Expect Mercy
Hebrews 4:16. “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
As a school-aged child, the thought of being sent to the Principal’s office was often an anxious one. If we were sent there, it likely meant we did something wrong and we would have to face the consequences. We knew enough about the Principal to know he was an authority figure who we feared. We likely carried our backpack and waited with trepidation to hear our sentence. We expected punishment.
But, if the Principal was a friend, someone we trusted who treated us with kindness, we might find ourselves eager to stop in and say hello. The office wasn’t a place to be feared but a welcome place where we were seen and encouraged. We could drop our backpack, unload our worries and likely get a sticker and a smile to encourage us. Even if there we’d done wrong, we trusted those there to treat us fairly.
When we mess up in life, what is it that we fear most? If we don’t know the Lord, maybe we fear the consequences of what we’ve done- the fallout from our choices, actions and words. Perhaps we struggle with the angst of ‘karma’ and the just repercussions of what we deserve. We drag our baggage with us with no sign of relief or rest and no expectation of any mercy. Or maybe we know enough to understand the wrath of God is to be feared… and we fear how it will impact us.
But knowing about God and knowing God are two very different things.
If we know the Lord, we should understand the mercy of a Loving Father. He welcomes us into His throne room. We can run in without hesitation, drop our baggage and throw ourselves into His merciful embrace. He’s got mercy for us in abundance. No, He won’t excuse away our willful sin, but He will forgive our trespasses when we come to Him with a contrite heart. He wraps His loving arms around us and tells us that His mercy is enough to cover all of our mistakes, completely and for all time. We can approach His throne of grace with confidence, not fear and expect mercy.
What do our sons and daughters understand about God’s mercy, really? Let’s pray Hebrews 4:16 over them today and ask the Lord to help them know and have confidence in His mercy.
“Heavenly Father, I pray for (name) today that they would, with confidence, draw near Your throne of grace. Lord, don’t let them be anxious or fearful, but to come before you knowing that You love them and want to welcome them in, show them grace and mercy and help them in their time of need. Lord, work in (name)’s heart this morning. Help them not just know ‘about’ You, but to know You personally and to love you deeply. Help them to be confident they can trust You with anything, even their worst mistakes, knowing You will treat them with grace and mercy. Lord, be near to them today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Sunday Worship: Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside
Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
Songwriters: William M. Runyan / Thomas O Chisholm / Eric Allyn Schrotenboer
Saturday Prayer Review
Don’t stop praying!! Even when we don’t see progress, God is working! Even when we can’t understand what He’s doing, He’s got a plan!! Trust. Pray. Believe.
Take time to name your worries and lay them before the Lord. Remind yourself of God’s faithfulness and that He is the Creator who commands the wind and the waves. He can calm the storm in our hearts and minds. Meditate on the Lord’s faithfulness, strength and protection. Trust Him with your precious ones and pray for them by name.
Pray for that our sons and daughters would walk faithfully with the Lord. Pray for those who are wandering off or running away. He knows what path they will take and, like a watercourse, He can and will direct it. Remember, sometimes He allows us to follow our rebellion, but He’s still in control. We need to trust Him and pray for softened hearts and ears that hear, eyes that see spiritual truth and minds that understand.
Thank the Lord for all of the times He’s shown His faithfulness to you and to your family. Recount the ‘Stones of Remembrance’ that will serve as reminders for future generations.
Pray Lamentations 3:22-23 for our sons and daughters today. “The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”
Now, pray Psalm 33:4 “For the Word of the Lord is upright, And all His work is done in faithfulness.” Thank the Lord for His faithfulness and ask Him to continue working in the hearts of your sons and daughters.
Pray without ceasing, friends. God is faithful!
Daily, Abundant Faithfulness
“The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23
“For the Word of the Lord is upright, And all His work is done in faithfulness.” Psalm 33:4
“Tomorrow is another day” “Things will look better in the morning” “One day at a time” These are all good reminders that hint at something of more substance, something that is coming that should encourage us. But as believers, Lamentations 3:22-23 are the ‘golden nugget’ verses that we should carry with us. God’s lovingkindness never ceases- never!! And...it’s new and fresh every morning!! His compassions NEVER fail and his faithfulness is great. Wow!! (Someone should put that on a poster! ;-))
Friends, how do we encourage our sons and daughters? Do we just tell them ‘things will look better in the morning’ or do we go all-out and give them Lamentations 3:22-23? What would WE find most encouraging?
When our sons and daughters say “I messed up today” “Today was awful” “I can’t wait until this week is done” - it’s a perfect opportunity to encourage them with those promises from Lamentations.
But, when things are difficult for a prolonged time, what then? Friends, this is when we talk to our sons and daughters like the adults they are. This life was not meant to be ‘all the things’. We live in a fallen world and what God intended for us was corrupted by sin. Yes, there will be pain and suffering. Yes, we will face disappointment, betrayal and injustice. But ALL of God’s work is done in faithfulness. His work in our lives is to make us more like Christ- a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3) If we lived our best life here, would we long for Heaven? If everything was pleasant all the time, would we realize our need for God? Oh, ALL his work is done in faithfulness. We need to trust Him. His mercy is new everyday and is always enough for what we will face while we walk with Him. Today, encourage your sons and daughters with these scriptures.
“Lord, thank You for the promises You give us in Your word that assure us of Your faithfulness and strength for each day. I pray that You would work in (name)’s heart and mind today to encourage them. Give them Your assurance. Help them to see that You are always faithful and You have purpose in each and everything they might face. Give them strength to keep walking with You. Feed their soul today with Your Word. Bring others alongside to encourage them. I pray that they would personally know your new mercy today and would draw on that to sustain them. Don’t let them try and ‘conserve’ or hoard it… it’s new every day, let them lean on it fully. Let them drink eagerly from Your well of living water and know with confidence it will never run dry. Lord, sustain them today, I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Faithful Promises
Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”
Have you ever held onto a certificate or coupon, guarding it carefully, only to realize it expired, lost its value and is now worthless? That once-treasured ticket of much value is only paper now.
Hebrews chapter 10 explains how Jesus’ blood sacrifice and resurrection open the way for us to stand in the Holy of Holies- in the very presence of God. If we have faith that Christ’s substitutionary atonement was and is sufficient to atone for our sin, we have an eternal promise from that Lord that He sees us as His own. He is faithful. He doesn’t go back on His promises. His guarantee never expires and the seal of the Holy Spirit on our lives, marking us as saved, redeemed, adopted and beloved, that seal will never lose its value or expire.
Let us hold fast to the confession of our faith without wavering- because He who promised is FAITHFUL!!
Friends, do our sons and daughters have this depth of confidence and security in their faith? Do they trust that once saved, they will always belong to the Lord? God doesn’t offer salvation and indwell us just to change His mind and cast us aside. We have an anchor for our souls that can weather any storm, whether physical or spiritual. Our Lord is faithful!!
Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters fully understand the depth and longevity of God’s faithfulness to them.
“Heavenly Father, thank You for your Faithfulness to us- it’s hard to comprehend with our finite minds the infinite nature of your Faithfulness and Goodness to us. I pray that even today, (name) would begin to really understand just how faithful, reliable, and true You are. Lord, grow their faith and deepen their trust. Strengthen their grip so they can hold fast to the faith they have. Make them strong, Lord, so they don’t waver. This life is unpredictable, but You are steadfast. Circumstances can become difficult and tumultuous, people can be unreliable and hurtful, but You are steady; You are peace; You are the anchor for our souls in the hard of this life. I pray that (name) would know this, believe this and live with confidence in Your faithfulness to them. Lord, build their faith and trust today. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Faithful Through the Generations
Deuteronomy 7:9 “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,”
Often when we gather as families, we reminisce about significant events, fun times, funny things that happened to us. We laugh and recall with joy those things that stand out in our memories. But do we take time to recount the ways God has been good to us? Do we really share the miraculous and mundane ways God made Himself known?
Friends, if we are believers, we are building a legacy of faith for our children, grandchildren and generations yet to come, if the Lord tarries. It’s hard to imagine next week, but a thousand generations? Yet, this is what God promises!! It’s likely very few people in history thought their story would have significance, yet, how beautiful is it to read stories of those who lived faithfully for the Lord? What about the stories of those who left all they knew to carry the gospel to another land and people? They were doing what God called them to- yet we learn so much about His faithfulness in the midst of their daily obedience. What is it that we want our children, grandchildren and future generations to know about God’s faithfulness to us?
Let’s be bold and share those stories of God’s faithfulness. Write them down. Share them with your family. Record them where they can be heard. Someone, someday, will read or hear them and be encouraged. They will become the treasured stories that evidence God’s goodness and faithfulness to your family through the generations. What accounts of God’s faithfulness can you recall today?
Today, take some time to write out the accounts of God’s faithfulness to you...then share it with your sons and daughters. It may feel awkward at first, but go on and do it. The more you testify, the more excited and appreciative you will be of God’s faithfulness and the more you will come to love Him. Create those ‘Stones of Remembrance’ so that when future generations ask “What is that?” You can beautifully testify to God’s loving faithfulness to you...and to them!
Pray without ceasing!
Faithful, Despite Our Choices
2 Timothy 2:13 “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.”
Sometimes our hearts ache to see the path our children choose. Oh, as a child they loved Jesus, so very much. They were excited to go to church. They sang songs with their whole heart; and the joy they had in knowing the Lord was contagious. Their passion and energy inspired us!
But along the way, something changed. They grew indifferent, or even cold. They bristle at the mention of His name. They are arrogant and confident that they don’t need the Lord.
Friend, is your heart aching this morning?
Jesus sees and He knows. His word does not return void. Even the hardest hard isn’t impenetrable by the Word of God and the work of the Holy Spirit. If our sons and daughters made a commitment to the Lord, He will not disown them. ! Corinthians 6:17 says “But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.” He will remain faithful. He cannot deny Himself.
We only see what is ‘right now’. We can’t see the future. But we can pray and trust, because God is already there. He exists outside time and He is the Master of all things, time included. He knows what path our son or daughter will take and like a watercourse, He can and will direct it. Sometimes He allows us to follow our rebellion, but He’s still in control. We need to trust Him and pray for softened hearts and ears that hear, eyes that see spiritual truth and minds that understand and discern wisely..
It’s not too late, really, it’s not. Keep trusting and resting in the sovereignty, power and faithfulness of God.
“Lord, You know the burden in my heart for (name). I pray that even today, Holy Spirit, You would move and work in them. Open their eyes to see the rebellion they have puts them on a spiritual trajectory to a dead end. Bring them back to the joy and passion they had for You when they were a child. I pray that even as they sleep, the verses they memorized would flow through them and ignite a hunger and thirst for righteousness. As they go through their day, bring those beautiful scripture songs to mind to renew their first love. Thank you for Your faithfulness Lord. I pray that even today, You would bless us with a glimmer of change, a softening of (name)s heart and a step toward repentance and restoration in Jesus. It’s in His name I pray, Amen.”
Pray without ceasing. God is faithful.
Faithful Protector
2 Thessalonians 3:3 “The Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.”
Be honest, sometimes as parents we get anxious. We worry about our sons and daughters, where are they? What are they doing and who are they with? Are they making good choices? Then we worry over their safety, are they taking risks? Are they safe on the road? If our brains kick into overdrive we can have them off the side of the road, in a ditch, alone...in the dark in just a matter of seconds. Then we can’t sleep; we worry, we stress and, Oh! Our minds can carry us farther and faster than a NASA rocket. Just one suggestion (or news story) can start our minds spinning and our stomachs churning.
Friends, the Lord is faithful. He’s faithful! He will always be steady, reliable, protective and loving. He’s 100% all the time. We can always rely on Him.
Not only is He faithful, He will establish us. What does that mean? Strong’s Concordance defines ‘establish’ as: to set fast, i.e. (literally) to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or (figuratively) to confirm:—fix, (e-)stablish, steadfastly set, strengthen. (1)
HE will establish our sons and daughters. If they are following Him, He will ensure they are set in the right direction and He will strengthen them. Can we trust Him to do what He says? Of course! Will we, though? We need to check our hearts on this.
Then, He will guard us from the evil one. Not ‘He might’ or ‘He could’ but HE WILL. He will guard us.
Why not take our worry-energy and pour it into prayer? Rather than dwelling on the ‘what-if’s’ we should meditate on the ‘what IS’ and the ‘Who’ that commands the wind and the waves. He can calm the storm in our hearts and minds. Meditate on the Lord’s faithfulness, strength and protection. Trust Him with your precious ones.
“Father, today I pray for your faithful care and protection over (name). Help me to trust You and not slip into having an anxious heart and mind. I know You are faithful, always. I know you are stronger than anything (name) might face today. I know you are able to keep them from the evil one. I pray that You would do each of these today. Lord, guard my own heart and mind in Christ Jesus and let me be an example to (name) of trusting in You and resting in You in every circumstance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
G4741 - stērizō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4741/kjv/tr/0-1/
Sunday Worship
Psalm 57:7-11
“My heart, O God, is steadfast,
my heart is steadfast;”
“I will sing and make music.
Awake, my soul!
Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.”
“I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.”
”For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.”
“Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.”
Pray It Again
When we ride a Ferris wheel, we don’t just go around once. Why? Because once isn’t enough. We take several trips around and each time, we take in something new, appreciate things more as we get to see them once again, and we have a richer experience because we get a perspective that we normally would not. Praying through our prayer points again gives us a chance to look at things more deeply, pray over things yet again, bringing those burdens and requests to the Lord.
Pray that God’s goodness and mercy are evident to our sons and daughters.
Let’s pray today that our sons and daughters run to His arms, find shelter in His embrace and trust Him for His goodness. Let’s pray that their eyes are opened to the plentiful goodness of God around them, despite the brokenness of this world. Pray that they can see and be encouraged by God’s provision for them.
Let’s pray that our sons and daughters believe with all their hearts that the Lord is GOOD and that they trust Him, fully. And let’s pray they look to the Lord for their safety and refuge, always.
Pray that our sons and daughters crave the good that God gives and teaches!! He is good and what He does is good.
Pray that our sons and daughters would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to them. Pray that they would find satisfaction in Him for the longings of their soul.
Pray without ceasing.
The Source of Goodness
Psalm 107:8-9 “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.”
Hamsters are funny critters and watching them use a hamster wheel is fascinating. They climb on and begin to run at breakneck speed. Round and round they go, but they never get anywhere. They run themselves ragged. Sometimes they lose their footing, but the wheel is at such a high rate of speed that the hamster is then mercilessly whipped around until the wheel finally slows down. Once it stops, they crawl off to recover and make sense of the world that is still spinning so furiously.
Life is like that sometimes, isn’t it? We climb on that ‘wheel’ and we are pulled and pushed, pressured and stressed and the world spins around us. We go and go, yet our speed and effort only tends to make things more complicated and dizzying. We see the brokenness and struggle around us and our frantic pace doesn’t change it. It’s hard to make sense of it sometimes. But, if we stopped and grounded ourselves in God’s Word, we would gain understanding and perspective. HE satisfies the longing soul!! He SATISFIES the longing soul!
Sometimes we run ourselves ragged, trying so hard to gain peace, contentment, joy, satisfaction...the list goes on. We climb onto the proverbial hamster wheel and before we know it, our pursuits have us spinning yet never reaching a destination. Instead of gaining satisfaction, we grow weary. We lose our bearings and find ourselves disoriented and exhausted.
Stop. Give thanks to the Lord for His goodness. Go back to the basics. Did you sleep last night? Give thanks; God gave you rest. Did you wake up this morning? Give thanks; God’s goodness is blessing you with another day to live, breathe and serve Him. Is life hard right now? Give thanks; you have the sense to understand and to realize the ‘hard’ only because it means you’ve also enjoyed good things to compare this ‘hard’ to...and God is faithful. He doesn’t make you walk through the hard times alone.
So often our discontent is connected to our disconnection from God. The Apostle Paul got it. Philippians 4:11-13 says, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Paul knew what it was to be satisfied with God so much that his circumstances didn’t drive his thinking and emotions. The circumstances were just another day, opportunity or situation that God walked through with him. He trusted God. Situations change. God does not. His peace was grounded in the One who is unchanging.
Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to them. Pray that they would find satisfaction in Him for the longings of their soul, and trust that He fills the hungry soul with goodness.
Pray without ceasing, friends. God hears our prayers.
IT’S ALL GOOD
Psalm 119:68 “You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees.”
There were two basic questions we asked when our kids were young. The first was “Who are they with?” And the second was “What are they learning when they’re with that person?”
What most concerned us about the ‘who are they with’ question was who was influencing our sons and daughters. Were they a good influence. What did they value? Did they use good language and were they careful in how and where they spent their time? Then, we likely wondered about the families of those ‘others’. Were they ‘good’ people?
The second question was one that set our parental sense of responsibility in high gear. We had to ensure that our children learned well! We were all about finding the right school for them. We wanted a ‘good’ school, one that had a good reputation, good teachers, and produced good results. We were all about the ‘good’. Why? Because we wanted our sons and daughters to have the best we could provide and we knew that good was better than just ‘okay’. We had certain criteria and expectations. We didn’t want them learning from ‘just anyone’ and we wanted to ensure the education was solid, worth the investment and would prepare them well for life.
Even though our sons and daughters may be grown, those two concerns- who they are with and what they are learning- are probably still our concerns today.
So we pray. We pray boldly that our sons and daughters will choose to walk with God and learn from Him by spending time in His word.
God is GOOD. Strong’s Concordance defines good in so many beautiful ways: As a noun, the Hebrew word “tob” (1), “good” means: to be good, be pleasing, be joyful, be beneficial, be pleasant, be favorable, be happy, be right, be better or good for, to do good and act rightly.
As an adjective, “tob”(2) covers so many things! To be pleasant and agreeable to the senses, to be excellent, rich in value, appropriate or becoming, glad, understanding, kind and ethical.
Read those definitions again, and ponder them. They’re so rich!! They’re so beautiful. That is our God. And that is the content and character of what He desires us to learn and to become.
Wow! Wouldn’t it be amazing if our sons and daughters could describe their ‘friend list’ with those words!! How incredible would it be if they told us they were learning the goodness of Scripture and incorporating it into their life?!
There is no one better to spend time with or to learn from than God. There is no other who will build our character and teach us integrity. He is GOOD and what He does is GOOD.
Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters crave the good that God gives and teaches!! And let’s pray that we do as well. He is good and what He does is good, let’s learn his decrees!
Pray without ceasing!
H2895 - ṭôḇ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2895/niv/wlc/0-1/
H2896 - ṭôḇ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2896/niv/wlc/0-1/
A Good God. A Strong Refuge.
Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him”
Tsunamis, storms, tornadoes, they all stir fear and give us visions of people desperate for survival. We see pictures and footage of people frantically clinging to something, anything that will anchor them from being swept away, torn from safety and carried off. In moments like that, people are not worried about superficial things. They are desperate for life, for survival, for their very breath.
When life becomes tumultuous, what do our sons and daughters hold onto for security and safety? The tenuous security of material wealth? That can disappear in moments. Perhaps a relationship? Any relationship involves imperfect people who will disappoint and can never provide perfect refuge or peace. Maybe a job or location that promises ‘better days’? The grass is rarely greener.
Or, do they find and cling to something good….really good…. As in the goodness of God, ‘good’.
When we anchor ourselves in Christ, we find a refuge and strength that will never be shaken because we’re rooting ourselves in the One who is good. He is able to withstand any storm and calm it with a word. He can stand up against any enemy- even spiritual forces, and render them powerless. He is able to ensure our very survival even in the most dire situation. Oh, friends, He Is Good!!
Let’s pray today that our sons and daughters believe with all their hearts that the Lord is GOOD and that they trust Him, fully. And let’s pray they look to the Lord for their safety and refuge, always.
“Lord, the abundance and depth of your goodness is beyond our understanding. We can never fully comprehend how amazing it is. It is always ready to comfort, shelter and care for us. Help us to see You as the ultimate GOOD and run to You for our refuge. Don’t let us fall into a sense of false security in things or relationships. They can be good blessings from You, but they cannot take the place that You should occupy in our hearts and minds. Lord, I pray that (name) would know and trust that You are good and a stronghold in times of trouble. Please, be the One they always turn to when they need a refuge. Always be the One they reach for when they need stability and strength. I pray that their life would exemplify someone who follows after You, proclaims Your goodness and testifies to Your perfect provision of refuge. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Putting Up Goodness
Psalm 31:19-20 “Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.”
Back in the day, Grandma might have been known to talk about ‘putting up’ corn, beans and peaches. What did that even mean? Well, she was preserving and storing food that might be needed later. If she ‘put up’ the fresh peaches in the summer, then the family would have wonderful, sweet canned peaches in the dead of winter. They could enjoy the sweet, tangy taste of peaches as if they were just picked from the tree. The goodness was preserved to be enjoyed later. And everyone knew those peaches were there on the shelf in the pantry….just waiting to be enjoyed. Oh, the anticipation!!
Did you know that God ‘puts up’ and preserves goodness for us to be enjoyed later? He doesn’t just give us ‘good’ here, but He stores up plentiful amounts of Godly goodness for us to enjoy for eternity! “Oh how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men!”
Did you catch that last phrase? “Which you have prepared for those who trust You in the presence of the sons of men”. God knows the opposition we face from others who mock, persecute, oppress and ridicule. He knows we are strangers and aliens in this world dominated by darkness. Yet, even in the worst of times, there is plentiful goodness from God that can and should be enjoyed. This world is not our home, it’s not where we’re meant to be comfortable and envision ourselves for eternity. But God gives goodness to give us a foretaste of heaven and what is to come. Oh, the anticipation!! That goodness i going to be SO good when we step into His presence!
When our sons and daughters face hardship and persecution, how do we encourage them? Do we remind them that God is laying aside goodness to bless them? Not only that, but He longs to shelter them from evil and from those who would seek to oppress them. (Honestly, we should remind ourselves as well.)
Let’s pray today that our sons and daughters run to His arms, find shelter in His embrace and believe He has goodness enough for them, both for today and for the future. Let’s pray that their eyes are opened to the plentiful goodness of God around them, despite the brokenness of this world. Pray that they can see and be encouraged by God’s provision for them.
Pray without ceasing.
Who Are Your Followers?
Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Have you ever felt as if you’re being followed by an embarrassing moment or mistake? Maybe you made a misstep that now seems to define you. Or perhaps you misspoke and now you worry that everyone’s perception of you is skewed because of that one unfortunate or unfiltered moment.
Sometimes it’s hard to live down our failures, isn’t it? They shake us when we least expect it and the enemy uses them to defeat us. Right? The sense of guilt and shame wash over us and we’re right back in that moment, feeling powerless and condemned. That’s how Satan wants us to feel and he’ll use our weaknesses to bring us down.
Are our sons and daughters struggling in this? Here’s the thing, if we, as parents, are not healthy in how we deal with our failures and faults, it’s likely our sons and daughters will struggle with it too. If we’re constantly reliving our failures, we’re failing to live in the goodness of God.
Scripture doesn’t tell us our mistakes will follow us forever, no, in fact, it tells us just the opposite!! Surely (for sure, absolutely, without a doubt) goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life!! All the days… goodness and mercy won’t just follow seasonally, they’re year-round! They won’t ever run out- the supply is endless! And their ability to meet our needs won’t wear out or fall short- they’re as steady and as powerful as God’s faithfulness. His goodness and mercy are part of his perfect character.
Here’s the thing, if we’re living in defeat, we’re putting too much emphasis on our ability to be ‘good’. If we’re living in defeat, we’re setting a poor example for our sons and daughters!
It’s not our goodness that we’re dependent on- if that were the case, we’d all be doomed. No, it’s God’s goodness and mercy, ever-present and all-sufficient. Not only does God promise us His goodness and mercy, but He also promises an eternal home in His house. Friends, we are SO loved and cared for!! Let’s camp out on those promises today and then use them to encourage our sons and daughters!!
Take some time today to share this verse with our sons and daughters and remind them of God’s goodness. In this crazy world that seems to be turning upside down, our God is the one constant, reliable Source of goodness that we can always depend on. Remind them that we have a Heavenly Father who is watching over them and following them anywhere and everywhere they go. They will never outpace His goodness and mercy, they’ll never reach the end of it and they will never exhaust the supply. It is all-sufficient and eternal.
Today, let’s pray that God’s goodness and mercy are evident to our sons and daughters...and to us.
“Lord, thank You for your never-ending goodness that You provide each day. Thank You too, for Your mercy, we don’t deserve it, yet you provide it daily because You love us. Help us to see your goodness today. Remind us of how you love and treasure us. I pray that (name) would be encouraged by your goodness today, so much so that they pay special attention to what You’re doing in their life and on their behalf. Help us not to dwell on our shortcomings. Help us to confess them and move on in your goodness and mercy. Lord, we can’t really comprehend the scope of Your goodness, but we know that it is sufficient for us. Help us to hold on to that promise that it will follow us ALL the days of our life. Thank You Lord! In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Sunday Worship
Hymn: We Walk By Faith, Frances J. Crosby, 1885
We walk by faith, and, oh, how sweet
The flow’rs that grow beneath our feet,
And fragrance breathe along the way
That leads the soul to endless day.
Refrain:
We walk by faith, but not alone,
Our Shepherd’s tender voice we hear,
And feel His hand within our own,
And know that He is always near.
We walk by faith; He wills it so,
And marks the path that we should go;
And when at times our sky is dim,
He gently draws us close to Him.
We walk by faith, divinely blest;
On Him we lean, in Him we rest;
The more we trust our Shepherd’s care,
The more His love is ours to share.
And thus by faith till life shall end
We’ll walk with Him, our dearest Friend,
Till safe we tread the fields of light,
Where faith is lost in perfect sight.
Saturday Review- Pray It Again
It’s Saturday and the day we review all of our prayer points from the week.
Here’s a recipe for God’s favor and protection: decide that we will faithfully pray for our sons and daughters, commit to do it each day, repeat often for best results.
Pray that our sons and daughters would:
Fear God - respect and be in awe and yes, truly fear Him- He is God, there is no rival or equal.
Walk in obedience to Him- not in rebellion, but to submit and walk in the ways that He ordained for them and obey by studying His Word.
Love the Lord- have true affection for Him
Serve Him with all their heart and soul- not half-hearted and not in name only.
Pray that our sons and daughters would not walk with the ungodly but would be intentional each and every day to seek the Lord and His direction in their life.
Pray for God’s protection over and around them today.
Pray that the spiritual eyes of our sons and daughters are opened to the light of Christ and that they truly discern those around them who are ‘fake’ Christians.
Also, pray that they can identify and run from false religions and false teachers trying to imitate light and vie for their affections.
Pray that the Holy Spirit stirs in their heart a desire to walk in true relationship with Christ.
Pray that our sons and daughters would be genuine brothers and sisters in Christ, part of the Body and welcome to celebrate the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Pray that they walk in integrity.
Finally, pray that if our sons and daughters are taking ‘crooked paths’ that they would be found out. Let them be caught in their compromise and called out on their dishonesty and deceit. Whether they’re deceiving others or themselves, they need to face it, and change it.
Pray without ceasing.
Crooked Paths
“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.”
Proverbs 10:9
There is so much in this world, this life, that pulls on us, tempts us to make little compromises here and there. We may think it’s not a big deal…it doesn’t matter that much… or does it? A ship that just takes on a ‘little bit of water’ here and there will eventually roll. It will capsize, totally flipping it’s orientation. We are much the same, before we know it, compromise flips our loyalties from God to self and our motivations change our our ‘non-negotiables’ turn from following the Lord to following what our sinful hearts crave.
Today, we’re going to keep it simple and effective. Pray that our sons and daughters walk in integrity. It’s important. It reveals character and is a testimony to others that we are unwilling to compromise- our loyalties lie with the cross.
Then, pray that if our sons and daughters are taking ‘crooked paths’ that they would be found out. Yes, let them be caught in their compromise and called out on their dishonesty and deceit. Whether they’re deceiving others or themselves, they need to face it, and change it.
“Father, I pray that You would guard (name)’s steps today. Help them to walk with integrity and walk securely, guarded and guided by the Holy Spirit. Lord, if (name) is taking crooked paths, I pray that they would be found out, even today. Don’t let them continue in deceit and dishonesty. You see their heart and mind. I pray that they would learn to be loyal and true to You, most of all. Let their life be a reflection of Jesus living in them. In His name I pray, amen.”
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.
Walk in the Light
John 8:12 “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””
Have you ever visited a new place but your first encounter was at night, in the dark? You gain a distorted perception of how things look-if you can see at all, and it’s so difficult to really understand the landscape because you just cannot see. And if you try to walk? Well, it’s hard because you can’t really see where you’re going.
Then, the next morning, everything looks so different in the light! You see your surroundings and can view longer distances. You gain a perspective of how things relate to one another in the geography and you can navigate with confidence because you can make sense of things so much better. You can see where you’re walking and you see clearly because in the light of day, things make so much more sense!
Before we knew Christ, our view of life was distorted and our understanding of our place in this world was difficult to discern. Our ability to comprehend the bigger picture was skewed and darkened. We were walking in spiritual darkness. But, when we accepted Christ as our personal Savior and trusted in His death and resurrection as the full and complete payment for our sin, the fog lifted, the light filtered through and we gained an eternal perspective that was shadowed in darkness before.
Then there is the difference between natural light and artificial light. “Natural light is full spectrum and dynamic. Full spectrum means that light contains all the colors of the rainbow. Dynamic means that the intensity and mix of colors changes with the time of day.(1)” Artificial light mimics natural light, but will never be able to fully replicate it.
We’ve all seen people who go to church and play the part. And sometimes, they can fool us...for a while. They know the lingo and are ‘good people’. But they lack the light of Christ in their life. They can’t replicate it on their own. Their ‘religion’ is an imitation of Christianity, but without the light of Christ, they will never radiate a true reflection of the Savior.
Do our sons and daughters truly, honestly and authentically walk with Christ, or are they following an artificial imitation? Do they see with healthy spiritual eyes, or are they straining in an artificial light that dims their sin and deceives their perception of God’s expectations?
Oh, we WANT them to walk in the light of Christ, don’t we? Eternity hangs in the balance and nothing artificial will stand.
Today, let’s pray:
That their spiritual eyes are opened to the light of Christ and in that light they truly discern the imposters and poor imitations that surround them. Pray that they see clearly those false religions and false teachers trying to imitate light and vye for their affections.
Pray that the Holy Spirit stirs in their heart a desire to turn away from “religion” and, instead, walk in true relationship with Christ, desiring to live in His lightm truth, and genuine communion with Him.
Pray without ceasing.
1. Natural light versus artificial light. Sunlight Inside. (2017, June 4). https://www.sunlightinside.com/light-and-health/natural-light-versus-artificial-light/.