The Deception of Self-Help
“…I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Ephesians 4:1
Podcasts, self-help books, and successful speakers seem to be what this generation consumes on a regular basis. They’re thirsty for solid advice from those who can speak from a position of experience and success. When they see what these individuals have achieved, see their ‘supposed’ contentment and joy, see all that they have and enjoy, why wouldn’t they be charmed?
This isn’t new. In 1989, a powerful self-help book took the world by storm. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People became a talking point among professionals and friends. Both the secular and Christian world seemed to embrace the sage advice and people were hungry to learn more. It shifted the thinking and doing of so many people from the ‘personal’ focus to the ‘character’ focus and, though it included some good advice, it missed the Scriptural foundation that should be the mark of a believer’s life. Yet many were swayed by the chapters and took to reading and following with the fervor that should have been reserved for their quiet time with the Lord. Instead of Bible time, it became self-help time.
Our sons and daughters have grown up with the self-help world surrounding them and speaking into their growth, goals, and processes. Why is it that we’re drawn to speakers, books, and podcasts that give us lists of things to do in order to be successful, get healthy, lose weight, or, you name the accomplishment. Theses systems and people promise success and prosperity and we take the bait. We’re eager to hear what we should do to be like ‘that’ person. We want the list to follow that will bring the results. I think it speaks to our human need to do something effective, to work toward bettering ourselves and being successful, to be able to point to our efforts as the reason for our progress and success.
And the Christian world is not immune. We like the polished presentation that promises the good God has for us and we fall into traps of the ‘prosperity gospel’. We can easily become entangled in the trap of works-based religion. When we can check off an item on a list, we feel accomplished and effective. If we’re discouraged, we can go back to our list and remind ourselves of how far we’ve come and what we’ve accomplished. It becomes a Pharisaical habit that puts Jesus on the back burner. We risk becoming obsessed with ‘steps’ or personal accomplishments and lose sight of what Jesus calls us to do and be. We substitute our efforts for the sacrificial atonement of Jesus on the cross.
We need to pray that our sons and daughters would be protected from the trap of self-help and promises of prosperity and instead that they would focus on and practice the Truth of Scripture to make them more like Christ.
Here are some prayer points:
Pray that our sons and daughters would ask themselves, “What am I pursuing?” “What is it that I want my life to represent?” Then, pray that they would have the mindset of Jesus Christ. Jesus wasn’t out to promote himself to gain accolades or wealth, He was focused on serving others to point them to God.
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Philippians 2:5-7
2. Pray they would live a life that demonstrates worship of Christ, not conformity to the ways of this world.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2
3. Pray they would prioritize and pursue what has eternal value.
“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (ESV) Mark 8:36
“So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.” Colossians 1:10-12
4. Pray that they would live, not for success and accomplishment, but live in such a way that others would see Jesus in them daily, in their actions, attitudes, and values.
“Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” Romans 13:14
We are not meant to be comfortable in this life, that’s something that the influencers of this world don’t understand. Philippians 1:29, “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,”
Jesus didn’t save us to ensure we lived our best life now and enjoy our reward here on this earth…no, our best life is yet to come and our reward is in heaven, with Him. If we spend our lives trying to pursue success, wealth, and influence, yet neglect to share the gospel in effective ways we are missing our purpose here on this earth and not respecting or honoring the sacrifice Christ made for our redemption.
Instead of self-help, let’s plead for more of the Holy Spirit in us, in our children, transforming each of us. Instead of success, let’s pursue godliness. Instead of fame, let’s make Jesus’ name known among the nations. When we stand before the throne, our habits will be judged, let’s ensure they’re Spirit-led and God-honoring. Let’s pray that our sons and daughters are not deceived by the trappings of this world but are convicted by and committed to living according to the Truth of Scripture, not the habits of men.
“Oh, Lord, there are so many distractions and promises of success that this world throws at us. Please give (name) clear discernment to recognize what is the shallow deception of the enemy. Convict them to daily search Your Word for Truth and to be salt and light in this world to point others to Christ. I pray (name) would pursue You, not their own desires. Lord, help them to make much of Jesus, not of themselves. Develop Godly habits in them so that everything they choose to do and say would reflect Jesus to others. Lord, our time is short, this world is temporary. Please cultivate a right spirit in (name) so that when they stand before You their life would be a beautiful testimony to the redemption of Jesus, not an empty list of worthless actions and selfish pursuits. Lord, may Your name be glorified in them. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing. God is working!
Prodigal Prayer
Do you see your loved one pursuing the deception that says “I can make my own choices, I can be whatever I want to be, I can succeed on my own power”? The prodigal path is one full of lies, deceptions, and, ultimately, a life without Christ.
Don’t lose heart. Keep laying your burdens in prayer at the feet of Jesus. Trust Him and know that He’s working. You may not see it, but He works in dimensions that are beyond our comprehension. Pray for those who will interact with your beloved prodigal, that God would use them to bring them to the cross. Greater is He that is in us than he that is in this world, 1 John 4:4.
40 Days of Prayer for the Prodigal
is a powerful book for anyone
crying out to the Lord
for the heart of their loved one.
This book addresses the battle for the heart, mind, and soul of the prodigal
through praying Scripture boldly and consistently with faith
that God will bring repentance and restoration.
The reader will prepare their heart with their own surrender to God
and then they will speak and pray the words of Scripture
back to God in effective and powerful ways,
praying specifically over the condition and situation of their beloved prodigal. Transformation can begin in the life of the prodigal
and in the reader’s own heart as well.
Grab your copy today! Read and share!
Reflections on Psalm 138: Our Calls Don’t Go Unanswered
“When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted.” Psalm 138:3
Does God really hear us when we call? If you’ve been crying out, with little to no response, it may feel like your cries are unheard.
But remember when our children were infants? We heard their cry and quickly moved to meet their needs. But sometimes that meant doing something elsewhere before we came to their side because we were preparing to meet their needs in the best possible way. Maybe we sprinted to the kitchen to grab a bottle or stopped by the laundry room to grab a fresh sleeper and blanket. Regardless, we knew there was a need and we were working to meet it. Yet to our crying baby, it seemed like their cries were unheard. They didn’t see us working.
How many times have you cried out to God and your cries are met with silence…or so you thought?
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. Ps 34:17
The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. Prov 15:29
I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. Ps 40:1
I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. PS 116:1
God is faithful to hear us when we call and he’s always working according to His plan.
He’s not indifferent and He doesn’t ignore us until we cry harder, louder, or get more desperate. That’s not Who He is. That’s not how He works.
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. Deuteronomy 7:9
God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. I Cor 1:9
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. Deut 32:4
God is a good Father.
He moves to meet our needs. Sometimes that involves other people, in other places, at various times and seasons, in ways we don’t see or perceive. Yet God is always working; nothing will thwart His will. No obstacle will stand in His way. We need to trust Him- what is our alternative? To whom else can we turn? There is no other name and there is no other Power that can intervene in divine and perfect ways.
The challenge for us is the waiting. We don’t like to wait. We live in an instant society where we get immediate results. There’s no more waiting weeks for a reply by mail when we can simply text or email and get a reply within minutes..or even seconds. We get drive-through coffee, drive through lunch, and we can even get drive-through church. So, we tend to think that God works the same way because He is able, right? And why wouldn’t He want to meet a need, fix a problem or redeem a disaster as quickly as possible? Why wouldn’t He deliver immediate results, instant relief, and on-demand solutions? Yet, in the waiting, we learn more about Him. Sometimes God slows us down so we can listen and watch and in so doing, learn more about Who He is and how He works, we begin to treasure His attributes- His Sovereignty, His Immutability, His Omnipotence, His Omnipresence.
The theology of sourdough…
When we make sourdough (it’s a thing, I know… I have yet to dive into the process, but it’s fascinating), it all begins with the starter. And that starter is fed over days…weeks, until it’s ready to use. During that process we watch, we look for signs that there is fermentation and growth, we check the sources that tell us what a mature starter looks like, smells like, and what signs show that it’s ready. Then, a bit of the mature starter is mixed with the other ingredients to begin the breadmaking process. But even then, it’s still not ready. The dough that’s been mixed needs to proof and rise. But all the while, from the time we make our starter until the time we pull that first loaf, warm and golden, from the oven, we know the result will be good, delicious, homemade bread that will satisfy our hunger. We are willing to endure the process because the results will be satisfying and fulfilling. Oh, friends, do you see the spiritual correlation?
Isn’t that so much like taking things to God in prayer? We can be confident that He WILL answer and that it will be perfect, according to His will. And when we call on Him? He will make us bold and stouthearted. Note that the writer of the Psalm didn’t say God answered His prayer, no, he said that in calling on Him, God made him bold- to embolden, make sure, strengthen (1) and stouthearted-strength in various applications (force, security, majesty, praise):—boldness, loud, might, power, (2). God encouraged his heart because the author called on Him. God answered by strengthening His child, not by solving the problem.
Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. Ps 55:17
The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer. Ps 6:9
Why, then, would we rush the God of the Universe and be angry toward Him for working all things according to His will and His timeline, which are perfect and sufficient? Would we have Him rush for our sake? Would we have Him speed the process and lose the depth and beauty of the result? Would we have Him skip over what might be the most meaningful lesson or impact of the situation just to deliver the solution or relief? Do we love God because He delivers or because of Who He is and who He’s made us to be- His children?
We can and should cry out for God’s help daily. We should bring our burdens to Him, fully turning them over to His care and sovereignty. What would we do with our burdens if we kept them to ourselves? We would carry the weight of them, worry over them, try and fix them, but all without success. We must unburden our hearts and minds at the feet of the Savior, first asking for forgiveness of our own sins and then asking for His answer to all that burdens us. Then, we need to trust His process. Let it rise. Let it work. Look forward to the wholesome, nourishing result that will come in God’s perfect time.
If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; PS 66:18
Today, take time to pray to the Lord and surrender your burdens to Him. Then, pray about your sons and daughters and the burdens they carry. But first, root out the sin in your own heart. Make sure that you are right before the Lord. Don’t look at the splinter in the eye of someone else. Deal with the lumber yard in your own heart. Give all of your cares, offenses, arguments, woes, and worries to the Lord. And then, cry out to Him and wait in expectation. He’s listening and He WILL respond. Wait with expectation and hope. He never disappoints!
Today, write out a prayer to the Lord, calling on Him with trust and expectation, reminding yourself that His solutions are always sufficient and on time.
Pray without ceasing.
H7292 - rāhaḇ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h7292/niv/wlc/0-1/
H5797 - ʿōz - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h5797/niv/wlc/0-1/
Reflections on Psalm 138: Unashamed Praise
I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart;
before the “gods” I will sing your praise;
I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word. Psalm 138:1-2
How do our sons and daughters praise God? Do they do it quietly and secretly, embarrassed or awkward if others are nearby? Or do they praise with boldness and joy, wanting others to see their devotion and passion for the Lord? It matters how you praise.
In Psalm 138, David speaks of praising God with his whole heart. The word for heart is the Hebrew word ‘leb’ and it means “the inner man, will, mind and heart” (1). He praised God with all that he had in him. He praised God with all that he was.
He wasn’t ashamed to praise the living God before the ‘gods’ of this world, the elohim- those rulers, judges and divine representatives at sacred places or those who reflected divine majesty and power, both the tangible and those that abide in the dark presence of the spirit world (2).
Sometimes, if we’re honest, we hold back because we’re afraid of judgment from others or perhaps we’re intimidated or feel awkward. God doesn’t ask us to ‘make a scene’ but He does want us to represent Him boldly and unashamedly.
When do we praise God? Is it only when we feel inspired? Grateful? Joyful? Praise should not be dependent on how we feel. On the contrary, praising God is fully dependent on Who He is, unchanging, eternal, immortal, almighty, forgiving, redeeming, merciful, faithful…you could go on and on extolling His attributes and character. That should be what inspires our praise. Praise should be a daily practice, regardless of our feelings, our circumstances, and our attitude.
Praise has the power to change our perspective and our attitude. It shifts us from a ‘me’ focus to a ‘He’ focus and in so doing, it changes us. It lifts the darkness. It brings God into clearer focus and helps our spiritual mindset become clearer and unencumbered by the cares of this world and the oppression that seeks to derail us. It moves us from a focus on the temporal to a focus on the eternal.
Did you know that darkness cannot abide where praise dwells? 1 John 1:5 “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” That’s why, when we experience dark thoughts, and when oppression is strong, we need to praise the Lord. Step into His presence, sing His praises, give thanks for all He’s done and Who He is. The darkness will flee; it’s incompatible with God’s light.
Psalm 22:3 tells us that God is enthroned on the praise of His people… He inhabits our praise… think about that. When we praise God, we are celebrating, honoring, and immersing ourselves in His presence. No wonder the enemy flees! There is power in praise!
As believing parents, we want our kids to understand and experience a vibrant spiritual life that comes from being redeemed and actively pursuing Jesus. We want to see them consumed with praise for the Lord because He’s done a work in their life. We want to see evidence of spiritual vitality and a passionate commitment to Christ. And God wants to see it, too.
Praise shouldn’t be limited to Sunday mornings. Nor should it be reserved for the ‘good times’ or mountain top experiences. Praise is what kindles and holds fast the mindset of all things focused on Christ. It takes our eyes off of us and our problems and sets them firmly on our Creator and Redeemer who will make all things new (Rev. 21:5) and will reconcile all things to Himself (Col. 1:20). Praise isn’t ambiguous, either. Praise is God-focused, purposeful adoration and worship of our Lord and Savior.
Scripture gives us SO many reasons for praise; here are seven scriptures to pray over our sons and daughters this week, asking the Lord to help them recognize these truths and to fill them with a deep need to rise up and praise His name!
We are made in His image. Even in our fallen human state, surrounded by sin and incapable of pleasing God, we are image-bearers of the Creator. Praise God for His amazing Creation!
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Ps 139:14
God counsels us, even when we’re not aware- He’s working in our lives. Praise God for His eternal wisdom, counsel, and truth.
“I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.” Ps 16:7
God sees our grief. He is the only one who can turn our sorrow and heartache into joy and make beauty out of the ashes of what happens in this fallen, sinful world. Praise Him for His powerful comfort and understanding. Jesus is a man of sorrow, acquainted with grief- He knows; praise Him for that.
“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.” Ps 30:11-12
He is our joy and delight- what else can compare? We can praise Him through music- (even if we’re not musical)! God enjoys our sounds of praise!
“Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.” Ps 43:4
He is righteous. He is our hope. He alone is our salvation and His goodness is beyond measuring. Praise the Lord that our God is greater than our minds can ever fully grasp!
“But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign Lord ; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.” Ps. 71:14-16
His redemption is powerful, eternal, and free. Praise God!
“I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you- I, whom you have redeemed.” Psalm 71:22-23
There is not a blessed thing in this life that can separate us from His love! There is no distance, power, or authority that can overcome His love and purpose. Not a thing. Praise the Lord for His mighty, eternal, unchanging love!
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
This week, let’s do two things. First, model we need to model what it means to praise the Lord. Do it every day. Do it boldly, with joy! Next, we should pray daily for our sons and daughters to come to a new place of praise and worship for and of God in their own lives. Pray that they learn that it’s more than just motions or out of obligation, but it is a genuine need and command to rise up and praise God because of all He is and all He’s done in their lives.
Pray without ceasing, friends!
H3820 - lēḇ - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h3820/niv/wlc/0-1/H430 - 'ĕlōhîm - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h430/niv/wlc/0-1/
Prodigal Prayer
Are you praying for a prodigal? The scriptures above are so appropriate to pray for those who don’t know the Lord or who are rebelling against His presence and purpose. Pray through each verse asking God to melt their hardened heart, open their eyes to see Who He is, open their mind to understand the Truth of Scripture, give them the ability to receive the knowledge of what Jesus did for them and to embrace His redemption and forgiveness. Friends, nothing can thwart the purposes of God and He does not ignore the pleas of His children. Pray fervently, pray faithfully, and watch God work.
Are you looking for more scripture-based encouragement, prayer, and guidance in praying for the prodigal? 40 Days of Prayer for the Prodigal is an excellent resource that will transform your prayer life on behalf of your beloved prodigal.
40 Days of Prayer for the Prodigal addresses the battle for the heart, mind, and soul of the prodigal through praying Scripture boldly and consistently with faith that God will bring repentance and restoration.
The enemy will do all he can and use every power at his disposal to deceive and twist the truth so that anger, rebellion, and disillusionment take hold. He wants nothing more than to drag our loved one into darkness and eternal death.
When readers step into 40 Days of Prayer for the Prodigal they should be ready to battle in prayer like never before. They will prepare their hearts with their own surrender to God and then they will speak the words of Scripture back to God in effective and powerful ways, speaking specifically over the condition and situation of their beloved prodigal. Transformation can begin in the life of the prodigal and in the reader’s own heart as well.
The companion journal is available so the reader can track what they learn and discover along the way. This in-depth, Biblically-centered devotional and prayer guide will lead the reader in deeper understanding of scripture and in effective prayer for redemption and freedom in Christ for the one who still wanders.
Who Influences You?
It’s true, the people we spend time with are the ones who have great influence on us. We begin to reflect, imitate, and resemble them in our thought, speech, and action.
Consider why we often see those who are successful in business associating with others who are of equal caliber? They learn from one another and propel their business acumen to greater heights. Tennis players want to play against those who are more experienced, and who have stronger skills because it challenges them and pushes them to improve their game. The same should be said of our choice of friends. Who makes us a better person? Who pushes us to be exceptional? Who sharpens our faith and disciples our walk with the Lord?
“Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”” 1 Corinthians 15:33
When we spend time with people of good character, we tend to make better choices. But the opposite is also true. When we associate with people who are more poorly behaved, have bad habits, and are less principled, we tend toward the same if we’re not intentional to maintain our personal standards and our commitment to live for the Lord. It’s a far-too easy capitulation and one that takes us down a slippery slope.
“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Jim Rohn
When our children were little, we were particular about who they spent time with. We didn’t want them picking up inappropriate behavior or language. We wanted to ensure that the influences on them were positive and Godly, pushing them in the right direction and impressing on them the kind of person they ought to be, cultivating in them the character and habits that reflected Jesus well. Yet, now that they’re adults, we can’t manage that for them. They need to stand on their own convictions.
Who our sons and daughters choose to associate with for fun, encouragement, mentoring, and more all have an impact on them. Will they choose those who will push and pull them closer to the cross or will they choose compromise, little allowances here and there because “what can it hurt?” Will they compartmentalize their life, living for the Lord on Sunday, but living their own will on the weekdays? Will they pursue success according to the world or the Word? Each choice to allow something questionable weakens their spiritual armor that protects them from the enemy.
“Associate yourself with people of good quality, for it is better to be alone than in bad company.” – Booker T. Washington
Our sons and daughters are continually being pressed to compromise, tolerate downward-trending morals and overlook indiscretions- both their own and those of others. Peer pressure in high school has nothing on the peer pressure in today’s social scene, corporate world, military life, and beyond. Our sons and daughters are in the thick of the battle when it comes to the challenge of standing firm and choosing their associates wisely - are we praying for their protection?
As parents, we ought to pray daily that our sons and daughters cling tightly to the cross and that everything they choose to say and do, each place they choose to go, and each person they choose to embrace is filtered through the godly worldview that is founded on Scripture. Does it please the Lord? Does it represent Christ well? It truly needs to be asked, what would Jesus do? And if He wouldn’t, don’t.
“Choose your friends carefully for you will tend to be like them and be found where they choose to go.” Thomas Monson
The question is, who do our sons and daughters want to become and how do they want to be known? What do they value most? We cannot answer those questions for them, but I guarantee, we know the answers we want to hear.
As parents of adult children, our influence has shifted. It looks different and our greatest leverage is in prayer. Today, let’s pray fervently that our sons and daughters choose their friends wisely. Pray that they would heed the prompting of the Holy Spirit to refuse to compromise their values. Pray that they would be salt and light, not shunning those who don’t know Jesus, but living like Jesus amongst them, showing compassion, love, and choosing what is right, no matter what, so that God is glorified.
“Lord, I know (name) is confronted with pressures to compromise their standards and their faith. We live in a world that mocks Christians and abuses Your name. I pray that You would surround (name) with others who love You and serve You. Give them courage and conviction to stay true to their faith and morals when they’re confronted with opportunities or temptation to compromise. I pray that Your Holy Spirit would prompt and remind them and help them to be sensitive to His voice. Lord, I pray that they would not find the world appealing but would constantly run to You for their affirmation, encouragement, and anchor. Remind them of the hope they have in Jesus and the eternal blessings of following Him. Lord, let them shine Your light amongst those who are chasing after things that will not satisfy. Don’t let them join in the chase. Help them to choose good company and build good character in them. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.”
Are you praying for a prodigal? Don’t lose heart. Keep laying your burdens in prayer at the feet of Jesus. Trust Him and know that He’s working. You may not see it, but He works in dimensions that are beyond our comprehension. Pray for those friends and associates that interact with your beloved prodigal, that God would use them to bring them to repentance and a redeeming relationship with Jesus.
Consider this new resource, 40 Days of Prayer for the Prodigal, a powerful book for anyone deeply in prayer for the heart of their loved one.
40 Days of Prayer for the Prodigal addresses the battle for the heart, mind, and soul of the prodigal through praying Scripture boldly and consistently with faith that God will bring repentance and restoration.
The reader will prepare their heart with their own surrender to God and then they will speak the words of Scripture back to God in effective and powerful ways, praying specifically over the condition and situation of their beloved prodigal. Transformation can begin in the life of the prodigal and in the reader’s own heart as well.
Grab your copy today! Read and share!
Baby Food vs. Solids
“But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:14
Did you ever bemoan the fact that your kids were growing up way too fast? Did you tell them to slow down, stay little, be your little baby for just a bit longer? I think every parent has struggled with those feelings.
Feeding our kids was one of the most important responsibilities. We started them off on milk, because that’s all their little system could handle. But they grow and change and the next stage is somewhat bittersweet - introducing solids. It’s exciting, a whole new world of flavors, but it’s a mark of another stage of growth. The bottles are washed and put away and forks, spoons, and sippy cups make their appearance.
As a child grows, their need and desire for solids becomes greater. Their appetites change, their tastes mature, and their consumption of more complex foods increases. They don’t just want a bottle, they want what we have on our plate. They’re eager to follow in our footsteps and taste what we enjoy.
Now, think about that in a spiritual context… Do our sons and daughters crave what is on our spiritual plate? And what is it that we are consuming? Is it mature, solid spiritual food that is attractive, flavorful, and nutritious…or are we just snacking on easily-digested, processed, spiritual ‘baby food’? With what example are we leading?
Hebrews 5:14 tells us, “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
That ‘solid food’ is the meat of the word, not the milk. It’s not the ‘easily digested’, pithy words of wisdom that anyone can understand. It’s the deeper precepts and themes present in Scripture. And notice how Paul, the author of Hebrews says, “by constant use” or by “practice”. That is the Greek word “hexis” and it means, “a habit, a power acquired by custom, practice, use.” 1 Constant practice and daily use will help us grow spiritually mature; it will improve our discernment and strengthen our understanding of the Word. It will help us grow and deepen our relationship with Jesus…and it will set an example to our sons and daughters of how to pursue Jesus according to His Word.
Personal checkpoint #1: Are you taking time to study Scripture daily? Not just read it, but really study it, on your own, just you and the Lord?
Spiritual maturity and discernment is dependent on our willingness and daily discipline to study God’s Word. It doesn't just ‘happen’. It’s not ‘caught’ by proximity or gained by spectatorship. That willingness and discipline is individual and personal and it translates into the ability to distinguish good from evil = spiritual discernment.
Consider this, if you learned to play the piano, you practiced daily. Just having a piano in the house didn’t guarantee you knew how to play it or would learn. Listening to piano concertos online or on the radio didn’t improve your skills. Talking about it didn’t make an impact. It was only when you sat down at the piano and began to interact with the instrument that you sharpened your skills. The more time you spent playing it, the better you understood how to play and your relationship with the piano moved from person and instrument to a beautiful collaboration that brought music and joy to the player and to those who listened. You and the piano became ‘one’ in your artistry and use.
When we read AND study scripture on our own, we are moving beyond the pre-digested information that is often available to us and far-too tempting to ‘fill’ us with spiritual ‘calories’ that are shallow or empty. Sometimes, by engaging in these things (a book, a podcast, etc), often while multitasking, we think we’re sharpening our spiritual minds. And there may be some sharpening involved, but consider this… if there were a national emergency, a natural disaster, or some event that cut us off from digital access, how would we continue our spiritual growth? Would we know how to study the Word? Could we do it without the digital world? We MUST learn to study scripture in effective ways.
Bible study CAN be exciting!
A great way to develop strong, effective Bible study is by using the inductive study method. Don’t be intimidated, don’t say you can’t do it (“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Phil. 4:13). Just start. Choose a small passage- just a few verses and follow these steps: (You can try Psalm 23- a familiar passage with RICH truth!)
OBSERVE:
Read it, then read it again. Think about the words. Ponder the message.
Ask ‘who, what, when, where, how and why’ questions. Make a chart if you like, or just list them out.
Write down repeated words and phrases.
You can also do a word study. Choose one word, look it up in the Greek or Hebrew (use a concordance), check cross references, and take time to learn what it means and how it’s used in Scripture. Psalm 23 has several words- Shepherd, refresh/restore, shadow of death.
INTERPRET:
Is there a theme in the passage?
What does the passage mean?
Does it point to the gospel and Jesus? How?
What attributes of God do you see here? (Note, they may be obvious or they may be implied.)
APPLY:
How does this apply to me?
What is it that God wants me to learn/do?
Here’s the thing. Deep study of scripture is not quick. It’s not a drive-thru meal, it’s meant to be savored, pondered, and meditated on. You can easily study just one verse and spend an hour or more. You can camp out on the same passage for days. There is no timetable and you’re not being compared to anyone else. The goal is the learning, not the completion. Speed dating isn’t the key to lasting relationships nor is speed study the key to depth of understanding, spiritual maturity, and love for the Lord. Enjoy your time with Him! The more you do it, the more exciting it becomes!
Personal Checkpoint #2: Here’s the opportunity to do some self-evaluation. How would your sons and daughters answer these statements?
“I know my Mom/Dad studies scripture because….”
“My parents demonstrate spiritual maturity by …”
“One way my Mom/Dad demonstrates spiritual discernment is…”
“I want to study Scripture like my Mom or Dad…”
These questions are not to discourage you, but to give you a starting point. No one gets an A+ because we’re all still growing, and isn’t that encouraging? We’re still growing!! It’s never too late to start studying Scripture! Paul shares such great encouragement in Philippians 3,
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14
Our sons and daughters NEED to see us studying the Word and finding joy in it. They need to see that we’re growing in our faith and see the change that it brings in our own lives. We can’t mandate that they study the Word, but we can model it well. Our walk with the Lord is a life-long process and a relationship that will only grow by spending time and investing in learning more about Him. Personal Bible study is a BIG part of that and a practice that will demonstrate to our sons and daughters what we hold most precious. Keep pressing on! Don’t look back to what you wish you had done, what you regret doing, or what you didn’t do well enough… look forward to what God is calling you to - a richer, deeper relationship with Him. Model that for your sons and daughters. Let time in the Word transform you!
Let’s pray for our own spiritual growth and example and the growth of our sons and daughters as well.
“Father God, I know that once I was alienated from You, but because I believe that Jesus died for my sins, was buried, and rose again from the dead, conquering sin and death, I am saved. His death paid the penalty for my sin. I am reconciled through Jesus Christ to You, and I can stand before You holy and without blemish, free from accusation (Col. 3:21-22).”
“You have called me to follow Jesus. Help me to do that well, daily, with intention. I pray that You would give me a hunger and thirst for righteousness and that You would stir in me a desire to study Your Word in depth. Help me to learn more about You, about Your precepts, and about the promises You’ve given me as Your child.”
“I have a deep desire that my son/daughter would follow after You with love, with intention, with a commitment that is unwavering. I want them to know You more and to have a strong faith that is unwavering. I want them to be able to distinguish good from evil and to crave the meat of the Word, not just ‘snacks’ that are easy and pre-digested words from others. Lord, I know I need to model how to study Your Word. Help me to grow so that my life gives evidence of Jesus in me. Help me to continue in my faith, established and firm, and help me to not move away from the hope held out in the gospel in exchange for what is convenient, easy, or shallow (Col. 1:23). I want my words and my life to be in harmony with Your Word.”
“Remove any hypocrisy that might cause others to question my commitment to Jesus. I pray that my words and actions would be in love: showing patience, kindness and selflessness. Help me not to be angry or boastful. I pray that my time in Your Word would take me deeper into understanding Your heart and would give me a depth of knowledge of Your word so that I can discern good from evil.”
“Lord, all of this is motivated by a heart of love and concern for (name). I can’t force them to grow in their faith, only You can motivate that. But I can model a growing faith that is grounded in Your Word. I pray that You would help me to learn how to study Your Word effectively and regularly. I pray that (name) would see and desire the same for their life. I pray all these things in Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
If you don’t know Jesus as your personal Lord, Savior, and Friend, reach out! I would love to share with you the hope you can have in Christ! There is strength for today and a freedom from sin, oppression, addiction, and despair! There is powerful hope for eternity in God’s Presence, free from sin, pain, and sorrow. He promises an everlasting peace and joy that this world can’t offer. You can know Him today! Let Jesus change your life!
G1838 - hexis - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1838/niv/mgnt/0-1/
Direction or Distraction: Practicing Discernment
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11
New opportunities can be exciting! They can mean new locations, experiences, and relationships. The possibilities seem endless and the world is wide open. This could be what we’ve been waiting for…or not. But not every opportunity is one we should take. How do we discern what is the right choice? How do we guide our sons and daughters in the process?
Remember when our kids would come running in, breathless and excited, words tumbling over one another in an effort to tell their news, the exciting opportunity, the new discovery or adventure they just learned of? Maybe it was a ‘business idea’ (my daughter’s lemonade stand, in the middle of January, snow on the street and not a soul in sight) or the chance to go to camp (no, honey, you’re only in first grade, you have to wait a few years). But as our sons and daughters grew and matured, the opportunities also matured and grew, “Mom, I have to tell you about this guy…” “Dad, I’ve been considering signing with the Army…”. “Oh, we wanted to tell you guys, we’re moving….to another state.”
Throughout their lives, our sons and daughters will be presented with opportunities, or relationships, or even goals that would help direct and shape them. But just because it’s presented to them doesn’t mean it’s of God. That’s where discernment comes into play. The first question to ask is whether this is direction or distraction. Is God leading or is the enemy trying to derail us? Just because something is ‘good’ does not mean that God wants us to follow it or embrace it.
Discernment is something God asks us to practice. It helps us understand God’s will, His prompting and leading, and gives us clear direction to go and do or stay and wait. But it’s not something we just ‘grow into’ naturally. Discernment is provided by the Holy Spirit through our fellowship with Him and through our growth in our walk with the Lord. The Holy Spirit will provide clear spiritual discernment, but we need to be listening and willing to respond to His voice and His leading.
Paul says in Philippians 1:9-11 “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”
Discernment is a product of our love for God that is demonstrated in our pursuit of knowledge of Him and depth of insight into Scripture. The Apostle Paul isn’t just talking about the act of knowing information but the knowledge discussed in Philippians 1:9 is the Greek word ‘epignosis’ which means “precise and correct knowledge”. It is the word used for “things ethical and divine.” (1)
We don’t just pursue knowledge, for the sake of accumulating ‘facts’ and information, but we pursue a relationship with God. Knowing the Lord more deeply, understanding His character, pursuing His heart will enable us to understand His love for us and empower us to imitate Jesus Christ and reflect Him correctly (Philippians 2:5-11).
In addition to proper knowledge, Paul also mentions ‘depth of insight’ or good judgment in verse 9. The Greek word here is aisthesis and it means “perception or discernment.” (2 ) The growth in our knowledge of God brings discernment and that discernment is the ability to “test, examine, prove, scrutinize to see whether a thing is genuine or not.” (3) Isn’t that what we pray our sons and daughters would do when presented with an opportunity or decision? We want them to examine it carefully, not based on ‘feeling’ but on knowledge and insight of what and where God would lead.
It’s all connected. Precise and correct knowledge leads to effective discernment and, in turn, that discernment ensures effective decision making- the ability to know whether an opportunity is a direction or a distraction.
As parents, we must tread carefully as we listen and advise. We don’t have the liberty to tell our adult children what they can and cannot do- they are adults and regardless of how much we want to just say “No!” Or “Wait!” We need to practice discernment as well. If we are too vocal, we risk them backing away or perhaps withholding information to prevent our opinions and interference from swaying them or from guilting them into a decision. We don’t want their decision-making to be based on pleasing us, we want them to discern clearly and decide wisely based on God’s will for their lives. Colossians 1:9 is an excellent verse to pray over our sons and daughters as they make decisions and discern whether an opportunity is direction or distraction.
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,”
Then, we can encourage them with these two steps:
When we are presented with opportunities that seem amazing, we need to pause and pray. Is this of God? How can I tell? How would this create opportunities to use my gifts and talents in ways that bring Him glory? Is there any ‘caution’ that I see in moving forward?
Proverbs 19:2 “It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.”
2. Next, we should seek wise counsel. Share with spiritual mentors what we believe God is leading us to and to get their insight into whether we are being wise or whether we are only seeing what we want or hope to see.
Proverbs 15:22 “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”
Ask if they’ve spoken to their pastor or a spiritual mentor. Pray with them. Pray for them. Ask the Lord to clearly show whether the opportunity is a direction or a distraction. And understand that our son or daughter may need to hear from someone besides us. Pray for that person. There is mighty power in prayer. It’s not the least you can do, it’s the best you can do.
As parents, we need to have honest conversations with the Lord. Ask Him to put up barriers if the opportunity is a distraction. Ask Him to reveal those things that are of concern and are not of Him. Pray that He makes it evident for all to see, especially our son or daughter. But if this is God’s direction, ask Him to affirm it. Pray that He would make it clear this is the path to follow. And pray that He helps our heart embrace His leading too, because sometimes He asks our sons and daughters to go places and do things that are far away and hard. Sometimes He leads them to decisions that are not our favored outcome. Take heart, obeying God is always better, even if the direction is not what we would have chosen.
Discernment doesn’t mean inaction. It doesn’t mean resistance. It means active pursuit of God’s will, understanding His heart, His leading, and His direction. The more you spend time with Him, the better you understand and hear His voice.
Let’s pray for discernment for our sons and daughters so they can clearly see His direction and avoid the distractions that would pull them away from following Him.
“Father, You are a good Father. You love and care for us in ways we often can’t see or fully understand. You are working all things for our good and Your glory. I pray for (name) today. As they face decisions and make choices on so many things: relationships, direction for their career or life, locations to live, work, and worship, I pray that You would give them discernment. Grow them in their knowledge of You. Give them depth of understanding of Scripture. Help them to bear fruit that would give evidence of a strong relationship with You. All of these are necessary for Godly discernment. Lord, make them pause if they are leaning on emotions or ‘feelings’. Affirm when they are moving in the right direction. I pray that You would bring other believers around them to speak truth into them, encourage them, and yes, also caution them about potential dangers or missteps that would take them away from You. Lord, if (name) does not have a personal relationship with You, I pray that even today Your Holy Spirit would bring conviction and a hunger and thirst for righteousness. Stir in their heart a desire to set aside every idol and to make You Lord of their life. Grow them in wisdom and knowledge so that their discernment would reflect that which glorifies Christ, not themselves. Give them a desire to serve You and to please You. Help me to parent well in this season of adulthood. Help me not be selfish or controlling but to trust You and Your leading. Your ways are better than mine. Give me peace as I pray for (name). In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing
G1922 - epignōsis - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1922/kjv/tr/0-1/
G144 - aisthēsis - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g144/kjv/tr/0-1/
G1381 - dokimazō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1381/niv/mgnt/0-1/
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Battling Destructive Thoughts and Words
“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Proverbs 12:18
Imagine an old brick house covered in ivy. It looks beautiful and mysterious. The ivy creeps over the walls and the house takes on a different personality as the ivy spreads. But the ivy plant has root tendrils on the vines that penetrate into the surface of whatever it climbs on. Those roots attach the vine to the brick and mortar and begin to draw out the moisture. The vines spread and the leaves cover the walls and windows, blocking out the light. The vines will work their way under siding, in through windows and eventually, the ivy will damage the brick and destroy the mortar, compromising the integrity of the structure. Though it looks ‘pretty’ it becomes a silent enemy that will eventually destroy a house.
The power of words
Words can be similar to that ivy. They may seem innocent at first, just a surface thing that doesn’t do harm. But they can penetrate and cause damage, blocking out the light of Truth and drawing away the Living Water. Words can become dark thoughts that linger and penetrate into the heart and mind and cause destruction.
Our sons and daughters struggle with the battle against destructive words, even if they won’t admit it, because we know we do too…even if we won’t admit it. If asked to remember the kindest thing someone ever said to us, we might take a few moments to recall. But if asked to share the hardest or most hurtful thing, we can almost immediately call it to mind. Harsh words stick like glue.
This world is hard and the messaging that is being thrown at our sons and daughters is brutal. Standards they should attain to, but that are nearly impossible to meet; negative messaging that tears down their self-worth; comparisons that daily steal their joy - it all accumulates and festers. It creates a narrative that becomes their daily soundtrack. Sometimes we recognize the struggle in our children, other times they hide it well, but we know the negative words and messages are bombarding them and making an impact.
As believing parents, we have a responsibility to keep speaking truth into their lives, not just when they need it, but all the time. Will we wait and just ‘admire the proverbial ivy’ while it slowly and steadily destroys them, or will we begin to speak truth in ways that could transform their hearts and minds? Will we begin to tear down the destructive “ivy” of negative words and dark thoughts that would penetrate and destroy? We need to ensure that the messages they are hearing are Godly and right and will impact them for good. We cannot risk them struggling with dark thoughts that become deeply rooted and cause cracks in their spiritual foundation.
We can and should speak truth in love and point them to the power of the cross and the resurrection, not just when we see them struggling, but at every opportunity. There is power in the name of Jesus and the gospel is for everyone, everyday, not just on the day of salvation.
The best way to preserve a house from the damage of creeping ivy is to remove it- all of it. It’s not welcome. It’s destructive. And so it is with the words we choose to listen to, the values we choose to embrace, the practices we choose to engage in. If they are not Godly and we allow them to cling to us and take root, they will begin to change our stability and alter our spiritual integrity and obscure the light of God from our life.
So how do we best combat dark, destructive thoughts?
Scripture says “Take every thought captive” that comes from 2 Corinthians 10:5 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Demolish arguments.
What is it that you are listening to? What is trying to define you? What arguments are speaking into your worth and value? Evaluate their truth and pull down those lies from the pit that are trying to root themselves into your heart and mind. Don’t allow them to take hold and do damage.
The arguments are what the Greek calls “logismos” and it means a speculation or imagination (1). Do you see? There is little basis in truth, if any. It’s a guess, it’s an idea, it’s nothing that would hold up in court because there is little to no evidence to support it. Demolish it.
2. Demolish pretensions.
Pretentions are those ‘lofty thoughts’. The Greek word is ‘hypsoma’ and it means an elevated place or thing, or a barrier (2). What are the imagined barriers or those obstacles that situations or people put up in front of us? What are those things that exalt themselves over the truth of Scripture? Are they godly? Are they worthy? Are they deserving of our time, energy, and emotions? If not, knock them down. Detour around them. Break through them. Don’t invest in them because when you do, you’re redirecting your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual resources to something that is not of Godly.
3. Demolish every thing that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.
John 1:1-5 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Evaluate the thoughts and feelings against the truth of John 1:1-5. Where do they originate? Do they honor and exalt God? Are they thoughts and feelings God would give you? Do they speak life and light or are they representing darkness, confusion, and oppression? Rebuke any thoughts that do not represent Christ - they are of the enemy and should not have a place in your life. Do not give the enemy a foothold. Tear them down and focus on what is good, just, pure, and lovely (Phil 4:8). If something is set against God, it is not promoting or sustaining the fruit of the Spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). The fruit of the Spirit is a great standard by which to gauge the godliness of thoughts, feelings, words, and actions.
4. Take every thought captive and bring it into obedience.
The Greek word here is aichmalōtizō and it means to conquer, bring under control, or to master (3). We have the ability to ‘pump the brakes’ and stop our wrong thinking. We have the capacity to arrest the wild thoughts, bring an end to the oppressive, accusatory dialogue and to, instead, set our minds on things that glorify the Lord. Is it easy? No. Is it possible? Absolutely!
5. Finally, choose to make our thoughts obedient to that which pleases God.
We must choose to do what the Greek calls hypakoē, which means attentive listening, compliance or submission (4). We must choose to bring our thoughts and feelings into compliance to God’s will, not leave them to the mercy of the arguments and pretensions that set themselves up against God and against His image-bearer.
Colossians 3:1-3 is the confirmation we need.
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” Set your hearts. Make the choice. Be intentional.
The enemy wants us to live in the darkness of death. He deceives us into thinking that we are condemned and we have no hope. He lures us into lingering in the shadows- but our Savior walks through the shadows with us and it’s because of His light we can see the dangers and be confident of His protection! He prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies, Psalm 23. We can rejoice and celebrate because Christ has won! We are redeemed! The enemy holds no power over us unless we allow it, and why would we?
Demolish it. Take it captive. Bring every thought into obedience.
These are the steps to overcome negative, dark, depressive thinking. These are the steps to a victorious mindset. We must choose where we will allow our thoughts to reside. We must choose what we will speak into the lives of others. It is important and urgent that we choose wisely and encourage our sons and daughters with the same.
Commit to pray
“Father, God, You see the struggles I have with my own thoughts and feelings. I know You see (name), too. You understand their struggles, their fears, their doubts and self-doubt. You see the enemy trying to leech living water and spiritual nutrition from them as he entwines his dark thoughts and casts his shadow of worthlessness and doubt. I rebuke this in Jesus name! I pray that You would help (name) to take every thought captive. As soon as those negative, questioning, dark thoughts begin to linger, I pray that they would capture them, rebuke them, and shift their thinking to what is right and true. Speak into them, Lord, their worth as a child of God, chosen and dearly loved. Strengthen them through Your Holy Spirit to demolish the arguments that would set themselves up against Your Word, Your Character, Your Truth. I pray that they would daily, moment by moment, bring every thought into obedience to You and Your will so they can live in victory. I pray that You would bring to mind Scripture that would encourage them. Help them to evaluate what they hear and choose to believe against Philippians 4:8 “...whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].” (AMP) Lord, You are able to transform their mind and I pray You would do that, even today. Let the words of their mouth and the meditation of their heart be pleasing to You, Psalm 19:14. I pray this in Jesus name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing
If you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus and you would like to know more, keep reading! Scripture says we’ve all sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Though we live ‘rightly’, do good, give of our time and resources, it’s not enough. Our sin is too great for us to atone for. But Jesus, the Son of God, came in human form to live among us and to be a sacrifice for our sin- for the sin of the world. He lived a sinless life and died on our behalf so that we could be reconciled to God. In our sin, we cannot stand before a righteous and just God- we have no good in us. All of our ‘righteousness’ is just like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). But God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Jesus became the sacrifice for our sin on our behalf. He paid the price for our sin once, for all. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God looks on us and sees Jesus. We are made holy and just. We are acceptable to God because of Jesus’ sacrifice. When we choose to follow Jesus, we make Him the focal point of our life, we pattern our life after Him and we live to serve and please Him. He promises everlasting life in His presence and an inheritance unlike any other. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you are saved.” Romans 10:9 This is not religion, it’s not a set of rules or a checklist of things you must accomplish, it’s a personal relationship with the One True God, the Almighty, Creator of the Universe and lover of our souls. Would you choose to follow Jesus today? Pray this prayer,
“Lord, I know that I’m a sinner. I’ve done many things wrong, thought things that were impure, said things that were hurtful. Lord, I’m undeserving. But I believe Jesus died for my sin. I believe He rose again from the dead, conquering sin and death and that He lives eternally. I confess my sin and ask for Your forgiveness. I want Jesus to be Lord of my life. I ask Jesus, that You would be my Lord and Savior. Forgive me. Cleanse me. Make me new and give me life beyond the grave. Thank you for forgiveness and for the hope of heaven. In Jesus’s name, amen.”
If you prayed this prayer, reach out! I would be so happy to give you some resources and some encouragement! Knowing Jesus truly is life-changing!
G3053 - logismos - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3053/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G5313 - hypsōma - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5313/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G163 - aichmalōtizō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g163/niv/mgnt/0-1/
G5218 - hypakoē - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5218/niv/mgnt/0-1/
Remedy for a Troubled Heart
“Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27b
“Let not your hearts be troubled.”
That’s easier said than done, right?
“Let not your hearts be troubled.”
It was what Jesus’ said to the disciples.
It’s likely we’ve heard that statement a lot. We’re familiar with the passage of scripture. But have we really considered the meaning of those words and the context in which they were spoken a little more closely.
It was at the Last Supper, the Passover, when Jesus predicted His betrayal and death to the disciples. There was much going on, both around the table and in the spiritual realm. The disciples didn’t fully understand and there were whispers of “Ask Him who it is” and questions of “Lord, will I be the one to betray You?” The Lord was trying to prepare the disciples for what was to come both in the immediate hours and in the days, months, and years following.
Ponder that. Jesus knew His death was near. He understood the pain and suffering He would endure. He knew that His death and resurrection would seal eternity for all who confessed and believed in His name, but it would cost Him everything to secure that for us. He also knew the spiritual battles would be strong and the powers of heaven and hell would be raging. Satan would rejoice, thinking he had won- finally defeating the Son of God. The demons would become even more aggressive against anyone bearing the name of Christ. Heaven would sorrow at His death and then rejoice at the mighty victory over sin and eternal death. And Jesus knew His disciples would face persecution and death because they carried His name. The battle was only beginning.
In the context of all of that, Jesus said something profound that we should ponder. He said, “Let not your heart be troubled.” Let not… meaning, do not allow it.
Jesus knew the disciples would be faced with a choice: they could come undone at the death of their Lord and hide in fear, or they could embrace the power of the Lord Jesus and be bold and courageous and do what He had instructed them to do. And Jesus knew, centuries later, we would need to hear the same message because we, too, would be faced with difficult choices, with mistreatment and derision for our faith, and with hardship and suffering because we represent the name of Christ.
Philippians 1:29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,
In this world we will have trouble (John 16:33), because this world is not our home. This world is the kingdom of the Prince of the Power of the Air- Satan (Ephesians 2:2). And we are aliens and strangers here (1 Peter 2:9-11), unwelcome by and a target of the spiritual authorities under the control of Satan (Ephesians 6:12).
Anytime we are faced with a struggle, with pain, with hardship, with terror, with uncertainty, we have a choice. We can either allow our hearts to go ‘there’ and be filled with anxiety and paralyzed by fear, or we can take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5).
As a parent, this is a daily struggle, whether or not we choose to admit it. We worry. We panic. We fear. There are so many things that can threaten the safety and well-being of our sons and daughters. But friends, giving into that fear is a choice that we make. It is socially acceptable to be a worrying parent. We let our hearts be troubled and we don’t make an intentional choice to stop.
The word troubled, in Greek, is the word tarasso, and it means “to stir or agitate, as if to boil water, to trouble a thing by moving it’s parts to and fro; to cause one inward commotion, take away his calmness of mind, disturb his equanimity; to disquiet, make restless" 1
We allow our minds to run with all of the scenarios, we worry, we stress, we lie awake at night and our minds tumble like a washing machine on the spin cycle, all of the ‘what ifs’ are followed by the ‘and thens’ and we spend more time meditating on the troubles rather than on the Lord.
When we choose worry and fear, we choose to model to our sons and daughters a lack of trust in God. We’re demonstrating that we are not sure He will do the best thing for us and for our sons and daughter. We pray for what we need Him to do, yet balk at surrendering our will to His. We try to fix the situation ourselves. We stay awake at night, working through the details in our minds and praying for what we want to see happen or the resolution we believe is the right one. We wrestle with all of the feelings, but friends, feelings lie. The heart is deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9) and to give in to the angst is to play into the hands of the enemy who wants us consumed with anything but Jesus.
Jesus told His disciples, “Let not your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me” John 14:1. When we are troubled we need to stop and ask ourselves, “Do I believe in God?”. If the answer is “Yes” then the next questions should be, “How am I demonstrating that belief?”.
We need to work on taking every thought captive and making it into obedience to Jesus Christ. You see, those worrisome thoughts and nagging fears are the arguments and pretensions that set themselves up against the knowledge of God. They distract us from God and pull us from faith in His ability to solve our problems and from believing in His sovereignty over them…and isn’t that exactly what the enemy desires?
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” 2 Corinthians 10:5
When those fears arise, when that anxiety begins to swell in our throat, when our stomach churns with worry, we must be intentional to take every thought captive rather than marinate in the worry. (I’m preaching to myself here, friends. I struggle with this too!)
So, maybe we are determined to capture those thoughts…but then what? The next step is Philippians 4:8,
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
We have to be intentional to refocus our thoughts. We have to choose to dwell on those things that will strengthen our faith in the Lord. We need to focus on the promises of God and choose to obey what He commands us to do.
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7
“And when your faith is weak, pray as the father did who had a son possessed by a demon and asked Jesus to bring deliverance and healing, “I believe, help my unbelief.” Mark 9:14-27
Jesus knows how much we love our sons and daughters. We would give our life for them- He knows, because He gave His life for us, even when we were undeserving. He has compassion on us,
“As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;” Ps 103:13
But He also desires that we would grow in our wisdom and knowledge of Him and His Word so that we would not be easily tossed by hardship.
When you’re tempted to worry and fear, let not your heart be troubled. Don’t give into the temptation to feed the fear. Focus on the Truth of Scripture and of Who God is. The more you dwell on the Father, the further the fear recedes from your thoughts and from your heart.
Take time to meditate on these Scriptures:
Psalm 17:6 “I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.”
Proverbs 3:5 5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;”
Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?”
Psalm 31:24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord .
Psalm 33:20-22 “We wait in hope for the Lord ; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord , even as we put our hope in you.”
Psalms 55:22 Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
Psalm 62:8 “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”
These seven Scriptures can be your meditation throughout the week. Write them down, keep them where you can be reminded. Know that the Lord, alone, is your refuge. He hears your prayers and He will answer…He WILL. His timing isn’t akin to ours nor are His ways - they are so much higher and better. Be careful that you are looking for Him to work, not looking for Him to follow what you determine is the best course of action. Surrender yourself to Him, to His timeline and to His plan.
Take time to study God’s Word. The more you dig into HIs Word, the more reassurance you will have in His Sovereignty. You can rest in Him, knowing He will always do what is best. Grow in your knowledge of Him, meditate on His words, rest in His character.
There IS a remedy for a troubled heart…do you want it? Or would you rather wrestle with your angst and insecurities. Sometimes we become too comfortable with what we know, even though it’s painful and hard. Get to know the God of the universe! Rest in His power! Hide in the shadow of His wings. Nestle into His loving embrace.
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[f] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:9-14
“Heavenly Father, I give you all of my uncertainties. I release all of my worries to You. I trust You. My troubled heart is too focused on the cares of this world and I know that is not what You ask of me. Take my heart and mold it into a heart that loves Jesus and craves time with Him. Give me a hunger and thirst for righteousness, not a craving for drama and anxiety. I pray that I would model what it means to trust and rest in You to my sons and daughters. I pray for (name) that they, too, would learn to trust and rest in You, not in the daily troubles that surround them. Lord, lift their eyes to focus on what is eternal. Help them set their heart on things above (Col. 3) and set aside the weight and sin that weigh them down and, instead, fix their eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of their faith (Heb. 12:1-2). Lord, I pray for the prodigal who is running from You. Lord, they are dragging the weight of this world along with them, their heart is troubled and their mind is filled with everything the enemy throws at them, yet they refuse to surrender to You. Bring them to the end of their prodigal pathway. Let them hit the dead end that shows them there is nothing for them apart from You. I pray, Lord, that You would be a balm to their troubled heart. Help them to see that You are their refuge and strength. You hear their cries. You will carry their cares and sustain them through anything they might face in this world and You will guarantee an eternity at Your side, where every sorrow is erased and every tear is wiped away. Lord, work in (name)s heart and mind today. Be the balm and remedy for their troubled heart. May Jesus be praised in every moment, every change, every heart that cries out for Him. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”
Pray without ceasing. Rest in His promises.
1. G5015 - tarassō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5015/niv/mgnt/0-1/
The Importance of Godly Parents
Throughout scripture there are accounts of fathers and mothers who, despite the social and political pressures of the day, raised their sons and daughters to stand strong for the Lord. As parents, it is our highest calling and our greatest investment. Careers won’t matter. Portfolios will be worthless. Possessions will rust and fade. But our children are the godly legacy that carries on and impacts this world for Jesus.
The book of Psalms testifies, again and again, of David’s longing to be filled with the Lord, be satisfied by His words and comforted by His presence. David, a simple shepherd boy, who became King of the nation of Israel, not by his education, not by his networking with other power players, but because of his genuine heart for the Lord. God chose him. How did David develop that heart for God? He said in Psalm 86:16, “Turn to me and have mercy on me; show your strength in behalf of your servant;save me, because I serve you just as my mother did.” And in Psalm 116:16 he said, “Truly I am your servant, Lord; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains.” It’s clear that David’s mother played a strong role in how he understood and interacted with God. David had a heart of obedience to the Lord because his mother modeled it for him.
We’re all familiar with Proverbs 31 and the description of the virtuous woman. But we often skip the first nine verses of the chapter. Take a moment and read that first verse, “The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.” A godly mother bore influence on the chapter that defines godly womanhood. She had a powerful impact on her son, who in turn has influenced people for thousands of years. That’s some godly parenting!
Godly fathers, too, are vital and irreplaceable. From the time of the garden, God modeled what that relationship should look like, walking and talking with Adam in the cool of the day (Gen 3:8-9).
Abraham didn’t become a father until he was 99 years old. Yet, he was unequivocally dedicated to following the Lord, to the point he was willing to obey God and offer his son, his only son, Isaac as a sacrifice to the Lord. Yet, Abraham knew God’s promise- that he would be the father of many nations. He also knew that promise came through Isaac. Abraham obeyed God because he trusted that God would do a miracle. God was faithful to His promises. And Isaac, he trusted His father. He knew that Abraham walked and talked with God. He knew Abraham was a friend of God. His father’s obedience to God meant blessing for the generations to come. Isaac chose to model what his father did, he didn’t flinch, he obeyed too. At the right time, God provided a ram as the substitution for Isaac’s life. Abraham's obedience provided a picture of Jesus’ substitutionary atonement for us. God provided a lamb. (Genesis 22). Abraham’s faith was the example for not only Isaac, but for us as well.
God doesn’t just ‘hope’ that we’ll understand how to parent well, He provided specific instruction. Deuteronomy 6 gives guidelines to the Israelite men on how they should spiritually lead their homes and how they should teach their children about God and His commands and promises.
These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. (Deut. 6:1-2)
These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deut. 6:6-9)
Though our sons and daughters are grown, our influence as a parent is not. We can continue to impact them through all of our days, and even after we are called home. How do we live? How do we obey God? Are we modeling trust, faith, and obedience?
Consider the question, what are we impressing on our children? Political views? Social norms? Or the power of the Word of God? Are we building into them so they can be an influencer of this world or for the Kingdom of God? We have a heavy responsibility and we need to embrace it intentionally and with a sense of urgency…for such a time as this.
It may not be our words to our sons and daughters, but our words to the Father on their behalf, that moves them to a deeper relationship with Him and strengthens their resolve to follow faithfully and fearlessly.
We are called to teach, lead, guide, and protect the hearts and minds of our sons and daughters. Yes, that gets harder as they grow into adulthood because our influence diminishes. Yet the relationship remains and in that, we can point them to Christ, daily. It may not be our words to them, but our words to the Father on their behalf, that moves them to a deeper relationship with Him and strengthens their resolve to follow faithfully and fearlessly.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Eph 6:18
The days are dark. Time is short. How will we parent in this season of influencing adult children?
Romans 13:11-14 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Today is the day. Don’t look to the past. The enemy will dredge up every parenting regret that we hold. Rebuke him. Look at today and look ahead. How will you impress these truths on your sons and daughters for such a time as this? How will you model living a life sold out for Christ? How will you daily point them to the cross so that when they must choose, they choose Jesus, only Jesus?
“Heavenly Father, I come to You in the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in me. This world is dark and I see the enemy working in dark ways, yet no longer hidden but boldly working with such evil and hatred that is made to look like a righteousness that the world craves. The evil that reigns is so antithetical to everything in Your Word and against Your nature, Your character, and Your will. Yet it is packaged as ‘justice’ and ‘goodness’, ‘tolerance’ and ‘love’. When I compare what I see with Your Word, I see the deception. Do my sons and daughters see it? Will they take a stand against it? I pray that You would impress righteousness on their hearts, Lord. Holy Spirit, move and work in (name)’s heart and mind so that they long to follow Christ with all they are and have. I pray that their conscience would be burdened by the evil they see- don’t let them look away or push it off for another to address. Lord, give them a hunger and thirst for Your Word (Mt 5:6) Draw them into a daily time to be still before You and know that You are God (Ps. 46:10) Lord, let them pray with strong conviction and courage, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (Ps 46:1-3). I pray, Father God, that You would raise (name) up to be a strong man/woman of God, uncompromising, convicted to follow You, and heavily reliant on Your wisdom and strength, not their own. Lord, help me to model that to them. Help me to be a father/mother who is uncompromising in my commitment to You and let my life demonstrate what it means to be a man/woman of God. Make (name) strongly rooted in Christ so that the fruit they bear is a testimony to their faithful walk with You. I pray these things in the mighty name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, amen,”
Prodigal Prayer
“Oh Father, (name) is choosing to not follow You. Their heart is far from You, pursuing and loving things that defy You. I know You have the power to turn their heart from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to the power of God. Holy Spirit, I pray that You would convict and bring (name) to repentance. Lord, they are living in a far off land, separated from Your love and goodness, separated from Your holiness. Bring them home, Lord. Open their eyes to see the emptiness of what they’re pursuing and the rottenness of what they’re ingesting. The emptiness is there, yet it’s packaged as ‘good’, but the good of this world is rotten and the food of this world is poisonous. Pull (name) out of the mud and mire and set their feet on the Rock- Jesus! You have the power, Lord. I pray, in the Spirit, that You would surround (name) and guide them to redemption and give them a heart that would love and serve You. Raise (name) up to be a man/woman of God, one whose testimony would be a powerful story of Your redeeming love. Lord, I know You can. I pray You will. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing
When All I Can Do is Pray
“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5:16b
Sometimes when we’re faced with agonizing circumstances or with situations that leave us feeling helpless and hopeless, we fall back on the idea that all we can do is pray. And in that statement, we resign ourselves to doing less than we think we should.
But friends, prayer IS doing the very best we can do!! It supersedes any human effort that we could put forth. It is reaching into a dimension that is beyond time and space and is powerful and effective beyond anything we could do on our own.! When we pray, we stop relying on ourselves and begin relying on the immortal, unchanging, all powerful God.
God is everything we need in every way at every time. He is the only One capable of meeting needs, solving dilemmas and saving from desperation. Why would we think that petitioning Him is weak and ineffective?
He is our Abba, our Father (Mark 14:36). The One who loves us as His very own, who made us His children, His beloved, and Who has given us a hope and a future, and an inheritance that is fit for a saint and royalty. He provides lavishly because He loves us.
He is Elohim- the God who is Creator (Genesis 1:1). If He creates each moment in which we live, He can craft a solution and resolution that will bring our loved one from desperation into redemption and freedom.
Our God is Yahweh, the Great I Am, the Existing One (Exodus 3:14-15). He always was, always is, and always will be. He is eternal and able to do more than we could ask or think.
We raise our petition to El Roi, the God who sees (Genesis 16:13). He has already seen the hardship and heartache. He sees the desperation of your situation-He knows every detail. He also sees exactly how and when He will resolve it. Nothing is beyond His scope. He is able!
We kneel before El Shaddai, the all sufficient One (Genesis 17:1). He is fully sufficient and competent to answer any question, meet any need, and intervene in even the most desperate of times. His answers are perfectly complete according to His will and are for our good and His glory. There is none better to whom we can bring our burdens and needs. Why would we imagine that we could do more than pray to Him?
We pray to Emmanuel- God with us. He will never leave us or forsake us. He is with us perpetually and perfectly (Matthew 1:23) in everything and in every way.
He is our refuge (Psalm 119:114), our strength (Psalm 22:19), our strong tower (Psalm 61:3), and our fortress (Psalm 91:2). He always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres because He is love incarnate (1 Corinthians 13:7) (John 1:14).
It is a deception of the enemy to think we are powerless and “all we can do is pray”. We should not think of prayer as our last resort and the least we can do, but instead, as our first and best line of defense. Prayer is powerful and effective (James 5:16). We have a direct line to the God of all Creation, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the One to whom every knee will bow and tongue will confess that He is Lord (Romans 14:11).
Let’s go before Him now, whether it is for healing, for deliverance for a prodigal, for salvation for a friend or loved one, He sees, He hears, and He answers. Bring your burdens and bring the requests of those you have committed to pray for, and lay them at His feet. He already knows and already has an answer prepared. Wait on Him. He is faithful.
“Abba, Father, I come before you with a heart of hope, yet burdened with so many things. I know You see, you are El Roi and nothing is too hard, too dark, too distant, or too complex for You to understand. Lord, I lift (name) to you. You know their needs, their struggles and their pain. You are El Shaddai, the all-sufficient One who will meet those needs and solve those problems better than I or anyone else ever could. Help me to understand and remember that prayer isn’t the last resort nor is it a lame excuse for help. It is the first and best thing I can do for anyone because I’m reaching out to You, the Great I Am, the One who created everything and Who created my heart. You are the One who seeks fellowship and communion with each of us and You gave Your Son in exchange for my sinful soul. Lord, how could I ever think that prayer is a patronizing response to a difficult need. Help me to pray in the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in me (Jude 1:20) and believe, in faith, that You will do more than I could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). I trust You Lord and I will rest in Your almighty power, Your sufficiency, and Your perfect timing. I pray these things in the powerful and perfect name of Jesus Christ, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Do You Believe in the Sovereignty of God?
God’s sovereignty is beyond our understanding
Stop and think about that. Then consider the following:
There is much happening in our world and I see so many people arguing politics. They are shocked and devastated at how events are playing out. (It IS grievous. It should not be surprising.)
But consider scripture and what is foretold. We know things will turn and go badly. We know that nation will rise up against nation. There will be wars, famines, earthquakes... honestly, scripture reads like the CBS evening news. What we're not hearing is of the beheading of 60 Christian believers in a church in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The genocide of believers in Muslim-controlled nations. It should break our hearts and put us on notice.
This week’s dust up between Trump and Zelensky led many to shout on social media about their opposition, disgust, and what they believe should be done. Then, I read a statement from a Eastern European politician and former prime minister of Estonia, K. Kallas, that said "Today it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It’s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge.” (1)
Does that give you chills? It should. Considering prophecy, where will the antichrist come from? Hmmm.
“Your Kingdom come, Your will be done.”
When we pray, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done” consider what that means. We will see world events, leaders, and alliances collide and separate in ways that could be terrifying. Could God be using politicians to begin setting the stage for what is to come? We need to be cautious that we’re not caught in the deception the enemy is weaving “if it were possible, even the elect would be deceived.” Matthew 24:24
There are so many moving parts that we do not see. We must be careful not to assume we have the whole picture, and we must be very cautious not to assume we know the mind of God. We need to do justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly. We need to care for the widow, the orphan, the foreigner. We need to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. But God will do what He will and our anger, indignation and ‘know better’ needs to be in full surrender to His Lordship. Friends, things are happening that are far beyond our control. It’s easy for us, for our sons and daughters, to get caught up in the rallying cry for justice and change. But our submission to Christ must be at the center.
Mark 12-13 Jesus spoke to the apostles about the signs of the last days. He didn’t say fight. He didn’t say, “vote”. He didn’t say,” protest”. He said, “Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, “I am he,” and will deceive many.” How can the enemy lure us into deception? By keeping us busy with arguments and anger as if they will rectify things.
And how can we avoid deception? Jesus said in Mark 12:30 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” If we know God and love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, we will know who the counterfeits are. We don’t study falsehood to identify falsehood. We study the truth so that the falsehood is magnified when we encounter it.
At some point, world politics will take a very dark turn- we’re seeing the signs. Our future here is tenuous. It is temporary. What we do for eternity matters. God is sovereign and He will do what He wills. Will we do His will as well?
We need to be in the Word, and then we need to share the gospel. When we stand before the Savior He’s not going to commend us for our die-hard support of (insert political party name or side of dispute). Are we being good and faithful servants? Are we pointing others to Christ.
So, how can we pray?
We must pray for discernment, authentic faith, love and commitment to God, an attitude of guardedness and watchfulness. Pray these scriptures over your sons and daughters
First, we need to pray that our sons and daughters have discernment.
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11
Next, we need to pray that they love God authentically and wholly – no compromise, no divided heart, no part-time religion.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30
If our sons and daughters love God with all that they have and are, there is no room for deception and no opportunity for redirection to a false god.
We must pray that they are on their guard
The Greek word, ‘blepo’= to beware, perceive and take heed. Throughout Mark 12 and 13, Jesus warns us of what will come. His instructions are to be on your guard, be alert, be watchful. It also means to turn or direct your thoughts to a thing (2). He explained what was to come so that we would know and be watching.
“He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,' and, ‘The time is near.' Do not follow them.” Luke 21:8
“Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen.” Luke 21:36
Finally, we need to pray they remain spiritually alert.
The Greek word for ‘alert’ is ‘agrypneo; and it means to be sleepless, to keep awake, to watch (3). It’s easy to fall into the lull of the daily routine and lose sight of Jesus’ pending return. We need to pray that our sons and daughters would be watchful and ever-ready to meet Him.
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.” Mark 13:32-33
“You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”” Luke 12:40
These are prayer points not just for our sons and daughters, but for all believers. We need to be authentic, guarded, alert, and ready. Keep praying friends. God is not done working, but He is soon returning.
Prodigal Prayer:
The urgency and angst of knowing your loved one is not in the fold of the Shepherd is overwhelming. The first thing you need to pray is that they would learn to love the Lord with all of their heart, soul, mind, and strength and the next is that the Lord would protect them from deception as they grow and learn in their walk with Him. Guardedness and watchfulness will come with spiritual maturity, but first they need to submit themselves to Jesus’ Lordship and begin to grow in wisdom and knowledge. Pray that the Holy Spirit would interrupt their thoughts, that He would bring other believers to speak into their lives, and would bring conviction and sorrow over sin so they would turn from darkness to light and from deception to Truth. God is able!
Final Thoughts:
It is a joy to pray together, even though the Join the PAC followers are spread across the globe! Imagine the reunion we will enjoy in heaven when we all meet and share how God worked in and through us as we prayed! Every tribe, nation, and language celebrating and praising the King of Kings! Don’t get discouraged. God is working even when we can’t see it and when it seems all is stagnant. He works in times and ways that are beyond our understanding!
Pray without ceasing!
1. Oliver, C., Faggionato, G., Goury-Laffont, V., & Griera, M. (2025, February 28). “free world needs a new leader”: Europe defends Zelenskyy after Trump attack. POLITICO. https://www.politico.eu/article/volodymyr-zelenskyy-donald-trump-jd-vance-oval-office-white-house-us-ukraine-war-russia/
2. G991 - blepō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g991/niv/mgnt/0-1/
3. G69 - agrypneō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g69/niv/mgnt/0-1/
A great resource for the upcoming Lenten season!
Are you looking for a resource for the Lenten Season? Why not consider reading and praying using the book 40 Days of Prayer for the Prodigal to walk through specific prayer for those who need the Lord. Both the book and the journal can be found on Amazon.
God is Moving!
Just this week, there was a massive gathering on the campus of Ohio State University, in the USA, where over 6500 students came together to worship and hear the good news of Jesus Christ (1, 2). Over two thousand young people came forward to accept Christ as their Savior (that should give you chills!). And this isn’t the first occasion, in the fall of 2024, the Ohio State football team led outdoor gatherings, sharing the freedom, forgiveness, and abundant life that Christ offers with hundreds of students. The resulting outpouring of surrender and commitments to Christ and the massive numbers of baptisms that followed to testify to the same were evidence that this is more than a movement of college loyalty or support for a team (3,4). And it’s not just happening in Ohio, there is an awakening stirring across the nation among this generation (5).
Far too often the stories we hear coming out of college campuses are those of wild parties, fraternities getting into trouble -students doing anything but actually studying. But these stories are different…and they’re happening more frequently. What is happening?
Friends, the Holy Spirit is moving and we are witnessing an awakening of spiritual hunger, a recognition of the deep need that only God can fill. Young people are looking for meaning and the Holy Spirit is lifting the veil, helping them recognize that without God, life is empty, directionless, and spiritually dark. Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that God has set eternity in the hearts of man. Each of us knows, deep down, there is more than what we can see in this life and there is a longing to find it. Each individual is created with a soul- that breath of life from God that longs for communion with Him. Yet so many lack knowledge of Him and their understanding of eternity is clouded by sin and brokenness. But God! He is stirring that longing to know more in the hearts of this generation. Oh that this would happen across the globe!
I know we pray for our sons and daughters on this page, but can we pray for this generation? They are searching. They KNOW there is more than the bill of goods they’ve been sold by their culture, academia, the media, and the entertainment industry. They are longing for answers. They’re thirsting for purpose and meaning. They’re hungry for more - for that which satisfies. They want freedom from the bondage of sin and darkness and that can only be found in Jesus Christ.
“Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind,for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” Psalm 107:8-9
Satan is attacking young adults like never before. He knows that this is the generation that could either stand for Christ and change the world, or reject Him soundly and be the godless generation that solidifies the Satanic stranglehold on sinful souls. We need to pray that the Holy Spirit would guide these young men and women to knowledge of the Truth- to faith in Jesus Christ, to forgiveness, redemption, and the promise of eternal life with Christ and to an unwavering commitment to follow Him, no matter what may come.
Will you commit to pray for them? Would you, daily, stop and pray for the protection and salvation of this generation. Pray that the believing ones would stand firm and share their faith boldly? Ask that God would raise up strong men and women of faith (our sons and daughters among them) who would speak truth without fear of repercussions or persecution (it will come, Scripture assures us). Ask the Holy Spirit to move in hearts and minds and bring unbelievers to the Throne of Grace for redemption and justification in Christ.
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” Colossians 1:9-10
Colossians 1:9-10 is an excellent prayer for others. So let’s commit to pray at 1:10 pm each day for this generation. Set a timer, write a reminder, put it in your planner. This doesn’t have to be complicated and it doesn’t have to be long. This is just a pause and a prayer that these young men and women would surrender to the Holy Spirit, give their lives to Christ and grow in knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of God’s will and word, bearing fruit and pleasing the Lord with their lives. So when that timer goes off each day, pray for even just thirty seconds. Imagine the many conversations at the Throne at that very moment!
Consider how encouraging it would be to see the responses of a few, of many, or even hundreds who are committing to pray daily?! (There are nearly 700 people who follow this page… we can pray together and be a mighty force!) If you miss a day, don’t worry, God gives us a new day, every day, to use for His glory. Just keep praying!
If you would commit to pray at 1:10 each day, just respond - Praying! Let’s be an army of prayer warriors, not just for our own sons and daughters, but for this next generation who need to know Christ and to stand firm for Him. Let’s ask the Lord to stir a global revival in this generation, unlike the world has seen before! 1:10 PM. Praying!
Follow
Some people choose a word for the year, one that will be their focus and potentially represent what they choose to do, accomplish, and be. Maybe it’s ‘health’ or ‘positivity’. We download apps and follow influencers hoping to make the changes that will make us better.
But God doesn’t set expectations that WE would better ourselves on our own- we honestly don’t have the ability to do that. Oh, we might be able to generate an illusion… but so often our efforts leave us feeling discouraged and defeated. What God does ask of us is that we follow Him. Follow. Not lead. Not walk nearby or on a similar pathway, but follow.
“Follow me.”
The word ‘follow’ in Greek is the word “akoloutheo” and it means to be in the same way with, to accompany, to cleave steadfastly to one, to conform wholly to His example in living and, if need be, dying.” 1
A great way to begin our year is by praying that our sons and daughters follow Jesus. Not a casual ‘checking in to see updates’ or looking for the most popular trend, but following Jesus faithfully, daily, passionately. Does their life reflect a commitment to Jesus? Do their choices, their words and actions, their pursuits and values demonstrate that Jesus is the One they value over anything and anyone else?
Here’s another important question, does our own life reflect that? Do we live with a passion to serve Him? It’s important because even though our sons and daughters are grown, they’re still watching us. They look to us to be examples…or the justification for why they choose to do…or not do. Are we following well?
If we are following Christ, our life will demonstrate that. People will believe what we say when our life exhibits the evidence that our words are true. Do we live as if we’re in the same way with Jesus, accompanying Him, cleaving steadfastly to Him and conforming wholly to His example in living and, if need be, dying.” 1
Oh that we would all have a passion for Christ that consumes us to the point that we radiate joy, we seek to serve, we delight in praise and worship, and we hold the things of this world very lightly. Our life isn’t here, it is with Christ. We are only here for a short time- let’s make the most of it for Jesus! Let’s commit to pray, every day, that we and our sons and daughters, would follow Christ with conviction, with a commitment that doesn’t waver, and that we would daily choose Him over everything and everyone else.
“Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, there is no shadow of turning with Thee.” 2
No shadow of turning. Consider the visual image of that. Someone who is in the light, who doesn’t turn to either side or turn back doesn’t give evidence of a shadow, ever.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17 Our God is faithful and steady. If we are to be like Him, that means we should demonstrate the same- no shadow of turning; faithful to follow for all the days of our life. We have so little time, we can’t waste it turning aside to pursue what this world offers.
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,” Hebrews 10:23-24 ESV
Our sons and daughters need our intercession now more than ever! We have a mighty calling! Are we going to embrace it, take up the challenge and pray? Oh, friends, let’s do it! Let’s commit to praying for this next generation. God, in His mercy and kindness, has granted us another year. Let’s take on 2025 as if it may be our last year to fervently and effectively pray for our sons and daughters, our loved ones, our neighbors and even those we don’t know and have never met. Satan is in an all-out war to take captive as many souls as he can. Let’s fight his agenda! Let’s battle against his tactics. Let’s follow Jesus unwaveringly, fighting the good fight until He returns! Pray without ceasing!
“Heavenly Father, I bring (name) before You today. I know You know them well. You created them. I ask today that You would empower and embolden them to follow You faithfully. Lord, impress upon them the need to be fully committed to You, surrendered to Your will, and eager to serve You in whatever way and place You might call them. Help me to pray faithfully and to surrender to Your will as well. Lord, I know the hopes and dreams I have for them, but Yours are greater and hold eternal value. Help me to follow You without turning aside to my own hopes or agenda. Help me to pray unselfishly and according to Your will. Lord, I ask that You would protect (name). Keep them from deception. Fill them with wonder at Your word and a desire to live for You, to worship and praise You and to live a life that exhibits no shadow of turning. I pray these things in Jesus’ name, amen.”
Prodigal Prayer- “Lord, name is following other paths that they believe will earn them the life they deserve and the reward they crave. I pray You would get (name)’s attention. Open their eyes to see that they are following empty things- things that only deliver disappointment and ultimately, destruction . They are on a road that leads to eternal death. And in their following, they are accompanying others who are walking towards death. Lord, turn them around, help them to see You promise forgiveness and redemption, eternal life and an inheritance that is beyond anything this world can offer. Give (name) a desire to know and follow You. Change what they follow so that they would follow You.”
G190 - akoloutheō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g190/kjv/tr/0-1/
Chisholm, T. O. (n.d.). Great is thy faithfulness. Hymnary.org. https://hymnary.org/text/great_is_thy_faithfulness_o_god_my_fathe
Big Things are Coming!
It’s a new year and that often inspires us to make a fresh start, set goals, and reset our focus and priorities. But one thing stands unchanged, our need for Jesus, time in His Word and time talking, and listening, to Him. I hope that you’ll come along with us this year to deepen your commitment to pray for your children, your loved ones, and for those who don’t know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. There are exciting things happening here at Join the PAC Prayer, including a new book launching this month- 40 Days of Prayer for the Prodigal and a new initiative in praying for prodigals!!
Friends, time is short. Jesus is returning soon. This life that He’s given us here on earth is temporary and we’re not meant to ‘make it our own’ but to use it for His honor and glory! What can we do in the time we have remaining to make His name known? How can we encourage others to live for Him? How can we pray more effectively for the family of believers to represent Him well? My prayer is that God would use this page to encourage and inspire others to live for Christ, to be bold in their testimony, and to raise up Godly young men and women who would go into this world and unashamedly proclaim the name of Jesus in their words and actions. Will you join us to grow in faith, commit to pray, and stand firm in what God has called us to do?
The format is simple, each week I’ll post a devotional and prayer prompt, and this year I’m adding “Prodigal Prayer” - a simple prayer focus that we can pray for anyone who needs to surrender their life to Christ, whether son or daughter, spouse, parent or sibling, or dear friend or loved one. Satan is working hard to deceive, distract, and defeat. But we have the power of Christ! The same power that raised Him from the dead is the power that works in us! (Eph. 1:19-23) Let’s pray like we believe that!
Come along with me this year and Join the PAC. Share the site and encourage others to join in! Let’s pray together! “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).
Prayer is Never Pointless
“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15
Friends, prayer is never pointless. Although we may not see anything happening, it's only because we are human, limited and bound by time and space. But we must be mindful, that all around us, there are conversations, battles, and mighty warriors (heavenly hosts) who are protecting, fighting for and guarding us with the Father's direction, permission and power.
“For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11
There are ministering angels who do His bidding and who support God's chosen and dearly loved children according to His will and the needs present.
“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1:14
There are realms that we cannot see (and I don't think we would want to), but we must acknowledge are there. The spiritual world is larger than the one we operate in daily... and that should be a comfort to us, because that means our God is bigger than anything we can comprehend and He is able to do more than we could ask or imagine. I trust Him.
So, today, though it may seem like your prayers are falling flat, trust that God is working in mighty ways, in and around you and in others who will impact you and whose lives may, at some point, intersect yours. Know that prayer is a threshold to eternity and we are welcome to step into that conversation with God any time, any place and bring our burdens and joys to Him. Friends, you can be sure He is working. There is more to this than just you and I...and isn't that a comfort?!
Here’s a challenge: set a time for five minutes, then get on your knees and talk to the Lord. Pour out your heart. List those things that weigh heavily. Name those people who need Godly intervention. Call out those battles, obstacles, and opposition that seem insurmountable. They are not too high, too wide, too long or too deep for God to overcome. When the time goes off, stop and consider, you just spent five minutes in the spiritual realm of prayer with the God of Glory. The Almighty Name above all names. The One to whom every knee will bow and tongue confess His lordship. You went there, and you can go again and again, as often as you like and stay as long as you wish. Prayer is a sweet time of communion with your Lord and Savior. Next time, set your timer for ten minutes and spend half of the time praying…and the other half listening. God longs to hear your voice, but He also wants you to hear His.
Pray without ceasing.
Disengaged, Indifferent, and Turning Away
“Only 11% of Gen Z are considered “Scripture Engaged,”” according to the American Bible Society (1). That means, 89% of Gen Z are uninvolved, having no commitment to fellowship in church or spending time in the Word. 89%. That’s a significant number. As a parent, that should at best, make us pause, and at worst, drive us to our knees in prayer.
There used to be a time when most people seemed to have regard for God and respect for Scripture, even if they were not “church-going” people. Parents often recognized the importance of instilling values in their children and were not opposed to them attending Sunday School or VBS, even if they did not attend themselves. How far we’ve moved from that standard. It’s not the norm any longer and those who embrace that are often labeled as ‘antiquated’, or worse.
“Our youngest adults—those in Generation Z—have more fears, greater anxiety, lower self-esteem, and less affirmation from peers than any older generation.”
The result is that, according to John F. Plake, the CIO of the American Bible Society, “Our youngest adults—those in Generation Z—have more fears, greater anxiety, lower self-esteem, and less affirmation from peers than any older generation.” (1) We can see it, can’t we? Even our own sons and daughters are struggling, though they may not readily admit it.
The further we distance ourselves from God and Scripture, the greater the anxieties and fears that plague us and we experience more unrest, both mental and emotional. We’ve shifted from God’s truth to our own truth, that which no one can contradict because it’s subjective and personal. Yet, individual truth leaves a gap of morality and safety. No one knows what the rules are and the expectations continually change. So we’re left with an ‘every man for himself’ approach that leaves people craving affirmation from others rather than God, seeking tangible things to fill the spiritual hunger, and running after idols that look like relationships, titles, possessions, and experiences.
We have the most powerful weapon in our arsenal: prayer.
So what can we do? Where do we turn? As parents, we no longer have the opportunity to wake them up on a Sunday and get them ready for church. We can’t cart them off to AWANA and then review their memory verses with them for the following week. There is no adult VBS where they can meet with their friends, play games and learn God’s word in a fun summer program. No, our options are limited, but we have the most powerful weapon in our arsenal: prayer.
“The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” James 5:16b-20
There is incredible, spirit-moving, kingdom-building power in prayer! We have access to the Throne of the Almighty, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is our Father, our Savior, our Friend and He listens intently to the prayer of our heart. We can pray with confidence. Satan doesn’t stand a chance because Christ has already won!
“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” Colossians 2:15
Ephesians 6:10-12 tells us, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
So let’s agree to pray together for this generation of young adults who so desperately need to turn to the Savior and rest in Him. Let’s pray that they will hunger and thirst after righteousness and crave time in His Word - God’s Word is transformational! Pray they will sense the stirring of the Holy Spirit and turn to embrace Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
This week we’re doing something a little different by having scripture and prayer for every day of the week. Let’s bathe our sons and daughters in prayer using God’s Word and ask Him to move and work in their hearts and draw them into active, vibrant fellowship with Him. Each Scripture is focused on the phrase “Your Word” and the message is powerful!
Sunday
“Oh Lord, my heart is heavy. This generation of young adults is drifting away from You and many don’t even know You. Almighty God, Lord of all, I bring (name) before You today and ask that You would draw them into right fellowship with You. Give them a hunger and thirst for Your Word. Even today, Lord, open their eyes to see their Bible and urge them to pick it up and begin reading. I know I can’t motivate this, but You can. Change what their heart craves because I know that only by living according to Your Word, (name) will keep their way pure (Psalm 119:11). I pray that (name) would delight in Your decrees and would not neglect Your Word (Psalm 119:16) I pray that Your Word would be a lamp to their feet and a light to their path (Psalm 119:105) Jesus, I pray that You would be what they crave and they would fall in love with You in ways that words can’t describe. Draw them to You. It is in Your name I pray, amen.”
Monday
“Sovereign Lord, there is so much in this world that would pull us away from You. I bring (name) before You today and ask You to work in their heart and mind. I pray that You would Turn (names) eyes away from worthless things; preserve [their] life according to Your Word. (Psalm 119:37) There are so many influences and temptations that have potential to ensnare (name) in sin and trap them in bondage to the brokenness of this world. I pray that they would seek Your precepts so that they might walk about in freedom.(Psalm 119:45). Only You can change their desires and motivate change. I ask that You would protect them, in Jesus’ name, amen.”
Tuesday
Oh Lord, “My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to Your Word.(Psalm 119:28). Help me to trust in Your mighty protection over (name). I pray that they would engage with You today in prayer, in praise, in worship, and in Your Word. Strengthen them through Scripture and let those words sink deeply and effect change so (name) “can answer anyone who taunts [them], for (name) trusts in Your Word (Psalm 119:42). Bring a change of heart, of attitude, and of direction in (name)’s life, even today. I know You can do it, Lord, I pray that You would, in Jesus’ name, amen.”
Wednesday
Father God, I pray that today You would “direct (name)’s footsteps according to Your Word; let no sin rule over [them] (Psalm 119:133). But to live according to Your Word, they have to know Your Word and to know it, they have to spend time there. Stir a desire to read their Bible, to listen to teaching, and to be involved in a church fellowship. Today I ask that You would bring to mind the verses they memorized as a child, You promised that by hiding Your Word in our hearts, we would not sin against You (Psalm 119:11). Protect (name) from sin. Lord, do a work in (name)’s heart and mind today. Change them. Make them more like Christ. In His name I pray, amen.
Thursday
Heavenly Father, “I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in Your Word” (Psalm 119:147). You are the hope of eternal life and in Your words I find life. You are the only hope for redemption in this dark and difficult world. Open (name)’s eyes to love Your Precepts. Give them a longing to spend time in prayer and fellowship with You so they can say, “See how I love your precepts; preserve my life, LORD, in accordance with your love” (Psalm 119:159). Help them, like Peter, to recognize there is no one else who holds that power, “Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). I know this world is hard, life pulls at us from all directions and I see the pressure on this generation and on (name) specifically. They’re longing for peace and to find what satisfies them. I ask that You would help (name) to “remember, LORD, your ancient laws, and I find comfort in them” (Psalm 119:52). Only You can quench their thirst and fill (name) with good things. I pray that You would. Lord, please show me You’re working. I trust You. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”
Friday
“Oh dear Savior, I know that (name) is weary, they’re struggling against all of the negative influences in this world…or caving in to the pressures of them.
[Their] soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen [them] according to Your Word (Psalm 119:28). Help them to turn to You and to Your Word for strength, encouragement, refreshment, and solace. Lord, I know when they do that, they will be strengthened to “answer anyone who taunts [them], for[they] trust in Your Word (Psalm 119:42). Show them they can trust You, Lord. Show them You’re listening to their cries. Be near to them, lean in and surround them with Your favor as with a shield (Psalm 5:12). May my [parent] cry come before you, LORD; give me understanding according to Your Word (Psalm 119:169) and do the same for (name) in Jesus’ name, amen.”
Saturday
“Lord, God, my prayer is that (name) would “reach out for your commands, which [they] love, that [they] may meditate on your decrees. (Psalm 119:48). I pray that (name) would pray, “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in Your Word” (Psalm 119:114). May it be true that their hope is in Your Word. And let it be that “those who fear You rejoice when they see (name), for (name) has put [their] hope in Your Word.(Psalm 119:74). Lord, You have the power to change (name) and draw them into fellowship with You, yet You’ve also gifted them with the freedom to choose- oh how I pray they choose You, again and again. Holy Spirit, give them a hunger and thirst for You and lead them to the living water that satisfies beyond anything this world can offer. I pray all this in Jesus’ name, amen.”
God is not done working and He is able to do more than we could ever imagine. Lean into Him and wait expectantly- He will do it!
Pray without ceasing.
New research shows Gen z is the least scripture engaged generation. American Bible Society. (2024, September 12). https://www.americanbible.org/news/press-releases/articles/new-research-shows-gen-z-is-the-least-scripture-engaged-generation/?utm_campaign=The+Culture+Translator&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9oBgy6dp8kdNK8QRJBh3oZb-mVzLanwWwMD6As3LcgvpHvIPyziv5UdV32gu4PWGBwjeXuKsZ9IrKViqHFrwyKB3QizA&_hsmi=332877897&utm_content=332877897&utm_source=hs_email
Teach Them to Love Jesus
“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5
We’ve taught our sons and daughters many things over the years, often by talking to them and repeating words and phrases and the truths of Scripture, but more often, by being an example to them. When we taught them how to tie their shoes, we didn’t just say it, we showed them- over and over, until they could do it themselves, and then we praised their efforts. We taught them how to be self-sufficient, mature, and how to live with integrity.
When it comes to teaching our sons and daughters the truths of faith, our words carry weight, but our example speaks more loudly. Friends, we need to live it out in front of them. Our words don’t have nearly as much impact as our actions, our attitudes, and the demonstration of our love and commitment to Jesus being lived out in our daily life. It cannot be “do as I say, not as I do”. They’re adults. They will do what they choose. But if we live out our faith, consistently, circumspectly, putting Jesus at the forefront, always, our lives will reflect His character and our actions will demonstrate our priority of faith. Because, if we’re honest, it’s not that we want our kids to do what we say…we want them to do what Jesus says.
Think back to your days in elementary school. Do you remember the lessons? Do you recall how you learned fractions or reading? It’s possible vague details will return, but if asked about your teacher, you would immediately begin to give a description of how your teacher interacted with you and made you feel important, seen, and valued. The teacher had a lot to say, but what impacted us was their character and actions toward us.
“I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.” Philippians 3:12b-15
As we live out our Christian walk, are we investing more time and energy into words, or actions? Are we trying to convince others (especially our sons and daughters) that what we believe is right and true, or are we modeling it to them? We must be cautious because we can weary others by always trying to prove our point. Paul says “and if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.” Paul was assuring the Philippians that by pursuing the Lord, God would make clear what is right and true. It wasn’t up to Paul and the church to correct people’s thinking. Should we speak truth? Absolutely! Can we demand or pressure others to follow it.? Not so much. It’s a heart-decision that only the Holy Spirit can motivate.
Though our sons and daughters are grown, we still feel that burden to know that they are walking with the Lord. That burden may inspire us to speak a bit too much, press a little too hard, to try and sway their thinking. But friends, we are still teaching them when we interact with them by living out our faith. We demonstrate how to be a disciple when we consistently follow the Lord, pursue personal time with Him, memorize His word and obey His commands. We model what it means to love when we are patient, kind, unselfish, and forgiving (1 Corinthians 13). We show them the strength and humility that accompanies asking forgiveness when we apologize for saying what we shouldn’t or doing something hurtful. We are not above that, at any age.
Our interaction with them says more than our words ever could. It communicates that God is what is most important to us and we will always submit to Him, making Him the head, the Lord, and the Shepherd of our hearts. He is the One to whom we surrender all of ourselves, and that will be reflected in our life, so more than in our words. Take a moment to check yourself, is that what your life demonstrates? Could others testify to it… would they?
Model Jesus to your sons and daughters at every opportunity. Let your actions speak loudly and let the Holy Spirit do His work.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:” Philippians 2:3-5
Pray that they would love Jesus authentically and that He would be the foundation upon which they build their life.
Pray without ceasing.
Praying for a Godly Spouse
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:10-12
As our sons and daughters grow into adulthood, our ability to impact their choices begins to diminish. We hope and pray that the things we taught them about God, about Scripture, about living a life that pleases the Lord, are deeply rooted. But we no longer have the ability to steer them away from influences that may be negative or unproductive and we have little say in the friends they choose, especially if they’re living at a distance. Parenting adult children is challenging.
When it comes to finding a spouse, there are challenges there, too. Though we hope our son or daughter would choose to make their decision based on our discernment and approval, by the time the relationship reaches that point, our beloved child may have already made up their mind… our input is just a formality. That’s hard to take, isn’t it?
But we’re not powerless! Not at all. We can make a huge impact on their life choices by talking to the Father and asking for His guidance, His intervention, and His protection. We can ask the He would give our son or daughter His best- better than we could choose or imagine!
So, how do we pray? Many of us likely began praying when our children were just little ones, praying that God would be preparing a godly husband or wife for them. Here’s the thing, don’t stop. Don’t stop praying like that. God will bring the right person at the right time, or make it clear He has a plan that asks our son or daughter to remain single. We need to be okay with that. We need to pray that our children would be okay with whatever God asks of them, too. Because isn’t that the best?
Here are some prayer points we can pray for both future husbands and future wives, and for our sons and daughters, all tied to Scripture.
Pray that they would be like Christ and that He would mold them and shape their heart and mind to be like Him. (Philippians 2:5; Ephesians 4:14-15)
Ask the Lord to make their words (and heart) authentic, not just filled with knowledge, but seasoned with grace (I Corinthians 13:1; Colossians 4:6)
Pray they would exhibit patience and kindness (1 Corinthians 13:4)
they would not be jealous or envious, but truly want the best for others and would celebrate when they have success or honor (1 Corinthians 13:4; Romans 12:15)
Ask God to help them value others before themselves (Philippians 2:3)
Pray that they would have a precise and correct knowledge of Scripture that would enable them to love others well (not to be puffed up with knowledge) and that they would be discerning in the teaching they listen to and the leaders they follow. (Philippians 1:9)
Pray that they would hide God’s word in their heart to keep them from sin (Psalm 119:11)
And pray that God’s word would be a lamp to their feet and a light to their path (Psalm 119:105)
Pray God’s protection over them, so they would keep their way pure by living according to God’s word (Psalm 119:9)
Ask the Lord to keep them legalism and that He would help them truly understand God’s grace and the freedom He gives to trust Jesus alone for salvation (Ephesians 2:8; 2 Timothy 1:9).
Pray that they would not lean into the world’s standards or be pressured to compromise to be accepted, but that they would stand for God’s truth, unwaveringly. (Hebrews 10:23)
Ultimately, pray that God would cultivate two people who, together, would have a godly marriage that would reflect Christ and the Church, surrender and obedience, love and protection, selflessness and sacrifice no matter the circumstances, because their hope is in Jesus and not in the other person to whom they are married.
There are so many things we can pray to this end; this is just the start. Add to the list as you pray and let the Holy Spirit guide your words and your petitions. The words of Scripture are always powerful and effective, it is the most you can do. Let’s God’s word do the speaking for you.
And pray for both the ‘unknown’ future spouse and for your son or daughter, that God would prepare their hearts and cultivate in them the qualities that are important for a God-centered relationship to be developed in His time and His way.
If your son or daughter is already married, pray that God would grow them in these areas. Pray that He would build a strong, God-honoring marriage that would be a testimony of His grace and redemption.
Why not write out a prayer, and then, when the time is right, share it with the one for whom you’ve been praying. What a precious gift that could be for the ‘other’, knowing that they’ve been prayed for and seeing the Scripture that’s been spoken over them, even before they were known to you.
Pray without ceasing!
Created to Worship
“You shall have no other gods before Me.” Exodus 20:3
We were created to worship.
We were created to worship. There is something inside every person which compels us to do so. It is how we are wired, how God created us. We naturally gravitate to attaching ourselves to something for meaning and purpose: our attention, our affection, and our resources all need a target, a recipient. Our worship never lies dormant and unused. When our heart, soul, and mind are consumed with God, obeying Him, walking in His commandments, and modeling our life after Him, there is great fulfillment and the beauty and joy of being one with our Savior. But if we’re not worshiping God, what do we worship?
Our worship never lies dormant and unused.
Whether we believe in God, or we follow a ‘system of belief’, or we claim nothing at all, we are still committed to something. And whatever takes first place in one’s life is, in fact, what is worshiped. Dictionary.com defines worship as “to render religious reverence and homage to; to feel an adoring reverence or regard for (any person or thing). Synonyms include the words adulate, idolize, adore, revere, etc.” (1) The object of one’s affection, attention, and resources tells us much about a person.
Satan’s sole desire is that his doom becomes ours as well.
Satan does his best to derail us, occupy our thoughts and hijack our worship. He distracts us from God and His Word. He puts attractive and sparkly things in our view that pull our gaze from God. He caters to our wants and desires and lures us with promises of importance, power, affluence, satisfaction, and peace. Satan promises what he can deliver in this world- temporal things- to pull us from the One who can promise us eternity in His presence- eternal things. Satan can never have that. He will never be delivered from sin. He will never enjoy eternity with Christ. His sole desire is that his doom becomes ours as well.
God created standards for worship
“You shall have no other gods before Me.” “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. Exodus 20:3-7 (NKJV)
When God gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments, He began with intentional instructions that set the standard for their relationship with Him. The God-focused commandments were the foundation for everything else:
They should have no other gods- which indicates there were other gods competing for attention.
They should have no idols- no other object of our worship, always God, only God.
They should not take God’s name in vain…in other words, they should not call themselves followers of the one true God and live otherwise.
If we, as Believers, would keep these commandments, our relationship with God would be right, and, in turn, our relationship with others would flow out of that right relationship with Him. Love God. Love your neighbor.
Substitute gods, misdirected worship
When our life is out of alignment with God, we are drawn to all of the other things that would take God’s place. We substitute His authority for all the things that promise a ‘better’ way, more fulfillment, peace and happiness. We exchange our Holy, Sovereign God for something man made, a faux deity, a cheap substitution. Oh how we try to fill our need to worship something, with anything, but the One Who is deserving of our commitment and adoration.
Human relationships can’t satisfy the need to worship. Accomplishments and financial gain are temporary and fleeting. Only worship directed toward God brings us into a right relationship with Him, aligns us with His will, and will satisfy the deep need and desire to worship that dwells in the soul. The longings to worship were established by God Himself and only He can satiate that deep need in the context of a relationship with Him.
So, how are we modeling worship to our sons and daughters?
Whatever we dedicate ourselves to, that which consumes our thoughts, around which we plan our day and decisions, invest our finances, and which takes priority is what we worship. For some, it’s easily identified by how they live their life and into what they pour their gifts, talents, and resources. As we pursue worship, so do our sons and daughters. What do their choices indicate they’re worshiping? To what does their life testify? Do they pursue God, or a god? Have we set the standard correctly, or have we missed the mark?
Stop today and evaluate your own worship. If asked, would others say without hesitation that you worship God? Is He the priority in your life, not just stated, but lived? Are you loving the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength?
Here is the real test…how would our sons and daughters describe our worship?
Take it to the Lord in prayer
Let’s pray and ask God to reveal what lies in our heart. Ask Him to uncover areas of misdirected worship. Then, let’s pray that we can model authentic worship to those around us, especially our sons and daughters. Ask the Lord to deepen their commitment to Him, bring them into closer fellowship and guard them from idolatry and misdirected worship.
“Oh, Lord, God, You are the One true God. You are the Creator and Sustainer. You are the only One deserving of all my worship and praise. Lord, cleanse me from any competing thoughts and desires. Reveal my misdirected worship. Help me align my life with You so that what flows out of my heart and soul is true and correct worship for You and only You. I pray that You would also work in (name)’s heart. Bring conviction where there is sin. Reveal any idols that dwell in their life. Lord, bind the enemy so he has no influence. Take away any sinful longings and selfish desires. Create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us so that our worship is only and always Yours and Yours alone. Restore to me and to (name) the joy of Your salvation. Let us not find any greater joy that in living for and serving You. Time is short, this world is dark, help us to live a life that reflects Your light and salvation. Let our salt not lose its flavor. Lord, be the whole object of our worship, help us to “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness.” Psalm 29:2 I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.”
Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land. Deuteronomy 6:13-15
Pray without ceasing
Dictionary.com. (n.d.). Worship definition & meaning. Dictionary.com. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/worship
Spiritual Drought and Times of Refreshing
Sometimes life is difficult, so much so, that our soul feels weathered and dry and our prayers flat and lifeless. We long for a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit, but no matter how long we search for that refreshment, we can only see the desert and feel the dry air of spiritually empty space. God’s voice seems muffled and our heart just can’t muster the strength to pray; we’re in a spiritual drought.
We can hope, and pray that the Lord would bring renewal- streams of revival, but finding the words to even ask Him can be a struggle. It’s hard to pray for our own heart, let alone the hearts of our sons and daughters.
It’s times like these that we need to turn to Scripture and pray the words God’s given us. He’s so generously provided rich words filled with Truth and hope, bathed in grace and saturated with mercy. His Word is always enough. And how can we be equipped to pray for our sons and daughters if we’re not immersing ourselves in the Word, allowing God to empty us of ourselves and fill us with Him? Sometimes the season of drought helps bring things into perspective. It brings to light the necessities of survival for our spiritual life: Jesus’ living water, the breath of God and the fire of the Holy Spirit…the elements of the Living God.
We need to be that tree in Psalm 1, planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Notice, the fruit comes in season…that means there are seasons without fruit. That’s okay. It doesn’t mean we’re ineffective. It doesn’t mean we’re broken. We haven’t stepped out of His will so that He’s removing His hand of blessing. No, though the tree might ‘look’ dead, its roots are deep and the branches are preparing for another season of growth. So, too, God allows us to go through dry seasons as He prepares us for another time of growth. Consider the maple tree. In the dead of winter, when the forest is brown and brittle, the maple tree begins to run its sap. The sweetest product of the tree comes when it ‘appears’ to be lifeless. So, too, God can bring sweetness out of our drought-ridden times.
The Law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul (Ps 19.7).
So, today, take time to soak in the Word of God. Let His words fill you and saturate your soul with His living water. Pray Scripture back to Him. Be refreshed by His Word.
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Ps 42:1-2,11
I waited patiently for the Lord ; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord . Psalm 40:1-3 1
O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. Ps 63:1-5
Why not share, in the comments, other scripture that’s spoken to you. Let’s encourage one another on to faithfulness and joy! Be encouraged, friends, times of refreshing are coming!
Pray without ceasing.