A Heavy Heart Committed to Prayer

I woke up this morning to a text from a friend,

“Ida may be a cat 5 & the eye has shifted to go directly over my home. If it does not, it will be in the eye wall for the duration of the eye passing just west. My husband is still there.”

So, I started praying. I reached out to our TTD365 members in the app to see who else may be in harm’s way, and I prayed for them and their friends as well.

When I got back to my devotions, I found myself meditating on what I’ve read in Matthew over the last week. Jesus was telling about His return, and He spoke of natural disasters and wars and famine that would be all around, but, He said, “all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.” (Matthew 24:8)

The darkness surrounding us seems really heavy, doesn’t it? Anger runs rampant. Wickedness is celebrated. Anti-God agendas and injustice are becoming the social norms, and things just don’t seem “right” at all. The earth truly does seem to be groaning under the weight of it all, and I can honestly say that I never imagined living or parenting in such a culture as we do today.

But what Jesus said right after that is what really got my attention this morning,“Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name…(Matthew 24:9)

That sentence broke my heart.

We have brothers and sisters all over the world who are literally being handed over to tribulation and being killed simply because they are Jesus followers.

Maybe it’s my state of mind right now, but that reality seemed much more personal today. That need seemed much more immediate to me, and I committed anew to pray more specifically for those who are paying a high price for the cause of Christ right now.

I prayed for your families as well. May God help you stand strong no matter what comes your way. May God give you wisdom and intentionality as you teach your children diligently. May you recognize the importance of the work you’re doing and never allow distraction or chaos to make you lose heart.

There has never been a more important time to be strong in your stand and in your convictions. You, mom and dad, have the platform with the children God has created to be yours, to instill in them a faith that is solid as a rock, so that if they’re ever called upon to stand in tribulation like others around the world are, they will be equipped to do so.

We have all been called to parent “for such a time as this,” and the Lord knew that this would be the world our children would be living in. We get to reproduce our faith in a generation that will have the opportunity to turn the world upside down for the Kingdom of God one day. What an amazing privilege!

So I encourage you to stay in God’s Word every day. Grow in Him. If you’re a TTD365 member, join our reading and discipleship group. We will be starting Mark this week, so it’s a great time to jump in. If you’re not a member, now’s a great time to connect with us there. We all need support more than ever, and you are guaranteed to find godly counsel and friendship in 365.

I invite you to join me in praying for the persecuted church. The Voice of the Martyrs resources that TTD families can get for free are great tools to help us pray very specifically for Believers around the world. Each month, you’ll receive a magazine with specific stories and prayer requests. I cannot encourage you strongly enough to take advantage of this offer. I have found them to be incredibly insightful and helpful. Click here to sign up now. It’s 100% free, and it could change your family’s perspective and hearts forever.

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