lay down our life for them in a heartbeat, but to take their life as an offering to God? It asks too much…. Or does it?

We hold our relationships with our children very closely, as we should. They are precious and valuable to us. We cherish them. We invest in them. We hold them so dear. But, friends, sometimes our parenting becomes an idol. Sometimes we idolize something that God gifted us and asks us to steward, not worship. We fret and angst. We speak into their choices and relationships. We lose sleep, shed tears, and pray fervently. Yet we hold on so tightly that it may be a struggle to see God in the midst or be willing to allow Him to have His way. We want to protect, to engineer, to bring resolutions to the problems in our own power and wisdom. It’s not godly.

We need to be willing to lay it on the altar. That does not mean we disconnect from our sons and daughters, not at all. Abraham was present and speaking in Isaac’s life right up to the point that he raised the knife. He was parenting, but in submission to God. And Isaac trusted Abraham enough to surrender to what God was asking him to do. That is full surrender and it’s beautiful.

Abraham valued his relationship with God most of all. His trust of God and his obedience to God surpassed his need to cling to and protect Isaac. He was not willing to sacrifice his relationship with God for his son. He trusted that God could do more than he humanly could imagine. That is powerful and that’s the example we need to follow.

Here is a question to ponder: are we possibly holding those relationships dearer than our relationship with the Lord? Are we resisting what God is asking of us in order to preserve what we deem more valuable with our sons and daughters? Are we unwilling to lay them on the altar and allow God to have His way?

Perhaps we are like the parent who takes their child to the Emergency Room because they need skilled care, only to tell the doctor we know what’s best, directing his responses. And instead of trusting his wisdom, skill, and discernment, we stand in the way of his effectiveness. When we bring our children to the Great Physician, we need to trust His skill and care, not direct His responses according to our human wisdom. Lay it all on the altar.

As we step into this new year, it is a perfect time to practice full surrender of all God has given us and blessed us with. Oh, friends, I don’t have this all worked out either. It’s a daily choice to surrender to my Lord and Savior, asking Him to resolve those things that grieve me, the choices my children make that concern me for their future. It’s surrendering the worry over the ‘red flags’ that I see in their lives and relationships. It’s humbly recognizing my place, and my ability and power (or lack thereof) in light of God’s sovereign authority and power to effect change in their lives. He is God, I am not. He is wise, I have limited understanding. He is able, where I will falter and fail. Isn’t it best to trust Him and obey?

Take a few moments and pray. Envision yourself lifting those things that you hold dear and laying them on the altar to give back to God, don’t take them back down again. Place those things you worry over, the choices and relationships your son or daughter is pursuing, on the altar as a sacrifice to God- may He have the glory. You cannot change it, but God can. If we are willing to give it all over to Him and trust Him with the process, we will gain so much freedom and peace. 

Our sons and daughters belong to God; they are a gift from Him to us to steward, to raise, to nurture in the knowledge of God. It’s only right and fitting that we give them back to Him so He can have full sway over their lives. Oh, friends, we’re not losing them by giving them to God, we’re opening the channel for Him to work more freely and to use us more effectively. 

Maybe a new habit this year is praying a prayer of surrender every morning, laying all of the worries and cares, all of the precious things He’s given you, back onto the altar for Him to use, to bless, to be glorified by in our surrender.

Abraham trusted God more than he trusted his ability to engineer the situation. His trust became a hallmark of his life and it was an incredible example of following God to his son, Issac, and to us. Read Genesis 22:9-18

9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.””

Is there anything you’re withholding from God today? Take inventory of your life, your relationships, what you value most and hold dear. Choose to give it all to the Lord so that He can have His way. We cannot protect our sons and daughters from what the Lord wills, but we can be an instrument of blessing, wisdom, discernment, and love if we choose to trust God and allow Him to have full control. 

Our sons and daughters can learn much from us if we are willing to allow God to have His way, completely. What blessings await because we obey?

“During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.” Hebrews 5:7

Take some time today to write out a prayer. Date it. Then revisit it through the week, the month, and this year, noting how God is working in their life and in yours. Pray that prayer of surrender every morning, laying all of the worries and cares and all of the precious things He’s given you onto the altar--Full Surrender. 

Pray without ceasing.

May He be Glorified.

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

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

Grab your copy today! 

Available on Amazon

Praying for Godly Relationships

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

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

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

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

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

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

Proverbs 31:20 

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

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

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

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

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

1 Samuel 16:7

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

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

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

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

Pray without ceasing.

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

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

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

Grab your copy today! 

Available on Amazon

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

Parenting is Hard, Prayer is Vital

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“And this is my prayer: that (name)’s love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that (name) may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,  filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Pray without ceasing.

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

“But I don’t want to!” 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why would Jesus say that?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The best thing we can do is to pray.

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

Pray without ceasing.

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

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

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

Grab your copy today! 

Available on Amazon

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

The Deception of Self-Help

“…I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Ephesians 4:1

Podcasts, self-help books, and successful speakers seem to be what this generation consumes on a regular basis.  They’re thirsty for solid advice from those who can speak from a position of experience and success. When they see what these individuals have achieved, see their ‘supposed’ contentment and joy, see all that they have and enjoy, why wouldn’t they be charmed?

This isn’t new. In 1989, a powerful self-help book took the world by storm.  The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People became a talking point among professionals and friends.  Both the secular and Christian world seemed to embrace the sage advice and people were hungry to learn more.  It shifted the thinking and doing of so many people from the ‘personal’ focus to the ‘character’ focus and, though it included some good advice, it missed the Scriptural foundation that should be the mark of a believer’s life. Yet many were swayed by the chapters and took to reading and following with the fervor that should have been reserved for their quiet time with the Lord. Instead of Bible time, it became self-help time.

Our sons and daughters have grown up with the self-help world surrounding them and speaking into their growth, goals, and processes. Why is it that we’re drawn to speakers, books, and podcasts that give us lists of things to do in order to be successful, get healthy, lose weight, or, you name the accomplishment.  Theses systems and people promise success and prosperity and we take the bait. We’re eager to hear what we should do to be like ‘that’ person.  We want the list to follow that will bring the results.  I think it speaks to our human need to do something effective, to work toward bettering ourselves and being successful, to be able to point to our efforts as the reason for our progress and success.  

And the Christian world is not immune.  We like the polished presentation that promises the good God has for us and we fall into traps of the ‘prosperity gospel’. We can easily become entangled in the trap of works-based religion.  When we can check off an item on a list, we feel accomplished and effective.  If we’re discouraged, we can go back to our list and remind ourselves of how far we’ve come and what we’ve accomplished. It becomes a Pharisaical habit that puts Jesus on the back burner. We risk becoming obsessed with ‘steps’ or personal accomplishments and lose sight of what Jesus calls us to do and be. We substitute our efforts for the sacrificial atonement of Jesus on the cross.

We need to pray that our sons and daughters would be protected from the trap of self-help and promises of prosperity and instead that they would focus on and practice the Truth of Scripture to make them more like Christ.

Here are some prayer points:

1. Pray that our sons and daughters would ask themselves, “What am I pursuing?”  “What is it that I want my life to represent?”  Then, pray that they would have the mindset of Jesus Christ. Jesus wasn’t out to promote himself to gain accolades or wealth, He was focused on serving others to point them to God.

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Philippians 2:5-7

2. Pray they would live a life that demonstrates worship of Christ, not conformity to the ways of this world. 

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2

3. Pray they would prioritize and pursue what has eternal value.

“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (ESV) Mark 8:36

“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.” Colossians 1:10-12

4. Pray that they would live, not for success and accomplishment, but live in such a way that others would see Jesus in them daily, in their actions, attitudes, and values.

“Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” Romans 13:14

We are not meant to be comfortable in this life, that’s something that the influencers of this world don’t understand.  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,”

Jesus didn’t save us to ensure we lived our best life now and enjoy our reward here on this earth…no, our best life is yet to come and our reward is in heaven, with Him.  If we spend our lives trying to pursue success, wealth, and influence, yet neglect to share the gospel in effective ways we are missing our purpose here on this earth and not respecting or honoring the sacrifice Christ made for our redemption.

Instead of self-help, let’s plead for more of the Holy Spirit in us, in our children, transforming each of us.  Instead of success, let’s pursue godliness.  Instead of fame, let’s make Jesus’ name known among the nations.  When we stand before the throne, our habits will be judged, let’s ensure they’re Spirit-led and God-honoring.  Let’s pray that our sons and daughters are not deceived by the trappings of this world but are convicted by and committed to living according to the Truth of Scripture, not the habits of men.

“Oh, Lord, there are so many distractions and promises of success that this world throws at us.  Please give (name) clear discernment to recognize what is the shallow deception of the enemy.  Convict them to daily search Your Word for Truth and to be salt and light in this world to point others to Christ.  I pray (name) would pursue You, not their own desires.  Lord, help them to make much of Jesus, not of themselves.  Develop Godly habits in them so that everything they choose to do and say would reflect Jesus to others.  Lord, our time is short, this world is temporary.  Please cultivate a right spirit in (name) so that when they stand before You their life would be a beautiful testimony to the redemption of Jesus, not an empty list of worthless actions and selfish pursuits.  Lord, may Your name be glorified in them.  I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Pray without ceasing.  God is working!

Prodigal Prayer

Do you see your loved one pursuing the deception that says “I can make my own choices, I can be whatever I want to be, I can succeed on my own power”? The prodigal path is one full of lies, deceptions, and, ultimately, a life without Christ.

Don’t lose heart.  Keep laying your burdens in prayer at the feet of Jesus.  Trust Him and know that He’s working.  You may not see it, but He works in dimensions that are beyond our comprehension.  Pray for those who will interact with your beloved prodigal, that God would use them to bring them to the cross.  Greater is He that is in us than he that is in this world, 1 John 4:4.

40 Days of Prayer for the Prodigal

is a powerful book for anyone 

crying out to the Lord

for the heart of their loved one.

This book addresses the battle for the heart, mind, and soul of the prodigal 

through praying Scripture boldly and consistently with faith 

that God will bring repentance and restoration.

The reader will prepare their heart with their own surrender to God 

and then they will speak and pray the words of Scripture 

back to God in effective and powerful ways, 

praying specifically over the condition and situation of their beloved prodigal. Transformation can begin in the life of the prodigal 

and in the reader’s own heart as well.

Grab your copy today!  Read and share!

Available on Amazon

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

Follow

Some people choose a word for the year, one that will be their focus and potentially represent what they choose to do, accomplish, and be. Maybe it’s ‘health’ or ‘positivity’. We download apps and follow influencers hoping to make the changes that will make us better.

But God doesn’t set expectations that WE would better ourselves on our own- we honestly don’t have the ability to do that. Oh, we might be able to generate an illusion… but so often our efforts leave us feeling discouraged and defeated. What God does ask of us is that we follow Him.  Follow.  Not lead.  Not walk nearby or on a similar pathway, but follow.

“Follow me.”

The word ‘follow’ in Greek is the word “akoloutheo” and it means to be in the same way with, to accompany, to cleave steadfastly to one, to conform wholly to His example in living and, if need be, dying.” 1

A great way to begin our year is by praying that our sons and daughters follow Jesus. Not a casual ‘checking in to see updates’ or looking for the most popular trend, but following Jesus faithfully, daily, passionately. Does their life reflect a commitment to Jesus?  Do their choices, their words and actions, their pursuits and values demonstrate that Jesus is the One they value over anything and anyone else?  

Here’s another important question, does our own life reflect that?  Do we live with a passion to serve Him?  It’s important because even though our sons and daughters are grown, they’re still watching us.  They look to us to be examples…or the justification for why they choose to do…or not do.  Are we following well?

If we are following Christ, our life will demonstrate that.  People will believe what we say when our life exhibits the evidence that our words are true. Do we live as if we’re in the same way with Jesus, accompanying Him, cleaving steadfastly to Him and conforming wholly to His example in living and, if need be, dying.” 1

Oh that we would all have a passion for Christ that consumes us to the point that we radiate joy, we seek to serve, we delight in praise and worship, and we hold the things of this world very lightly.  Our life isn’t here, it is with Christ.  We are only here for a short time- let’s make the most of it for Jesus!  Let’s commit to pray, every day, that we and our sons and daughters, would follow Christ with conviction, with a commitment that doesn’t waver, and that we would daily choose Him over everything and everyone else.

“Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, there is no shadow of turning with Thee.” 2

No shadow of turning. Consider the visual image of that.  Someone who is in the light, who doesn’t turn to either side or turn back doesn’t give evidence of a shadow, ever.  

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17 Our God is faithful and steady. If we are to be like Him, that means we should demonstrate the same- no shadow of turning; faithful to follow for all the days of our life.  We have so little time, we can’t waste it turning aside to pursue what this world offers.  

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,” Hebrews 10:23-24 ESV

Our sons and daughters need our intercession now more than ever!  We have a mighty calling! Are we going to embrace it, take up the challenge and pray?  Oh, friends, let’s do it!  Let’s commit to praying for this next generation. God, in His mercy and kindness, has granted us another year.  Let’s take on 2025 as if it may be our last year to fervently and effectively pray for our sons and daughters, our loved ones, our neighbors and even those we don’t know and have never met.  Satan is in an all-out war to take captive as many souls as he can.  Let’s fight his agenda!  Let’s battle against his tactics.  Let’s follow Jesus unwaveringly, fighting the good fight until He returns! Pray without ceasing!

“Heavenly Father, I bring (name) before You today.  I know You know them well.  You created them. I ask today that You would empower and embolden them to follow You faithfully.  Lord, impress upon them the need to be fully committed to You, surrendered to Your will, and eager to serve You in whatever way and place You might call them.  Help me to pray faithfully and to surrender to Your will as well.  Lord, I know the hopes and dreams I have for them, but Yours are greater and hold eternal value.  Help me to follow You without turning aside to my own hopes or agenda.  Help me to pray unselfishly and according to Your will.  Lord, I ask that You would protect (name).  Keep them from deception.  Fill them with wonder at Your word and a desire to live for You, to worship and praise You and to live a life that exhibits no shadow of turning. I pray these things in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Prodigal Prayer-  “Lord, name is following other paths that they believe will earn them the life they deserve and the reward they crave. I pray You would get (name)’s attention.  Open their eyes to see that they are following empty things- things that only deliver disappointment and ultimately, destruction .  They are on a road that leads to eternal death.  And in their following, they are accompanying others who are walking towards death.  Lord, turn them around, help them to see You promise forgiveness and redemption, eternal life and an inheritance that is beyond anything this world can offer.  Give (name) a desire to know and follow You. Change what they follow so that they would follow You.”

1. G190 - akoloutheō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g190/kjv/tr/0-1/

2. Chisholm, T. O. (n.d.). Great is thy faithfulness. Hymnary.org. https://hymnary.org/text/great_is_thy_faithfulness_o_god_my_fathe