Raising Rechabites (faithful children)

Thursday’s Reading: Jeremiah 35

What an amazing testimony of faithfulness in the lives of sons and what a testimony to the faithfulness of a father.  How many of our children when grown would willing remain submissive to a command like Jonadab’s? Jonadab commanded that his sons not drink any wine, not build a house, not sow seed, not plant or have a vineyard, but live in tents all their days. When God wanted to use an illustration of faithfulness to point out Israel’s unfaithfulness God went straight for the Rechabites; they illustrated faithfulness.

Father, I pray for my children and for myself. May I be a father that instills in my children the value of joyful obedience to God. Make faithfulness to You a characteristic of our household.  May people think of us and think of joyful obedience in all things. The temptation to give up will be great. The desire for easy parenting and quick fixes will always be there and at times be close to unbearable.  Lord, be my strength.  Christ, be my righteousness and my source of abundant life.  I want to raise joyful children alive and strong in Christ. I fear raising Pharisees who have a form of godliness but deny it’s power. Help me Father to be the dad my children need.

In Christ,

Amen

Pray for true words

Friday’s Reading: Jeremiah 28 & Mark 14

Father, I pray for the prophets you have sent. I pray for the pastors who proclaim your truth from your word.  Give them a hunger for knowing you from your word. Give them knowledge. And Lord please give them boldness to proclaim what is true. Do not let them fear man in any form; may they only fear you. I pray my pastor will not run in the face of difficulty or persecution. I ask that he would be a man of knoweldge, boldness, and endurance. When times are hard give him Christ’s joy of enduring the cross. When times are good give him a grateful spirit. In every season make my pastor a man who prays without ceasing and rejoices in all things.  Make him like Christ.

In Jesus’ name

Amen