The Young & Determined

I really don't plan out these prayers days in advance; I'm with you, each day, anticipating what will come next; as these take place and unfold, as an organic process of thought if you will, with whatever God lays on my heart.

That said, once again as it often happens, I was reflecting on yesterdays prayer (as I pray for these topics and perspectives throughout the day after having written them) and began to think about mental distractions in my younger years. The period of college that I mentioned, is still difficult to remember; simply, if for no other reason than it's what one of those situations where you look at it and think, "I knew better! What in the world was I doing?"

Then God brought to my remembrance a sermon series from the church we attended in the early years of our marriage. In a series titled Holes, the pastor laid out how the enemy of our souls is always attempting to take the children. Whether he can destroy them or simply derail them; he knows he is in trouble if they grow up to become men and women with incredible faith in and resolve for God.

Wouldn't it be great to know about Job's childhood? What did he endure to become the man who gained the confidence of God when Satan inquired, "who can I mess with?"

Meanwhile, we do hear of the life of Moses; hidden in the river as a baby, because there was fear for his life.
Joseph, sold into slavery while falsely being reported as dead.
David, overlooked by his own father as possibly being the one to lead Israel.
And many more.
While we're at it, let's not forget our Lord, under command to be found and destroyed. They essentially lived in hiding for a period of time.

But if he can't destroy our children, he can certainly ruin them. Lies to the mind. Scars to the heart. Distractions of situations and compounding feelings; instilling confusion and wreaking havoc in their hearts and minds, so that they will struggle and stumble their way into adulthood and if there's any way to build angst and anger, bitterness and frustration against the body of Christ and God Himself, then the enemy is well on his way to rendering them useless for the plans and purposes God has created them.

Pray with me, this #youthPastorWednesday, for the mental, spiritual and emotional protection of our children. Pray over their hearts and minds, that God would strengthen and guard them from the lies and attacks of the enemy. May parents and pastors alike recognize trouble in their lives and bring light to dark places; whereby God can work in the lives of young people. Pray for the miraculous; that this generation would know their God. May their be a resolve to know the things of God; that the distractions of life would not gain a stronghold in their lives that would keep them from the destinies they were created to fulfill. Pray a spirit of quiet confidence in their lives; that God holds them in His hand. Pray for their Pastors, that their example would ignite a spirit of expectation as a foundation of faith is laid that will set the course as young people grow and mature in their faith, as they walk with God. Though young, may the not be restless, but walk with purpose.

While there may be holes in their lives,
May the be made whole, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
For the glory of God.
For the cause of Jesus Christ.

- PNC