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Respite For the Weary
Dear Children,Here are a few Biblical insights from your mother and daddy who love God, and who love each of you, very much. These points focus on the evil that reigns in this world, and how the Lord instructs you to fight against it:1.Be aware of the tactics of the enemy. The Bible says: Be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves (Matt. 10:16). Realize children, as Christians, you are being sent out as sheep in the midst of wolves (Matt. 10:16). This means you need to be ready and wise, as well as untainted by the enticing pleasures of this world. Be on the look-out for anything that might slither into your path and cause you to stumble. Also, realize, evil may come in the form of a person, place, or thing. Keep watching and praying, so your God-given wisdom from above can outwit this crafty serpent from below. Remember, this is the exact same serpent that outsmarted Eve at the beginning of time. He has had a lot of practice, and a lot of success. Continue to ask God for strength and protection to help you turn and walk the other way- or better yet. . .2. Run from your enemy!The Bible says: Flee from youthful lusts . . . (II Tim. 2:22) (Please understand, youthful lusts are tactics of the enemy.) I can assure you, in this case, “running away” is never considered a cowardly act! Do you remember Joseph? He ran away from Pharoh’s wife with all his might. This decision took courage! And by God’s power working in him, he fled, and wisely chose to remain innocent. Also know this truth, if you resist the devil, he will flee from you! (James 4:7) Submit to God, the Commander who loves you, and you will be victorious!3. Choose your combat buddies.I suggest and pray you will choose a few close friends who are like-minded with Jesus Christ. Choose friends you want to be “in the trenches with” --- friends who will hold your hand whenyou’re scared, friends who will fight with you, and sometimes even for you when you are weak. Also, remember, Bad company corrupts good morals (I Cor. 15:33). I urge you not to get involved with a large group that will end up making you compromise all, or even a part of, what you stand for in Christ. It’s okay (actually it is a command) to be a light in this dark world. But do this in a way in which you know, for sure, your candle will not be snuffed out in the process.4. Have the will to win!The Bible says: A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones (Pr. 17:22). Remember, children, in this life, certain things will come your way (be it sickness, or tragedy, or any other trial) which seem evil at the time. These things actually are the “evil” of this world, and these are more of Satan’s tactics that he will use to try and crush your spirit. However, God’s goal through these trials is the opposite. He has allowed them to filter through His hand both for your ultimate good, and His ultimate glory! So ask God to give you perseverance and a joyful heart during these times of turmoil and attack. Remember too, God, who is all wise, never asks us to understand “why” He does what he does. He simply asks us to trust Him for who He is. This will be so very hard when you are searching for concrete answers. But, the alternative to trusting Him is having a dried-up and broken spirit---then the victory will belong to your enemy. You see, he wants you to travel on a downhill spiral only to bury you alive! (He is that cruel!) But, may I, in turn, remind you that Christ, Your Commander, came to men, to revive, and to refill the broken heart! Let Him come to you dear ones; then, watch His rewards of victory, which is incomprehensible peace and over-flowing joy, blossom from your “tilled up” soul.I love you, my dear children, with the precious love of my victorious Savior, and yours, Jesus Christ. All I ever hope to be is wrapped up in His life, death, and resurrection (from II Cor. 5:17-21). May this be your heart’s desire as well.
I love you
Take each point from the above letter and discuss:1. Satan’s tactics; What might his disguises, his lures, his traps look like in your child’s life? For example, in Joseph’s case, Satan used a beautiful, powerful woman (not an old hag) to try and lure him away. Focus on, and even practice the method of turning and running from evil. See how fast each of you can run!2. Friends, both now, and in the future: Stress the importance of deep friendships---ones that will help them grow and mature in their walk with Christ, as opposed to ones that might lure them away from this walk.3. Plant a bulb or a vegetable together. As you dig deep in the messy dirt talk of trials that will come in their lives. Continue to water (and discuss) as you watch over time, a source of beauty grow from the “tilled-up” soil. OR, Make cookies or a cake together. Again, as you add the ingredients, mix them altogether, and put it in the oven to bake, talk of the hardships and fiery trials in this life that will come. However, when the cake or cookies are done, taste and see what was produced from this mixing, this beating, and this baking!
Dear Heavenly Father,So much of the time, I do worry about my children (what might happen to them physically, emotionally, and spiritually) both now, and in the future. Please forgive me for this lack of faith. I know I waste a lot of time and energy that should have been directed elsewhere. Please help me to replace this anxiety with prayers of protection that only You, our refuge, can give.I pray right now, dear God, that you would keep my children far away from anyone whose mouth speaks deceit, and whose right hand is a hand of falsehood (Ps. 144:8) And may those who seek or delight to hurt them be ashamed and humiliated, as well as turned back and dishonored (Ps. 40:14). Please, dear Lord, put a hedge of protection around them, keeping them in Your arms of love, so no evil can come near them.I also pray You will give them the wisdom to recognize evil quickly; and then, give them the ability to turn and flee from it. Thank You, that we can call on You to rescue our soul out of the snare of the evil one. For our help is in the Name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth (Ps. 124:8).I continue to pray, in this same realm of protection, for the friendships each child will have in their lives. Please, dear Father, impress on them the importance of surrounding themselves with good influences, those whose hearts are seeking You. Help them not to even want to follow a corrupt crowd that will lead them down a crooked path, far away from Your presence. Instead, give my children a heart to lead these people down the path of righteousness and peace that only You can give. Please strengthen my children’s hearts and minds so they might influence these wandering friends towards You.I also pray for each one of my children to have beautiful Christ-like role models in their lives. From them, may they learn more of what it’s like to live passionately for You. May my children be able to see how these role models listen and follow the voice of their Savior, the Friend who sticks closer than a brother (Pr. 18:24).Also, dear Lord, I pray for further protection from any kind of (what we, as humans, consider) “tragic” accident in their daily lives of school, play, travel, or any other activity. May You continually give charge to your angels concerning my children, guarding them with Your sword drawn, in all their ways.Finally, dear Father, I ask for bodily protection from the sickness and disease that runs rampant in this world. Put a mighty shield around them, so that the infections will be thwarted away from their bodies. May they make wise choices about what they eat and drink, and give them the desire to exercise (without becoming obsessed with any of these, I pray) so they may have a vigorous heart and strong body. Help them also to realize a spiritually sound mind has a direct impact on their physical well-being (and vice-versa).Father, You are the God of all good, the Shepherd who leads and guides us through all the circumstances of our lives. I trust in You, dear Lord, and I realize this: if any harm does come to my children, or if any accidents do happen, or if any sickness does fall on them, it is not because I have failed to pray to You, or that You have failed as God. I do know it is only because Your good hand has allowed it; therefore, You also will allow good to come from it. Your ways are so much higher than mine, O God, and I want Your ways no matter what. I confess sometimes I pray this prayer with clenched fists of worry and fear. But truly, my heart’s desire is for You to be glorified in the lives of my children. Help me to let go, and then give them to You, dear Father, so You can mold them and make them into your beautiful vessels. You are their potter, as well as their deliverer, their rock, their fortress, and their shield. My heart knows Your hand is so much greater than mine; and there is no better place for them to be.
Amen
Gen. 4:7; II Cor. 1:13-15; Gen. 3:1-7; II Tim. 2:22; Gen. 39:1-12; Ps. 18:24; Pr. 1:10-15; James 1:2-4; Pr. 20:24; Ps. 34:15- 22; Ps. 126:5-6; II Cor. 5:17-21
Phil. 4:6-7; Job 1:10; Pr. 2:6-12; Ps. 18:16-19; Ps. 91:11; Job 1:20-22; Gen. 50:19-20; Is. 55:8-9; Jer. 18:6; Ps. 18:1-3; Ps. 37:23-25
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM’ has sent me to you.” Exodus 3:13-14
Dear Lord,
Help us to remember that when you call us to do something for your Name's sake, you will not leave us alone in the task. Make us realize that you are with us, always. Make us confident in all of who you are so that we can walk forward in all you have called us to do. Amen.