Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2
The four names for God in this psalm describe different aspects of his protection. (1) "Most High" shows him to be greater than any threat we face; (2) "Almighty" emphasizes his power to confront and destroy every enemy; (3) "the Lord" assures us that his presence is always with us; and (4) "my God" expresses the truth that God has chosen to associate intimately with those who trust in him. (Full Life Study Bible, Study Notes)
The name I like the most in this psalm is "ALMIGHTY"! Being the oldest of my mother's children (I have older siblings by my dad), I always wanted a older brother or sister whom I could run to if I needed someone to confront an enemy. Things haven't changed with regard to me wanting that enemy confronted, however; now I know that the enemy is already defeated! We have the whole armor of God to put on and STAND FIRM. All of our weapons are defensive except the word of God which, although it's called a "sword"; we only have to speak it for the offense. The Almighty is the one that destroys every enemy...so glad He's got my back!
Thank you Father for giving us a place of refuge and for being our fortress...our place of "exceptional security". We don't have to worry about anything or anyone when we're in the secret place. We pray that our children seek out the shelter of the Most High God in the midst of their trials. We cannot always be with them, so we pray that they know You as Lord and Your presence is with them WHEN he/she commits themselves to your will and protection. We trust You. In Jesus name, Amen!
Showing posts with label friends of children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label friends of children. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Thursday, May 2, 2013
May 2
God's Word clearly instructs us: "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14) That doesn't mean our children can never have a non believing friend. But there is clear implication that their closest friends, ones to whom they have strong ties, should be believers. (Power of a Praying Parent, Stormie Omartian)
I'm so glad that Ms. Omartian said, "that doesn't mean our children can never have a non believing friend" because occasionally I struggle with 'filtering' friends for my children, especially the younger ones. I mean, who wants to tell their ten year old that he/she can't have a play date with another child because the child's dad smokes weed or because the child's mom cusses like a sailor. What we do as protection, may come off as judgment to our children...and in reality, it's a very thin line between the two.
In verse 14 above, Paul refers to the OT Mosaic law that God gave to His people who were engaged in agriculture. God told the people not to yoke together an oxen and an ass (donkey). One was 'clean' and the other was 'unclean'. I won't even go into the clean and unclean aspect but can you just get a visual of an ox and a donkey, connected at the neck, side by side...my spiritual eye and mind tells me that this 'relationship' is not conducive to harmony and productivity! See link below...
http://revnadinedraytonkeen.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/yoked-donkey-and-ox.jpg
The interesting thing about what Paul says is that he uses being unequally yoked metaphorically because "the apostle is forbidding Christians to have intercourse with idolaters." (Thayer's Greek Lexicon). This reference speaks to intimate, close relationships and strong ties that are not only forbidden, but also extremely challenging between believers and unbelievers. "Therefore believers must not be in voluntary partnership or in intimate association with unbelievers, for such relationships can corrupt their relationship with Christ. This includes partnership in business, secret orders (lodges), dating, marriage and close friendships. A Christian's association with unbelievers should be only such as is necessary for social or economic existence, or to show unbelievers the way of salvation." (Full Life Study Bible, Study Notes)
God we pray right now for the salvation and righteousness of the friends closest to our children. If the friend is a believer, we pray that he/she be strengthened in Christ this very minute so that if/when our child needs to lean on him/her; this dear friend will be able to keep our son/daughter propped up! If the friend is an unbeliever, let our child lift Jesus in a way that will allow the friend to see Christ and be drawn to Him. The day will come when we may not be able to get to our child, but we take peace in knowing that our prayers for them being equally yoked with friends who are believers has been heard. In Jesus name, Amen!
I'm so glad that Ms. Omartian said, "that doesn't mean our children can never have a non believing friend" because occasionally I struggle with 'filtering' friends for my children, especially the younger ones. I mean, who wants to tell their ten year old that he/she can't have a play date with another child because the child's dad smokes weed or because the child's mom cusses like a sailor. What we do as protection, may come off as judgment to our children...and in reality, it's a very thin line between the two.
In verse 14 above, Paul refers to the OT Mosaic law that God gave to His people who were engaged in agriculture. God told the people not to yoke together an oxen and an ass (donkey). One was 'clean' and the other was 'unclean'. I won't even go into the clean and unclean aspect but can you just get a visual of an ox and a donkey, connected at the neck, side by side...my spiritual eye and mind tells me that this 'relationship' is not conducive to harmony and productivity! See link below...
http://revnadinedraytonkeen.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/yoked-donkey-and-ox.jpg
The interesting thing about what Paul says is that he uses being unequally yoked metaphorically because "the apostle is forbidding Christians to have intercourse with idolaters." (Thayer's Greek Lexicon). This reference speaks to intimate, close relationships and strong ties that are not only forbidden, but also extremely challenging between believers and unbelievers. "Therefore believers must not be in voluntary partnership or in intimate association with unbelievers, for such relationships can corrupt their relationship with Christ. This includes partnership in business, secret orders (lodges), dating, marriage and close friendships. A Christian's association with unbelievers should be only such as is necessary for social or economic existence, or to show unbelievers the way of salvation." (Full Life Study Bible, Study Notes)
God we pray right now for the salvation and righteousness of the friends closest to our children. If the friend is a believer, we pray that he/she be strengthened in Christ this very minute so that if/when our child needs to lean on him/her; this dear friend will be able to keep our son/daughter propped up! If the friend is an unbeliever, let our child lift Jesus in a way that will allow the friend to see Christ and be drawn to Him. The day will come when we may not be able to get to our child, but we take peace in knowing that our prayers for them being equally yoked with friends who are believers has been heard. In Jesus name, Amen!
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
April 30
Parents often have gut-level feelings about their children's friends. When that happens, ask God for Holy Spirit-inspired discernment and pray accordingly. (Power of a Praying Parent, Stormie Omartian)
Isn't it interesting that in verse 46 Jesus refers to Judas as his 'betrayer' and then turns around in verse 50 and calls him 'friend'?!!? The word 'friend' is the Greek word hetairos (he-tī'-ros) and it means 'kindly address'...almost like a formality. We know that Jesus was aware of what had to happen and I believe that He discerned Judas' intentions as Judas approached. I totally agree with what Ms. Omartian says about parents having that "gut-level" feeling when it comes to our children's friends. I don't apologize for it and I'll admit I haven't always discerned every 'friend' but believe me when I say; when I do get that feeling...I'm usually right! God has even showed me, in dreams, things about those connected to my children and I don't take it lightly. I've never let my children play with just anybody and overnight stays are only approved after I've done a thorough background investigation (paralegal and court background come in handy). Call me snooty, snobbish and overprotective all you want, but the ones that hurt us most are usually the ones we allow closest to us...the ones we call 'friend'.
On the other hand, James 2:24 says; "And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God." Unlike hetairos, the word for 'friend' in James 2:24 is philos (fē'-los) which translated means "dear to God, peculiarly favored with His intimacy". Using this as the standard, anyone claiming to be a friend to my children, need to have his/her best interest at heart. The friend should challenge him/her if he/she is wrong; the friend should hold him/her accountable and most importantly, the friend should be a philos of God as well.
Lord, as we strive to raise our children in Your word and to walk according to Your spirit; help us to always discern and pray for our children's friends. We know that friendship with the world is hatred toward You. Therefore, if any of our children's friends are connected with, revel in or cling to the world; we pray that the door to the relationship be closed! We declare that our children will godly friendships with persons after Your own heart. We declare that our children will have friends that "sharpen" them in the word of God. John 15:13-16 says, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I have learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you..." Thank you for choosing us and calling us friend...You are the friend who sticks closer than a brother. In Jesus name, Amen!
Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!” 47 And even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests and elders of the people. 48 The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.” 49 So Judas came straight to Jesus. “Greetings, Rabbi!” he exclaimed and gave him the kiss. 50 Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.” Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. Matthew 26:45-50 (NLT)
Isn't it interesting that in verse 46 Jesus refers to Judas as his 'betrayer' and then turns around in verse 50 and calls him 'friend'?!!? The word 'friend' is the Greek word hetairos (he-tī'-ros) and it means 'kindly address'...almost like a formality. We know that Jesus was aware of what had to happen and I believe that He discerned Judas' intentions as Judas approached. I totally agree with what Ms. Omartian says about parents having that "gut-level" feeling when it comes to our children's friends. I don't apologize for it and I'll admit I haven't always discerned every 'friend' but believe me when I say; when I do get that feeling...I'm usually right! God has even showed me, in dreams, things about those connected to my children and I don't take it lightly. I've never let my children play with just anybody and overnight stays are only approved after I've done a thorough background investigation (paralegal and court background come in handy). Call me snooty, snobbish and overprotective all you want, but the ones that hurt us most are usually the ones we allow closest to us...the ones we call 'friend'.
On the other hand, James 2:24 says; "And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God." Unlike hetairos, the word for 'friend' in James 2:24 is philos (fē'-los) which translated means "dear to God, peculiarly favored with His intimacy". Using this as the standard, anyone claiming to be a friend to my children, need to have his/her best interest at heart. The friend should challenge him/her if he/she is wrong; the friend should hold him/her accountable and most importantly, the friend should be a philos of God as well.
Lord, as we strive to raise our children in Your word and to walk according to Your spirit; help us to always discern and pray for our children's friends. We know that friendship with the world is hatred toward You. Therefore, if any of our children's friends are connected with, revel in or cling to the world; we pray that the door to the relationship be closed! We declare that our children will godly friendships with persons after Your own heart. We declare that our children will have friends that "sharpen" them in the word of God. John 15:13-16 says, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I have learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you..." Thank you for choosing us and calling us friend...You are the friend who sticks closer than a brother. In Jesus name, Amen!
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