Promise for Today - Our Generations

But Agrippa did answer: “Keep this up much longer and you’ll make a Christian out of me!”

Paul, still in chains, said, “That’s what I’m praying for, whether now or later, and not only you but everyone listening today, to become like me—except, of course, for this prison jewelry!”
Acts 26:28-29 The Message

My youngest granddaughter and I are great friends. We love to be together - to do nothing or to do something, it doesn't matter. We just like to be together. The scary part of it is that although 60 years separate us, we are very much alike. Sometimes, when I see my own less-than-desirable stubborn traits surface in her, I remind her parents, "We need to pray harder!" Although I will say, they are doing a fine job of raising her in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Praise God!

My siblings and I are now the oldest generation in our family. It's amazing to see the 4th generation of children in my older brothers' lines; especially when I think of all the history that is represented there and back just a couple of generations. My maternal grandfather was saved a little over a hundred years ago. His life drastically changed, thus altering the path forward of the generations to follow. Thank You, God! For each generation is affected for good or for evil by the previous. 

Think about the generations of Herods. In his attempt to kill Jesus, Herod the Great wiped out all male babes two and under - the age group he figured Jesus would be in from the first he heard of Him. Herod Agrippa I (his grandson) is written about in Acts 12: "On an appointed day, Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. And the people were shouting, 'The voice of a god, and not of a man!' Immediately, an angel of the Lord struck him down because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last." Herod Antipas actually met Jesus when He was being tried but failed to recognize Him as the Messiah. And then there's King Herod Agrippa II...who made a joke of Paul's impassioned plea. NKJV records his words as "You almost persuade me to become a Christian." Four opportunities to meet the Savior of the world and to change their lives forever... each becoming like the one before him. Almost persuaded.

We've been promised that we would have one opportunity to hear and receive the Good News for ourselves. Most Americans have heard it many times, but maybe not elsewhere in the world. The question is, what have we done with the one time that we did hear that Jesus died on the cross to pay for the penalty of our sins so that we could be forgiven and restored to a right relationship with our Heavenly Father? Who are we becoming like? Who do the generations coming after us favor? Who will they be like?

Prayer:

Father,

          May all who hear of Your grace and mercy to us in the crucifixion of Your Son, Jesus Christ, listen and obey Your Word. May we be according to Your Word in 1st John 3:2, Who knows how we’ll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we’ll see Him—and in seeing Him, become like Him. All of us who look forward to His Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus’ life as a model for our own. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

 

Friend's Favorite - Generations to Come

O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do. Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me.
Psalm 71:17-18 NLT

There are days I love going out to YouTube and listening to the music from years ago. Oh, how I remember and love those old songs of four-part harmony! Definitely NOT something my Toby Mac-loving grandkids would appreciate; however, it is part of my responsibility to make sure they know the One we're singing about - no matter who is doing the singing.

Here's something to think about. What do the people around us learn or know of Jesus after they have interacted with us? Have we been someone they can trust? Have we exhibited God's love to them? Are we someone they want to spend more time with - or someone they have to spend time with and suffer through? Do they want to hear what we are speaking to them?

The generations coming after us are learning things every day. There is no end to the world's input into their lives. If we don't teach them - if we don't proclaim the power of God to this generation - tell them of His mighty miracles - how He's brought us through...saved us, sustained us, set us apart to serve Him and to serve others and how He'll do the same for them, what will they learn? And from whom? They need to know - we have to tell them! It's our story. It's history. It's HIS story in us and for them.

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for the generations coming after us. Thank you that we can impart wisdom to them in so many different ways. Help us to form deeply, divinely-inspired love roads into the paths of their lives so that the signs to direct them to keep their lives going forward and the warning signs posted at the wrong turns can be clearly seen and followed. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Generations to Come

I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
Genesis 17:7 NLT

I had the privilege of attending a chapel service where my youngest granddaughter (almost 10 years old) sang as part of the Praise and Worship team. She loves to sing and I love it when she does. She can be quite dramatic when singing regular songs, but when she sings praise and worship, you can see the joy of the Lord in her eyes. It's an authentic relationship between her and Jesus. 

As I was thanking God for His faithfulness to my generations, I realized it was more than "my" generations (me, my children, their children). My granddaughter is actually the fifth generation in our line to worship God in song. What a holy legacy He has bestowed on us! And in talking with my daughter-in-love, I found that my granddaughter is also the fifth generation from her side to worship God in song! I'm not bragging or boasting - I am giving honor to Whom honor is due!

God is faithful to His Word in ways we can barely comprehend, but oh, that we would be that faithful! Beloved of the Lord, I want to encourage you to stand on His Word. Even if you are the first generation! Find the Scriptures that apply to your family, to your situations, to your needs, and thank Him for them. I'm not talking about name it and claim it, blab it and grab it. I'm talking about Taste and see that the Lord is good! Embrace His Word! In a world shaken by evil, the Lord is our firm foundation. His Word cannot be shaken. It will keep us upright. 

Psalm 102:18 tells us, This will be written for the generation to come,That a people yet to be created may praise the Lord. Our generations yet to come...

Prayer:

Father,

         How do we fully express our gratitude for Your Word and Your faithfulness to our generations?  Help us to hide Your Word deep in our hearts that we might not sin against You. Give us ears to hear, hearts to know, and opportunities to speak Your alive and powerful words to our generations and all those who will listen and receive. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Hope Anew

I will teach you hidden lessons from our past - stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us.

Psalm 78:2b-3 NLT

We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders. For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them - even the children not yet born - and they in turn will teach their own children.

So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. Then they will not be like their ancestors - stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God.
Psalm 78:4-8 NLT

Prayer:

Father,
            Let us never tire of telling our children and grandchildren about Your Truths and glorious works! Let their hope be set on You alone, obeying all Your commands and living by Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen!

To Ezra

I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
Genesis 17:7 NLT

This promise is a foundational Truth in my life. And as I look into the face of my first great-grandson, Ezra, at the ripe old age of 22 months, the promise has become flesh and life is good.

Twenty years ago, I could not have imagined the reality of this moment in time. However, I have been able to stand on the Truth of God's Word knowing that His everlasting covenant would never fail; that He would be my God and the God of my descendants after me. For each generation until Jesus returns to take us all home. What a mind-boggling, breathtaking promise of God!

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for making an everlasting covenant with all my generations! Your promise to always be our God is the most loving, miraculous event next to the Crucifixion. Thank You for that and for this precious child as a living witness to Your faithfulness. Help us to guide these generations toward You, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Do Tell

Our children will also serve him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord. His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything he has done.
Psalm 22:30-31 NLT

I like to use the Daily Audio Bible by Brian Hardin to go through the Bible. I find the book of Genesis to be enthralling even though I've read it before. I find it fascinating to think about the ones who kept the history so that nothing was lost and it could be handed down from generation to generation. To know the covenants with God, the blessings that were bestowed, the incredible way that God used harsh adversity to bless His people (Joseph and his brothers)...

What has God done for you? How much of it have you told your children, your grandchildren? Do they know from where God has brought you? Do they know how God has provided for them, healed them, watched over them and you? 

Time after time, God's redemption and deliverance are chronicled in His Word. It truly is amazing. I know we've talked about it before - about writing it down so the generations after us will know everything God has done for us...for them. It is no less amazing what God has done in our lifetime. Do tell.

Prayer:

Father,

          Give us divine appointments to make Your ways known to our children and our children's children and to all the generations. We praise You and thank You for Your continuous faithfulness toward us. Thank You for Your great love and mercy. We cannot do this life without You. Thank You for Your presence, for watching over us, for fresh anointing. Draw us closer to You, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

In Position

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.

Proverbs 22:6 NLT

My son and daughter-in-love are raising their daughter in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Her faith is also amazing. This past weekend they attended a conference at their home church that was all about refreshing. Getting in the right posture before God to align with His will (videos can be found at https://www.laportefirst.org/watch-online). All of them came out of the conference super pumped and truly refreshed!

My daughter-in-love shared this powerful testimony 2 days ago. 

"We have to be in position to encounter and receive from God. When the enemy comes at us, we must be in position for God to fight that battle and speak to us. God reminded me this morning that when I see what the enemy has thrown at us, I need to make sure my focus is in position too. When I see the enemy’s fiery arrows, I need to stop to see God’s shield and covering... The enemy threw the facts of circumstances at my logical mind. As I listened to Abby pray, I prayed God would shift my focus into position to see what He sees not what doctors say. He tuned my ear to a little girl as she prayed, “and God, if You choose to take them home, I will still praise You. I will still worship You.” Wrecked. Completely wrecked. But there, right there, was God’s rescue. There was His whisper that no matter what this earth holds, He is still God. He is still on the throne. He is still the One I will praise and trust and worship. I will remain positioned to encounter Him. Even when I see the arrows coming, I will remain positioned to see His hand covering us and moving for His glory. May we each be positioned to encounter Him and receive all we need from Him."

Psalm 78:4b showing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.

Amen and amen. 

Prayer:

Father,
          I pray the Word from Psalm 71:18 KJV, Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come. And praised You with all of them. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

Following After

     Listen, dear friends, to God’s truth, bend your ears to what I tell you. I’m chewing on the morsel of a proverb; I’ll let you in on the sweet old truths, stories we heard from our fathers, counsel we learned at our mother’s knee. We’re not keeping this to ourselves, we’re passing it along to the next generation - God’s fame and fortune, the marvelous things he has done.
     He planted a witness in Jacob, set his Word firmly in Israel, then commanded our parents to teach to their children so the next generation would know, and all the generations to come - Know the truth and tell the stories so their children can trust in God, never forget the works of God but keep his commands to the letter.
Psalm 78:1-7 The Message

I've been reminiscing for the last 10 days or so. Another of my friends passed away and his service was this evening. He was about 15 years older than me and we swapped stories for several days in the last two weeks of his life. I thought I knew quite a bit about him, but I found out tonight, I'd only discovered just below the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. I knew he'd had a full life, a faithful wife who preceded him in death who he loved until HIS last breath, and that his was an intentional life. He lived with purpose.

His one concern was that perhaps he had not left a path clear enough for his daughter and granddaughter to see their way to Jesus. I told him if that path - however short or long - led him to Christ then it was clear enough for them to see and we prayed that their eyes and hearts would be wide open to see what God had for them.

We must be intentional about teaching our next generations about Jesus. We cannot leave it to this world to teach them. We must lead the way for those who are watching where we're going. Judges 2:7 tells us, And the Israelites served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and the leaders who outlived him—those who had seen all the great things the Lord had done for Israel. Then Joshua died and they buried him and in verse 10 we read, After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel. One generation was all it took and they were separated from God - doing evil in His sight. 

So, the question is, are we following after that which will cause those who are following after us to follow after Christ?

Prayer:

Father,

           Forgive us for ever misstep we have made along the way. According to Your Word, please make straight the way and plain the path so that we can leave good imprints as we follow You and our generations follow after. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Preparing Hearts

Now it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom and had strengthened himself, that he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel along with him.
And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord.
2 Chronicles 12:1, 14

We hear much today in Christiandom about reaching the next generation and how important it is now, especially in these last days. Let me say something here - it's ALWAYS been important!

Deuteronomy 11: 18-21, instructs us in the Message Bible, Place these words on your hearts. Get them deep inside you. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder. Teach them to your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning until you fall into bed at night. Inscribe them on the doorposts and gates of your cities so that you’ll live a long time, and your children with you, on the soil that God promised to give your ancestors for as long as there is a sky over the Earth.

Rehoboam was David's grandson and the son of Solomon. David, the man after God's own heart and Solomon the wisest man who ever lived... The successor to the throne from the line of David. A man of great influence, so much so that when he forsook the law of the Lord, all of Israel did so with him... and why? Because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord. 

What are we doing to prepare our own hearts to seek the Lord and the hearts of our children and our children's children? 

Prayer:

Father,

          Help us to be ever mindful of the task before us - to teach Your Words to our children. To talk about You and Your Word wherever we are, sitting at home or walking in the street; to talk about Your Word from the time we get up in the morning until we fall into bed at night. Open the ears of those following after us to hear and embrace Your Words, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

It's on Us

A messenger soon arrived in Jerusalem to tell David, “All Israel has joined Absalom in a conspiracy against you!”
2nd Samuel 15:13 NLT

The book of 2nd Samuel relates many horrible tragedies involving David's children. This one of compounded betrayal is painful to even read... While David was a man after God's own heart, he was not a perfect man. And while he was forgiven, there were still consequences. 

I will not sit in judgment, but I will inspect the fruit. We can have a great relationship with the Lord, but if we don't teach our next generations... 

If we don't offer them a way out of the world's woes - and I don't mean buying them out of trouble - I mean to teach them that there is a sanctuary in a battle-weary existence, that there is forgiveness for repentance, that we CAN overcome life's worst, but only through Christ. Only through turning to God or turning back to Him. It's not enough that they know OF Him; they must KNOW Him. 

Set the example. Live for the Lord, and NEVER stop praying for them no matter how battle-weary we may be! In Isaiah 54, we're told all our children shall be taught by the Lord. It's on us to make sure they know who He is.

Prayer:

Father,
         Forgive us where we have failed. We pray that You will redeem us, our children, our loved ones. We pray that Your light so shines from within us that those You have given us are drawn to You. We pray more of You, Lord; less of me. In Jesus' Name, Amen

Becoming Like _______

But Agrippa did answer: “Keep this up much longer and you’ll make a Christian out of me!”

Paul, still in chains, said, “That’s what I’m praying for, whether now or later, and not only you but everyone listening today, to become like me—except, of course, for this prison jewelry!”
Acts 26:28-29 The Message

My youngest granddaughter and I are great friends. We love to be together - to do nothing or to do something, it doesn't matter. We just like to be together. The scary part of it is that although 60 years separate us, we are very much alike. Sometimes, when I see my own less-than-desirable stubborn traits surface in her, I remind her parents, "We need to pray harder!" Although I will say, they are doing a fine job of raising her in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Praise God!

My siblings and I are now the oldest generation in our family. It's amazing to see the 4th generation of children in my older brothers' lines; especially when I think of all the history that is represented there and back just a couple of generations. My maternal grandfather was saved a little over a hundred years ago. His life drastically changed, thus altering the path forward of the generations to follow. Thank You, God! For each generation is affected for good or for evil by the previous. 

Think about the generations of Herods. In his attempt to kill Jesus, Herod the Great wiped out all male babes two and under - the age group he figured Jesus would be in from the first he heard of Him. Herod Agrippa I (his grandson) is written about in Acts 12: On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last. Herod Antipas actually met Jesus when He was being tried but failed to recognize Him as the Messiah. And then there's King Herod Agrippa II...who made a joke of Paul's impassioned plea. NKJV records his words as You almost persuade me to become a Christian. Four opportunities to meet the Savior of the world and to change their lives forever... each becoming like the one before him. Almost persuaded.

We've been promised that we would have one opportunity to hear and receive the Good News for ourselves. Most of us in America have heard it many times; maybe not as much elsewhere in the world. The question is, what have we done with the one time that we did hear that Jesus died on the cross to pay for the penalty of our sins so that we could be forgiven and restored to relationship with our Heavenly Father? Who are we becoming like? Who do the generations coming after us favor? Who will they become like?

Prayer:

Father,

          May all who hear of Your grace and mercy to us in the crucifixion of Your Son, Jesus Christ, listen and obey Your Word. May we be according to Your Word in 1st John 3:2, Who knows how we’ll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we’ll see Him—and in seeing Him, become like Him. All of us who look forward to His Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus’ life as a model for our own. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

For the New Generation

O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do. Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me.

Psalm 71:17-18 NLT

There are days I love going out to YouTube and listening to the music from years ago. Oh, how I remember and love those old songs of four-part harmony! Definitely NOT something my Toby Mac-loving grandkids would appreciate; however, it is part of my responsibility to make sure they know the One we're singing about - no matter who is doing the singing. 

Here's something to think about. What do the people around us learn or know of Jesus after they have interacted with us? Have we been someone they can trust? Have we exhibited God's love to them? Are we someone they want to spend more time with - or someone they have to spend time with and suffer through? Do they want to hear what we are speaking to them?

The generations coming after us are learning things every day. There is no end to the world's input into their lives. If we don't teach them - if we don't proclaim the power of God to this generation - tell them of His mighty miracles - how He's brought us through...saved us, sustained us, set us apart to serve Him and to serve others and how He'll do the same for them, what will they learn? And from whom? They need to know - we have to tell them! It's our story. It's history. It's HIS story in us and for them.

Prayer:

Father,

         Thank You for the generations coming after us. Thank you that we can impart wisdom to them in so many different ways. Help us to form deeply, divinely-inspired love roads into the paths of their lives so that the signs to direct them to keep their lives going forward and the warning signs posted at the wrong turns can be clearly seen and followed. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The X'd Generation

After a while the people of Joshua’s generation died, and the next generation did not know the Lord or any of the things he had done for Israel. 

The Lord had brought their ancestors out of Egypt, and they had worshiped him. But now the Israelites stopped worshiping the Lord and worshiped the idols of Baal and Astarte, as well as the idols of other gods from nearby nations.
Judges 2:10-13 CEV

If you remember, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb, there was an entire generation that was never allowed to enter the Promised Land. God kept the entire nation of Israel in the wilderness until that generation had all died. They were X'd out of the Promise...

The next generation (under Joshua's tutelage) entered the land, but then chose to exert their own decisions over God's instruction. As I mentioned yesterday, that is never a good idea. Now verse 10 tells us that when this generation died, their next generation did not know the Lord or any of the things he had done for Israel. How very sad...

And yet we see it today. A generation without consideration for God and others in their actions and the choices they make. People all the time complaining about the next generation, but let's think about that for a moment. 

Who raised the next generation? Who is responsible for teaching and training them? Are we going to settle for another X'd generation?

Prayer:

Father,
          Give us the knowledge and wisdom and favor to reach and teach the next generation for You. We do not want any generation to be lost without You. Help each to see Your goodness and faithfulness, Your mercy and love and forgiveness and grace. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Abraham Generation

Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.

Psalm 71:18

There is a common misconception that as we age, we lose our value. We may not be able to move as we did in our younger days, or lift as much, or remember as quickly, but I can assure you this: If you get two or three seasoned followers of Christ in the same room praying, they will touch heaven on your behalf.  

I have known three women - all of them prayer warriors - who died from Alzheimer's. They lost their memories. Those precious, loving women couldn't recognize their own children, but they did NOT forget their God! They knew Him and prayed powerfully until the end of their lives on Earth. They were a living testimony of Romans 8:38-39 - NOTHING separated them from God's love! 

That is why I was SO pleased to see the honor bestowed by a church body on its' older generation. I was privileged to attend a ground-breaking ceremony for an older church to begin a new building. It is a congregation of generations in a small town. During the ceremony at the construction site, I was impressed with the way they lovingly gave honor to whom honor was due.

While the whole of the congregation walked out to the construction site, the seniors were helped into golf carts for a smooth ride to the front side of the site. They were then assisted the few feet to the pastor's side as he honored them for having carried the church on their knees in prayer. He titled them, "The Abraham Generation" and explained to the younger folk about the blessing of generations, and how the new church would not be a reality without the prayers of the saints that stood before them. He acknowledged and reinforced why it so important for the older generation to teach and for the younger generations to listen and learn. It was incredibly beautiful and holy as the Abraham Generation pointed it all back to God! I know God will continue to mightily bless the young pastor and his congregation.

If you are blessed with knowing members of the Abraham Generation, thank God for them, and also pray for them. Treat them with respect. If you have to slow down for them, do it honorably. It will be time well spent.

Prayer:

Father,

           We pray Your Word* - May we experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. May we be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to You, God, who is able, through Your mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to You in the church and in Christ Jesus through ALL generations forever and ever! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

*Ephesians 3:19-21 NLT

* Remember the Times

But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.

Deuteronomy 4:9 NLT

I am fascinated with the history of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and struck by the importance of passing down to the generations what God has done. I am reminded of how precious memories become when memories of someone are all we have left. We tell ourselves we'll never forget, but we do. 

We rarely build physical landmarks to remind us of what God did "in that place on that day." But the older I get, the more I think about who will tell the stories of what God has done for us. It's important for our children to know. It's more important for our grandchildren to know. It's most important that we remember and give God the honor and praise that's due to Him!

I have begun to ask the Holy Spirit to bring all things to my remembrance so that I may testify of God's faithfulness to me, to my children and grandchildren. I want to write them down and put them in a binder for easy access to all the generations of my family. I want my heavenly Father to get His proper due and I want the generations to know of His wondrous works in the history of their lives. We must remember the times...

Prayer:

Father,

         We pray Your Word - Take us by the hand. Lead us down the path of Your Truths. Mark the milestones of Your mercy and love, God, and rebuild the ancient landmarks in our lives. Let Your Name and faithfulness be glorified in our generations. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen 

I Got This! +

Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. But he does not hesitate to punish and destroy those who reject him. Deuteronomy 7:9-10 NLT Note: I wrote this over 3 years ago. I am posting part of it tonight, because I want to give testimony of what God has done and continues to do.  ***************************************************** God has promised all along that He would bring our children back to Himself. We push and we prod and we provoke our grown children... not necessarily to good works - and yet we don't see anything happening. "Where are You, God?" We're quick to call out when we don't see what we want to see in the span of time that WE have allotted for God to work. And when God doesn't operate in our timeframe, we're usually back to trying to do it ourselves...because after all, we're entering into the last days, right? Recently, I was reminding God yet again about one of my children. (My children are adults, not children to anyone but me... and God.) And I'm telling you, I heard God say, "I got this." And I barely paused in my litany of reasons why I needed Him to intervene quickly, etc, when I heard Him say again, "I've got this." The very next church service I attended, He confirmed His Word that He was covering this situation. So I made up my mind that I would start thanking Him in advance for giving me His word because I know He is bound by it. *****************************************************  Bringing it to today - I remember well the phone call I got from my child,  "God's got a hold of my heart and He won't let go! I can't sleep for thinking about those things I've failed to do - those things which I MUST do!"  Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations ... beginning with just our next generation. He's got this... Prayer: Father,          You are absolutely too amazing for me to comprehend. I don't know how You love me, or why You do. I just know You do because You ARE love.  Help us to trust You even more. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.