A Prayer for Safety
Psalm 140:4-5 “Keep me safe, LORD, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from the violent, who devise ways to trip my feet. The arrogant have hidden a snare for me; they have spread out the cords of their net and have set traps for me along my path.”
Christians are suffering oppression all over the world. from physical attacks in Middle Eastern and African nations to social credit systems in Asian countries that deny access to needed goods and services. The attacks on believers are ever-increasing.
In the United States we hear the twisting of words that misrepresent what Scripture teaches. We hear angry, accusatory statements that lay blame and unleash anger on believers. And yes, we get angry, frustrated and we feel ‘persecuted’. But, friends, we need to be careful. Some of the blame lies with us. We’ve espoused things that we don’t live out well. We’ve spoken words of compassion and then failed to live it out with grace and mercy. Our vision is sometimes short-sighted and ignores the pain and deep needs that are not as ‘comfortable’ or convenient for us to address and meet. We need to be prepared that we will, we WILL face opposition. And we need to be prepared to live without compromise...not just when it’s comfortable or convenient.
If we’re going to live out the gospel, we need to live it all. ALL. OF. IT. We need to be ready that we will face real persecution- not just mean words. Are we ready to stand firm? Do our sons and daughters understand what is ahead? Are they prepared? Let’s pray that the Lord strengthens every believer to stand firm in the face of what is to come. Pray that the Lord provides safety for our faith.
“Keep us safe, LORD, from the hands of the wicked. I pray that you would keep (name) safe, too. The wicked will stop at nothing to destroy our faith and ruin our testimony to others. Lord, it’s not about us. It’s about You. Preserve our walk with Jesus so that we can stand before You, unashamed. Protect us from the violent, who devise ways to trip our feet. Give us eyes that have spiritual discernment to avoid those traps that would pull us down. The arrogant have hidden a snare; they have spread out the cords of their net and have set traps for us along our path. Lord, guide our steps. Please uphold (name) and let them walk unwaveringly with You. Guard and guide them, Lord. Keep them growing in their faith and in deep, spiritual discernment. Help me as a parent to encourage them and pray for them always. Go before us, Lord, in Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
A Prayer of Rescue
Psalm 140:1-3 For the director of music. A psalm of David. Rescue me, LORD, from evildoers; protect me from the violent, who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day. They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s; the poison of vipers is on their lips.”
The prevalent worldview we see around us is anything but Biblical. The messaging we are continuously pounded with each day is antithetical to what God calls us to follow. Do we know enough Scripture to identify the truth from deception? Are our hearts sensitive to the Holy Spirit enough to be grieved by it?
Today’s values sound something like this:
Truth is relative- what is ‘right’ for you, may not be ‘right’ for me.
Don’t dare to impose your morality on others. There is no standard and there is no fear of God. In fact, god is relative and whatever you need ‘it’ to be.
It is arrogant and offensive to think there is only one God and one way to Heaven.
Science and technology have made us capable of accomplishing things that exceed our moral standards and sensibilities. We throw morality out for the sake of scientific advancement.
Human life has little to no value; existence and sustenance is determined and meted out according to usefulness, convenience, and freedom from ‘blemish’ according to society’s standard.
Friends, this world knows enough scripture to twist it and throw it back in our faces. Satan is a master at twisting scripture and using it to beat us down. It is deception and it is poison. It slowly wears us down, trying to make us indifferent or ashamed of standing for what is right. If we’re not on our guard, we will be trampled by the world around us. We risk drowning in the tsunami of evil and godlessness as it washes over us and swirls around us each day. If we don’t stand firm, we’ll surely be washed away.
Our hearts should be heavy and our parental ‘alarms’ should be sounding. We are in an age when we need to take a stand for what is right and just and true. What is wrong is being celebrated as right and what is Biblically right is defamed. On which side will our sons and daughters choose to stand? Will they defend the faith? Let’s get on our knees on their behalf. We need to pray that they will stand for the Lord, unwaveringly. We NEED to pray!!
“Rescue us Lord, from evildoers!! Protect us from the violent, who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day. Lord, the world seems to be on fire around us. Each day, we hear politicians and leaders, spouting words that tickle the ears and pump hearts full of poison. Event those who call themselves ‘believers’ are caving to compromise, refusing to stand for Truth lest they be berated, ridiculed and harassed. Lord, save us! Lord, stand with us and help us to stand firm. Let us grab hold of the Gospel of Truth and not let go, no matter what. Help us to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly. Give us ears, hearts and minds that can discern evil and rebuke it. Your word says “They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s; the poison of vipers is on their lips.” Give us spiritual immunity against the poison of this age, Lord. Keep our sons and daughters walking with You. Lord, the time is short. Help us to live in such a way that we hear those blessed words “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” I Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Sunday Worship: A Mighty Fortress
Despite the rising spiritual warfare and the increased evil and darkness that surrounds us, no force can overcome the mighty power of God.
Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and are safe.”
A Mighty Fortress
A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
does seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God's own choosing.
You ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same;
and he must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.
That Word above all earthly powers
no thanks to them abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever!
Martin Luther, 1529
Saturday Review
Read through Psalm 141 in its entirety today and take time to pray through the scripture once more. Thoughtfully add the names of those you love. Meditate on the truths and let the Lord speak to you through His word.
Pray without ceasing.
Psalm 141
I call to you, Lord, come quickly to me;
hear me when I call to you.
May my prayer be set before you like incense;
may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.
Set a guard over my mouth, Lord;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil
so that I take part in wicked deeds
along with those who are evildoers;
do not let me eat their delicacies.
Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness;
let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head.
My head will not refuse it,
for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.
Their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs,
and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.
They will say, “As one plows and breaks up the earth,
so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of the grave.”
But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign Lord;
in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death.
Keep me safe from the traps set by evildoers,
from the snares they have laid for me.
Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
while I pass by in safety.
Avoiding the Traps
Psalm 141:9-10 Keep me safe from the traps set by evildoers, from the snares they have laid for me. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety.
Remember playing the board game Mouse Trap with your kids? You had to get your little mouse through all of the hazards without getting caught. And there were so many!! But, not only did you have to avoid the hazards, you also had to be wary of other players who might trap you as well. Traps and people who would use them against you… It was a harrowing game, for sure!
Our world today has so many deceptions. There are things that appear innocent and harmless, but they silently wrap tentacles of bondage around hearts and minds. These things that, at first appear okay, end up enslaving people and stealing their joy, their relationships, their health and hope. That’s the deception of a snare…it looks like it’s not even there. It’s only when you step into it and are caught that you realize your mistake, but then, it’s too late.
Oh, there are the obvious things like drugs and pornography, but then there are the seemingly harmless, even helpful things like technology and ambition...that when given too much leverage, become a wicked master. Anything that pulls our eyes from Jesus and takes His place of supremacy in our lives is a danger and a threat. Anything that causes us to push Him aside for ‘later’ is a snare.
And not only do we have to worry about those traps and snares, but we have to be wary of the people with evil intent, bent on bringing others down with them. They speak smooth words and assure us that what they offer is good and well-deserved. But in the end, it leads to death. Avoiding them requires a heart that is sensitive to the Holy Spirit, a spirit willing to obey and a mind that is ready for action to avoid sin and deception.
Friends, let’s pray that our sons and daughters are protected from and wary of the dangers and traps that surround them each day. Pray for the protection of their faith and their integrity. Pray that Christ holds supremacy in their lives.
“Heavenly Father, I pray today that You would protect (name) from any trap, any enticement, any compromise that would pull them away from You. There are so many things in this world that appear harmless but lead into addictions and damage hearts, minds and relationships. Lord, guard (name) today against these traps. Let them be mindful as they step, both literally and in other ways, to avoid those traps and pitfalls. Help them not to compromise or let their guard down. Lord, God, I pray that You would protect and preserve their faith. Let them pass by these dangers in safety and let those who try and ensnare others be caught in their own traps. This is a hostile world and my heart’s desire is that (name) be spiritually protected from anything that would cause them to stumble or fall away. Guard them carefully today, Lord, in Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Prayer of Protection-Taking a Stand
Psalm 141:5-8
“Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it, for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers. Their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs, and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken. They will say, “As one plows and breaks up the earth, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of the grave.” But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign LORD; in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death.”
The spiritual battles and deception that are going on today are strong. The media pumps us with so many messages that defy the standard God sets. People fiercely fight for their rights even at the cost of others’ well being, safety and very lives. They refuse to take responsibility for their actions and lack integrity in how they do business and life. Society is so ‘me’ focused that there is little room to consider the ‘other’.
Rather than take responsibility, we see people shifting blame and throwing others under the proverbial ‘bus’ to take the consequences. Rarely do we see anyone accept a rebuke, let alone accept it with a grateful heart. Daily we see the enemy’s lie of ‘self over all others’ and it is the tool he is using to destroy image bearers, both unbelievers and believers alike.
David likened a godly rebuke to being anointed with oil: a sacred act, a blessing and a sign of being set apart by God, chosen and appointed to a task. He was clear that he valued his integrity before God more than the opinion of others- especially the evildoers. He wouldn’t let word deter him from standing against evil. He was distressed and incensed at the actions of those who disregarded the Almighty God and he didn’t hide his strong opposition to their actions. He was more than willing to stand up to it and speak out against it. And he refused to allow their words against him to drive him to back down. Their rebuke meant nothing- it held no power against him because it held no measure of righteousness. He took a stand that would not compromise, no matter the opposition. Oh that our sons and daughters would have the strong conviction of David, set against evil!
We need to pray for divine spiritual protection and guidance over our sons and daughters.
Pray that our sons and daughters would be able to discern between Godly correction and evil oppression.
Pray against evildoers. There are so many. Keep them from influencing and harming our young men and women.
Pray that our sons and daughters would have Godly wisdom and words to refute evildoers and stand against the enemy. This highlights the need for them to remain in the Word and in Godly fellowship with other believers.
Pray that their eyes would remain fixed on the Lord and they would always seek and find their refuge in Him alone.
“Father, I come before You today and lift (name) to You. Lord, let their heart remain soft to hear words of guidance and correction so they can be obedient to Your word. Lord, don’t let them grow hardened but help them see the value of Godly guidance and appreciate those who would have courage to confront. Lord, give them spiritual discernment to know when correction or criticism is righteous or an attack from the enemy. I pray that you would guard (name) against evildoers and the influence they have. Lord, we know this is a battle that goes beyond just human influence and reaches into the spiritual realm. I pray that Your angels would keep watch over (name) and guard them from the fiery darts of the enemy. Shield them from evil, Lord. I pray that they, too, would be compelled to pray against the evil they see in the world. Don’t let them ‘settle’, become indifferent or turn a blind eye to the struggle. Help them to stand up and pray against it. Give them strength. And if they’re confronted with evil, give them wisdom to know how to navigate the situation and wise words to speak to refute the deception. Give them strength to stand strong in their faith and endurance to endure. Lord, keep (name)’s eyes fixed on You. Don’t let them look to the right or left. Don’t let them fall to the wisdom of this world. Be their refuge and strength, their very present Help in trouble. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Powerful Prayer: Day 1
Psalm 141:1-4
“I call to you, Lord, come quickly to me;
hear me when I call to you.
May my prayer be set before you like incense;
may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.
Set a guard over my mouth, Lord;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil
so that I take part in wicked deeds
along with those who are evildoers;
do not let me eat their delicacies.”
Friends, so much has happened in our world in just the last few days. We’ve seen the devastation of a country due to an earthquake. We watched a category 4 hurricane barrel down on the southern portion of the US while wildfires in the west hungrily consume thousands of acres, and homes and livelihoods without mercy. And we watched in horror as people desperately press toward an airport for evacuation to flee the prospect of human slavery, torture and evil oppression. The sight of parents willingly holding out their children- pleading for anyone to take them away from the evil descending brings desperation and reality right into our homes and hearts. We’ve seen brave soldiers give their lives and parents and families hit their knees and wail in deep grief with the heart wrenching loss. Evil and darkness is on the move...and it’s getting closer to home.
Do you feel a sense of urgency? Good. It’s time we take stock of what is important because all the signs are pointing to the soon return of Christ and we need to be ready. We NEED to be praying. It’s time that we as parents take our intercession to the next level. So this month, we’re going to pray through some Psalms, verse by verse, really focusing on those words on behalf of our sons and daughters, and ourselves. Let’s commit to spend some serious, focused time in prayer on their behalf. We will face some mighty battles in the coming days. James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
When our sons and daughters were small, we provided for their needs to ensure they were cared for: food, clothing, shelter, and love, among other things. We didn’t want them to be without what they needed most. Now that they’re grown, we need to pray that they will grow to be spiritually mature and complete, not lacking anything. We don’t want them to be without what they need most.
Let’s pray Psalm 141:1-4 today
“I call to You, Lord, come quickly to me; hear me when I call to You.” I bring (name) before Your throne today and plead with You on their behalf.
“May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.” May my words be fragrant and sweet. Lord, forgive my own sin and don’t let it inhibit my requests. I pray that You would draw (name) into daily fellowship and communion with You. Make them hunger and thirst for righteousness. Lord, set them apart for Your Kingdom and let them live, speak and act in ways that would be salt and light to those around them. Lord, the days are evil. The battle between darkness and light is becoming visible everywhere we turn. I pray that You would protect (name) and help them to see with their own eyes the urgency and importance of following after You with an undivided heart.
“Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Help me, as a parent, to speak words of value and spiritual truth to them. Help me to reinforce the truths of Scripture to them in any way I can. Lord, don’t let me miss an opportunity. Do not let me fall into sin of gossip, complaint or shallow conversation that would detract from You and their focus on You.
“Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds along with those who are evildoers; do not let me eat their delicacies.” There is so much evil and so much wickedness Lord, let my heart and mind be alert and on guard so that I pray effectively and continuously for my sons and daughters. Lord, do not let (name)’s heart be drawn to what is evil. We live in an age where what is evil is called good- Lord, let it not deceive (name)! Protect them from the evil one. Set a guard on their heart and mind. Remind them to put your spiritual armor on daily so they can extinguish the fiery darts of the evil one. Don’t let (name) be tempted and enticed by sin. Keep them faithful, Lord and protect them so they will stand firm, even when their faith is tested, because that day will come. Father, protect them. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
The time is short. Pray without ceasing, friends.
A Brief Pause…
Join the PAC is taking a brief break and we will rejoin you on September 1.
In the meantime, review some of our prayer points and take time to encourage one another!
Thanks for understanding!!
A Brief Pause…
Join the PAC is taking a brief pause and we’ll be back with you on September 1.
Meanwhile, pray through some prayer points from the previous weeks and take time to encourage one another!
Thanks for understanding!
Guaranteed: A Just Judge
Acts 17:31 “For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.””
We want to see justice, don’t we? We long to see evildoers put in their place and good triumph over evil. Sometimes we try to take matters into our own hands...other times we look to someone in leadership: the next celebrity or politician who promises they will make things right and better.
But here’s the thing. No individual, political system or ideology can accurately bring justice that will truly satisfy. If we let ourselves get caught up in that line of thinking, we’re letting ourselves be deceived. And if we encourage our sons and daughters in that line of thinking, we’re not leading well as godly parents.
We need to start by supporting healthy, solid theology both in our own lives and in those of our sons and daughters. Have they moved beyond the basics to develop a deeper understanding of God and His nature? When we deepen our understanding of God we are more apt to dive deeper in His word and understand the complexities of what is written there. When we do that, we realize that His word holds the answers that this world is longing for.
When we have a deeper understanding of God and His word, we can read Act 17:31 with confidence and understanding. “For He (God) has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed…”
He has set a day. There is a timeframe on this. It’s not open ended. He knows exactly when judgement and justice will come. He knows we’re anxious to see it, yet He has a perfect plan in place- let’s trust Him.
He will judge the world. He won’t leave it to another. God himself will judge.
He will judge with justice
He will judge by the man he has appointed.
Now, those who don’t know the Lord, may begin asking, ‘what man?’. But we know, WE KNOW exactly Who is spoken of here when the next statement says “He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” THAT man!! Jesus is the only One who fits the description and has those credentials. We know Him personally and we trust His character. So when God says He will bring just judgement, we can believe Him.
Friends, let’s encourage our sons and daughters with these words today. Let’s not let them fall into disillusionment- a deception of the enemy.
Yes, our hearts should be heavy with what we’re seeing in the world and we should feel a sense of urgency that should help us all refocus on what is to come. But we should also rejoice that God has appointed Jeses to judge justly and we must be confident that day will come when we will see justice served. Are our sons and daughters mindful of what is to come...and are they ready?
Today, pray for perspective, a heart that cries out against injustice and a soul that longs to see our risen Jesus step into His role as judge, appointed by the Father and given authority to judge justly.
Pray without ceasing.
The Lord Loves Justice
Psalm 33:5 “The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.”
Look around. Watch the news. This world is a mess. If we’re honest, we worry about our sons and daughters- what will it mean for them? We worry about their children, what kind of world will they live in? If we dwell on it, our own anxiety can spiral out of control. We risk losing sight of Who is in control.
So how do we calm our own hearts and point our sons and daughters to Jesus when they get discouraged about life and the circumstances of this world?
Psalm 33:5 is a sweet nugget of truth that can help us refocus. “The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.” If we still and quiet our hearts and look around us, we can see God’s unfailing love at work. Ponder these scriptures:
Psalm 113:3 “From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.”
Isaiah 40:28 “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.”
Psalm 95:3-5 “For the LORD is a great God And a great King above all gods, in whose hand are the depths of the earth, The peaks of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for it was He who made it, and His hands formed the dry land. Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.”
Proverbs 3:19-20 “By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.”
All of creation knows the Lord is God. All of creation dares not question His sovereignty. Creation bows to the Lord in reverence and obedience. Can we do the same?
The Lord laid the foundations of this world and He will bring everything into submission under His lordship. He loves righteousness. He will ensure justice. We can rest in the knowledge that He is Creator and Sustainer. He will bring all of creation into submission under His rule and reign.
“Lord, I pray today that you would calm our hearts. Help us to focus on Your righteousness. Reassure us that You will indeed bring justice. When our world is spinning out of control, help us to stop and ponder all that You do each day to show us your unfailing love. We know you love righteousness and it grieves Your heart to see such evil and disregard for life and for Your Authority. We know you desire justice and one day you will bring it. Help us to refocus on the reminders You give us each day that testify to Your Sovereignty. Give us opportunities to encourage our sons and daughters to follow after You. Help us Lord, to not lose sight of the knowledge that You have a plan and You will work out every detail. Even when things seem dark, You are still the Light of the world. Help us to walk in Your light each day. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Praying Even When Things Seem So Unjust
Psalm 11:4-7 “The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord is on his heavenly throne.
He observes everyone on earth;
his eyes examine them.
The Lord examines the righteous,
but the wicked, those who love violence,
he hates with a passion.
On the wicked he will rain
fiery coals and burning sulfur;
a scorching wind will be their lot.
For the Lord is righteous,
he loves justice;
the upright will see his face.”
Friends, in light of what’s happening in our world right now, especially in the Middle East, let’s just take time today to read this scripture out loud and pray:
Acknowledge Who God is- Holy, True and Sovereign
Because He sees everything, talk to Him about what you are seeing that is grievous, heartbreaking, frightening and unjust. He sees it too.
Ask Him to examine our hearts- we should humble ourselves before Him and be willing to identify and repent of our sin.. We want to be righteous and obedient.
Pray that He would stop the wicked. STOP them. But pray for His timing, as well. Trust God. He sees. He knows. He will justly judge them.
Remind yourself that He is a righteous and just God. Take time in prayer to praise Him for His attributes and His wonderful character. Reminding ourselves of the greatness of God helps us get perspective and renew our hope. Focus on Him, not this spiraling world around us.
Celebrate the fact that we WILL see Him face to face.
Come quickly Lord Jesus!!
This is a great formula for prayer that we can go to when life is uncertain or downright painful. It’s a great way to pray when we’re overcome by anger or frustration at the injustice we see. It’s a great format to guide us in prayer when we bring our sons and daughters before the Throne. When we start by focusing on God, we set our hearts and minds on things above, not on earthly things. Then we can talk through the hard things with the Lord, knowing that we have His full attention and He has ours. We know He sees and hears us. We know He grieves with us and is angered at the impact of sin. But then we our eyes and hearts back to Who He is and we end by praising and exalting God and set our hope on His promises.
Pray without ceasing..
A God Who is Just
“I will proclaim the name of the Lord.
Oh, praise the greatness of our God!
He is the Rock, his works are perfect,
and all his ways are just.
A faithful God who does no wrong,
upright and just is he.”
Deuteronomy 32:3-4
What does the word ‘just’ mean? According to Dictionary.com (1),
“Just” is, “guided by truth, reason, justice, and fairness:
done or made according to principle; equitable; proper:
based on right; rightful; lawful:
in keeping with truth or fact; true; correct:”
Our hearts know there is such a thing as justice and we long for it, but in a fallen world, we rarely see it. We have leaders who promise it, but don’t deliver. We have a legal system that is often more concerned with politics than truth. We have systems that are flawed and people who are selfish and greedy. We demand justice in difficult and unfair situations, but we’re rarely satisfied with seeing it delivered. And when it isn’t delivered, we cry foul; we feel deceived and deprived of what is right. We get angry and we struggle to find our balance. Then, we risk our hearts growing bitter because what we long for is denied. And, too often, we blame God. But here’s the thing. We are looking to flawed systems and people to deliver what is an attribute of God. We need to look to God. We need to see the bigger picture.
God IS just, and all He does is guided by Truth and fairness. What He does is principled and based on what is right. It is True. But in our fallen world, the presence of sin distorts and destroys anything good and true and our limited human understanding can’t grasp all that He is doing. We only see the unfairness of the injustice right here and right now.
God’s plan is bigger than the current circumstances and He uses each and every situation to accomplish His purposes. Consider the following:
The injustice of Joseph being sold into slavery was the very thing that rescued
his family and the nation of Israel. What man meant for evil, God meant for good. (Genesis 50:20)
The injustice of Esther being brought into the King’s harem
was the very thing that ensured the plot to annihilate the Jews
was brought to light and prevented.
The nation of Israel was protected and preserved.
God used her for such a time to accomplish His purposes
and preserve His people. (Esther 4:14)
The imprisonment of the Apostle Paul brought the gospel to Rome,
to the Roman Guard and into the House of Caesar himself.
(Acts 23:11, Philippians 4:22)
God uses difficult things to accomplish his purposes and He promises justice will come.
Matthew 12:18 ““Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
Matthew 12:20 “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory.”
Acts 17:31 “For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.””
Revelation 15:3 ““Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the nations.”
Today, let’s proclaim the greatness of God.
Trust that nothing is out of His control or beyond the scope of His power. He is just. He will accomplish justice. He does no wrong and He uses what the Enemy means for evil and turns it into good for His Kingdom.
Pray that our sons and daughters can understand God’s just nature and trust that He works everything for His glory and our good- even the hard things.
Pray without ceasing.
(1) Dictionary.com. (n.d.). Just definition & meaning. Dictionary.com. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/just.
Sunday Worship-His Mercy is More
It’s Sunday. Take some time to be still before the Lord. Ponder His greatness. Be humbled by His mercy. Rest in His love.
His Mercy is More
What love could remember no wrongs we have done
Omniscient, all knowing, He counts not their sum
Thrown into a sea without bottom or shore
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
What patience would wait as we constantly roam
What Father, so tender, is calling us home
He welcomes the weakest, the vilest, the poor
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
Praise the Lord, His mercy is more
Stronger than darkness, new every morn
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
What riches of kindness He lavished on us
His blood was the payment, His life was the cost
We stood 'neath a debt we could never afford
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
Praise the Lord, His mercy is more
Stronger than darkness, new every morn
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
Praise the Lord, His mercy is more
Stronger than darkness, new every morn
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Matt Boswell / Matt Papa
Saturday Review
Once again, lets review our prayer points from the week and pray over them one more time. “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16b
Pray Hebrews 4:16 over our sons and daughters, “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.” Ask the Lord to help them draw near to Him and be willing and expectant to receive His mercy and grace.
Take a look at that list you made this week of the most unlikely people to be prayed over. Pray for them again, sincerely. Pray for those you struggle to love. Pray for those whose actions repulse you. Pray for those who seem too far gone to ever be saved. “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” Pray for them by name or affiliation and ask God to work in hearts and minds. Ask Him to let them see Jesus. His mercy is great. Be willing to plead His mercy for others and pray that our sons and daughters would be willing to do the same.
Pray that our sons and daughters are the aroma of life because of God’s mercy shown to them. Pray that they fully grasp the greatness and beauty of God’s mercy and all it has rescued them from. Pray that they have a heart for the lost, to pray and share the gospel to those who are dying.
Ask the Lord to help our sons and daughters realize the wonderful forgiving mercy of our Lord and Savior. In their failures and shortcomings, His mercy is great and it’s what they need to continue moving forward, accomplishing what God has planned for them.
Pray that we, as believers, would wait for God’s justice and would look for His mercy in even the most difficult and painful situations. Let’s pray that our sons and daughters would realize the blessing of His mercy, held for them and showered on them by a God who is willing to wait and show patience.
Pray without ceasing.
Wait for it….
Isaiah 30:18 “Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.”
The Lord waits to be gracious to us. He waits...for us. Strong’s Concordance says that the Hebrew word for wait also means to ‘long for’ (1) He ‘tarries’. He doesn’t want us to miss his mercy, so He waits. Friends, think about that.
But, He doesn’t just wait, He exalts Himself. He makes His greatness known. He needs no other to announce His greatness. His position does not depend on His followers. He alone is worthy and is exalted above all. We have a great and mighty God who is without rival or comparison and He raises Himself up in order to show….mercy. Not His power. Not His might. But His mercy. Oh, friends, our God contradicts all of the expectations of this world for His glory and our good.
Blessed are those who wait for Him. Today, let’s pray together that we all, as believers, would wait for God’s justice and would look for His mercy. Let’s pray that our sons and daughters would appreciate His patience and would realize the blessing of His mercy, held for them by a God who is willing to wait.
Let’s pray too that this world sees the mercy God extends and would grab hold of it and of Him.
Why not print this verse out and meditate on it today. There is so much richness in this scripture- don’t miss out on it because you’re in a hurry. Tarry here and consider His mercy.
Pray without ceasing.
H2442 - ḥāḵâ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2442/kjv/wlc/0-1/
Start Chiseling…
Exodus 34:4-7 “So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the Lord had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands. Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.””
Exodus 34 follows the whole debacle of the golden calf and the Israelites exchanging their worship of God for worship of something made by their hands (Ex. 32). Moses saw what was happening and was so outraged, he smashed the stone tablets on the ground. Yes, THOSE tablets, given by God, showing the 10 commandments. Moses had just come from the presence of God and then walked into the scene and totally lost his temper.
Oh, friends, how many times do we do that? We come out of a beautiful quiet time or time of worship and immediately our human nature takes over- we speak harsh words, cast judgement, or show selfish behavior and then, like Moses, we have to go back to the Lord and face our errors.
God could have told Moses that he’d blown his one and only chance. Sure….but He didn’t. The Lord could have banished Moses and chosen another to take his place. But He didn’t. The Lord could have berated Moses and made him feel worthless and a failure, yet He didn’t. He showed mercy. He simply told Moses to ““Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.” (Ex. 34:1)
God’s mercy is more than we could ever fully comprehend. Yet, too often we gloss over it or disregard it. Too often we want to withhold it from others because we’ve decided they’re not deserving. Oh, we are so foolish and full of ourselves. Our pride and arrogance stand in the way of the most wonderful gift God could give us- His bountiful mercy. He is a loving God, faithful and slow to anger. Do our sons and daughters understand this?? Do they really know what God’s mercy is and that it can be theirs?
Friends, our kids will mess up. They will make poor choices. They will focus on the wrong things, yet, they are still learning. If we’re honest, we are still learning too. Can we show mercy as God does or are we going to hold it against them because they didn’t meet our expectations?
Today, let’s pray that when our sons and daughters ‘mess up’, they realize the wonderful forgiving mercy of our Lord and Savior. Rather than berating them or telling them all the ways they disappointed Him, He simply hands them another tablet and says “start chiseling”. Can we do that with our sons and daughters as well?
“Lord, I pray that You would help me to be merciful. Keep me from arrogant sin that would elevate my expectations and my abilities over someone else and cause them to feel inferior, insufficient or incapable. Help me not to do this to my sons and daughters. Lord, if you did that to us, we would never survive. Yet, in Your mercy, You reach down and support us, encourage us and give us the strength we need to complete the task You’ve given us. I pray for (name) today. Let them focus on You, not things, people or accomplishments. Help them to trust You and rest in You for all they need. May they securely find their identity and meaning in You. Give them insight to understand how Your great mercy is the very thing that sustains their life each day. I pray that they would humbly acknowledge You and all You do for them and then, following Your example, show mercy to others who need to know You too. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Oh, His Mercy Brings Life.
Ephesians 2:4-5 “ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”
Roadkill is something we’re sure to encounter if we spend any amount of time driving. And roadkill in the summer...well, that is a whole other experience that is difficult to put into words. It smells...no, it reeks. It is pungent and awful and we can smell it long before we see it. We might quickly put up the windows and hold our breath until we’re past the offensive carcass, but somehow the stink of death lingers and we remember it even when we are long past the location. And somewhere, someone is tasked with cleaning that up, but it’s not a job to be envied and few would admit to doing it.
What if we took that roadkill and ‘dressed it up’? It would still be dead and stinking. Oh, we could put it on a pedestal, give it a title, but, even then, it would still be dead. The process of decay would continue and the stench with it. You see, it’s dead. It is unredeemable. No amount of effort, attention, accolades or affection will revive it. It will just continue to bear the stench of death. It has no life and cannot mimic it.
Friends, that was us. We were dead in transgressions. We were rotting corpses of sin, stinking and decaying spiritually. Oh, maybe we tried to dress ourselves up and go through the motions, but we were still decaying. Perhaps we tried to give ourselves importance and align ourselves with others who could give us value, but death ruled and robbed us of any worth.
And then came Jesus. He was and is bold and brave enough to step into our death and misery. He could tolerate our stench because He already faced death and won. He paid the price for our sin. Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in transgressions. He loved us when we were unable to love Him. He made us alive in Christ when we had no power to embrace life on our own.
He wasn’t afraid of our stench. He wasn’t repulsed by our rotting souls. He could have swept us aside, scooped us up with the refuse or walked away to a cleaner, more pleasant experience. But He saw our worth despite the death that surrounded us and He took hold of us and redeemed us. He gave us a new name and called us His child. Now, we bear the fragrance of Christ, the fragrance of life.
2 Corinthians 2:15-16 “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.”
God’s mercy is powerful.
Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters are the aroma of life to those around them because of God’s mercy in their lives. Pray that they fully grasp the greatness and beauty of God’s mercy and all it has rescued them from. Pray that they have a heart for the lost, to pray for and share the gospel to those who are dying.
Pray without ceasing.
Time is Short but His Mercy is Great
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
The events going on in Afghanistan are heartbreaking. The news is devastating. Desperate people are scrambling to get into the airport for a chance to leave the country. They’re climbing walls and fences and even clinging to the sides of a transport plane as it taxis for takeoff. Parents are desperately trying to give their children to anyone who might carry them to safety outside of the reach of the Taliban. They’re trying to leverage who they know and what they’ve accomplished to buy their way out of the country. The panic on their faces and the fear in their eyes communicate much more than words ever could. They see how this is going to end and they want to do everything possible to save themselves and their loved ones.
But why didn’t they leave last week? Yes, there was concern in Afghanistan, but no real desperation. Although the threat of evil was present, it wasn’t as visible. They thought they had more time.
Friends, this scenario is very much akin to the spiritual condition of the world right now. Things are getting worse and Jesus’ return is near, but few seem to be concerned. People think they have ‘more time’, they’ll get right with God ‘later’, yet, when that moment of Jesus’ return is upon us and believers are taken from this world, there will be massive panic and desperation. People will be scrambling to find a way out. The pages of Revelation will come to life and those who thought they had more time to get right with God will be desperate. But who they know and what they’ve accomplished will mean nothing.
Admit it. We are overwhelmed with the evil that we see and we just want God to smite the evildoers and be done with it. Yet, He waits. Why? Because He wants to give many the opportunity to turn their hearts to Christ. He doesn’t want any to perish...and neither should we.
Rather than complain and worry about how bad things are getting, let’s pray. Really pray. Let’s point our sons and daughters to the value of an eternal focus and get them to pray as well. Pray for those being persecuted. Pray for those who fear for their lives. Pray for believers, that they would stand strong in their faith and pray for unbelievers, that they would come to know Jesus. We can do that, right?
But here’s a challenge for you….pray for the evildoers. That’s a shocking thing to think about. Maybe it startled you to read it. Good. Jesus died for them too. They are image-bearers. Despite the evil that indwells them, they have a Father in Heaven who longs to have relationship with them. 2 Peter 3:9 says “not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” That “ALL” includes even the most evil people. They need Christ. It is not for us to decide who deserves prayer. It is just up to us to follow Christ in obedience. Matthew 5:44 “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”
God has the power to do more than we could ask or think. Today, sit down and make a list of the most unlikely people to be prayed over, and then do it. Pray for them, sincerely. Pray for those you struggle to love. Pray for those whose actions repulse you. Pray for those who seem too far gone to ever be saved. “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” Pray for them by name or affiliation and ask God to work in hearts and minds. Ask Him to let them see Jesus. His mercy is great.
And then pray for our sons and daughters that they would have a heart that longs to see others know God’s mercy.
Pray without ceasing.