Sunday Worship
Autumn is a beautiful season. The colors explode and everything seems to glow with a golden glory that only our Creator could design. His artistry is on full display. What a great time to ponder His goodness, His power, and His love displayed to us in such vibrant, colorful ways! Why not take some time to sit outside or take a walk in nature and listen to this hymn. Worship Him in spirit and in truth.
For the Beauty of the Earth
Folliott Sandford Pierpoint (1864)
For the beauty of the earth,
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies.
Christ, our Lord, to you we raise
this, our hymn of grateful praise.
For the wonder of each hour
of the day and of the night,
hill and vale and tree and flower,
sun and moon and stars of light,
Christ, our Lord, to you we raise
this, our hymn of grateful praise.
For the joy of human love,
brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth, and friends above,
for all gentle thoughts and mild,
Christ, our Lord, to you we raise
this, our hymn of grateful praise.
For yourself, best gift divine,
to the world so freely given,
agent of God's grand design:
peace on earth and joy in heaven.
Christ, our Lord, to you we raise
this, our hymn of grateful praise.
Saturday Review
There are so many benefits when we stop, take a look back, check our learning and our growth. It gives us an opportunity to pause and see what God is doing. It’s good to review, isn’t it? Today, let’s review our prayer points from the week and pray through them one more time.
Pray that our sons and daughters stand firm to the end. Their faithfulness and perseverance is crucial to their walk with the Lord.
Pray for our sons and daughters to be immune to ‘golden calf syndrome’. Pray that they will not get distracted by the ‘good things’, valuing them and loving them more than they love God. Pray that they would always keep their eyes on the Lord and wouldn’t look away. Pray that they would fan the flame of their first love and worship Him only. Pray that they will take a stand even when others are celebrating the idols.
Pray for protection- that they would not be lured and fall into bondage to the Enemy.
Pray that our sons and daughters don’t forfeit the love of God for earthly things. There is no comparison.
Pray today for any family members who don’t know the Lord. Ask God to soften hearts and bring a willingness to repent and follow Christ. Pray for eyes that clearly see God’s salvation and desire it more than anything this world could offer.
Pray without ceasing
What is Your Destiny?
Hosea 7:13-14 “Woe to them, because they have strayed from me! Destruction to them, because they have rebelled against me! I long to redeem them but they speak about me falsely. They do not cry out to me from their hearts but wail on their beds. They slash themselves, appealing to their gods for grain and new wine, but they turn away from me.”
Hosea was God’s prophet to Israel, warning them of God’s judgment because of their unfaithfulness. God rebuked them because they strayed from His commands. Not only did they stray, but they betrayed Him with their words and actions and then, when life was difficult and painful and they suffered the consequences of their rebellion, they cried out to anyone but God, as if false gods could save them.
It doesn’t seem much has changed.
People today will look to anyone and anything but God for rescue.. Hard hearts refuse to submit. They don’t want to bend the knee to the Father, but they will sacrifice their well-being, their peace, their future, their relationships- everything is fair game when they’re in pursuit of their ‘salvation’....everything but bowing to Christ. They pursue other teachings, practices, people, yet they will not reach out to the Father for the free gift of salvation. Is it pride? “I need to earn it” or is it disbelief? “It’s got to be more complicated than that” or, perhaps it is a disdain for anything holy. Whatever the case, it boils down to deception and rebellion.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 also warns us of the danger of deception and of hardened hearts.. “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. How heartbreaking is that? The lifeline is there! The Rescuer is at-the-ready, but they refuse, sealing their condemnation and cutting themselves off from an eternity of blessing and an inheritance in the Kingdom.
Friends, this deception is here, now, and more is coming. The Enemy wants us to turn our faces away from the Lord and wallow in our misery. He delights in hearing us cry out in desperation, wailing for relief and he’s elated if we harden our hearts and refuse His rescue. This should drive us to our knees for our sons and daughters, especially if they do not know the Lord.
Finally, Revelation 16:8-10 paints a vivid picture of just how resolute these hardened hearts are. “The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him. The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.” - It’s a horrific picture and so heartbreaking, because all they would need to do is cry out to Jesus and be saved, yet they refuse.
As Hosea 7 says, God longs to redeem them. 2 Peter 3:9 also says “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” God is holding back His hand. He’s delaying His judgement. He doesn’t want anyone to suffer eternal punishment, but wants all to come to repentance. Can we pray today for those family members who don’t know the Lord? Pray for softened hearts willing to repent and follow Christ and eyes that clearly see God’s salvation and desire it more than anything this world could offer. There is so much at stake, friends. Pray and pray some more.
Maybe you’re reading this and you don’t have assurance of where you will spend eternity. Do you want to know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savoir? Do you want freedom from sin and a peace that passes understanding?
We are all sinners. Romans 3:23 says “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” There is no way we could ever make ourselves worthy of Him.
Our deserved punishment is eternal death, separated from God. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Oh, but we don’t have to be eternally condemned, because Jesus paid the price for our sin, He covered our debt when He died on the cross. Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this; While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
And God says to us, that if we” confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved.” Romans 10:9
The lifeline is there and along with it forgiveness of all you’ve ever done, redemption from the fate you thought you were destined to and justification in the eyes of God, because when He looks at you, He sees the blood of Jesus that’s washed you clean. You have a hope and a future. You’re a child of God!!
If you confessed with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, would you share with us? Send a message or reply to this post. We would love to pray for you as you begin your life with Jesus Christ!
Pray without ceasing.
Investments and Returns
Jonah 2:8 “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them.”
Jonah knew what he was talking about. He knew that the lure of other things is strong, so much so that they can eclipse the gospel message in the eyes of one who is charmed by those lesser gods. Mark 10:17-25 is just such an example:
Mark 10:17-25 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”
“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
This young man wanted to follow Jesus...just not more than he wanted to hold onto his worldly possessions. He’d worked hard to earn them. They meant a lot to him. They were hard to release. Didn’t Jesus see their value? This young man couldn’t see the full wonder, beauty and redemptive power of Jesus because he was charmed by his possessions and success. He couldn’t see how releasing his hold on those ‘things’ would give him riches and blessings so much greater than he had ever known. No, he could only see all that he’d worked for, all that was precious to him, was exactly what Jesus was calling him to release. He wanted to be able to follow Jesus and ‘earn’ Heaven while still giving his heart to all that charmed him in this life. Had he truly understood the exchange Jesus was offering, he would have understood it to be the best investment he would ever make.
And what was Jesus' response? Mark says “Jesus looked at him and loved him.” Jesus knew the dilemma this young man was wrestling with. He knew what He offered would bring joy, contentment, fulfillment and eternal security. Yet, the young man couldn’t see it. Jonah was right, “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them.” This young man forfeited God’s love for things that wouldn’t last, things couldn’t give him a relationship and things that offered no salvation at all.
Oh, how our hearts want our sons and daughters to make the better choice!! We must pray that they don’t forfeit the love of God for earthly things. There is no comparison.
“Heavenly Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, You bless us beyond our comprehension and You promise us an eternal inheritance in Your vast Kingdom as Your beloved child. Oh how we long to sit beside You and hear Your voice. Your Presence is precious to us and Your comfort and love is abundant and glorious. Lord, I pray that (name) would understand how wide, how long, how high and how deep Your love is. And Lord, let them know this love that surpasses knowledge—that (name) may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Father, draw them so they are charmed by You and not this world. Don’t let them forfeit their relationship with You for things that will not satisfy. Let the tarnish of this world’s glitter be evident. Don’t let them turn away from Your love but remain true, now and forever. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Be Careful
Deuteronomy 11:16 “Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them.”
James 1:14 “But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.”
God knows our weaknesses. He knows how we’re wired. He gives us the admonition to “Be careful” because He knows we’re easily drawn to those things we shouldn’t be. He also knows the capability of our Enemy and that he will do anything to pull us away from Jesus. It’s imperative that we are mindful of what we choose to allow our eyes to see, our ears to hear and our hearts to love.
The word scripture uses to tell us to “Be careful” is the Greek word, “samar”, which means to “keep watch or to guard, to hedge about (as with thorns), be circumspect, take heed (to self), look narrowly, preserve, be a watchman.” (1)
The dangers we face are all around us (be circumspect). We need protection on every side (hedge about as with thorns). We need to pay attention so that we’re not caught by surprise (take heed) and we must be aware of our own weaknesses (to self). We need to home in on those threats, dangers, and things that are suspect so that we can preserve our testimony and ensure we walk faithfully and avoid sin. We must be watchmen, daily, moment by moment, never letting our guard down, because when we do, that’s when the Enemy attacks.
But why is it so crucial? Because James says “each one is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.” That being ‘dragged away’ isn’t a violent act where we fight tooth and nail to resist. No, it’s a lure that draws us unexpectedly, quietly, and we come of our own accord. Our guard is down, our pride is full, and we think we’re immune to the danger. THAT is why we need to be on guard, hedged about, circumspect, self-aware and watchful.
Friends, look around. This world is dark. Satan is active. He wants nothing more than to poach God’s sheep. Let’s encircle our sons and daughters with powerful prayer today to protect them from being lured and falling into bondage to the Enemy.
“Father, I pray that You would intervene in (name)’s life today. Stop their ears to the whisper of the Enemy. Blind their eyes to his lures. Keep their feet from treading where they ought not and protect their hands from reaching into the fire of temptation. I pray that You would surround (name) with a hedge of protection- spiritual thorns that will keep the Enemy from getting close. Help (name) to be self-aware, understanding their weaknesses and being intentional to avoid those things that would tempt them to stray. I pray that You would put other watchmen in their lives who would pray for them, encourage them and hold them accountable . Preserve their faith and protect their testimony. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
H8104 - šāmar - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (esv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h8104/esv/wlc/0-1/
Golden Calf Syndrome
Exodus 32:8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’
Psalm 106:20 They exchanged their glorious God for an image of a bull, which eats grass.
When we look at the Israelites, we likely wonder to ourselves, “How on earth could they have turned from God to chase after idols?” “For goodness sake, He traveled with them as a cloud of protection during the day and a pillar of fire at night?! Didn’t they see Him part the Sea?” Yet, they did turn away, and fast. While Moses was on Mt Sinai meeting with God and getting the tablets with the 10 commandments, the Israelites got restless and decided to take matters into their own hands. Despite the fact that they had experienced the very glory of God...they exchanged their loyalty to Him for the image of a calf they made themselves. To add to the offense, the gold was likely from the jewelry that the Egyptians lavished on them as they fled from Pharaoh- a promise from God that He would ensure they were well-supplied when they departed. They used His blessings to curse Him.
The Israelites took their eyes off of God and allowed other things to grab their attention. They fell into idol worship and deceived themselves into believing it would bring blessing, satisfaction and fulfillment. And they encouraged one another in the wrong direction, men, women and children. And no one had the integrity to take a stand for the Lord.
~Pause~
Now, remember trying to correct our kids when they were little? Maybe we took their little face in our hands to hold their attention, yet their eyes darted to the very things we were trying to pull them from. We could hold their head, but we couldn’t control their eyes. The lure of those things was strong.
~Back to the Israelites~
We look at their act of disobedience and think we would never be so ignorant as to bow to a golden calf. Why would someone make something themselves and then worship it?. Oh, friends, our golden calf may not be made out of jewelry, but it may bear a brand, a hood ornament, a name or an account number- all things that we worked for and ‘made’. The golden calves of the 21st century are just as enticing and just as dangerous. The Enemy lures us, teases us with ‘good things’ and we begin a short sprint that turns into a marathon of pursuing things rather than Jesus. And those surrounding us will likely cheer us on to the pursuit of emptiness, because they, too, are deceived. Our eyes become so distracted by what’s around us that we lose sight of the Savior. The lure of this world is strong.
Here’s the thing, the Israelites didn’t just make an idol. No, they had quite a few heart conditions that led to their decision. They were::
Impatient- they wanted what they wanted immediately
Selfish- they expected God to fulfill their needs and wants on their terms
Rebellious- they refused to submit to the leadership God put in place for them
Ungrateful- they grumbled against God and His provision and plan
Arrogant- they put themselves above God and His will for them
The list could go on. God wanted all of them, yet they were too busy looking around and pursuing lesser gods which they mistakenly believed would fulfill them. They left their first love.
Friends, we need to seriously pray for our sons and daughters to be immune to ‘golden calf syndrome’. As the days grow darker, the allure of this world will grow stronger. We must pray that they will not get distracted by things…even good things, and put them first, valuing them and loving them more than they love God. We need to pray that our sons and daughters would always keep their eyes on the Lord and wouldn’t look away. Pray that they will fan the flame of their first love and worship Him only. Pray that they will take a stand even when others are celebrating and chasing the idols.
Pray without ceasing.
Stand Firm to the End
Stay True to the Faith
Matthew 24:12-13 “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
Have you noticed how people seem to be growing more hostile toward God, toward the Bible and toward believers? Scripture says in the last days scoffers will come, mocking God’s promises and following their own evil desires (2 Peter 3:3)
It’s crucial that we pray for our sons’ and daughters’ protection and growth, but more than that. There is so much at stake. We are stepping into the Last Days and we see Jesus’ return ever-nearer; we must pray that our children stand true and hold fast. The world isn’t just indifferent toward God, it’s hostile. If we are believers and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, guess what...they’re going to be hostile to us as well. Friends, we are not just seeing ‘glimpses’ of this, but nearly weekly reports of hostility, aggression and hatred toward God, the church and the family of believers.
Recently, a large church was torn down in Ireland. The once-vibrant church, built to hold 3500 people, is no longer needed. Eventually, it will be replaced by a smaller building that holds 350 (1)(2). The comments following the news story were very telling…
“Good, now let’s get started on the rest of them.”
”They’ll just build another one, like Ireland needs any more churches… Wish they would spend the money they use for these places on actually trying to rebuild people’s [lives] that they have destroyed.”
“The truth must win in the end, unfortunately, the church has outgrown its use. It’s purpose is done.”
“Churches that size are not necessary any more.”
“...It’s built for 3500 parishioners. No way will the church ever recover to those numbers. Religion is dying. The majority of the nation won’t [care]. Good riddance.” (3)
Friends, back up and look at the big picture. This isn’t about denominations or doctrine. This is a much bigger picture that is representative of the hardened heart of man toward God. The hostility of these people toward church is strong. Their view that worship is unnecessary is clear. The indifference to the dwindling flock is another sign that this world is doing just what God said it would. Hearts are growing cold. People are less and less inclined to even consider God or their position in relation to Him. They have no thought for eternity. They are driven by their own evil desires, lusts and passions. They mock and rail against the Lord. ...And this is the world in which our sons and daughters are living... and in which they must decide to take a stand for Christ, no matter what may come.
“Father, I pray today for (name). Lord, this world is growing more hostile and we all will be tempted to protect ourselves from the onslaught of persecution. But Lord, you call us to lose our lives for You. Whether it be comfort, employment, friends, Lord, we know that we might have to let go of some things in order to lay hold of that which you’ve called us to- eternal life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 says v 17 “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” Lord, help (name) to put their hope in You and You alone.
V.18 “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” I pray that (name)’s words and actions would represent Christ well. Let them be salt and light in a world that is dark and decaying. Give them strength and boldness to to this. Yes, it will make them stand out as a believer and may bring persecution as a result, but it is what You call us to. Help (name) to do it well and for Your glory. We know the promise is sure v.19 “In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
Lord, I pray that (name) would choose to live for the life that is truly life. Let them live uncompromisingly for You. Give them boldness, strength and confidence that You will hold them securely. Don’t let them grow cold, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
1. News, R. T. E. (2020, February 6). Permission granted for demolition of Finglas Church. RTE.ie. Retrieved November 1, 2021, from https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2020/0206/1113615-finglas-church/.
2. Annunciation), (I. C. of, & Maps), (I. S. G. (2020, February 6). Demolition of iconic North Dublin Church gets final approval. DublinLive. Retrieved November 1, 2021, from https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/demolition-church-annunciation-finglas-gets-17701410.
3. Here Today Gone Tomorrow. Facebook. (n.d.). Retrieved November 1, 2021, from https://www.facebook.com/jimm1965/posts/1672502186474306.
Sunday Worship
Today, take some time and memorize one of the benedictions we prayed this week. By adding the scripture to our memory and to our prayer arsenal, we’re allowing God to equip us to use the Word of God in powerful, effective ways.
Ephesians 1:18-23
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Ephesians 3:14-21
“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”
Jude 1:24-25
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Hebrews 13:20-21
“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Then take the opportunity to pray a benediction over someone, whether in person or from afar.
Blessing, protection, promise. The Lord is good.
Pray without ceasing.
Saturday Review
What a week it’s been!! Praying benedictions over our sons and daughters has been refreshing and encouraging. As we wrestle in prayer, sometimes taking the time to just speak words of affirmation and life over those we love is so needed. It’s a reminder, too, that God desires good for us. His Word is powerful and effective. His promises are glorious and eternal. And His love for us is beyond understanding.
Let’s step through all of the blessings we prayed one more time. The power in these words is divine and able to break down strongholds.
Powerful Hope
Ephesians 1:18-23
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Powerful, All-Encompassing Love
Ephesians 3:14-21
“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
Sanctification and Strength
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”
Protection from Stumbling
Jude 1:24-25
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Fully Equipped
Hebrews 13:20-21
“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Fully Equipped
Praise God! He’s given us another day to live for Him! And here’s the thing…. God doesn’t just wake us up and then wait to see what we’ll do. He doesn’t leave us to ‘figure it out’. God promises to equip us with all we need to do His will; isn’t that encouraging? Today, let’s pray this blessing over our sons and daughters, asking God to do just that in their lives. May they be committed to following Jesus without compromise.
Hebrews 13:20-21
“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
More Than We Ask or Imagine
We pray ‘big, don’t we? But, really, how big do we pray? We ask for miracles...but even those miracles we imagine and hope for are constrained by a human mind that is limited by time, experience and the human condition. But God can do more than our limited minds could ask or imagine!! Think about that!!
What is it today that you hope and long for? What extraordinary thing do you pray for your sons and daughters? Nothing is too great for our God!
Today, let’s pray this beautiful blessing over our sons and daughters - and let’s wait with eager expectation to see God work!
Jude 1:24-25
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
May God Encourage You
Although we tend to spend time praying and pleading over the hard things, we can’t forget the value and benefit of some good, solid encouragement. Both first and second Thessalonians offer benedictions of blessing and encouragement and, although brief, they’re packed with rich truth that can encourage our hearts!
Pray this today, putting the name of your children in wherever it says ‘you’….and then, why not text it to your son or daughter? What a way to brighten their day!
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”
Pray without ceasing.
For This Reason I Kneel
Why do we pray for our sons and daughters? It’s certainly not just because it’s the ‘right thing to do’. If we made a list, there likely would be some very admirable reasons, some heart-wrenching burdens and some deeply rooted desires that motivate us to bring our family before the Throne. But if we strip away our wishes, hopes and pleas, the essential foundation of our prayer is that our sons and daughters would know Jesus, understand His love and be compelled to live for Him with every ounce of their being.
Today, let’s pray the benediction from Ephesians 3:14-21 over our sons and daughters. No need for extra words… God’s Word is enough. He is always enough.
“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
Pray without ceasing.
The Hope to Which He Called You
This week we’re going to pray blessings over our sons and daughters by praying benedictions from scripture. These powerful prayers put into words what our hearts desire for them. Today, as you pray, meditate on these words and… why not pray them more than once?
Ephesians 1:18-23
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”
Sunday Worship
Psalm 107:1-3 “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.”
Oh, how we long for our sons and daughters to have a testimony of God’s redemption in their lives. Maybe one day soon they will sing the words of the hymn below…until then, let’s sing our own testimony of God’s goodness to us!
Blessed Assurance
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine;
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Fanny Jane Crosby
Saturday Review
As we wrap up our week let’s continue praying for the wanderer and prodigal. God is able to do more than we ask or think and remember, the Spirit intercedes for us when we don’t know what to pray.
The Father longs for our wandering sons and daughters to turn to Him. Let’s lift our heavy hearts to Him.
If you missed our study this week on praying for the prodigal, you can watch the youtube video here: How To Pray for A Prodigal Child It might be a great place to start your Saturday Review.
Pray that:
Our sons and daughters would mourn and lament their sin.
That the Lord would open the eyes of their heart to see how grievous their choices are and how much their sin and rebellion distances them from God.
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation.
Hearts are broken over pride, selfishness and rebellion.
That they see their path only leads to death and they are terrified by it.
Pray that our sons and daughters know life and freedom in Christ.
Pray for the change that will turn their eternity into one of hope, joy, light and life.
Pray the armor of God over our sons and daughters, and then pray for the Spirit to intercede on their behalf and work in ways that are beyond what we might imagine for them.
Then, finish by reading Psalm 77. As we pray these words to the Lord, let’s use them to remind ourselves of His goodness and faithfulness and His promises that never fail.
Pray without ceasing.
Psalm 77
“I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.
When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands,
and I would not be comforted.
I remembered you, God, and I groaned;
I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.
You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak.
I thought about the former days,
the years of long ago;
I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart meditated and my spirit asked:
“Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?
Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?
Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”
Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.
I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
Yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”
Your ways, God, are holy.
What god is as great as our God?
You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.
With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
The waters saw you, God,
the waters saw you and writhed;
the very depths were convulsed.
The clouds poured down water,
the heavens resounded with thunder;
your arrows flashed back and forth.
Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.
Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.
You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.”
Protected, Powerful Prayer
Ephesians 6:10-13
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
Romans 8:26-27
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”
Praying for a prodigal son or daughter can be overwhelming. It can drain us of joy, hope and energy, especially if we’re putting so much focus on pleading and interceding on their behalf that we neglect our own spiritual health.
Remember the days when our children were infants? We were exhausted just trying to meet their basic needs. It seemed all-consuming. Yet, we had to make the effort to eat, sleep and care for ourselves, because if we neglected ourselves too much, then we were not able to meet the needs of our little one.
Friends, it’s much the same with our spiritual needs. We are praying against the enemy himself and if we do not take time to ensure we are guarded, protected and shielded by our Savior, we run the risk of being a target as well.
We need to put on the full armor of God, daily. The FULL armor. We can’t go into this half-dressed. We can’t just grab our shield of faith and call it good. No, we need the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth and feet that are ready with the gospel. Only then are we equipped and ready to battle for the hearts and minds of our sons and daughters.
And when we don’t know what to pray? That’s when we cry out to the Spirit and ask Him to intercede for us. Who better to plead with the Father than the Spirit who knows what we need and can express it in words...rather groans that reach the heart of our Father. “He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” And isn’t that what we want for our sons and daughters? To be obedient and blessed in the will of God?
Today, let’s take time to pray the armor of God over ourselves and our sons and daughters, and then pray for the Spirit to intercede on their behalf and work in ways that are beyond what we might imagine for them.
Pray without ceasing.
The Battle of the Mind
Philippians 3:18-21 “For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
Here’s a startling statement: either we live for Christ, or we are His enemy.
What does it mean to be an enemy of the cross? That word, enemy, in the original Greek means hateful, hostile, at enmity with God (1). Often we think of hate as the act of rebellion and venomous speech, resisting and fighting against something with every ounce of physical and emotional strength. But hate can be a passive hostility, a rebellious spirit or a hard attitude against something or someone. Hate is a mindset. It won’t dissolve without a change. Unless the mind is convinced, the heart won’t follow.
And here’s the thing. The battle is all in the mind. Satan is the great deceiver. He will convince us, beyond a doubt, that his lie is the truth. He will deceive us into thinking that the darkness is where we will thrive. He will convince us to drink his poison to satisfy our thirst only to laugh and watch us choke on his evil. He will invade our minds and thoughts to keep us from submitting to God and will, rather, convince us that we can and should be our own god. Psalm 10:4 “In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.”
We need to fight this battle right where it’s happening. We need to ask the Lord to intercede in the minds of our sons and daughters and redeem them from the grip of the Enemy. We need to pray scripture to fight Satan. When Jesus was tempted, he answered Satan with scripture, He fought the battle of the mind with the very words of God. Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
Today, let's take time to pray scripture over the minds and hearts of our sons and daughters. God is able to intervene and turn enemies of the cross into faithful followers who love Him with their heart, soul, mind and strength.
Pray without ceasing!
1. G2190 - echthros - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2190/kjv/tr/0-1/
Praying for Change
James 4:7-10
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
What is it that we want most for our sons and daughters who are wandering...or straight up running away from the Lord? We want change. Honest, about-face, change of heart, mind and loyalty. But let’s dig in deeper. “Change” is a nebulous word. Let’s get specific.
What is at the root of their wandering or living as a prodigal? Often it’s rebellion, pride and selfishness. Our human nature rebels against God’s authority. We want to make our own rules and follow our own path. We refuse to see how God’s boundaries are really the lines within which we will thrive and flourish. The fertile soil, the protected land, the best irrigation and nourishment all lie within the boundaries God set for us. He’s marked off the very best ‘land’ for us to enjoy. Yet, we look longingly over the fence at what appears to be greener pastures. And we insist on pressing against the fence until it gives way. We want what we want….and we tell God “You’re not the boss of me!”. Oh, but He is.
We run, we laugh and mock, we revel in our ‘freedom’ only to find that we are lost, hunted by the Enemy and losing our ability to meet our own needs. It is dark, empty and the smell of death surrounds us. We reap the consequences of our ‘knowing better’ only to realize that we don’t. But sometimes, sometimes we are so prideful we refuse, even then, to admit our fault. We would rather sit in our own stench than submit to God.
But the remedy is simple and the change it brings is dramatic. All we need to do is submit to God. Submit and we will have the strength to resist the devil -he will flee! Submit and God will draw near to us. Submit and He will make us clean. Oh that our sons and daughters would see the benefits of following the Lord. But if they’re outside of God’s boundaries, they’re likely blinded to what is good and right because the Enemy has them in a stranglehold and bound in darkness.
Today, let’s pray that our sons and daughters are confronted with the awfulness of their sin and that they are grieved by it. Pray that their hearts are broken over their pride, selfishness and rebellion. Pray that they see their path only leads to death and they are terrified by it. Pray that they truly mourn their slow death of sin. Because scripture says, blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted Matthew 5:4.
Jesus brings life. Jesus brings change!! Oh that our sons and daughters would embrace that change by submitting to God and letting all that He holds for them become their inheritance. Pray that they know life and freedom in Christ. Pray for the change that will turn their eternity into one of hope, joy, light and life.
Pray without ceasing!!
Don’t forget to join us tonight for our final Bible Study connected to the Without Ceasing devotional book!! We’ll be digging deeper into Scripture and talking about how to pray for a prodigal child.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J83ssz_JqEQ
Just go to the link and join us at 8pm EST. Can’t join us then? No worries, the video will stay on youtube and you can watch it later…and share with a friend!
Sorrow over Sin
2 Corinthians 7:10 “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”
This week we’re focusing on prayer for the wanderer and our scripture is aligned with the live teaching that will play tomorrow night (October 19) at 8pm. There are SO many things we can and should pray for our sons and daughters. Today, we’ll pray for sorrow over sin.
God wants us to see our sin for what it is… rebellion and disobedience against Him and His will for our lives. It’s a selfishness that puts our fleshly desires above those spiritual boundaries and expectations that God put in place. When we see our sin for what it is, we see that it breaks the heart of God. If we truly love God, we’ll be broken over our selfish rebellion and we’ll desire to be back into right fellowship with Him. Worldly sorrow only leads to death. It doesn’t bring that heart change that leads us from darkness into light and brings salvation. Worldly sorrow is drenched in darkness and has no power to transform us.
Pray that, if our sons and daughters are not walking with the Lord, the eyes of their heart would be opened to see how grievous their choices are and how much their sin and rebellion distances them from God. Pray that Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation. Pray that they truly mourn and lament their sin.
Pray without ceasing.