Walking Away from Jesus
That a son or daughter has walked away from their faith is a realization that no believing parent or family wants to admit. Immediately so many questions bubble up- why? What happened? What brought on this change of mind, of heart?! Why, Lord? Why our family? What did I do wrong?
Sadly, it’s not rare. There are many young people who walk away from their faith while others run hard or slam the door shut on any conversation that might include God. Hurt, resentment, bitterness, disillusion all play a part in leaving faith.
Most often it’s a gradual process, happening over time and subtly. That’s how Satan works. He’s slick, subtle, and sneaky. He works his way in, stirring questions, whispering doubts, casting dispersions and cultivating discontent. He speaks lies that are easily believed. He plays on our emotions. He attacks the mind in an invisible battle that often does much damage before the evidence is obvious to others. Satan is a master deceiver and his work is evident in the lives of so many sons and daughters who grew up singing “Jesus loves me” but now want nothing to do with Him. But this isn’t quitting religion as the world would have you believe, it’s abandoning a relationship between Jesus and the one for whom He died.
Often, by the time someone is walking away from their faith, the battle in their mind and heart has been rumbling or raging for a while. By the time it’s evident, serious damage has been done. Conversation does little, but prayer is powerful.
Our sons and daughters must make their own confession of faith in Jesus Christ. Faith isn’t inherited. Yes, we can leave a legacy of faith, but no one enters the kingdom of God because of another’s faith. “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9, ESV Pray that they would be convicted to embrace Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Drifting is easy. It requires no effort. And when one is drifting away from the Lord, it’s a gradual, passive change that often carries the individual far away from the Rock of salvation before the drift is even recognized. Pray that the Lord would place firm barriers in the way of their drift. Pray that He would anchor them in Scripture, would provide solid teaching, and would stir concern and attentiveness to their situation. "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3”17-19
Leaving the faith is often motivated by misperceptions and selfish motivations that set oneself up as more important..essentially idolatry of self. Pray that the Lord would call them out on their idolatry, bring conviction and change. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 warns us, “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” Pray that our sons and daughters truly would have nothing to do with such people.
Environmental factors play a role. Where and with whom are they spending time? How are these places and people impacting their choices, their values, their trajectory? Pray that the Lord would bring strong, solid believers into their life…ones for whom they would have respect and appreciation, ones to whom they would listen and take to heart what is said. 1 Corinthians 15:33, “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.””
Many times a finger will be pointed at someone who said something or did something that turned the individual away from the Lord, from fellowship with believers, and from trusting the Lord. Here’s the thing, people are poor representatives of Christ and too often, Jesus is judged because of the words and actions of others. Are we trusting in others or are we trusting in God? Job 13:15, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;”
What do they love? What are they pursuing? What is it that holds priority and purpose in their lives? These questions will reveal where their heart is focused. Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
As parents, WE cannot change their heart- only God can do that. But we can pray that He would intervene, wake them up and do what it takes to turn them back to Jesus. That’s a hard prayer. We don’t like praying “Lord, do whatever it takes” because there is fear of what that might be. But friends, there should be a greater fear of what happens if they do not turn back to the Lord.
God may send a storm…and we may not like it. But Charles Spurgeon said something so profound, "I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages." If the storm God brings is the catalyst that turns the heart of our son or daughter back to the foot of the cross, then it is so worth it. Would we rather protect them from pain and hardship here or allow God to do what He would to bring them back into fellowship with Him?
If our sons and daughters are not willing to suffer for the Lord, they’ve bought into the lie that Satan weaves that tells us God wants our comfort, our success, and our happiness to overflow in this life. That’s a prosperity gospel deception and is unbiblical.
““...In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”” John 16:33b
Yes, hardship, pain, and sorrow are part of walking with Jesus- He was a man of sorrow, acquainted with grief (Isa 53:3) but it is also filled with joy, hope, and assurance that our eternity is secure. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2. But if we cling to Jesus, we WILL overcome the hardship, pain, and grief of this world.
“For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4
Let’s pray that our sons and daughters cling tightly to Jesus, no matter what. Pray that the Holy Spirit would reveal and protect from deception. Pray that those who are drifting would wake up and turn back to Jesus. Pray that God would do what He must to bring them back into the fellowship of the cross.
“Oh, heavenly Father, one thing I fear is that my son or daughter would drift away from You. I struggle to think they may walk away, not loving You for all You are and all You do. How could it be? Yet I know that a heart that longs for You is a work of the Holy Spirit, not the effort of my longing or result of my parenting. You’ve told me not to fear- fear is a tool of the enemy. So I will pray to the One Who holds the future, Who directs my steps and knows my thoughts and sees my heart. I will pray to the One who created my beloved (son or daughter). You know them, You love them, and You desire right fellowship with them and worship from them.”
“Lord, You tell us in Psalm 139:1-6 that You have searched (name), LORD, and you know them. You know when name sits and when they rise; you perceive their thoughts from afar (even those thoughts that pull them away from You, Lord.) You discern their going out and their lying down; You are familiar with all their ways. (Lord, you see who they fellowship with, who speaks into them, and You see what motivates them- change this so they are motivated to seek You.) Before a word is on (name)’s tongue you, LORD, know it completely. (Guard their words. Consume their thoughts. Don’t let them stray, Lord.) You hem (name) in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon (name). (I pray in this that the Holy Spirit would be powerful and convicting- don’t let (name) ignore Your prompting and Your conviction.) I pray, too, that such knowledge would be too wonderful for (name), giving them no other choice but to bow to Your Lordship and surrender their heart and life to You. Lord, You are able to do more than our minds can imagine. You are always on time, never late and never ill-prepared. I pray that in Your time and perfect way, You would work on (name) to bring them back to the cross, back to full surrender and back to walking in step with You with a passion and conviction that would make the enemy flee. I pray this all in Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Are you praying for a prodigal? What a dark and difficult road that can be. Don’t lose heart, friend! 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. Don’t forget to pray for those friends and associates that interact with your beloved prodigal, that God would use them to bring them to the cross.
40 Days of Prayer for the Prodigal, is a powerful book for anyone deeply in prayer for the heart of their loved one. It walks you through 40 days of prayer on topics that impact the prodigal’s pathway, their excuses, their pain and sorrow and intersperses days of Sabbath encouragement for the reader.
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.
Purchase your copy today and begin a deep, scripture-based prayer journey that will transform your heart and the heart of the prodigal as well!
My Dear Children…Continue in Him
“And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.” 1 John 2:28
Ask any parent who loves the Lord what they truly want for their sons and daughters. Most would be quick to say they want nothing more than to know their children continue with God, walk faithfully, hold tightly, trust unwaveringly.
Persistence is a characteristic necessary for life, isn’t it? If we don’t persist, we don’t learn, accomplish, grow, or survive. There are so many sayings that tell us to keep going- it’s a theme across all generations and cultures. Dory, in Finding Nemo, sang, “just keep swimming,” and people quickly picked up on the melody…and the positive message…to remind themselves to press on. Country music croons to us to “keep on keeping on.” Elisabeth Elliott, a Christian author and teacher, faced extraordinary circumstances when, as a young mother with a 10 month old baby, her husband was killed on the mission field. In the days following, she would remind herself to “just do the next thing” because life was so difficult and she struggled to know how to manage it.
Those who lived in Biblical times struggled to manage and persist, too. Life was hard. There was loss and grief; there were obstacles and opposition. The Apostle John knew there was even more to come- the Christian life was not easy and persecution was very real. He gently and lovingly wrote 1 John 2:28 to encourage the believers, “And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.”
Dear children, continue! Don’t give up! Persist!! Press on! It wasn’t a rallying cry for the sake of survival, but for the promised reward of standing before the Lord, confident and unashamed. John redirected their focus from the circumstances to the Purpose and the goal.
When we pray that our sons or daughters ‘continue’ in the Lord, we might picture a steady walk in the right direction, not wavering or wandering. But if we look at the word ‘continue’, ‘meno’ in Greek, it actually means, “to stay in a given place, state, relation or expectancy; to abide or remain” (1).
If we’re serious about praying for our children to continue in the Lord, we need to pray for these aspects of ‘continuing’ specifically.
Our place: When we hear someone say, “Know your place”, it’s often a reprimand to keep quiet, don’t presume you have a right to speak or interject. But in Christ, we have a place that qualifies us to step into His presence, speak to Him freely, live with confidence, and face the future with hope. We are children of the King! We have home and a place at His table. We’re not a visitor or a stranger, we’re family. We’re brought into His protection, welcomed and adopted as His very own. We have a place and we belong.
Psalm 23:5 “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
Ephesians 2:6 says, “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,”
Our state: As believers, our condition is confirmed. We are no longer condemned! The state of the believer is one that brings hope! We are forgiven, redeemed, justified, sanctified, and accepted with the promise of eternity in His presence. We are no longer slaves to sin and our sinful nature.
Romans 8:1-2, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”
Our relationship: Our relationship with and to the Lord is confirmed; we are His children and his heirs.
Romans 8:15-17 “...rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.”
Our hope: We can live with eager expectation and hope because we are His heirs and He’s promised us a life in His presence.
Ephesians 1:18-19 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”
Revelations 21:3-4 “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
When we pray for our children to continue in their faith, we’re not praying that they have the personal strength to keep walking…we’re praying they will remain in Christ, unmoved, not deceived, not led astray by false teachers or lured by temptation. We also pray that they would have a fixed position that is anchored in Christ. We pray they would understand God’s precepts and would live with conviction as a forgiven, redeemed, justified and sanctified child of God. A child who holds fast to their position in Christ and to their inheritance as an heir of the promise. We ask the Lord to help them live with hope, not looking to this world for satisfaction, joy and rescue, but to Christ alone. He provides everything they need for this life and for eternity. Finally, we pray that they will stand unashamed at His coming because they truly understand who they are and Whose they are.
Today, let’s pray that our dear children will continue in Christ and all that it means to do so. Colossians 1:9-12 is a great scripture passage to pray over our sons and daughters. Or take time to write out a specific prayer naming your child/children and praying over all of the aspects of what it means to continue in their walk with the Lord.
Colossians 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, 14 in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Pray without ceasing
G3306 - menō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3306/niv/mgnt/0-1/
Psalm 15:2 Walking Blamelessly
Psalm 15:1-2
Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?
The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart;
We’re continuing to pray through Psalm 15 and this week, we’re focusing on verse two. Last week we discussed and prayed through what it means to live and dwell with the Lord. But not everyone will have that privilege. No, it’s reserved for those who follow God’s commands outlined through the remainder of Psalm 15.
Notice that verse two speaks about how the one who dwells with the Lord will have a life, actions and words that all reflect God’s Presence and power in their lives. Let’s dig into verse two.
What does it mean to be blameless? We might think it’s being free from guilt. But it’s more than that. If one is blameless, they are complete, unimpaired, ‘whole’ (1). Someone who is blameless understands and knows they are not missing anything- there is no longer a hole in their heart or an emptiness in their life. God has redeemed and restored them. They received the grace of God to cover their sin and they’ve been restored to fellowship with God that fills the emptiness that once lingered. Don’t we desire that wholeness for our sons and daughters? Of course we do!
One who is right with God has a deep desire- a spiritual conviction- to do what is right and just and to support that in every way. They can’t overlook or turn a blind eye to injustice and they can’t tolerate wrong. It goes against their new nature, indwelled by the Holy Spirit and called to follow Christ and His Word.
Finally, someone who is made whole and who pursues righteousness and justice will speak truth from his heart. In John 17:17, Jesus prayed “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”
A blameless person is one whose very life reflects the mighty change that God worked in them through their lifestyle, their actions and their words. There is no contradiction of saying one thing and doing another. They pursue God with their whole being and they cling to His Word because it is life.
When our children were little, they were around us daily and heard us speak and watched our actions. Oftentimes we would see or hear them imitate us. They were learning and putting into action what we modeled. When we abide in God’s Presence, we learn His words and we understand how we should live our lives and if we’re committed to the Lord, we’ll want to share that truth with others. Why wouldn’t we want to let others know about the peace and wholeness that comes from following Christ? Ephesians 5:1-2 “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
We long for our sons and daughters to live in God’s Presence each day. But not just ‘dwell’ as a tenant would, but as a member of the family, enjoying all that relationship has to offer. We want them to have a longing to live their lives in such a way that would show others that they live for a different Purpose than the world around them does.
This week, pray Psalm 15:2 over your sons and daughters. Ask that their walk would be blameless, that they would do what is righteous and that they would know God’s Word well so they are able to speak truth from their heart.
“Father, I pray today that (name)’s walk would be blameless. Lord, help them to be more concerned with what You think of them than what the world thinks of them. I pray that they would live with conviction to follow Your Word, and Your truth and they would speak with boldness so that others can hear the Truth of Jesus and see it lived out in their life. Holy Spirit, give (name) a conviction to live without compromise and do what is righteous..not self-righteous, but to live with Godly righteousness determining their steps, their words and their actions. Lord, protect them and use them for Your honor and glory, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”
H8549 - tāmîm - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h8549/kjv/wlc/0-1/
Pray without ceasing.
Wedding Crashers
“Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
Who may live on your holy mountain?
The one whose walk is blameless,
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from their heart;”
Psalm 15:1-2
We’ve all heard stories of strangers who decide to invite themselves to someone’s wedding. They schmooze with the guests, enjoy the food and music and even get their picture with the happy couple. Everyone assumes they’re a friend of someone else….and afterward, it comes to light that, in fact, they were strangers who simply welcomed themselves into the event. They weren’t on the list, but somehow made their way in because they looked the part.
Some people may think that their entry into Heaven will be much the same. They may not know the Bridegroom personally, but they ‘look the part’ and they’ve convinced others they belong, so, they’ll get in, right?
But here’s the thing, there will be no wedding crashers at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in Heaven. The Bible is clear. “Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks truth from their heart.”
The only way we can have a blameless walk is when we walk with Jesus, fully surrendered to Him as our Lord. Colossians 3:1-3 “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God”
The only way we can do what is righteous is when the Righteous One lives in our hearts. Psalm 36:10“Continue your love to those who know you, your righteousness to the upright in heart” Romans 1:16-17 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.””
The only way we can speak Truth is by listening to His voice and by learning, studying and memorizing His word. “Sanctify them in the truth, Your word is truth.” John 17:17
God knows ALL of His children and each one will have a place at His table. But those who are ‘imposters’, posers pretending to be His, trying to carry His name, but living on their own terms- they will be excluded. They will not be welcomed to dwell in His tent or live on His sacred mountain. They will not be invited to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and there will be no opportunity to ‘self-invite’ or sneak in just by ‘appearing’ like they belong.
Are our sons and daughters seeking a blameless walk or are they giving themselves a ‘pass’ on sin? Are they pursuing righteousness or do they expect to simply ‘talk’ their way into the Kingdom? Do they know the Truth enough to speak it with conviction or do they just parrot things they’ve heard that ‘sound good’?
Friends, let’s pray today that our sons and daughters have a genuine, blameless walk with the Lord- one that will give them VIP seating at the Marriage Supper where we can celebrate the Lamb together!
“Lord God, You are our Almighty Father and Jesus, our Shepherd. You know Your sheep. I pray today that (name) would be one of Your own. If (name) has not yet surrendered their heart and life to You, I pray today would be the day. Get their attention, Lord and help them to truly understand the seriousness of following Jesus authentically and intentionally. If (name) is playing games and ‘posing’ as a believer but lacks the real relationship, I pray that today would be the day they get serious about running after You with their whole heart and mind. I pray that they would be burdened to live authentically for you and to share their faith with others. Lord, my heart’s desire is that my whole family would be part of your Kingdom, celebrating the Marriage Supper of the Lamb as true members of Your Church, Your Bride. Lord, work in their hearts today, draw them into a true relationship with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
How are they walking?
Deuteronomy 5:33 “Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.”
Deuteronomy 10:12 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, “
It matters how we walk. It matters where we walk. When we’re mindful of our steps, we avoid danger and guard our safety. When we step outside of those parameters, we put ourselves at risk. Oh, we may think we’re fully in control, but there are factors we cannot control that make the danger greater. When our children were little, we didn’t let them run into the street. Yet as adults, some are doing just that in their spiritual lives.
We have to be mindful of how we live our lives and how and where we choose to ‘walk’. We can’t just claim Jesus’ name as an ‘identity’, a symbol of belonging or strategically-arranged social connection or spiritual insurance. If we desire the good that God gives, we must be willing to submit to His commands and obey. He desires that we walk according to His Word and His will.
Jesus made it clear. We need to walk in obedience. There is no middle ground. We must choose sides and we must walk with intentionality toward the cross, toward self-sacrifice, toward giving up our own desires in order to embrace Him. It comes with a cost in this life, but with great reward in eternity. The question is, will we trust Him? Do we believe that He means what He says? And if we do….do we live like it? Can other people discern where our loyalties lie by the way we walk?
God required Israel to:
Fear Him - respect and be in awe and yes, truly fear Him- He is God, there is no rival or equal.
Walk in obedience- not in rebellion, but to submit and walk in the ways that He ordained for them.
Love Him- have true affection for Him
Serve Him with all their heart and soul- not half-hearted and not in name only.
And why did God require this of them? Because they bore His name. They were His nation, His children, and His chosen people. He wanted to bless them extravagantly because He loved them. But they needed to obey. It’s the same with us. God so desires our obedience and allegiance to Him and He wants to bless us, spiritually. But we have to walk with Him. Ephesians 1:3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”
What do we most desire for our sons and daughters, really? Where have we focused our encouragement of them? A degree? A job? A relationship? An income?
Friends, THE most important thing we need to do is encourage our sons and daughters to honestly walk with the Lord, to love Him and to serve Him.
When we stand before the Throne, nothing else will matter. Nothing. Either they love Him, or they don’t. Either they give their heart to Him, or they are an enemy of the cross. There is no middle ground….and they cannot claim our faith. They must make it their own. How and where they spiritually walk right now is important- it has eternal consequences.
Do you have a sense of urgency? You should. Time is short.
Today, let’s pray that list for our sons and daughters, pray in all seriousness and with a sense of urgency. The enemy wants to steal the hearts of this next generation. Let’s do everything we can to stand in the gap and plead God’s protection and preservation over them. Pray that our sons and daughters would:
Fear Him - respect and be in awe and yes, truly fear Him- He is God, there is no rival or equal.
Walk in obedience- not in rebellion, but to submit and walk in the ways that He ordained for them and obey by studying His Word.
Love Him- have true affection for Him
Serve Him with all their heart and soul- not half-hearted and not in name only.
Pray without ceasing.