Praying for our students through the year - day 27 (Head to Toe - part 1)

Now that we have made it through the alphabet, we covered lots of Godly Character Traits to pray over our children. Today we are going to start praying for our kids, grand kids, students, and others from "head to toe". A great way to remember them is to think of each of these as you are getting ready in the mornings...

1. Pray for their mind - for them to earnestly seek wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Pray they will learn to value discernment and choose the best yes. Pray they will center their thoughts on holy and pure things--not on pleasures of this world or things that will draw them away from God. Pray they will develop a Biblical World View and focus on God's Word as Truth. (Book of Proverbs, James 1:5, Psalm 119:97)
2. Pray for their eyes - Ask God to protect their innocence and not let them grow up too quickly. Pray they will not look on unwholesome things. I hate to say it, but children are exposed to porn at a very young age now (some statistics show this happens as early as 3rd grade). Pray for God to protect them from this form of evil. Pray they will choose good social media, if they have access to it. Pray they will focus on right and pure things, not lustful temptations. Pray they will have eyes to see the good in people and show Christ-like love. Pray they will love God and their neighbors. (Psalm 101:3).
3. Pray for their ears - Pray they will be quick to hear and slow to speak. Pray they will not listen to gossip, or negative influences around them. Pray they will incline their ears to instruction and to the ways of the Lord. Pray they will listen to music that is positive---music does not make someone a monster, however garbage in will result in garbage out. Pray they choose to watch and listen to good TV shows and movies that are not filled with violence and evil. What shows are their ears and eyes hearing and seeing on TV or the theater? (Proverbs 8:32). 
   
4. Pray for their mouth - Ask God to help them learn to control their tongue. Pray they will learn the value of speaking truth instead of speaking lies. Pray they will learn the value of silence. Pray their words will be pleasing to our Heavenly Father and for uplifting others. Pray they will not use their mouths to bring others down or for destruction. Pray they will speak with respect and use their words to worship and praise God. (Psalm 34:13).

Praying for our students through the year - day 26 (Z) Zeal

Wow our kids are starting their 7th week of school today! We are going to start this week by praying for  Zeal. Romans 12:11 says: "Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord."  Zeal or being zealous is energetic enthusiasm; a strong feeling of interest and enthusiasm that makes someone very eager or determined to accomplish something. When Jesus performed miracles he often asked the people not to tell, yet it made them want to tell it more zealously (Mark 7:36).  Today, Christ commanded us to tell everyone about Him to the utmost parts of the earth, but do we?  Revelation 3:19 says “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent”.  We are all guilty of sin, of not obeying His Word, and of having less Godly Character than we should at some point in our lives, but the secret is to learn to repent. Then we can learn to be more zealous. Sincerely ask God to forgive you, and He will. Pray your child will become more zealous for the Lord and His Word today. Pray they will have enthusiasm to share His love with others. Pray they will be eager and determined to accomplish all God has called them to do. 

We have made it through all 26 letters of Godly Character; the Bible says Jesus is the Alpha and Omega which are Greek letters for A and Z (Revelation 1:7-8). He is the beginning and the end of the alphabet; He is everything in between.  Jesus is the Eternal Ruler of past, present, and future. He is the A, Z, Alpha, Omega, Beginning, End, First and Last! We need to be on fire for God because one day this world will have no more chances to choose to accept the Lord, we will be out of opportunities to Go and Tell those He has put before us. Pray your child will have their priorities in line with what really matters in life. It’s all about Jesus! Pray they will have enough zeal to live out loud everywhere and not hide their “Christian-side” from others. Pray God will unsettle them until they seek a deeper relationship with their Heavenly Father. Pray they will seek Him as their personal Lord and Savior. Pray they will grow in their Godly Character daily. Pray they will have uncontainable ZEAL for the Lord today and everyday until He returns! 

Praying for our students through the year - day 25 (Y) Yearning

Today we are praying for our children have a yearning for Christ! Yearning is a deep, tender and urgent longing; an appetite or craving. Pray your children will have a yearning to know more about Jesus and the Bible.  Isaiah 26:9 says “My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you”. The old hymn More About Jesus describes yearning well: 

“More about Jesus would I know, More of His grace to others show; More of His saving fullness see, More of His love Who died for me. More about Jesus let me learn, More of His holy will discern; Spirit of God, my teacher be, Showing the things of Christ to me...".  

Our lives should be more about Jesus, not about us! Do you yearn to know Him deeper?  Pray you and your family will yearn for a deeper relationship with God. Psalm 42:1-2 says “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God”. We have to crave, thirst, yearn for a relationship with God. Pray your child learns to crave and thirst for this relationship above all others. Pray the Holy Spirit will create a yearning for His Word.  Pray they will become more in love with God than anything else in this world. Pray your whole family will work on developing a yearning for God. Make it a goal to spend more time in prayer and reading His Word. Crave Him today!

Praying for our students through the year - day 24 (X) eXcellence

It is hard for me to believe the 6th week of school is almost over and we are almost to the end of the alphabet on praying for our children.  Today we are praying for eXcellence. There are a few character traits in which each of us should have a desire to excel. Just to mention 23...pray for your child to excel in his or her attitude, boldness, courage, discernment, enthusiasm, friendship, generosity, humility, initiative, joyfulness, knowledge, listening, maturity, being neighbors, obedience, perseverance, being quiet, respectfulness, self-control, thankfulness, understanding, victory, and work ethic! (this was the first 23 prayer topics if you need to go back and review check out my old blog posts) Excellence goes beyond dreams and what we can do and is about what we SHOULD do and how we SHOULD act. We need to also pray for our children to excel in prayer. It is vital for us to learn to communicate with God and teach our children to do the same. When I was a student I remember receiving an "excellence in education" plaque every year; excellence is not about just making a good grade or doing what we are supposed to at that moment, but about sustaining that attitude for a lifetime.

Philippians 3;13-14 states: "Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus".

We need to press on until the end of our time on this earth and pray our children will do the same. Excellence in all we do should be a priority. Excellence demands that we do our very best with the abilities that God has given us. Pray your children will learn to exhibit moral excellence, then there will be evidence that the fruit of the Holy Spirit is growing in their lives.

"Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation." 1 Peter 2:12 NASB

Praying for our students through the year - day 23 (W) Work Ethic

Today pray your child will have a great work ethic. It doesn't matter if we are doing school work, part-time jobs, working to perform a role in a play, be part of a sports team, doing chores, or in a career, God wants each of us to do our best. Teach your children to use their hands and minds to accomplish good things that honor God. Teach them that work is good, but we also need to let our bodies rest and reflect on all God has blessed us with (Exodus 23:12).  

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24

Teach your children that hard work and dedication produces positive results. The Bible teaches us to develop solid work ethic and to put our all in what we do.  I once heard "wherever we are, be 100% there". It is easy to try to multitask or be distracted when we are busy however we should be dedicated to what we are doing. God put Adam in the garden to WORK and take care of it (Gen. 2:15). 

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going. 

Ecclesiastes 9:10

Teach them that all they do has a purpose! Laziness can be a problem and become habitual. Model the example of joyfully working in front of your children and others. Teach them to not be idle; that there are consequences to being lazy.  (2 Thess 3:10). Pray your child will find joy in working, as working for the Lord. Pray they will not want to be lazy or idle. Pray they will put forth their BEST effort in ALL they do. Pray they will have a desire to work hard and want to succeed at achieving their goals. Give them praise to encourage them as you seem them working hard and accomplishing milestones, but remember it is ok to let them fail. Lessons can be learned from failure. Failure may motivate them to work harder next time. Pray for a good work ethic today! 

Praying for our students through the year - day 20 (T) Thankfulness

Thankfulness is a prominent Bible theme. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Did you catch that? Give thanks in all circumstances. We should have thankful hearts. Thankfulness should be a way of life for us, naturally flowing from our hearts and mouths. Pray for your children to be thankful today. Psalm 136:1 says "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever." In this verse,  God's Word gives us 2 reasons to be thankful; because He is GOOD and His Love endures FOREVER! Help your children learn what it means to be thankful in all situations; when we are sad or have bad days, when we are stressed, busy, and when life is going good. When our boys were younger I would try to ask them: "What was the best part of your day today? What was the worst part? What was the funniest thing that happened today? Was there anything bad, sad or that upset you today?" This gets your children talking more than asking "How was your day?" Also, once they answer, you can teach them to be thankful during those times. We do prayer requests and praise items at church, it makes me sad at how quickly we can make a list of problems, yet it is so difficult to think of reasons to be thankful. I ask in Children's Church sometimes, "tell me something good that happened today?"... let us all learn to give thanks with grateful hearts! Let’s pray for our children to learn to be more thankful today; we are so blessed and should never take it for granted. 

I can't help but think of the Thankfulness song from Madame Blueberry - Veggie Tales:

I thank God for this day,
For the sun in the sky,
For my mom and my dad,
For my piece of apple pie!
For our home on the ground,
For His love that's all around,
That's why I say thanks every day!
Because a thankful heart is a happy heart!
I'm glad for what I have,
That's an easy way to start!
For the love that He shares,
'Cause He listens to my prayers,
That's why I say thanks every day! 

Praying for our students through the year - day 19 (S) Self-Control

Today we are praying for Self-control for our children! In order to have self-control we must have

self-discipline; the power or ability to control our thoughts, actions, feelings and desires with the intention of improving self. Self-control is restraint exercised over one's own impulses, emotions, or desires. Self-control is self-discipline in action.

Galatians 5:22-23 says “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Self-control comes from the Holy Spirit living in us. 

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 says “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified”. 

It is hard without the help of the Holy Spirit to keep our keep our emotions in check. It can be difficult to not lose our temper or to spout off at the mouth. It can be hard to not go too far in relationships and to save ourselves for marriage. It can be difficult to not overeat or be a slob. It is hard to make it a priority to spend quality time in God’s Word, or attend church faithfully to worship and share with others…however, all of these things are possible when we let the Holy Spirit control our thoughts, words and actions. With His help, self-control is obtainable. Teach your children to talk to God; help them learn to tell God what areas they are struggling with and how to look in His Word for answers to help them overcome. He will guide us when we sincerely ask Him. Pray your children will learn self-control in their life. Pray they will learn to control whatever battle rages inside of them. Pray they will have strength to stand strong and lean on God so that their emotions, impulses and desires don't run out of control. Pray they will be a positive example of God's Love to everyone around them. Pray they will learn to think before they speak or act. Teach them to internally reflect and ponder these questions before they take action:  "Is what I am about to do or say pleasing to God? Is it helpful or hurtful to others and to my testimony"? Encourage them to live out loud for Christ!

Praying for our students through the year - day 18 (R) Respect

Today I am praying for my sons to respect others, (not just my sons but my whole family). Respect is regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others. The apostle Peter tells us we should show respect to everyone. (1 Peter 2:17) ...this includes God, family, friends, and those in authority over us. Pray your kids learn to be respectful to others. Pray they will realize all people were created in the image of God and worthy of respect and love. Even when others do not believe in Christ, we should still love them in hopes that they may come to a salvation knowledge of Him. Christ loved all people enough to die for them; we should treat them in a decent manner. The Bible tells us to love God most and that He needs to be the first priority in our life, then we should love our neighbors as ourselves. To truly love our neighbors we must show them respect. Pray your family to have enough self-discipline to show proper respect to all people. Model respect in front of your children - they are watching, listening and learning how to interact from your example. If we argue, complain, have negative comments, or show a lack of respect toward others, then our children will learn to do the same. On the other hand, if we model the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-26) then they will learn to pattern these characteristics from the Holy Spirit also. Pray for your family to grow more respectful today!

"Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." Romans 12:10

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-38

Praying for our students through the year - day 17 (Q) Quiet

Ecclesiastes 3:7b

Today we are praying that our children, and ourselves, learn the virtue of being quiet. We need to learn to hold our tongues. The tongue has incredible power, it can build up or destroy in a matter of seconds. It can bring blessings or curse others, praises or words of hate. Colossians 4:6 tells us to let our words be seasoned with salt and full of grace. In Ephesians we are told to not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths, to only say things that are beneficial. Have you ever heard if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all?...well sometimes it may be better for us to be QUIET! Pray your child learns when it is best to just be quiet. Pray they learn to be quiet in class, church, or during other times of instruction. Also pray they learn how to be quiet before their Heavenly Father. Lord, teach us to hold our tongues. I once read a book called "When to Speak Up, and When to Shut Up" - some things to ponder before speaking are: 

1. Does the situation directly involve me?
2. Do I have something valuable and purposeful to contribute by speaking?
3. What will happen by my speaking or being silent? 
4. What will the consequences be (good and bad) if I choose to speak or be silent?
5. What are the motives of my speaking or being silent?

"There will be times when we speak out instead of remaining silent and there will be times we are silent when a voice should come forth." ---Michael D. Sedler

We all probably have past regrets of when we spoke wrong words or didn't speak when we knew we should have. Pray that your past choices of how your used your tongue will guide you in how you chose to speak or be quiet in the future. We can all learn from past mistakes. We want our words to glorify God, bring healing, salvation, and honor to God - not self. We want them to promote more holy communication and learning, not destruction. On the other hand, we want our QUIET to bring personal time with the Lord, learning and time for Him to speak to us. We do not want our lack of words to reflect pouting or anger. It can be difficult to discern when to speak and when to be silent, that is why praying for discernment (day 4) must never stop. Teach your child the value of quietness and meditation. Teach them how to be quiet before the Lord. Show them how to read God's Word and how to meditate on it. When we meditate on God's Word we are quite before The Word, deliberately focusing on it, reflecting on the meaning and context, studying the passage to learn from it - not just reading it - we cannot do this is we are reading it and moving on with out stopping and being quite before the Lord. God's voice is steady and unwavering, yet we must quiet our voices and soul to be able to hear it. Pray your children will learn to be quiet daily before the Lord and allow Him to speak to their soul. Pray He will quiet their fears, anxiety, and self-doubt of their tempted bodies, and help them realized they are made for more! Once we learn to be QUIET before the Lord then we will be able to SHOUT his mercy, grace, love and forgiveness to the world around us from the rooftops!

"A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back." Proverbs 29:11 

“Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone astray." Job 6:24

"Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble." Proverbs 21:23 

"What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops." Matthew 10:27 ESV

"And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed." Mark 1:35 ESV - Jesus even got away by himself to be quiet and alone with God. He is our perfect example of how to live. Spending quiet time alone with Him keeps us focused and helps us not get overwhelmed or burned out. Make sure you are quiet before the Lord today!

Praying for our students through the year - day 16 (P) Perseverance

Today pray for your child to have perseverance - doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. It is pressing on even when it is hard or when others oppose you. As our world drifts further into sin, Christians must have perseverance. Pray for your child to learn to never give up, no matter what obstacles they face; even if they are persecuted for their believe in Christ. As believers, we have power and strength from the Holy Spirit; during hard times He will help us press on. We need to pray for perseverance, for understanding of God's Word, and to not be led away by false teachers or temptations that try to pull us away from our faith. Pray your child will stand for what they believe and stay strong when persecuted. Pray they will boldly witness to others and share their faith. Pray they will lean on the strength of the Holy Spirit when tempted or persecuted and be open enough to come talk to you, as their parents, about their problems.  Pray they will persevere in this dark world around them and realize this is just their temporary home. 

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:1-5 NKJV

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

Praying for our students through the year - day 15 (O) Obedient

Today pray for your child to be obedient. Being obedient is being submissive to authority; yielding to commands, performing what is required, or abstaining from what is forbidden. 

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Ephesians 6:1-3 ESV

Obedience is commanded by God. Disobedience is a sin because it disregards the standards set by our Holy God. Anything less than FULL and COMPLETE obedience is a sin. Pray that your children will learn to not only listen, but to obey. James tells us in 1:22 to be doers of the word, not only hearers. As parents, we need to require obedience out of our children. This is not only a way for our children to show respect to parents, those in authority, to elders, and others, but also a command. Our love for Christ should be a great motivator for us to be obedient. Christ was obedient even unto death (Philippians 2:8). Pray your child will be diligent in following instructions: the instructions of their teachers, parents, those in authority, and most of all Christ. Pray your children will see an example of you passionately obeying and following God. Pray that your example will passionately inspire them to seek His Will and direction for their lives wholeheartedly. Pray your children will not do the right thing just because they have to, but because they truly desire to please God. Pray they will hide God's Word in their hearts so they will know what Truth is and what to believe and obey. Pray they will be taught Truth in all things and not lured away by this world. Pray they will obey the 1st time and not suffer the consequences of a life on detour because of disobedience. We do not want our child to be like Jonah and run the other way when God calls them to a difficult task, so teach them while they are young to be obedient in all things. 

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 

Colossians 3:20

"And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes." Deuteronomy 6:6-8

Praying for our students through the year - day 14 (N) Neighbors

Today pray that your child will learn to understand who their biblical neighbors are. Pray they will understand their neighbors are everyone around them, including their enemies. Pray they will learn how to respect and treat others in a manner pleasing to the Lord. Pray they will learn to develop a self-sacrificing love. Pray they will learn to help others in need. The parable of the Good Samaritan is a great example of loving your neighbor in Luke 10:25-37. Pray your child will grow in a deeper understanding of Christ so that they may see and understand the greatest example of loving others. May we all be guilty of offering others help, comforting others, binding others wounds, visiting or caring for the sick and frail, and loving others with Christ-like love. 

The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 

Mark 12:31 ESV

Praying for our students through the year - day 13 (M) Maturity

Will you join me in praying for maturity today?

1 Corinthians 14:20 says "Brothers, do not be children in your thinking...but in your thinking be mature."

Christian Maturity is something that develops with time. It is a process that begins when a person accepts Jesus as their Savior. The Apostle Paul said that spiritual growth is an ongoing process in Philippians 3:12-14 "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own…But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." In order for Christian maturity to develop in our life, we must make a choice to read and meditate on God's Word, allow God to renew our mind, and then be obedient to what we learn.

Romans 12:1-2 says, "present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” 

As we mature, we should learn to walk obediently with God. Maturity is making a choice to live by God’s ways instead of the world’s ways. Pray your student will develop christian maturity in their life. We should never stop growing; we need to keep learning and growing in our faith until the day the Lord calls us home.  Progressive sanctification is what gradually separates Christ's followers from the world and makes us more and more like Him. Pray this maturity will happen in your child's life.  Pray they will break free from the power and love of sin. Pray that your child will step by step, day by day, intentionally choose the right path. It won’t always be easy, so encourage them. They will have growing pains, but reaching maturity is worth the battle. Pray you will see evidence of their maturity by seeing them apply God's Word in everyday circumstances in their life. Pray your student does not stay in the same place in their relationship with God as where they were when they first got saved. If your child hasn't come to realize they need a personal relationship with Christ and that He is our Redeemer and Savior, pray they will mature to understand this soon. Pray your child will fall in love with God’s Word and want to read, meditate, and memorize it so that they can apply it to their life. Pray your child will put away childish behavior and mature into the person God has called them to be. Pray they will never stop growing!

Maturity Growth Markers: 

We will always have room for improvement, but the more time you spend studying God’s Word, the more you will want to do it. So let me ask you some maturity/spiritual growth questions. 

1. Is reading your Bible a “want to” or a “have to” decision? Do you enjoy God's Word?
2. How often do you pray? Do you enjoy talking to your Heavenly Father?
3. Do you ever read your Bible besides when studying for Sunday School or church? 
4. Do you study your Sunday School lesson? 
5. Do you pay attention in church and try to learn or are you busy on your phone, clipping your fingernails, or sleeping? Do you try to find jobs to serve instead of having to sit in service and be fed?
6. Do you have a desire to serve God and help others grow and deepen their understanding?

Take time to honestly evaluate your Christian Maturity.  Are you still milk fed like a baby or are your growing? Spiritual maturity should be a priority for us. 

"Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil" (Hebrews 5:13-14). 

As a believer, we are not to always be milk-fed. Instead, we are called to grow and chew on the "meat" of God's Word. 

Praying for our students through the year - day 11 (K) Knowledge

Today we are praying for our students to gain knowledge. Knowledge can be defined as the fact or state of knowing; the perception of fact or truth. To “know” something is to perceive it or to be aware of it. A well-informed and knowledgeable Christian possesses character and morals that have Godly influence. Such a person is always ready for action in the army of the Lord. While knowledge of the Lord (Biblical knowledge or wisdom) is the most important knowledge we can possess, learning is also important. Pray for your child to have a teachable spirit this school year. Pray they will listen and submit to their teacher's, coach's or manager's instructions this year so that they can grow in knowledge no matter how intelligent they think they already are. We should never stop learning. Pray your child will be aware of not only God's existence but also learn to have a deep appreciation for Him and desire a relationship with Him. Pray your child will have a desire to pay attention and learn at school, college or work each day as they study or train so that they can become all God has called them to be. We know from Proverbs 2:6 that the Lord gives wisdom and out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding. We must seek it diligently and help our children learn to do the same. Wisdom and knowledge are something to be sought after. I am a nerd, through and through, I love to read and learn, but we must not get so caught up with learning that we do not put into action the knowledge we have gained. In Robby Gallaty's book Bearing Fruit  he states:

"Friends, we need to be careful that we are not so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good, as the old saying goes." Many don't need another Bible study guide to teach them theological truth; you need to invest the Bible you've studied into the lives of others around us. It is for this very reason discipleship is essential for spiritual growth."

Pray you and your child will be given the opportunities each day to use their Biblical knowledge and book knowledge to glorify God someway, somehow.  How can you help another grow? James tells us that if we lack wisdom and ask God will give it abundantly...have you asked? Proverbs 1 tells us about the beginning of knowledge. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." (vs.7)  Fear does not mean to be scared of God but to have respect for Him, His Word, His Will, His Way, His Authority - to worship and praise Him. God has infinite and absolute knowledge! Our knowledge will be flawed compared to His but we should still seek to obtain it...don't settle for mediocre and doing less than your best when God sent His Very Best One and Only Son for us! We should never seek knowledge for our own vainglory, but use it to bring about maturity in our lives so that we may better serve and glorify God.

"5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:5-8

"and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Jon 8:32

Praying for our students through the year - day 9 (I) Initiative

Initiative - the ability to assess and initiate things independently; the power or opportunity to act or take charge before others do. Do we exhibit initiative in our daily lives? If not how can we teach it to our children and pray for them to develop it? How or what can we do to develop a better attitude about taking the lead when God directs us? How can we function better, stronger, and faster, even in times of uncertainly and stress? Read Ephesians 5:8-14. We are called to walk as children of the Light, to discern what is pleasing, to take no part in unfruitful works of darkness. What are we busy doing? We should each press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. We each are called to do something as long as we have breath in us. Pray that we each have the initiative to carry it out until the day of our departure from this temporary home. Let us encourage one another to do good deeds and meet together for encouragement and uplifting, not to tear each other down. Pray we and our children will recognize and do what needs to be done without being asked! We cannot do what we are called to do if we do not have the initiative to GET UP and START moving! Opposites of this trait are laziness, letting others lead even when we are capable or called, or refusing to put forth our best effort. Pray these negative traits will be absent for your child's life and your own. We must be motivated to go after the life in which Christ has called each of our families! Do you have the initiative to pick up the torch and lead the way, getting others to follow you, as you follow Christ? Will you make excuses, letting others follow you and your family into perhaps laziness, the world, sin, or excuses? Remember we are called to be a Light to this world; in it but not of it!

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. I John 3:18

A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. Proverbs 10:24

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

Points to Ponder:

(C) Shutterstock

1. Do you need someone else to motivate you or do you set your own goals?
2. Can you tell when changes are good or bad when things are changing around you? Do you stand for God's Word when these changes occur?
3. In what situations did you fail to be motivated when you should have been? Why?
4. What areas of your life would improve if you had more Godly initiative?

Make sure your motivation is Christ-centered and pray for your family to have more initiative to help do what He had called each of you to accomplish for His Glory! He will empower you to accomplish what He has called you to do! Do you want your family to make their mark in this fleeting world or will you take the initiative to pray for your family to make a mark for His Eternal Kingdom?

Praying for a New School Year! (E)

WOW!!! 5 days of school are in the books! 
Over, done, finished!

Mark those babies off the calendar! Only 173 more to go...who is counting...all of the senior class and I'm guessing some others may be too...I am! 

(Why did the students eat their homework?...

because the teacher said it was a piece of cake!) 😋 

Now, are you enjoying the beginning of this blessed day?!? Let’s pray for some ENTHUSIASM! Dictionary.com's definition is: "intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval." I can't help but think about how excited my husband and sons get watching the Dallas Cowboys and the Lakers play ball....or maybe my sweet sister-in-Christ watching her beloved PHS Redskins...we really get into things we enjoy in this world.

We need to pray that we each can take that same enthusiasm and level of intensity and put it to work 
for our Lord and Savior. As adults, we need to model this to our children.  The Bible uses several different words for this idea of being filled with enthusiasm like zeal, eager, and wholeheartedness. 
God's Word tells us:

• be “eager to serve” (1 Peter 5:2)
• be “eager for the gifts of the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 14:12)
• have an “eager willingness” to finish the work of faith we’ve begun (2 Corinthians 8:11)
• wait in “eager expectation” for God (Romans 8:9)
• be “eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:14)         ...(paraphrase from guideposts.org 3/22/2013)

God helps us to have and maintain enthusiasm, if we ask Him.  God loves us. He helps us with all of our trials, tribulations, and difficulties. He knows all our pains, sorrows, temptations, and what is going on in our mind even before we think it. He will deliver us when we lean on Him. It is through His strength that we can enthusiastically overcome the heartaches and trials of this world, so that they may bring honor and glory to Him and fulfill His purposes. Christ died for us so we can have a personal relationship with Him. That is enough for us to have a reason to be EXCITED! Pray for your children to have intense enjoyment that only comes from Christ living in them. When this enthusiasm is flowing out of them and us then others will be drawn to us like a magnet and it will open doors for us to share the Good News of Christ's redeeming blood. 

Father God, help us to be a community on fire for you. Help us to have more excitement about You and Your Word than we do in the football stadium each week this season. Ignite flames in each of us and our children so bright and so hot that it cannot be snuffed out by the fiery darts of the evil one. Help us to remember to put on Your full armor every day so that we may be able to withstand the schemes of the devil and keep our enthusiasm.  Help us to teach our children to always draw near to You. Be with our children in school today. 

In the Redeeming Name of Jesus I Pray,  Amen.

Praying for a New School Year! (D)

Today we are praying for Discernment.

Discernment is to "distinguish, examine or search out thoughts and intentions of one's heart." We need to pray that our children develop discerning minds so that they may demonstrate biblical wisdom and insight that goes beyond textbook knowledge. We need to pray for our children to develop a Christian World View and be wise and bold enough to stand for it in a proper manner.

The Bible tells us that worldly people think biblical wisdom is folly and foolishness; they do not understand. However, when we have the Holy Spirit's help and discernment we understand God's Word is living and active...sharper than any two-edged sword. (1 Corinthians 2:14 and Hebrews 4:12)

Pray that your child will understand (discern) the ways of the Lord are right.

Father, help my children to be able to make tough choices. Help them decide over what is "good" and what is the "very best" according to Your Word and the plans you have for their life. Help them to be able to say NO when needed and to say YES if called. Give them wisdom to pick the BEST YES! I know not all good things are part of the loads or burdens that I, Kevin, or my children are meant to carry. Help us to understand and choose which paths you want us to walk and which loads are ours to to carry. I believe that when we are where You have called us to be, then we are surrounded by Your purpose and plans for us.  Please guide each of us each moment of every day to always choose You. Help them and me to always have a love for your people and your Word. Keep us digging deeper and learning more about You so that we may be better witnesses and gain more wisdom to be able to share your love more effectively. Thank you for your unfailing love and mercy and for forgiveness when we don't choose the best yes. In Jesus Christ Name I Pray, Amen.

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12 ESV

"Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them." Hosea 14:9 ESV

Click here to subscribe to my blog!

Praying for a New School Year! (C)

C is for Courage!
Christian Courage is willing to say and do the right thing, regardless of the cost. Courageous acts are often painful either physically or mentally. Christ told us as we spread the Gospel we would meet resistance and that we needed to be courageous.

Sharing our faith with others takes courage. Our students need courage to be the Light to those around them. Pray they will have the courage to take to good news of salvation by faith in Jesus to everyone God has put in their path. We learned in Sutton Children's Church yesterday that the last command Christ told his apostles was The Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15. If these were His last words they must have been very important for us to remember and obey. Pray that our children are courageous enough to proclaim the gospel. Pray that they will learn by our example. We need to be leading by example...we are the only Bible some will ever read.

Heavenly Father,
May my boys, my children's church kids, and their friends always be strong and courageous in their character and faith. Help the attitudes, actions and words to boldly proclaim YOU as their Lord and Savior and point others toward having a personal relationship with You. Help them to not get priorities mixed up and have idols in this fleeting world. I pray that they will always be ready to give an answer for the HOPE that is within them! Place a hedge of protection around them as they step out courageously in this world to do Your Calling on their life. Help them to honor You with all they do and say today.
In Jesus' Precious Name I Pray, Amen.

Great Commission (see also Matthew 28:18-20)

"Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV

"but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect" 1 Peter 3:15 ESV

God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV