But, I Was Just Sitting There….
Psalm 1:1 “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,”
The progression of Psalm 1:1 is insightful. Look at each of the actions, walking, standing and sitting. There is little argument one can make against someone’s association, and even guilt, if they are choosing to walk with those who are wicked. They are present and participating.
Then, if we stand with someone, we’re still taking action, of sorts. We are aligning ourselves with that person, giving our support and approval. We’re taking a stand, making a point and being a part, not apart.
But sitting. Hmmm. One might argue “I was just sitting there….” Ah, but where we sit matters. Someone who opts to fly first class sits in a place that, just by its designation, tells others that person has some measure of ‘importance’ or special privilege. If someone purchases ringside seats at a boxing match, their seat location tells others they are interested and invested in what’s going on in the ring.
So when we sit in the company of others…mockers, we’re part of their group and we are joining in on their companionship, even if we’re not actively participating. We are associated by our choice of seat. We could get up and move, but if we choose to remain seated, we choose to immerse ourselves in that company and the environment it creates...and we choose to be viewed as one of them.
Friends, we must pray pointedly and earnestly that our sons and daughters don’t just avoid walking with the wicked or standing in the midst of sin, but that they make the intentional choice to not sit with those who would mock Christ by their words, actions and values. Let’s pray that their associations and locations would show others, without question, that they belong to Jesus. We want them to get the ‘good seat’ that proactively aligns them with the Lord.
“Father, thank you for Your love and concern for us. You so beautifully wrote your Word to us so that we would understand all You desire for us and all You ask of us. Lord, I pray today that (name) would be very mindful of where they choose to sit and who they choose to align themselves with. If they plant themselves without discretion, I pray, Holy Spirit, that You would make them uncomfortable so that they would get up and find another seat. Lord, keep them from danger, keep them from evil, keep them from abiding others who would mock Your name. When they take their seat, let it be with full intention to honor You with their life and their location. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Sunday Worship: Sitting at the Feet of Jesus
Sitting at the feet of Jesus
Oh, what words I hear Him say!
Happy place, so near, so precious!
May it find me there each day
Sitting at the feet of Jesus
I would look upon the past
For His love has been so gracious
It has won my heart at last
Sitting at the feet of Jesus
Where can mortals be more bless
There I lay my sins and sorrows
And when weary find sweet rest
Sitting at the feet of Jesus
There I love to weep and pray
While I from His fullness gather
Grace and comfort every day
Bless me, O my Savior, bless me
As I sit low at Thy feet
Oh, look down in love upon me
Let me see Thy face so sweet
Give me, Lord, the mind of Jesus
Make me holy as He is
May I prove I've been with Jesus
Who is all my righteousness
He is all my righteousness
He is all my righteousness
Hymn by Joseph L. Hall, 1868
Saturday Review
We’ve reached Saturday! It’s a great day to go back through our prayer points and talk to the Lord one more time. Repeating a prayer or request isn’t redundant, it expresses to the Lord just how important it is to you and how much it weighs on your heart. He loves to hear His children pray!
Pray that even if God puts our sons and daughters in hard places, that they would be willing to be used by Him. Pray that they would have boldness to live for Christ!!
Pray Philippians 1:20 for our sons and daughters asking the Lord to give them courage to live for Him, whether in life or in death, and to live with eternity in mind. “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
Pray that our sons and daughters wisely decide where they will sit. Let’s pray that they do not choose to sit with the wicked - opting to be present and surrounded by darkness. Let’s pray that they have discretion to sit under teaching that is Biblical and God-honoring, not just what ‘sounds good’ or ‘looks pretty’. Finally, we need to pray that they choose to sit at the feet of Jesus daily as well as with those who love Him and want to live for Him.
Finally, pray that our sons and daughters would take time to sit and talk to the Lord. Pray that they would love the Lord their God with all their heart, all their soul and all their strength. And pray that His commands would be on their hearts so that whatever they choose to do and wherever they go, He is present and preeminent in their thoughts and in their hearts.
Pray without ceasing.
It Matters Where You Sit
Psalm 26:4-5 “I do not sit with the deceitful, nor do I associate with hypocrites. I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked.”
Remember the days of walking into a restaurant and hearing the hostess ask “smoking or non-smoking?” The restaurant tried to separate those who did not want to be exposed to the smoke and smell, so we had a choice of where we wanted to sit. But sometimes, the ‘non-smoking’ section was just the very next table...there was no wall or separate room, just an invisible ‘line’ determining the difference between smoking and non-smoking. The smoke still drifted over and the smell permeated the air. The food, the clothing, even the hair smelled like smoke despite the fact that no one at your table was smoking. When that happened, the waitress was called over and the whole group moved, once again, to find a spot where the air was clear and the meal wouldn’t be ruined. Where we sat mattered.
Friends, where we ‘sit’ in life matters too. Even if we’re simply ‘present’, but not participating, we’re surrounded by what goes on around us. If we sit by the side of the pool, we’re bound to be splashed. The excuse of ‘well, I’m not swimming...I’m not IN the pool’, doesn’t work. If we choose to place ourselves in the company of others who make poor moral decisions, use coarse language, and live like the world, we’re choosing to passively align ourselves with, and show approval for those things. One cannonball will leave you soaked and, swimming or not, you’re all wet. You look like you’ve been swimming. There is little that distinguishes you from others who are actually in the pool. Where you sit matters.
And we don’t need to be mindful of just the ‘world’. There are plenty of discretionary opportunities in the church and among believers, or those who claim to be. Not all who claim to be believers will live like they are. Some ‘talk’ a good game, but their words and life are a twisted mess of deception. They use their power, position and words to manipulate and control. They speak to gain a following, not to honor Jesus. They tickle the ears but darken the heart. The love of Christ is absent. When we choose to sit under these people, to listen, learn and follow, we risk dampening the voice of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. When we sit too close, our ears and hearts grow numb to Truth. Where we sit matters.
Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters choose their seats well. Let’s pray that they do not sit with the wicked, opting to be present and surrounded by darkness. Let’s pray that they have discretion to sit under teaching that is Biblical and God-honoring, not just what ‘sounds good’ or ‘looks pretty’. Let’s pray that they choose to sit at the feet of Jesus and with those who love Him and want to live for Him.
*Disclaimer* This does not mean we cease to be salt and light to those who are unbelievers. This does NOT mean we cloister ourselves to remain ‘untainted’ by the world. We’re not called to live in a ‘bubble’. But there is a difference between going out, sitting down and engaging with others who need the Lord and who need to *see* God in us, vs. choosing to align oneself with people and activities that do not please the Lord, excusing bad behavior and acting without wisdom or discretion. We’re called to be in the world, but not of it. 1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
Pray for discretion. Pray that our sons and daughters choose their seats well. It matters where they sit.
Pray without ceasing.
Don’t Just Sit There…
Deuteronomy 6:5-7 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 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.”
What do we do when we sit? Really? Think about it. Sitting is usually a pretty passive event. Oh, we sit and work, sure, but other times, we just plop down and we ‘sit’, but do very little.
In the book of Deuteronomy, God had some other ideas about what the Israelites could do with all that ‘down time’.
The Israelites were just about ready to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land. But before they stepped foot in the land, God wanted to remind them of the most important things they needed to embrace, remember and practice. He instructed Moses to give them commands and decrees so that their children, grandchildren and generations to come would always remember and always fear the Lord, who did so many miracles on their behalf.
And what were those commands? Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your strength.
And how were they to remember?
These commands are to be on your hearts
Impress them on your children
Talk about them when you sit at home & when you walk along the road
Talk about them 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 your doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
God was trying to tell the Israelites that He wanted to be a part of their conversation throughout the day, regardless of what they did or where they went. Even when they sat at home, He was there and, friends, He’s with us as well when we’re sitting at home, or in the car, or wherever we plant ourselves. Will we make him a part of our conversation?
Here’s an interesting observation. The word ‘sit’ in our English language means to physically ‘sit’ with our backside in a chair, but it also means to ‘be present’ as in babysit, housesit, dogsit, etc. It’s a companionship of sorts. God wants that companionship with us- and He wants to be the topic of conversation.
Today, when you sit down, think through the three letters of the word ‘sit’: “S” stop, “I” inquire of the Lord, and “T” talk to HIm. Then, go on and talk to the Lord. Pray for your sons and daughters that they, too, would take time to sit and talk to the Lord. Pray that they would love the Lord their God with all their heart, all their soul and all their strength. And pray that His commands would be on their hearts so that whatever they choose to do, He is present and preeminent in their thoughts and in their hearts.
“Lord, too often we sit and do ‘nothing’. Too often we let our minds wander to empty things. Or, we let clutter in and it crowds out what You're trying to say. I pray that today, as (name) sits down, you would bring a peace to their heart and a reminder to their mind to spend time in prayer with You. Help them to stop, inquire, and talk to You. Help them to love you with all their being. Lord, I pray that their relationship with You would deepen so they’re longing to spend time in talking, praying and listening to You. Let them sit in Your presence and soak in the Truths of Who You are and What a relationship with You truly means. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Courage to Live…or Die
Philippians 1:20 “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.”
A classic question that is often asked of children is, “what do you want to be when you grow up?”. The answers vary from ‘ballerina’ and ‘princess’ to ‘doctor’ or ‘army guy’. Sometimes you get funny, unexpected responses, like the student who wanted to ‘be’ the dump truck…(not just drive the truck, but BE the truck).
But few, if any, would have said ‘I want to die for my faith’. That’s sobering and probably not the sort of conversation that we would think to have with our children. (Yet, there are belief systems out there that train their children from a young age that giving their life for their god is honorable and rewarding.)
But at some point, we as parents, need to have those serious conversations. We need our sons and daughters to understand that following Christ requires them to be ‘all-in’. They will spend their life on something, will it have eternal value? Have we trained our sons and daughters to understand and fully believe that a life surrendered to God is a life well-lived? Have we communicated the seriousness of the choice set before them: life with Christ or eternity without Him? Here is the real question, would our sons and daughters be willing to give their life for Jesus?
Oh we have so many hopes and dreams for our sons and daughters, don’t we? But we need to look beyond this temporal life and consider our hopes and dreams for their eternity. Our sons and daughters may be called to hard places where life is fragile or where followers of Christ are viewed as enemies worthy of death. It seems foreign to us, yet God calls people to these hard places to be salt and light. And for some of us, that may become a life that is lived by our son or daughter. Are they willing? Are we willing?
Today, let’s pray Philippians 1:20 for our sons and daughters and ask the Lord to give them courage to live for Him, whether in life or in death, and to live with eternity in mind. And lets pray that the Lord gives us courage, as parents, to support them wherever God calls them.
“Father, I pray for (name) today that they would eagerly live for you in an expectation of pleasing You in all they say and do. I pray that their sincere hope today, and every day, would be that they would honor You. Give (name) an eternal perspective that sees beyond this day, week or year, that pushes past the five-year plan and the retirement goals to the value of eternity at Your right hand. Lord, help them to truly understand how fleeting this life is and make them willing to lay down their life for You. Wherever You lead, I pray that (name) would following, willingly and with full trust in You. Lord, help my desires for them to align with Yours. I pray that I would not get distracted by accomplishments and successes but would pray daily for their spiritual maturity and willingness to serve You with their life. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
With Boldness, No Matter What
Acts 28:31 “He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!”
Let’s be honest, we don’t like to see our sons and daughters struggle and, if we could, we would change it. When we see them face difficulty accompanied by frustration or pain, we want to step in and take it away. But...what if…..what if God designed that difficulty to create circumstances that would allow them to boldly share Jesus with others? What then? Would we still wish and pray it away?
Your challenge today is to read all of Acts 28 as if you were the Apostle Paul’s parent. Yep, you read that right… imagine he was your son….now go on and read the chapter. What do you see? What are your feelings about what he’s facing? What would you have said...or done on his behalf? And when you get to verse 31… what would your perspective be?
Paul was arrested and, eventually, sent to Rome where he remained imprisoned until his death. He was under house arrest, yet took every opportunity to talk to others about Jesus. Jews and Romans alike were saved and transformed by his ministry. Roman guards became brothers in Christ. God used Paul’s imprisonment to get the gospel to Rome and to the Gentiles.
God had a purpose and plan in Paul’s hardships and Paul understood that. He trusted God more than he trusted his experience and more than he regretted his circumstances. He wasn’t imprisoned by his attitudes and despair. His faith in God’s plan gave him boldness to share the gospel and a spiritual freedom that no government or official could take from him. He was willing to go and share boldly wherever God placed him.
Friends, sometimes God puts our sons and daughters in hard places because He intends to use them in ways that, otherwise, would not happen. Rather than fuss, fret, and try and interfere, let’s pray with boldness that our sons and daughters would have boldness for Christ!!
Yes, this is hard. No, we don’t like to see our children (grown or not) in hard places. But do we trust God? Can we trust Him with what is most precious to us? Of course we can. Absolutely. They are safer in His keeping than they ever were in ours. Trust Him and pray for boldness.
“Lord, I know that you may take (name) to hard places or into difficult circumstances. Help me to trust You. I pray that my “parent heart” would not stand in the way of Your plan. Give me wisdom, Lord, to know what to say and when, or to sense when You are putting a hand on my mouth and heart to bring peace and quiet so you can work. I ask that you would give (name) boldness to speak of Jesus to those around them and give them eyes to see spiritual opportunities that hard places and circumstances may cultivate. Lord, I know time is short and those You will add to Your Kingdom may be nearing completion. Use us to spread the truth of Jesus, the joy of salvation, the ministry of mercy and grace to those around us. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.”
Sunday Worship: Meeting God
Today, as you worship and rest, take a moment to ponder this Puritan Prayer.
Meeting God
Great God, in public and private, in sanctuary and home, may my life be steeped in prayer, filled with the spirit of grace and supplication, each prayer perfumed with the incense of atoning blood. Help me, defend me, until from praying ground I pass to the realm of unceasing praise. Urged by my need, invited by Your promises, called by Your Spirit, I enter Your presence, worshipping You with godly fear, awed by Your majesty, greatness, glory, but encouraged by Your love.
I am all poverty as well as all guilt, having nothing of my own with which to repay You, but I bring Jesus to You in the arms of faith, pleading His righteousness to offset my iniquities, rejoicing that He will weigh down the scales for me, and satisfy Your justice. I bless You that great sin draws out great grace, that, although the least sin deserves infinite punishment because done against an infinite God, yet there is mercy for me, for where guilt is most terrible, there Your mercy in Christ is most free and deep. Bless me by revealing to me more of His saving merits, by causing Your goodness to pass before me, by speaking peace to my contrite heart; strengthen me to give You no rest untiI Christ shall reign supreme within me in every thought, word, and deed, in a faith that purifies the heart, overcomes the world, works by love, fastens me to You, and ever clings to the cross.
Eternal Life Ministries. (n.d.). Puritan Prayers. https://eternallifeministries.org/prayers.htm#Longings%20after%20God.
Saturday Review
This week, while you pray through the Saturday Review, why not jot down some praises and answers to prayer you’ve seen through the week..or through the month! God is working and it’s good to remind ourselves of that! Even the smallest thing can be evidence of His hand. Take some time not only to pray, but also to notice what He’s doing!
Let’s pray these points again:
Pray with urgency that our sons and daughters can confidently say “The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.” (Psalm 27:1, 3)
Pray that our sons and daughters are filled with hope and confidence that they WILL see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. (Psalm 27:13-14)
Let’s pray that our sons and daughters fall more and more in love with Jesus and grow in their confidence and trust in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:7-9)
Pray that God would continue to carry on the good work in our sons and daughters for their good and for His glory and that He would bring it to a beautiful completion in His time. (Philippians 1:6)
Pray that our sons and daughters would continue in him, so that when he appears they may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. (1 John 2:28)
Pray without ceasing, friends.
Confident & Unashamed
1 John 2:28 “And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.”
Friends, what better thing to pray for our sons and daughters today than 1 John 2:28? Why not jot it down on a card, put it in your phone or write it on a sticky note and put it where you can pray it over again and again?
Come on, let’s pray it out loud now asking the Lord to sustain our sons and daughters and enable them to continue in Christ, faithful and committed, so they can be confident and unashamed at His coming.
Pray without ceasing.
Be Confident of This
Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Have you been praying for your son or daughter for what seems like a lifetime? Is deliverance on the horizon ….or nowhere to be seen? Sometimes we grow weary, praying and pleading and yet, not seeing any movement or sign of hope that would show us a change of heart or about-face in direction. It’s hard. It’s painful. And it stretches our trust.
Friends, don’t lose heart and don’t give up praying for your son or daughter. God is not done working! Although we may not see the progress we hope and pray for, God may be working in ways we cannot see. He operates outside of time while we are constricted by it. We have to trust Him. Be encouraged by Philippians 1:6 today and pray that God would continue to carry on the good work in our sons and daughters for their good and for His glory. Pray without ceasing and any time you feel discouraged quote Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in (name) will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Confidence in Christ
2 Corinthians 5:7-9 “For we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage (confidant!), and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.”
At some point in life, we reach an age or level of experience when we begin to realize, this life isn’t really all it’s ‘cracked up to be’. The rave reviews we heard as a child and young adult painted a picture of ‘living your best life now!’. But as we grow older, we see the faults in the landscape and feel the burden of this life. We see sorrow and pain and perhaps live through it too. We realize that this life isn’t where we should fully invest our hopes and dreams, there’s got to be something more.
That’s where our faith in Jesus comes into play. The more we love Jesus, the less we’re enamored by this world. We know, with confidence, there is something more. We know that this is just a shadow. This life, this world is the ‘black and white’ version...the full color version is yet to come and we won’t believe how spectacular it is!! We have faith and confidence that God will deliver more than we could imagine and we’re hopeful and excited to see that day!
Our sons and daughters may not be there yet. They still see ‘all the things’ they want to experience and accomplish here. Is that wrong? No, God created them to accomplish the ‘good works He prepared in advance for them to do” (Ephesians 2:10) But we need to begin to pray that their love for Jesus would eclipse their love for this world and that they would live fully, as a believer in Christ, and understand that their best life is yet to come.
Faith plays a big part in the confidence we hold in Christ’s promises. A growing faith gives us an increasing confidence so that when we face the hard things, our faith and confidence carries us through. We don’t look to this life here to fulfill our hopes and dreams, we look to Jesus. We can move past disappointments and we can handle the pain because we know and have confidence that what Jesus promises He will deliver.
Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters fall more and more in love with Jesus and grow in their confidence and trust in Him. Let’s pray that they are not looking to this life to be their satisfaction, but they have satisfaction in Jesus, no matter their circumstances.
Pray without ceasing.
I Remain Confident of This…
Psalm 27:13-14 “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”
If we had to rate our confidence in the Lord, what score would we give ourselves? Oh if asked, we’d likely answer immediately saying we have full confidence in Him. I mean, that’s the appropriate and expected answer, right? But really, if the question is put to us when life is hard, when we’ve faced death and grief, when the diagnosis is not good, when the job prospects have dried up, when the wandering child we’ve been praying for is straying even farther, would we still answer with the same assurance? Do we have that complete confidence in our Lord that He can do more than we could ask or think….and do we live like we believe it?
But here’s something else to consider. We’ve taught our sons and daughters many things, but have we modeled full trust and confidence in God…especially when times are tough? So much more is ‘caught’ than ‘taught’. And if we want them to be adults who have full confidence in the Lord, we need to keep encouraging them to put their complete trust in Him, even when things look bleak.
King David wrote Psalm 27 and it’s a powerful testament to just how much confidence David had in the Lord. Even how it’s titled “A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God” shows David’s confidence. And how much confidence did he have? Let’s look at the challenges he was facing:
Wicked enemies advancing to devour him
An army besieging him
War breaking out against him
The day of trouble (most likely more like a season of trouble)
Enemies surrounding him
The threat of his mother and father forsaking him
False witnesses spouting malicious accusations against him
Did he complain? No. Did he rant and stress over the dire situation? No. No! What did his heart say? “Seek His face!” v. 8 Wow. Wow!! All those frightening challenges, enemies galore and David’s heart says “Seek His face.”
What do our hearts say when we face pain, disappointment, trial, turmoil and heartache? And what do our mouths say? Do we testify to the goodness of God or do we lament at our misfortune? And what about our sons and daughters? Do their hearts say “Seek His face!” when they encounter trials? Oh, friends, we desperately want our sons and daughters to seek His face, no matter what they’re going through.
Look at how does David ends the Psalm; “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” David was sure, beyond a doubt, of the goodness and power of the Lord. His trust in God eclipsed any threat or fear he might face. His God was strong enough to conquer any of it.
Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters are filled with hope and confidence that they WILL see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. NO matter what they face, they have an Almighty God who loves them and wants to protect and provide for them.
“Heavenly Father, You are mighty to protect and preserve us in any situation and from any enemy. I pray that You would fill (name) with a strong confidence in Your faithfulness and provision in any situation. When they are faced with difficult or frightening circumstances, when they don’t know from where or when the answers will come, I pray that they would immediately seek Your face and be assured, beyond a doubt, that You will be their helper. You will not reject or forsake them. I pray that You would build (name)’s faith so they can say with confidence that You are their light and salvation and they will not fear. Lord, let them see Your goodness in every aspect of their life and may they testify with their attitude and words to everyone they encounter that their God is faithful. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
The Lord is my Light
Psalm 27:1, 3 “The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.”
Many people are convinced that Christ’s return is closer than ever. All around us there is so much sin, evil, darkness and trouble that it’s hard sometimes not to be overwhelmed by it, or at the least, discouraged by it all. Nations are in conflict with one another and man’s inhumanity toward man is horrific. Even ‘entertainment’ celebrates evil, darkness and demonic themes. We might ask ourselves, how much worse does it have to get? Satan is doing all he can to steal and destroy.
When darkness settles in, people will look for something, anything to light their way. Desperation will drive them to grasp for whatever promises rescue and relief and there will be a lot of things and people making empty promises. Are our sons and daughters spiritually equipped and ready to stand firm? There is only One Source of Light and Rescue. There is only One whose Presence can drive away fear. If our sons and daughters know anything, they need to know this. They need to know Jesus.
Let’s pray with urgency that our sons and daughters can say with confidence “The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.”
Friends, today is a good day to spend time on your knees with eternity in view and bring your sons and daughters by name into the Throne room of the King. Pray that they look to the Lord alone for guidance and salvation and that their strong faith gives them confidence in the current and coming days of darkness.
Pray without ceasing.
Sunday Worship: The Deeps- A Puritan Prayer
Lord Jesus, give me a deeper repentance, a horror of sin, a dread of its approach. Help me chastely to flee it and jealously to resolve that my heart shall be Thine alone.
Give me a deeper trust, that I may lose myself to find myself in Thee, the ground of my rest, the spring of my being. Give me a deeper knowledge of Thyself as saviour, master, lord, and king. Give me deeper power in private prayer, more sweetness in Thy Word, more steadfast grip on its truth. Give me deeper holiness in speech, thought, action, and let me not seek moral virtue apart from Thee.
Plough deep in me, great Lord, heavenly husbandman, that my being may be a tilled field, the roots of grace spreading far and wide, until Thou alone art seen in me, Thy beauty golden like summer harvest, Thy fruitfulness as autumn plenty.
I have no master but Thee, no law but Thy will, no delight but Thyself, no wealth but that Thou givest, no good but that Thou blessest, no peace but that Thou bestowest. I am nothing but that Thou makest me. I have nothing but that I receive from Thee. I can be nothing but that grace adorns me. Quarry me deep, dear Lord, and then fill me to overflowing with living water.
From: The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions, edited by Arthur Bennett.
Saturday Review- Keep on Praying!
Friends, don’t EVER give up praying for this next generation. God positioned them here and now for this time to do the bold work He prepared in advance for them to do. Let’s be that great cloud of witnesses, standing beside them, going before them in prayer and in faith. Interceding on their behalf and praying hedges of protection around them. Pray boldly and with urgency. God is working!
Review our prayer points from this past week. Take time to pray through them again, bringing your sons and daughters, by name, to the Throne of God.
Pray Psalm 46:1-3 over our sons and daughters, asking the Lord to reassure them, encourage them and help them overcome their fear and doubt, no matter what they might face today or in the days to come.
Psalm 46:1-3 “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. Selah”
Pray that our sons and daughters confront their fear by trusting in God- that He is the One they run to when they are afraid; confide in God and confess their deepest fears to Him- He has the power to overcome them and have confidence and trust in the Almighty to protect them from even their worst fears- what can mortal man do to them?
Pray that our sons and daughters walk closely with their Heavenly Father and find refuge under His wings.
Pray for our sons and daughters to live with that Spirit-led power, love and self-discipline and to not just ‘think’ they can, but to fully believe they can and will do it! Let’s pray that fear steps aside and knows its place in light of the Spirit’s power and presence.
Pray that our sons and daughters would fear the Lord and that they would follow His precepts and have good understanding.
Pray that they grow in wisdom and knowledge of the Lord, so that when the storms come, and they will, our sons and daughters will stand firm.
Pray that our sons and daughters would not be overcome but that they would anchor strongly into the Lord.
Pray that they are confident in their faith and they don’t doubt. But if they do, that a stronger believer would come alongside them to disciple and encourage them.
Pray without ceasing, friends. God is at work!
Wisdom- A Life Preserver
James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”
True confessions. Sometimes, when we are confronted by the hard stuff of life, we might doubt our faith. We might have questions that remain, for the time, unanswered. We might feel alone and confused. Be honest. It’s happened, even to the most seasoned believers.
So when our sons and daughters begin to face those hard things, will they stand firm or will they be overcome by waves of doubt and confusion?
If you’ve ever been swimming in the ocean, you know it’s glorious and vast and the waves are beautiful. The gentle rolling of the ocean is almost mesmerizing as you float along. You can’t help but relax.
All is well and good until a breeze kicks up and a storm begins to roll in. Those waves you were so enjoying moments before begin to rock and toss your float and your easy calm turns into a nervous feeling and quickly moves toward nervous panic. You begin to paddle and kick your way back to the shore, but the currents work against you because the enormity of the ocean is not matched by your singular strength. That raft you were so in control of is falling victim to the mighty ocean. It’s frightening and you are at the mercy.
Life is like that ocean, isn’t it? Sometimes it’s so enjoyable and other times, well, we can barely keep our heads above water. Wisdom for life is what is desperately needed to weather the storms. Yet, often, our first go-to when we need wisdom isn’t the Lord. We look to friends, family, self-help books and websites that offer a wealth of knowledge. There isn’t anything wrong with these things, but our first call needs to be to the Lord. He is the Source of all wisdom and He is the One who generously grants it when we ask.
As we grow older, we quickly realize we don’t know everything. And, although we’ve spent a lifetime learning, our age and experience confronts us daily with just how little we know in light of eternity and our vast universe. It’s humbling. It drives us to our knees, praying for wisdom and humbly asking the Lord to help us in spite of ourselves.
But when we were younger, we thought we knew a lot….and it’s likely that’s just where our sons and daughters are right now. Here’s the thing, intelligence is not the same as wisdom. Someone can be very smart….and very unwise. Everyone is born with intelligence that is expanded through learning. But, wisdom, ah, wisdom is gained through living. Unless one lives and learns, they will not gain wisdom. And unless one reaches out to the Lord, well, their allotment of wisdom will be on the short end of the stick.
It’s likely our sons and daughters do know a lot, or at least they think they do… but they don’t know what they don’t know. And they don’t realize yet because they haven’t been confronted with all of the ‘hard’ stuff. Do they know they lack wisdom? Are they willing to admit it?
Psalm 111:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding.” Major prayer point #1- pray that our sons and daughters would fear the Lord. And prayer point #2- that they would follow His precepts and have good understanding.
Today, simply take time to pray for your sons and daughters faith. Pray that they grow in wisdom and knowledge of the Lord, so that when the storms come, and they will, that our sons and daughters will stand firm.
Pray that they won’t be overcome by the currents, trying to make it to shore on their own, but that they would anchor strongly into the Lord. Hebrews 6:19 “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,”
Pray that they are confident in their faith and they don’t doubt. But if they do, that a stronger believer would come alongside them to disciple and encourage them.
Lift your son or daughter today with confidence that the Lord hears and answers!
Pray without ceasing.
Have No Fear
2 Timothy 1:7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
It’s rare that we live our lives without encountering hard things, isn’t it? Life is full of challenges. Some greater than others. Maybe it’s a day of ‘everything going wrong’ or maybe it’s a diagnosis that changes life altogether. It could be a short-lived challenge or a chronic issue that becomes a companion of sorts. Maybe it’s earth-shattering or just inconvenient. Whatever the ‘hard’, God equips us to deal. But it’s not US that makes us capable, it’s God IN us.
If we are believers, the Spirit of God lives in us. Think about that. The Spirit of God lives IN US. So, when we’re afraid or intimidated or overwhelmed, it is so important that we remind ourselves of the Scriptural Truth that God’s Spirit is alive and active in us and can empower us to do whatever it is God is calling us to...even the hard stuff. God’s Spirit does not make us timid and fearful, but gives us power, love and a sound mind (self-discipline).
When our sons or daughters call us in a ‘tizzy’ over something that has them fearful, frazzled or overwhelmed, let’s be mindful of how we’re going to encourage them. Friends, our responsibility as parents and fellow believers is to encourage them in Truth. More than just console them (which is needed) we need to encourage them to take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5) and grab hold of that power of God that lives in them. We want to enable Godly living, not enable the fear.
God doesn’t indwell them in order to allow them to remain fearful, but to empower them to live with boldness and confidence to confront what they are facing with Godly strength, love and discipline.
Today, let’s pray for our sons and daughters to live with that Spirit-led power, love and self-discipline and to not just ‘think’ they can, but to fully believe they can and will do it! Let’s pray that fear steps aside and knows its place in light of the Spirit’s power and presence.
Pray without ceasing.
Under His Wings
Psalm 91:4-5 “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,”
Have you ever watched chickens…really watched them? The mature chickens strut about, pecking and scratching for food, but the baby chicks will curiously wander and then scurry back to their mother to hide under her wings. Each chick knows to which hen it belongs. Each hen knows her brood and if they’re threatened, she becomes more like a Momma Bear than a silly hen. She will pull herself up to her full height, flap her wings and protect her babies. All the while, gathering them underneath her to ensure their safety. Those chicks know, without a doubt, the safest place is under their Mama's wings.
But sometimes there is an ‘independent’ chick in the flock, one who wanders off, oblivious to the dangers. That chick may not realize that wandering too far could make life dangerous...and short-lived, putting them at-risk of attack by the Enemy. There is protection and security when the chicks stay near those wings of refuge.
So when Scripture gives us that picture of taking refuge under the wings of the Almighty God, we understand what the Psalmist is trying to tell us, in fact, we can picture it well. “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.” We can run to our Savior and know that He is watching over us and He is ready to protect us from anything that might threaten us. He gathers us in and covers us so that the Enemy can’t see us or reach us. Jesus shelters us so that we’re safe and He gives us warmth and protection in His presence.
As believers, we are not immune to fear or attack. It lurks around us and taunts us. It can bring on a sudden and desperate need for comfort. When we feel the attack we want to run and hide; we look for shelter and warmth that will reassure and protect us. We quickly search for what will offer a place of refuge and safety. If we are children of God, we don’t have to look far. God is that refuge and safe place for us and He is ever-present and always available.
We need to run to Him. We can trust that His wings are broad enough and strong enough to cover us and His feathers are soft and warm enough to provide the comfort we desperately crave. He will shield us from those flaming arrows of the Enemy so that we do not have to fear.
Let’s pray that our sons and daughters walk closely with their Father and turn to the Lord when they are afraid, finding precious refuge under His wings.
“Lord, I pray that (name) would walk closely with You. Help them to rely upon You each day and turn and run to You whenever they fear danger or attack. You, Lord, are their refuge and protection. Help them to feel welcome and comforted under Your wings. I ask that (name) would understand Your sweet protection and would seek it out. Keep (name) from wandering away from Your protection and care. Lord, let your faithfulness be their shield and rampart. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
When I Am Afraid…
Psalm 56:3-4 “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
Let’s try something. Read the following sentences and fill in the blank:
The thing I fear most is _________.
When I am afraid I __________.
Fear makes me think about __________.
Fear initiates a reflexive reaction, whether it be a scream, a jump or a paralyzing effect that holds the person statue-still. That reflexive reaction is not something one ponders and plans, it happens automatically. It’s what is ‘programmed’ into the body and mind as the go-to response.
When something makes us afraid, we can experience panic and insecurity, uncertainty or mistrust and even complete terror. We might lose all sense of hope, security and direction. Fear can unnerve and disorient us. Even the strongest, most confident person can be derailed by fear.
When our children were little and something frightened them, we would see them running toward us and then wrapping themselves around our legs, seeking refuge and comfort. Storms or bad dreams brought them scurrying in, crawling between us, seeking safety under our covers, wrapped in our arms. But, how do they respond as adults?
We don’t want to numb our fears or ignore them. We can’t put on rose-colored glasses and pretend they’re not there. No, we need to face them. But when we do, we must face them with the confidence the Lord provides. We can’t conquer our fears, but God can! Friends, it’s so important to be intentional about how we allow ourselves to respond to fear and that we encourage our sons and daughters to respond appropriately. If we do not seek the Lord, we risk embracing false comforts that are shallow and even dangerous. How many people have we observed seeking comfort in a bottle or pill? How many try to quell their fears in dysfunctional relationships, only to find another form of fear and insecurity there?
Psalm 56:3-4 “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
We need to work on our trust-response so that it becomes automatic -so we can say “when I am afraid I…. put my trust in God! … in God, whose word I praise!” And in order to praise God’s word, we need to know God’s Word in order to call it to mind. Intentional time with the Lord in His word prepares us well to face our fears with full trust in the Lord.
And, if we are trusting in the Almighty Sovereign God, really, what can mortal man do to us? We have the Creator of the Universe wrapping His arms of protection around us and He upholds us securely with His mighty, righteous right hand.
Let’s pray today that our sons and daughters:
Confront their fear by trusting in God- that He is the One they run to when they are afraid.
Confide in God and confess their deepest fears to Him- He has the power to overcome them.
Have confidence and trust in the Almighty to protect them from even their worst fears- what can mortal man do to them?
“Father, we confess, too often we allow our fears to control us. We give more power and attention to the things that frighten us than we do to You. Change our view, Lord. Turn our attention to You, Lord. When we are afraid, help us to fully believe in and have confidence in You to protect us. Build in daily reminders that would cause us to look to You. Let our automatic response become trust and confidence, not fear. You alone are our confidence and secure fortress, we have nothing to fear. Do not let us be intimidated by others who would bully, persecute or try to destroy us- they cannot harm us. We are Your children, set apart and sanctified, citizens of Your kingdom with an inheritance from You, our Father. I pray, today, that (name) would be confident in You, free from fear and intimidation. Help (name) to learn Your Word and look to You, trusting in You for their confidence and deliverance. In Jesus’ name, amen.”