“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” Mark 16:16

The pastor asked the inhabitants of the island how someone could be saved.

An old man replied, “We will be saved if we repent, and forsake our sins, and turn to God.”

“Yes,” said a middle-aged female, “and with a true heart too.”

“I agree,” answered a third, “and with prayer.” And, added a fourth, “It must be the prayer from the heart.”

“And we must be diligent too,” said a fifth, “and keep the commandments.”

After each had contributed to the discussion, they felt that a decent creed had been compiled. They all turned and waited for the pastor’s approval. But instead, they had aroused deep pity in his heart.

The worldly mind always tries to map out a way we can do works and become great, but the Lord’s way is just the opposite. Believing and being baptized aren’t deeds to be gloried in. They are so simple that boasting is impossible, and God deserves all the praise for the free grace He has given.

To believe is simply to trust, to depend, to rely on Christ Jesus. To be baptized is to submit to the ordinance which our Lord fulfilled at Jordan, to which the earliest believers submitted at Pentecost, and to which the jailer obeyed the night of his conversion. The outward sign of baptism does not save, but it encompasses our death, burial, and resurrection with Jesus, and, like the Lord’s Supper, shouldn’t be neglected.

It may be that you are unsaved. What is the reason? Do you think Jesus’ singular path of salvation is unclear? But how can that be when God has given us His own word and His assurance of its clarity? Do you think it is too easy? Why, then, do you not accept and embrace it? Its ease leaves those who choose to neglect it without excuse.

If you are not a believer, then remember there is only one door, and if you will not enter by it you will perish in your sins. But if you do believe in Jesus, then my dear friend, dismiss your fears, for you will surely be saved.

Question: Do we sometimes put too much confidence in our own good works? How can we begin to focus more on God?

Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon,
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2009.
used by permission

FURTHER READING

Believe and Love

What We Believe, We Attract

Don’t Be Afraid, Just Believe

The post Believe and Be Saved appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.”  1 Thessalonians 5:14

There are hurting people everywhere, but at times we just don’t know what to say or do to ease their pain. Here are six practical ways to bear someone else’s burden.

1. Be there. At times the best “method” of helping is simply to be present. During our darkest hours, we don’t need someone who tries in vain to fix everything; we just need a friend.

2. Listen. Don’t attempt to give answers or tell people what to do next. Injured souls frequently want simply a listening ear so they can express what’s on their mind.

3. Share. Never parade yourself as someone who has all the answers. Instead, allow your own pain and failures to help others.

4. Pray. There is power in speaking people’s names before the Lord. When they hear someone talk to Jesus on their behalf, healing often starts taking place.

5. Give. Sometimes helping others involves more than a handshake or warm hug. Maybe they need something financial or material. One of the best measures of sincerity is how much we’re willing to give to others.

6. Substitute. You may know an individual who bears the burden of caring for someone else. If you step in and take his or her place for a while, you are emulating your Savior–He, too, was a substitute.

Because we were unable to do it ourselves, Jesus bore all of our sin and sorrow, even unto death. As a result, we can live happily and eternally in communion with our Father. If Christ did that for us, how can we ever say, “I’m too busy to bear someone else’s burden“?

By Dr. Charles Stanley
Used by Permission
https://www.intouch.org/

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FURTHER READING

Caring For Others

Love’s Uncomfortable

Uncomfortable

Comforter to the Downcast

The post Practical Ways to Bear Burdens appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  Ephesians 2:10

Do you yearn to live a life of significance? During a season of vocational and spiritual discontent, I silently prayed, “Surely there’s more to life than this…” A relentless restlessness resonated in my soul. Initially, I ignored my uneasiness, because I was comfortable with life as usual, but internally, I felt unfulfilled and empty. So I started asking God to help me discover a dynamic and thriving faith.

By divine design, God has integrated an insatiable desire for significance into our spiritual DNA. Often, we try to fulfill this yearning by prioritizing fame, fortune, or other temporal treasures and pleasures, which may appear to satiate us temporarily. However, the aching emptiness persists and reverberates in our souls.

Paul reminds us that God created us anew to live a life of selfless significance – a life of good works that God prepared in advance – a life that fully and faithfully shares and reflects Him. Paul, Luke, and others practiced occupations while prioritizing sharing the gospel in word and deed.

Are you seeking soul significance? I rediscovered soul significance while serving on a community outreach team. God challenged me to transcend cultural and occupational obligations and expectations and to faithfully share Him with the community. Whether you are a preacher, physician, poet, or plumber, God has redeemed you to experience a thriving and dynamic faith journey – a journey that reflects eternal significance and influence.

It is only when we fully realize our value and potential in Him and surrender to His direction and influence that the aching restlessness subsides and we begin to live with abiding joy and satisfaction.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for creating me anew in Christ Jesus. Help me to reevaluate my priorities and to discover and embrace the good works you have planned for me. Open opportunities for me to reflect my faith with those in my community. Enable me to experience a thriving and dynamic faith through selfless service. Amen.

By Allan Mitchell
Used by permission

Allan also writes for https://www.thelife.com/dailydevotions

FURTHER READING

Success to Significance

A Christian Perspective on Life and Living

His Life in Us

The post Seeking Soul Significance appeared first on Thoughts About God.

Embrace it. Accept it. Don’t resist it. Change is not only a part of life; change is a necessary part of God’s strategy. To use us to change the world, he alters our assignments. Gideon: from farmer to general; Mary: from peasant girl to the mother of Christ; Paul: from local rabbi to world evangelist. God transitioned Joseph from a baby brother to an Egyptian prince. He changed David from a shepherd to a king. Peter wanted to fish the Sea of Galilee. God called him to lead the first church. God makes reassignments.

But, someone might ask, what about the tragic changes God permits? Some seasons make no sense – do such moments serve a purpose?

They do if we see them from an eternal perspective. What makes no sense in this life will make perfect sense in the next. I have proof: you in the womb.

I know you don’t remember this prenatal season, so let me remind you what happened during it. Every gestation day equipped you for your earthly life. Your bones solidified, your eyes developed, the umbilical cord transported nutrients into your growing frame – for what reason? So you might remain enwombed? Quite the contrary. Womb time equipped you for earth time, suited you up for your postpartum existence.

Some prenatal features went unused before birth. You grew a nose but didn’t breathe. Eyes developed, but could you see? Your tongue, toenails, and crop of hair served no function in your mother’s belly. But aren’t you glad you have them now?

Certain chapters in this life seem so unnecessary, like nostrils on the pre-born. Suffering. Loneliness. Disease. Holocausts. Martyrdom. Monsoons. If we assume this world exists just for happiness, these atrocities disqualify it from doing so. But what if this earth is the womb? Might these challenges, severe as they may be, serve to prepare us, equip us for the world to come? As Paul wrote, “These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing.”  2 Corinthians 4:17 (CEV).

By Max Lucado
From:  Fearless
Used by permission

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
https://maxlucado.com/about/

FURTHER READING

When Life’s Menu Changes

Facing Changes

Hope Changes Everything

The post Make Friends with Whatever’s Next appeared first on Thoughts About God.

When life falls apart, what do you do?

All of us face hard circumstances—and some of these are very painful situations that last a long time. Unless we have a purposeful focus, joy can fade and hope may seem unattainable.

King David experienced extreme hardships, including the grief of losing both a child and a best friend. He also endured Saul’s attempts to kill him and, later on, a rebellion led by his own son. But even in hard times, David found hope and peace in God.

Why was David able to trust in the Lord? Because he knew how to meditate. That is, he focused his mind and spirit on God’s character, ways, and will in order to know the Lord better and obey Him.

What do you think about during the day? Do you set aside time to dwell solely on Jesus? Remind yourself periodically to bring your attention back to the Creator—one way to do this is to read several psalms and notice how the author refocuses on almighty God.

By continually focusing on God, David found peace in the midst of turmoil. We would be wise to follow his example. During times of difficulty, set your eyes on the Father and meditate on His Word.

Psalm 145:1-21

I will ^]extol You, my God, O King; And I will bless Your name forever and ever. ² Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever. ³ Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
And His greatness is ^]unsearchable.

⁴ One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts. ^{5 ]}I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And^]on Your wondrous works. ⁶ Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, And I will declare Your greatness. ⁷ They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, And shall sing of Your righteousness. ⁸ The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy. ⁹ The Lord is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works. ¹⁰ All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, And Your saints shall bless You. ¹¹ They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, And talk of Your power, ¹² To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, And the glorious majesty of His kingdom. ¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all ^]generations.

¹⁴ The Lord upholds all who fall, And raises up all who are bowed down. ¹⁵ The eyes of all look expectantly to You, And You give them their food in due season. ¹⁶ You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

¹⁷ The Lord is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works. ¹⁸ The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. ¹⁹ He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. ²⁰ The Lord preserves all who love Him, But all the wicked He will destroy. ²¹ My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord,  And all flesh shall bless His holy name
Forever and ever.

By Dr. Charles Stanley
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

In Distress

Trouble and Distress

All Stressed Up and Nowhere to Go

The post The Moments That Sustain Us appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled“ Hebrews 12:15

It is impossible to pass through this world without being struck by injustice or heartache. Unless we process our struggles in Christ, a single wounding of our soul can create a deep bitterness within us, poisoning our very existence. In my forty-six years of ministry, I have known far too many Christians who have perfected the art of looking polite while living inwardly with an angry, cynical or resentful spirit. They have swallowed the poison of bitterness, and they are dying spiritually because of it. The problem is that, as Christians, we know it is wrong to react with open anger toward people. However, rather than truly forgiving and surrendering that injustice to God, we suppress our anger. Anger is a result of perceived injustice. Suppressed anger always degrades into bitterness, which is, in reality, unfulfilled revenge.

Embittered People

A bitter soul is trapped in a time warp; the person dwells in the memory of their pain. Several years ago I met a woman who had suffered a difficult divorce. I talked with her every six months or so for two years, and each time we talked she said exactly the same negative things about her ex-husband. Although she was divorced from him, she was now married to a bitter spirit that held her captive to her heartache.

An embittered soul continually blames others for their situation. I’m thinking of Naomi in the Book of Ruth. Here was a person who blamed her bitterness on God. She was angry that He allowed hardship and loss in her life. “The Lord has brought me back empty” (Ruth 1:21). In effect she was saying, My sorrow is God’s fault.

Contrast her life with that of Job’s first encounter with loss (Job 1). Job lost his children and possessions, yet he bowed and worshiped: “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).

How we handle sorrow reveals the depth of our worship of God. When life cuts us, do we bleed bitterness or worship? Job bowed and drew close to God. Naomi withdrew and talked about the Lord with her back toward Him. I have dear friends who lost their only son when he was a teenager. In the midst of their heartache, they have become examples to everyone of true worship. Over the years, their pain actually purified and deepened their worship; their suffering made them more compassionate toward the suffering of others (See 2 Corinthians 1:3-4). I also know others who have suffered the sudden loss of a loved one and, within weeks, withdrew from God and became embittered. Adversity does not perfect character; it reveals character. It exposes what is happening inside of us.

Poisoned

In ancient times mankind experimented with vegetation, seeking to learn which plants were edible and which were poisonous. In his search, he discovered that, generally speaking, if a plant or fruit was sweet, it was usually safe to eat; bitter plants, man discovered, would either sicken or kill. Likewise, the bitter experiences of life, if we ingest them into our spirits, can become a spiritual poison that destroys our hopeful expectations and attitudes. Such an experience may enter your soul via a relational wound or injustice; it can begin through a major disappointment or loss. However, once bitterness enters the human soul, like ink spreading in a glass of water, it can darken every aspect of our existence.

Indeed, not only can bitterness ruin our lives, Hebrews warns that a root of bitterness can “defile many” (Hebrews 12:15 NIV). A spiritual root of bitterness is a hidden, unresolved anger that is buried beneath the surface of our lives. Outwardly we look “properly Christian,” until we begin to discuss with others the situation where someone hurt us. As we speak, that root “springs up” and it defiles others. If you haven’t dealt with your bitterness, beware when you speak to others, lest you defile them with your words. If you are listening to an embittered person, take heed that the spirit of bitterness is not being transferred to your life as well!

God desires to rescue us from bitterness so we can truly love and laugh again. Let us, therefore, sincerely approach the throne of God’s grace and ask Him to show us the garden of our hearts. Yes, and let us see if our souls are truly free of the root of bitterness.

By Francis Frangipane
Used by Permission

If you don’t know Jesus in a personal way you can begin a relationship with him today. The first step is a prayer telling him you believe He is who He says He is and a second step is surrendering control of your will and life to him.  These can be communicated in a simple prayer (prayer is talking to God):

“Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.”

FURTHER READING

• Lessons from Life: the Garden
• The Careful Gardener
• My Unfruitful Garden

Francis Frangipane
info@frangipane.org
www.frangipane.org
www.icitc.org
www.arrowbookstore.com

The post Bitterness in the Garden of Our Hearts appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!” Galatians 1:6-9

When a friend first stated the phrase, it immediately got my attention. He said that what we are seeing in the world is not so much a turning from God, but a secularization of spirituality. He is so right.

People still say “God bless you,” and organizations still have generic invocations and benedictions. It makes us feel good to know that we are invoking God’s blessings, but society says to be very careful in quoting scripture, if you do it at all and certainly don’t mention or talk about Jesus, as it might offend someone, or be considered politically incorrect. People identify with the Christian faith though not having a clue of what goes on in a church or much less having attended in person.

Many people in contemporary society say that God is dead, but they are not quite ready to conduct the funeral. Instead, they want a designer faith that makes them feel good. Most people in every society that has been studied are born with a thirst for religion. It was Voltaire who said that if God didn’t exist, man would have to invent him.

The Bible says that it was God who invented man in His own image, not the other way around. Yet in a rapidly growing post modern era, more and more people want to re-create God in their image and with Him have a sense of spirituality that accommodates their need for belief for a superior being without interfering with the life style they want to lead.

Paul was clear in speaking to the church at Galatia when he said that a “different” gospel is no gospel at all. The Gospel is not like computer software with its continual updates. Can you imagine Matthew, Mark, Luke and John 2.0? We cannot keep adding patches that make it better or tweak it to make it more user friendly. It is not ours, but Gods, and any attempt on our part to make it more to our own liking is wrong.

The Bible is the inerrant and holy Word of God. May we always remember to honor and obey it and to keep it Holy. May we alter our lifestyle to live a holy life and not adulterate God’s Word to accommodate our own lifestyle wishes.
(a thought on life from John Grant)

By John Grant
used by permission
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

FURTHER READING

Spirituality

Pray and Seek My Face

The Transcendent Life

The post The Secularization of Spirituality appeared first on Thoughts About God.

How would you answer if someone were to ask, “Do you feel good about yourself?” Would your thoughts be filled with self-doubt and second-guessing, or would you be able to stand tall and say, “Yes, I do”?

There are many behaviours and attitudes that clearly cross boundaries—such as unforgiveness, adultery, and greed. But insecurity is different. It’s more like a slow flame burning just beneath the surface, influencing our thoughts and subtly harming us from within. This issue is harder to identify, but it’s powerful and can impact how we respond to God’s call.

What do we mean by insecurity? It’s a feeling of inadequacy, often compounded by a sense of complete helplessness, purposelessness, disapproval, or rejection. All of these things can slowly accumulate and weigh us down if we don’t learn how to identify them.

Try spending time today in earnest prayer and honest self-discovery. Ask the heavenly Father to shine His light on any area of insecurity that may be a burden on your heart. Let Him remind you just how special you are in His eyes. After all, our value comes from being God’s children, and that will never change.

Romans 8:33-39

33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.” 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord

By Dr. Charles Stanley
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

The Gift of Forgiveness

God Forgave our Sins, Past, Present and Future

How to Experience God’s Love and Forgiveness (3 parts)

The post The Slow Burn of Insecurity appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Fathers, do not make your children angry; but raise them with the training and teaching of the Lord”. Ephesians 6:4

When I come home from work and see those little noses pressed against the windowpane, then I know I’m a success.—Paul Faulkner

Today is Father’s Day. A day of cologne. A day of hugs, new neckties, long-distance telephone calls, and Hallmark cards.

Today is my first Father’s Day without a father. For thirty-one years I had one. I had one of the best. But now he’s gone. He’s buried under an oak tree in a west Texas cemetery. Even though he’s gone, his presence is very near—especially today.

It seems strange that he isn’t here. I guess that’s because he was never gone. He was always close by. Always available. Always present. His words were nothing novel. His achievements, though admirable, were nothing extraordinary.

But his presence was….

Like a warm fireplace in a large house, he was a source of comfort. Like a sturdy porch swing or a big-branched elm in the backyard, he could always be found … and leaned upon.

During the turbulent years of my adolescence, Dad was one part of my life that was predictable. Girlfriends came and girlfriends went, but Dad was there.

Football season turned into baseball season and turned into football season again and Dad was always there. Summer vacation, Homecoming dates, algebra, first car, driveway basketball—they all had one thing in common: his presence.

And because he was there life went smoothly. The car always ran, the bills got paid, and the lawn stayed mowed. Because he was there the laughter was fresh and the future was secure.

Because he was there my growing up was what God intended growing up to be: a storybook scamper through the magic and mystery of the world. Because he was there we kids never worried about things like income tax, savings accounts, monthly bills or mortgages. Those were the things on Daddy’s desk.

We have lots of family pictures without him. Not because he wasn’t there, but because he was always behind the camera.

He made the decisions, broke up the fights, chuckled at Archie Bunker, read the paper every evening, and fixed breakfast on Sundays. He didn’t do anything unusual. He only did what dads are supposed to do—be there.

He taught me how to shave and how to pray. He helped me memorize verses for Sunday school and taught me that wrong should be punished and that rightness has its own reward. He modeled the importance of getting up early and of staying out of debt. His life expressed the elusive balance between ambition and self-acceptance.

He comes to mind often. When I smell “Old Spice” after-shave, I think of him. When I see a bass boat, I see his face. And occasionally, not too often, but occasionally when I hear a good joke (the kind Red Skelton would tell), I hear him chuckle. He had a copyright chuckle that always came with a wide grin and arched eyebrows.

Daddy never said a word to me about sex nor told me his life story. But I knew that if I ever wanted to know, he would tell me. All I had to do was ask. And I knew if I ever needed him, he’d be there.

Like a warm fireplace.

Maybe that’s why this Father’s Day is a bit chilly. The fire has gone out. The winds of age swallowed the last splendid flame, leaving only golden embers. But there is a strange thing about those embers, stir them a bit and a flame will dance. It will dance only briefly, but it will dance And it will knock just enough chill out of the air to remind me that he is still in a special way, very present.

by Max Lucado
used by permission

From: “A Good Dad is There for His Children” taken from God Came Near © 1987

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
https://www.maxlucado.com/info/view/about_max_lucado/

FATHERHOOD

A Call to Fatherhood

Godly Fathers – a Biblical perspective

Leaving a Legacy for Christ

How Will You be Remembered?

A Good Dad is “There” for His Children 

Ten Things to Teach your Son about True Manhood – by John Grant

Bible Verses for Fathers

Quotes about Fathers

STORIES Of Dads or about Dads

We Asked You ‘What is Special about Your Father?‘ This is what you said.

My Dad’s Love – Frank shares a true story of how his father’s love affected his life.

How my Son Changed my Priorities.  The Ed Becker story

My Daddy is a Man – Lessons from a 3 year old on what it means to really love our heavenly father.

My Lunch with Dad

Norm Brown’s story – Our first child was born – a daughter. She had cerebral palsy and God has used her to teach me patience, compassion, love and understanding. I can thank God every day for our daughter. She is a special gift from God.

Unending Guilt – a woman couldn’t forgive herself for going against her father’s wishes.

The post A Good Dad is “There” for His Children appeared first on Thoughts About God.

A Prayer for My Children

Heavenly Father, thank You for my children’s salvation. Thank You for choosing them to be children of mine and Yours.

Thank You for lavishing Your riches and inheritance on them, even though they could do nothing to earn it or deserve it.

Guide Their Steps

I pray for my children’s legs. May they always walk with You. Keep them from racing ahead, lagging behind, or wandering away.

Day by day, help them walk with Jesus so that He is their constant companion. God, take them where You want them to go. Keep them from the places they should not go.

Give them strength when they feel weak. Give them courage to keep walking with You, even when the road ahead looks uncertain and dim.

Also, give them grace to bridge gaps, leap walls, and span the separations between people and groups.

Help Them Stand Firm

I pray for my children’s feet. Place them where You want them to stand. Plant their feet on the immovable rock of Jesus.

When storms come, or when the world tries to lure them down its path, speak to their hearts. Whisper to their spirits, “Stand firm.”

Use Their Hands and Arms

Through my children’s arms, do Your work. Strengthen them, hold them up, and direct them to do whatever You want them to do.

Make their time valuable for eternity, not just for the brief span of their days on earth.

I pray for my children’s hands. May they often fold them in prayer. Make them mighty in prayer, and teach them to pray after Your own heart.

Enable them to live in such a way that others will see Your signature on their lives: “This one is the Lord’s.”

Strengthen Their Will and Character

Give my children the patience to wait on You, Lord. Renew their spirits so they may soar as on eagle’s wings.

By Your power, make their will as strong as iron when they cling to what is good and resist evil. Cause them to be unyielding in following righteousness and rejecting anything that is not pure, holy, and completely from You.

At the same time, make their wills toward You as pliable as spun silk. When You convict them of sin or show them their own ways, give them tender hearts and teachable spirits.

I pray for my children’s character. Make it strong and godly. Use godly men and women to mold, shape, and weave their character, beliefs, and view of You.

Keep Their Conscience Clear

By Your grace, help their conscience stay clear. Teach them to keep a short list of accounts with You.

Help them quickly acknowledge their wrongs and confess their sin. Give them humility to seek forgiveness from those they offend.

Also, enlarge their hearts so they can forgive freely when they are wronged, even before forgiveness is asked for.

Guard Their Hearts and Bodies

I pray for my children’s hearts. Guard them. Keep them protected, covered, shielded, and sheltered from all harm.

Make their hearts soft when compassion is needed. Make them firm when tough love is required. Above all, keep their hearts holy.

By Your power, protect their bodies. Keep them well and safe. Heal them when they are sick or injured.

Hold them and comfort them when they are afraid, lonely, sad, or discouraged. Give them the strength and courage to keep going when they feel they cannot go any farther.

Fill Their Minds with Wisdom

I pray for my children’s minds. When it comes to the things of Christ, fill them with knowledge and wisdom.

When it comes to the things of sin, keep them innocent. Give them Your wisdom and discernment to evaluate what they see.

Light their eyes with the light of Christ shining within them. Filter what they see through holy filters.

Protect them and keep them, because the devil masquerades as an angel of light. Give them holy understanding to see past the surface, view the world from Your perspective, and respond as You would.

Guide What They Hear and Say

Father, put Your Word in my children’s ears and hearts often. Keep them from listening to unwise counsel or foolish talk.

Instead, lead them to seek Your wisdom and Your ways all their days.

I pray for my children’s mouths. May words of praise and prayer always be on their lips.

Keep them from speaking rashly or without thought. Let their words bring honor and glory to You.

I also pray for my children’s countenances. May their faces reflect Your glory and the radiance of the hope that is alive within them.

Teach Them Stewardship

Sanctify their pocketbooks. Teach them to be good stewards of what You give them.

Show them the principles of Your economy. Teach them how to manage and use the things You lend them.

Beyond finances and possessions, make them good stewards of their talents, time, and opportunities.

Help them remember that everything belongs to You. Because of that, they do not need to worry or fear loss.

Keep Them in Christ

I pray that they will abide in righteousness and live worthy of the One who purchased their lives from destruction and eternal death.

Show them that life is in Christ alone. There is no other lasting source of life, joy, light, peace, comfort, love, or truth.

No one else is pure or holy but You.

Final Prayer

Father-God, I place all these things in Your hands. I pray in the name of the One who is able to do all things, beyond anything we ask or imagine.

To Him be all glory, honor, and praise. Amen.

By Charley Gunter
Used by Permission.

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More Prayers

• Praying for Children
• Another Prayer for Our Children

• Prayer for Me as a Parent and My Family

The post A Father’s Prayer appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.”  Proverbs 20:7 (NLT)

Scripture and history show us that as goes the home, so goes the society. And generally speaking, as go the fathers, so goes the home. The moral and spiritual condition of the society is always the offspring of the family.

We live in a day and in a culture that tries to minimize fathers, who are so important in the development of their children. The Bible is clear that fathers are to be spiritual leaders in the home. Dads have a vital role in bringing strength and stability to the home.

Read Deuteronomy 6:4-10. It has been called the Magna Carta of the home, which would guarantee the happiness and well-being of the family in the purpose of God. It tells us to love God with all our minds, beings, and strength, and to teach that to our children.

Proverbs 22:6 says this: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” And in Proverbs 13:22, it says: “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children.” Most people think of that as a monetary inheritance, but it applies to leaving a spiritual legacy as well.

The role of the father is to plant acorns to grow mighty oak trees. It is more important to leave a spiritual legacy than a financial one.

Fathers should love their children as much as their heavenly Father loves them.

Father, I pray for all fathers that they may rise up and instill the gospel in their children, for the sake of this generation and for generations to come. Amen.

By John Grant
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•  Father’s Day   Articles and Stories

•   Praying for Children

•  Godly Fathers

The post A Call to Fatherhood appeared first on Thoughts About God.

Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” A glimpse of God’s goodness changes us. If He is only slightly stronger than us, why pray? If He has limitations, questions, and hesitations, then you might as well pray to the Wizard of Oz.

Psalm 68:5-6 says, God is “a father to the fatherless. He sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity.”

Pray with me!

Dear God. Today remind me today that you protect me. Be my father and defender. Defend those who’re weak and afraid and feel forgotten. Show up in their lives today. Thank you for giving me a spiritual family that can never be taken away. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.

At any point you’re only a prayer away from help!

By Max Lucado
From: Before Amen
Used by permission

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:    
https://maxlucado.com/about-max/

FURTHER READING

God Is Our Loving Father

God our Father

Alphabet Of The Father Heart of God

The post God is Father to the Fatherless appeared first on Thoughts About God.