Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1,2)
Dear Jesus,
May these children fix their eyes on you, on your example, on your righteousness, on your faithfulness, on your courage in the face of adversity, and on your glory. May they take great courage in your victory over death as they enter the race set before them. May they understand that the race is a marathon, not a sprint, and that they must pace themselves to go the distance. May they learn that races are easier to run the lighter the load as they throw off the weight of materialism. May they know that they have a cloud of witnesses, some here today, some having already gone home to you, who are cheering them on. Give them extra endurance, when they hit "the wall", to press on through to the finish line to receive a crown of glory from your hand, your smile upon them as they hear you say "well run!".
Amen
Monday, July 1, 2013
Don't Shrink Back
And,
“But my righteous one will live by faith.
And I take no pleasure
in the one who shrinks back.”
And I take no pleasure
in the one who shrinks back.”
But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. (Hebrews 10:38,39)
Almighty God,
I have spoken in many of my prayers for these children on the subject to courage. I do so because it is clear that is what you expect of us. You forgive many things but you have no tolerance for cowardice. These children will fail in many ways during their lives. They will try to serve you and will sometimes fail. They will succumb to temptation and sin, but you forgive. But the one thing I pray they are never guilty of is cowardice in service to you. May they be ever bold and courageous, never shrinking back in fear. May they readily join in the charge against the gates of hell, fully equipped in your armor and following your lead, never backing down.
Amen
Almighty God,
I have spoken in many of my prayers for these children on the subject to courage. I do so because it is clear that is what you expect of us. You forgive many things but you have no tolerance for cowardice. These children will fail in many ways during their lives. They will try to serve you and will sometimes fail. They will succumb to temptation and sin, but you forgive. But the one thing I pray they are never guilty of is cowardice in service to you. May they be ever bold and courageous, never shrinking back in fear. May they readily join in the charge against the gates of hell, fully equipped in your armor and following your lead, never backing down.
Amen
Do Not Give Up Meeting Together
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24,25)
Loving Father,
Lead these children to understand the true purpose of Christians coming together. Help them to understand that it is not to "worship" as Christianity has come to believe as you tell us that true worship is a sacrificial life. Rather, we come together to encourage each other and to spur each other on to good works. May this knowledge help these children to avoid the consumer mentality many have adopted when the "worship service" does not "edify" them. In fact, what the Hebrew writer is telling us is a bit like John Kennedy's inaugural address: ask not what your worship service can do for you, but ask what you can do to encourage other Christians in their walk.
Before these children set out for the church building, may they seriously consider specific individuals that need their encouragement and spurring on. May they seek these individuals out and see their purpose in coming to the assembly to provide that encouragement. And may there be others who will likewise seek out these children to encourage them. With that mindset, may the realize that missing the assembly is not just failing to punch their time clock, but it is missing an opportunity to spur on another fellow servant who may be struggling, encouragement that may make the difference in whether that servant continues on in their walk.
Amen
Loving Father,
Lead these children to understand the true purpose of Christians coming together. Help them to understand that it is not to "worship" as Christianity has come to believe as you tell us that true worship is a sacrificial life. Rather, we come together to encourage each other and to spur each other on to good works. May this knowledge help these children to avoid the consumer mentality many have adopted when the "worship service" does not "edify" them. In fact, what the Hebrew writer is telling us is a bit like John Kennedy's inaugural address: ask not what your worship service can do for you, but ask what you can do to encourage other Christians in their walk.
Before these children set out for the church building, may they seriously consider specific individuals that need their encouragement and spurring on. May they seek these individuals out and see their purpose in coming to the assembly to provide that encouragement. And may there be others who will likewise seek out these children to encourage them. With that mindset, may the realize that missing the assembly is not just failing to punch their time clock, but it is missing an opportunity to spur on another fellow servant who may be struggling, encouragement that may make the difference in whether that servant continues on in their walk.
Amen
The Word of God
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
Dear Father,
Give these children a clear understanding of the power of your word. May they understand that the reading of your word is not just an intellectual exercise, but that your transforming power is unleashed within them as your Spirit does His work. May they realize that time in the word is time that you work on them and that time away from the word is a time of weakness and spiritual deterioration.
The battle against evil is ever present and the power of the forces against them are formidable. Help them to see that weakness from a disconnection from your word will leave them vulnerable to spiritual attack and defeat. Attempting to live without the word and prayer is like trying to operate a battery powered appliance without recharging the battery on a regular basis - it might appear fine for a while until the battery begins to die. Draw them to your word and give them a thirst that can only be quenched by it.
Amen
Dear Father,
Give these children a clear understanding of the power of your word. May they understand that the reading of your word is not just an intellectual exercise, but that your transforming power is unleashed within them as your Spirit does His work. May they realize that time in the word is time that you work on them and that time away from the word is a time of weakness and spiritual deterioration.
The battle against evil is ever present and the power of the forces against them are formidable. Help them to see that weakness from a disconnection from your word will leave them vulnerable to spiritual attack and defeat. Attempting to live without the word and prayer is like trying to operate a battery powered appliance without recharging the battery on a regular basis - it might appear fine for a while until the battery begins to die. Draw them to your word and give them a thirst that can only be quenched by it.
Amen
Nothing is Hidden From God
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:13)
All Knowing Father,
When we are not behaving ourselves, we tend to not want to think about you or approach you. In our strange way, we somehow think you are not there, not with us in the place we are not supposed to be doing what we should not be doing. By the Spirit within them, give these children a strong sense of your presence, even when they are not behaving. May that sense of your presence have a convicting effect such that they never feel comfortable with ungodly behavior or speech. May their sense, though, be of a present Father who cares for them and whose Spirit is in anguish at the harm they are causing themselves and others, a present God who wants to reclaim them and take them under his wings, a Father who runs to the prodigal to embrace upon his return. And may they run to you.
Amen
All Knowing Father,
When we are not behaving ourselves, we tend to not want to think about you or approach you. In our strange way, we somehow think you are not there, not with us in the place we are not supposed to be doing what we should not be doing. By the Spirit within them, give these children a strong sense of your presence, even when they are not behaving. May that sense of your presence have a convicting effect such that they never feel comfortable with ungodly behavior or speech. May their sense, though, be of a present Father who cares for them and whose Spirit is in anguish at the harm they are causing themselves and others, a present God who wants to reclaim them and take them under his wings, a Father who runs to the prodigal to embrace upon his return. And may they run to you.
Amen
Your Legacy of Faith - A Cloud of Witnesses
I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. (II Timothy 1:5)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. (Hebrews 12:1)
Dear Father,
I thank you that these children have believing parents and grandparents to influence them. I pray that we are effective in that influence and use wise words to bring them along in their faith. Give us the focus, the energy and the courage to live out godly examples for them. I am thankful for the believing ancestors they have who are already with you, for the influence they had on us who are now attempting to pass on that legacy. They are indeed a great cloud of witnesses.
May these children look to the legacy of faith they have received and determine that they, too, will endeavor to pass it on to the next generation. Give them a burning desire to hold fast to your teachings and avoid stumbling so that their example will be one that future generations can look to and follow. Help them to understand that the chain of faith can easily be broken when one link falls away - that much is depending on them, generation upon generation to come is depending on these children to hold to their faith and finish the course. Give them the strength, wisdom, courage and determination to do so.
Amen
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. (Hebrews 12:1)
Dear Father,
I thank you that these children have believing parents and grandparents to influence them. I pray that we are effective in that influence and use wise words to bring them along in their faith. Give us the focus, the energy and the courage to live out godly examples for them. I am thankful for the believing ancestors they have who are already with you, for the influence they had on us who are now attempting to pass on that legacy. They are indeed a great cloud of witnesses.
May these children look to the legacy of faith they have received and determine that they, too, will endeavor to pass it on to the next generation. Give them a burning desire to hold fast to your teachings and avoid stumbling so that their example will be one that future generations can look to and follow. Help them to understand that the chain of faith can easily be broken when one link falls away - that much is depending on them, generation upon generation to come is depending on these children to hold to their faith and finish the course. Give them the strength, wisdom, courage and determination to do so.
Amen
An Empty Cup
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (II Timothy 4:6-8)
Dear Father,
Coaches tell their teams to "leave it all on the field" and by that they mean that they should expend every last drop of energy and strength in the game - they should have nothing left in them when the game is over. Such is how our Christian life should be.
I pray these children choose to be an empty cup, everything poured out, nothing left behind, when they reach the end of their lives. And because we never know when that day will come, I pray they end each day as an empty cup, having given everything for your glory. That, of course, does not mean that there is no time for leisure and refreshing, but even that should be for a goal - to influence their friends and families for the sake of the gospel and to replenish strength to re-enter the battle. In our society, this is not a popular way to look at life. We are expected to live life for enjoyment, not sacrifice. But your Son told us that it is only in sacrifice, in losing our lives, that we gain life, both true life in this life and eternal life with you. May these children strive to be an empty cup - but as they strive to do so, refill their cups so that they run over.
Amen
Dear Father,
Coaches tell their teams to "leave it all on the field" and by that they mean that they should expend every last drop of energy and strength in the game - they should have nothing left in them when the game is over. Such is how our Christian life should be.
I pray these children choose to be an empty cup, everything poured out, nothing left behind, when they reach the end of their lives. And because we never know when that day will come, I pray they end each day as an empty cup, having given everything for your glory. That, of course, does not mean that there is no time for leisure and refreshing, but even that should be for a goal - to influence their friends and families for the sake of the gospel and to replenish strength to re-enter the battle. In our society, this is not a popular way to look at life. We are expected to live life for enjoyment, not sacrifice. But your Son told us that it is only in sacrifice, in losing our lives, that we gain life, both true life in this life and eternal life with you. May these children strive to be an empty cup - but as they strive to do so, refill their cups so that they run over.
Amen
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