Laying It Down

By Lona Walker
Mark 8:35
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.”

A year after my mother passed away, my daughter married. A few months afterward she was expecting a baby as her husband embarked upon his three-month internship for his college degree. He was to make the 2,000 mile trip and get settled while she stayed with me the first couple of weeks, then she would fly out to join him.

It was bedtime when I wandered into the living room to say good night. As I did she casually told me he had arrived safely and really loved the area. “He would be interested in taking a position and living somewhere out there,” she explained. I don’t believe I flinched, though my heart sank to my toes. I made a graceful exit and headed to the bedroom.

My husband was sound asleep so I felt my way in the dark to find my Bible. I slipped into the bathroom for some light and sat on the step beside the tub to cry. The only way I knew to express myself to the Lord was to be direct and that’s how I proceeded. “God we’ve got a problem,” I candidly prayed. “I need to talk to my mother, but You had this bright idea to call her home. Now what am I supposed to do?”

Mom had a remarkable gift to speak a “word in season” that would calm my troubled spirit. My only daughter and first grandchild could potentially move thousands of miles away and if ever I needed a word in season, this was it.

Then I desperately flipped open my Bible and had one of the most amazing experiences of my life. The Scripture leaped off the page from Mark 8:35. Then, as if we were sitting at the kitchen table, I heard Mother’s voice in my head. I could visualize her leaning in with her hand gently patting the page as she began to explain, “Let me tell you what this Scripture means,” I heard her softly say. “The Lord knows that Kimmy is your life and always has been. But God is a ‘people mover’ and He strategically places them around the world where they can be utilized for the Kingdom.” I heard her continue, “He’s asking you to lay your life down for His sake. But it’s your choice. You can pitch a fit and get a bear hold on her and refuse to let her go. But she could be living on the other side of the wall and not be yours. On the other hand, as long as she is in the will of God, there is no distance that can take her from you.” In those few moments, “I got it.” I allowed myself to cry through the night, but by dawn I washed my face and prepared to lay my life down.

So far, I have been spared... she has lived within a reasonable driving distance. But as a result, it has been a joy to watch first-hand as she has grown and matured in God, standing on her own two feet, becoming what He has called her to be.

I learned a valuable lesson that night. In order to keep my life, I’ve considered it a privilege—for His sake—to lay it down.

What to Do

By Trisha Naten
“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You” (2 Chronicles 20:12, NIV).

An Israelite named Uzzah lost his life because he “reached out and took hold of the ark of God” (2 Samuel 6:6).  The New Living Translation says “Uzzah put out his hand to steady the ark of God.”

He placed his hands on it with the best of intentions–but nonetheless, he had overstepped his boundaries by touching the Lord’s work.  Walking through the Christian life often requires us to leave things alone.  Among other things, this also applies to our children.  We have to take our hands off!

If we have completely entrusted our children to God—as we know we have to—there are times when we must “keep our hands off them.” He will guard them and even love them better than we can and He does not need our help. That is the time when we must “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways . . .” (Psalm 37:7).

Things in our lives may seem to be going all wrong— our kids may be stressing us out to the limit, but God knows our circumstances better than we do. He WILL intervene at the perfect moment if we completely trust Him to work in His own way and His own time. Often there is nothing as godly as inactivity on our part and nothing as harmful as our nervous, restless working to get our children to see things our way, or to get them to turn toward God.

God has already promised to work His sovereign will, so we must take our hands away and keep our eyes on God (2 Chronicles 20:12). When it involves our children or grandchildren, we need to memorize—and practice—Philippians 4:6-7, which says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (NKJV). Then we will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.

How to Face the Enemy

By Peggy Allen
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11).

I love westerns. I especially like Clint Eastwood in the starring role. You might be asking why a born-again, Spirit-filled, peace-loving woman of God would appreciate a gun-slingin’, cigar smokin’, booze drinkin’ man of the world. Although I really don’t get a thrill out of seeing people get killed, in Clint Eastwood’s movies (at least the ones I remember) I know justice has been served, for he is all about taking out the bad guys.

It’s the way he does it that is so intriguing. He comes into town just looking for a place to get a meal (or a drink at the local saloon) and maybe a place to spend the night. No matter how much he tries to mind his own business, someone will feel the need to start a fight with him. There is something about him that attracts bad guys like pollen attracts bees. Invariably, he gets caught up in someone else’s problems and finds it necessary to defend the defenseless, which usually involves at least one shoot-out.

These characters played by Mr. Eastwood are always cool and unruffled. They are never in a hurry, but they always have a plan. Every movement is deliberate. They simply ooze with confidence—and who can resist confidence? He never feels the need to show off his skill at handling a gun. He doesn’t brag. In fact, he doesn’t even talk any more than is necessary. He keeps his ears and very squinty eyes open. His enemy finds it almost impossible to sneak up on him or outsmart him. These qualities have a knack for irritating men with evil intent, which always leads to trouble. But our guy knows how to handle trouble . . . and he’ll put an end to it!

How does all of this relate to spiritual warfare? If we would face God’s enemy, the devil, who is also our enemy and the enemy of our children, with this kind of confidence and boldness we would soon see the enemy put to flight! Like the movie character, we have no need to boast about our authority in Christ Jesus—we just need to demonstrate it! Yelling at or threatening our adversary won’t get the job done; using our gospel guns on him will! Our job as believers and intercessors is to be aware of what the devil is up to at all times, so we must keep our spiritual eyes and ears open. As the devil goes about “seeking whom he may devour” he will not catch us off guard. He will find us clothed with our spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:10-18) and ready to defend our position and protect our children in the name of the Lord our God.

We have been given more than a role in a movie; we are representatives of the Most High God on this planet. We have been given His authority and have been called to do the same (or greater) works than our Captain, Jesus Christ. He said he came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8); therefore, we are called to do the same!

'I Can'-fidence

By Teena Skiles
Have any of you mothers been involved in a conversation with your child such as this?
“I can’t, Mom.”
“Yes, you can.”
“No, I can’t.”
“Yes, you can!”
I have cut the conversation down by at least five “can’ts” and six “cans!” I have been guilty of “conning” my girls into having confidence. Are you guilty as well? Have you said things like, “OK, if you do this, then I will buy that for you,” or “OK, you can do this, and if you, do I promise I will (fill in the blank.)”

It’s “Con” vs. “Can!” This week, let’s pray that God’s true confidence will be OVER our children and IN them.

We recently went to our youngest daughter’s first softball game. She was quite upset that she actually had to play a game because, in her own words, she thought she had “Just signed up to practice.” She actually has very skilled eye-hand coordination and enjoyed practicing and working with her father and sisters in the front yard to develop her skills. But something happened when she found out that she had to perform in a game—against another team, while a crowd was watching! Something inside her told her she wasn’t good enough, made her nervous, made her want to quit BEFORE she ever set foot on the field. I know for a fact that we did not speak that into her thoughts or being. That tells me the enemy, the devil, starts out lying to children while they are young and impressionable.

That sounds exactly like the enemy I know. He will strike our children with fear and inferiority so they will never get in the game . . . the game of life! That’s where we moms come in! Go ahead, moms, give me a fist pump and a big “YES!” We have the power of prayer to establish our children in God’s true confidence, confidence that will cause them to know who they are and Who is on their side. We repeat Philippians 4:13 together every morning on the way to school: “I CAN do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me.” It’s not a coincidence that we say that together; we speak that ON PURPOSE!

Proverbs 14:26 says, “In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence and his children will have refuge” (NASB).
I want to raise strong, confident young ladies who will fear the Lord and will therefore be safe as His Word promises.

Holding hands and swinging our arms while walking to the dugout, my youngest daughter and I spoke the words of Philippians 4:13 again, so she could say to herself “I CAN.” We also spoke positive words like, “Today is about doing your best; today is about meeting new friends; today is about having fun; today is about trying hard; and today is about making someone smile.” By the second inning, she ran to where I was sitting, put her mouth up to my ear and whispered, “Mom, I’m not nervous anymore.” She ran back to the dugout and confidently got back in the game.

Another lesson learned . . . praise the Lord!

Because I Said So?

By Beverly Hylton
How many of us have been guilty of using that simple phrase as an answer to our child’s questions as to why he or she could not go somewhere or take part in a particular activity? Many times, this is our response because our child is asking to do something that goes against what we believe to be correct. Possibly, we may have a “check” in our spirit and know that a particular activity will not benefit them or even open up an avenue for the enemy to subtly gain access.

As godly mothers, it is our responsibility to lay a firm foundation for our children. They must know “the whys” since they are based on what God’s Word has to say. Then when their faith and belief system is challenged and tested, they will know how to stand and make righteous choices on their own.

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 6:4-7 KJV).

In today’s culture, we cannot assume that our children are going to hold to godly principles just because that is the environment in which they have been raised. This is particularly true when they enter their college years and gain some independence.

Pray that your child will develop a passion for God’s Word. As he or she gains an understanding of the Word of God, it will keep him or her grounded in our ever-changing world. In our world today, new names are being given to old sins, where wrong is being called right and where doing whatever feels good has become acceptable behavior.

So the next time, instead of saying, “Because I said so!” provide a “know-so” by giving biblical examples to illustrate how the Word of God is to be applied in everyday life situations. As the Scriptures come alive in the heart of your child, he or she will receive the Spirit’s revelation and truth imparted to their heart and mind. Pray that God will open your eyes to everyday teaching moments; when you sit in your house, walk by the way, lie down and rise up! No matter how busy you may be at that moment, stop and take the time to share and explain God’s Word to your child.

As a mother, my ultimate goal is to see my child grow in grace and knowledge and make the right decisions based upon a “knowing” that she has on her own … not just because I said so.

About the Author:
Beverly Hylton and her husband have served as the Senior Pastors of Bethel Family Worship Center in Indianapolis, IN for the past 11 years. She also currently serves as Women’s Ministries Director for the Indiana District. Beverly has been married to Russell for 19 years and they have a beautiful daughter, Kaitlyn, who is their joy.

For Such a Time as This: Positioned Where and When God Chooses

By Pat Pentecost
“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have attained royalty for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14, NASB).

The story of Esther is one of my favorite Old Testament stories. It is such an exemplary model of how we as women need to be intercessors for our sons, daughters or those God has placed in our lives.

Esther was not in the regal line to become a candidate for the position of queen as she had been raised by her cousin as an orphan and Jew, a people who were considered to be enemies to the king and his provinces. Yet, Esther was among those chosen to stand before the king and immediately found favor with those in authority and was given special preparation treatment. As the story unfolds, we see that the king loved Esther more than all the virgins and crowned her as queen (Esther 2:17).

We may feel that we are not in a position to be used of God, but He needs us as a mom, grandmother, aunt or friend to be available and willing to receive God’s special preparation treatment of grace and ability to be ready for our Heavenly King to choose and use.

When Esther heard the decree of death for the Jews, she and her cousin, Mordecai, were in great anguish. Mordecai requested Esther to plead for favor from the king but she reminded him that she had not been summoned by the king for 30 days and could be killed if he did not invite her by holding out his scepter. But Esther and the Jews fasted and prayed, and as we know, God had placed Esther in the right position at the right time—“for such a time as this.” When she petitioned King Ahasuerus, she was granted favor, the Jews were delivered from the edict of death, and Mordecai was advanced to a position of great authority over the whole nation.

Sometimes we may be in great anguish for the situation that our sons and daughters are facing. God desires that we take our petitions to Him with boldness as Hebrews 4:16 states “…come boldly before the throne of grace, that we might obtain mercy and grace to help in time of need.” My three sons are now grown and starting their own families, but there have been many times that I called out “when my heart was overwhelmed within me” and God reassured me that “he knows my [and their] path” (Psalm 142:3) and brought peace to the situation. He needs us to be in a position of availability to intercede when the report or situation seems hopeless; then He will be faithful to help in the time of need.

I Wouldn’t Trade It for the World!

By Rebecca Bogle
Boy, has my life changed in the last few years! I was first a friend, then became a stepmother to my little girl, Lydia. Never in my life would I have seen myself raising a child that wasn’t my own.

It’s funny how God works sometimes!

I’ve been married for a year-and-a-half, and I am still learning to “mother.” I’m sure it’s not easy for anyone to be a mother, but sometimes I wish children came with an “Easy Button!” Regardless of the stress that comes with “mothering,” I would not trade it for the world. I’ve experienced her first days of learning to swim on her own, watched and helped as she memorized her Bible verses and looked on as she rode the swings at a carnival for the first time. She loves the swings! On the other hand, I’ve also experienced her being sick, fussy and talking back. (Already!) We’ve had good times and bad times, but that’s life, right?

I pray for Lydia daily. I pray that she would be kept safe at school and that her day would go well. I pray that Jesus’ light would shine through her to those around her. I also pray that she grows up to be a good girl, a prayer that I’ve picked up from her dad. Praying for these things puts a great responsibility upon my shoulders. Without a good example to follow, how will she ever be a good girl? When I think of that, I begin to pray for good mothering skills. I ask God to show me how to be a good mom and that He would help me provide the right answers to Lydia’s questions, regardless of how serious or silly they may be. I pray that she would grow closer to Christ, just as I grow closer to Him.

“And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4, NKJV). This applies to moms, too!

I try my best to be a good example for Lydia to live by. I’ll also admit I’ve asked several times why God chose me to be that example for her. Every night we snuggle up in bed and read a story together; as I tuck her in, she takes my hand and begins to pray. It is at that moment that I begin to see how great a gift it is to be a mother!

I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Equipped to Fight . . . and Win!

By Rene Shute
Thank God! The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought unto the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4, 5).

As moms, we are acutely aware that the enemy of the souls of our children “walketh about seeking whom he may devour;” seeking to steal the lambs from the fold. But we are NOT ignorant of Satan’s devices, so we keep the weapons of our warfare in constant use. With our sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, we go to war praying THE WORD over our children; and speaking those precious promises as reality in their lives at that very moment. We are indeed calling those things which be not, as though they were.

Moms, pray such promises as:

“The Lord shall give His angels charge over (name your children), to keep them in all their way . . . a hedge of protection is built about them to keep them from harm . . . the Lord will never leave them nor forsake them . . . He is their ever present help in time of trouble . . . He will calm the troubled waters of their souls. The Lord is leading them in the path of righteousness . . . they are following, in Jesus Name! His blood covers them . . . His banner over them is love . . . His word is a light on their pathway, a lamp unto their feet. They shall run the race of life and not be weary . . . they shall mount up with wings as eagles, rising victoriously above the evil spirits that would hinder their spiritual and emotional stability. I know in whom I believe and am persuaded that He is able to keep (name children) whom I am committing into His hands today.” My children walk in safety and victory… IN THE ALMIGHTY NAME OF JESUS! Amen.

A Mom's Prayer

By Jo Ann Hutsell
Psalms 116:1-2
I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live (KJV).

We live in hard times, but sometimes the hardest thing to do is just pray.

When our first son was born, I used to rock him in a squeaky old rocker. Long after he had gone to sleep, I would still be holding him, rocking and singing. I would sometimes pray into the night for the tiny life I held in my arms. Our friends and family told me I would be sorry, but I don’t regret one moment of lost sleep. He is now over six feet tall and far too big to fit in my arms! Yet I still hold him in my heart and sometimes pray far into the night for him and his brother.

Intercession is something we can’t take lightly; we must pray without ceasing.

If there is one thing this life has taught me, it is that I can’t wait until the midst of a crisis to begin praying. I don’t always know how to pray for my children and grandchildren. At those times, I just have to do like the disciples did and ask Jesus to teach me to pray as I ought. I didn’t make all of the right decisions and choices when my boys were growing into men, but my choice to pray for them was always right.

Commended for Devotion, Part Two

By Peggy Allen
Luke 10:38-42
38. Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42. But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Two Sisters/Two Personalities
Mary and Martha are representative of two kinds of personalities or mindsets. Gary Chapman has come up with a popular way of knowing how to say I love you in a way that the recipient can best receive the message. It is called the Five Love Languages. These languages are listed as “Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service and Physical Touch.” The idea is to show love to others in the way that most pleases the recipient. Those who have not learned otherwise, however, will most likely give love in the way that most pleases themselves.

Mary’s personality was totally different from her sister’s. Although she was not one to avoid work and service, her disposition led her to show love to others by giving quality time. Jesus had come into her home and he would only be there for a short time. He had important things to say and she didn’t want to miss a word. Because she loved Jesus so much, eating was the last thing on her mind. She probably realized that Martha’s love language was serving, so she turned that over to her.

Blessed to Love
While it is apparent that Mary’s love language is giving and receiving quality time, her love language could also include “words of affirmation.” She not only enjoyed the encouraging words Jesus spoke, but without a doubt she communicated her love to Jesus through her words, as well. But then, we are reminded of yet another dimension of Mary’s capacity to show love. John 12:1-3 tells about an incident that took place six days before the Passover, just prior to Jesus’ death. Jesus had been invited for a supper and, as usual, Martha served. But Mary took “a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.” Two new love languages seem to be surfacing here—physical touch and the giving of gifts.

How many truly important things are missed in life because we are so focused on responsibilities rather than relationships. While Jesus was thankful for Martha’s love language gift, Mary’s devotion revealed a desire to know Him in a deeper way, for which He commended her. Knowing Jesus more deeply can only come by spending time in His presence. Service is important, but sitting at His feet is necessary.

Commended for Devotion, Part One

By Peggy Allen
Luke 10:38-42
38. Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42. But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Two Sisters/Two Personalities
Mary and Martha are representative of two kinds of personalities or mindsets. Gary Chapman has come up with a popular way of knowing how to say I love you in a way that the recipient can best receive the message. It is called the Five Love Languages. These languages are listed as “Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service and Physical Touch.” The idea is to show love to others in the way that most pleases the recipient. Those who have not learned otherwise, however, will most likely give love in the way that most pleases themselves.

Martha is without a doubt the kind of person who would be more responsive to acts of service, because that is what she is noted for giving to others. When Jesus came to her house, the way she showed love for Jesus was by cooking a fine meal and serving Him. There is nothing wrong with serving people. The gospel enjoins us to do so, in fact.

In the first incident, where Martha served and Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, Martha’s love language seemed to be wearing thin. “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me” (Luke 10:40, NKJV). Martha’s attitude speaks volumes to us who are called to be servants. We, like Martha, often become irritated when we feel like no one else is sharing the load. But doesn’t that attitude sort of take away from our love offering? Jesus’ answer to Martha wasn’t what she expected or wanted: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (verses 41, 42, NKJV).

Martha’s job was important; people have to eat, and it was especially important to feed an honored guest! She probably would not have felt imposed upon if Mary had not been having such a good time. Why should she have to do all the work when everyone else is enjoying fellowship with the Lord? Do you detect a little bit of jealousy? Do you think Jesus’ response to Martha’s love offering would have been different if she had not complained about it?

How many truly important things are missed in life because we are so focused on responsibilities rather than relationships. While Jesus was thankful for Martha’s love language gift, Mary’s devotion revealed a desire to know Him in a deeper way, for which He commended her. Knowing Jesus more deeply can only come by spending time in His presence. Service is important, but sitting at His feet is necessary.

War with Confidence

By An Anonymous Guest Dad
The crisis had come. The frantic, desperate phone calls had been made. It was time to take action, time to go to war. It was my time . . . I was now the one who was feverishly fasting, praying and interceding for a member of my own family.

Fasting was easy; I wasn’t hungry anyway. Seeing God replace this storm with blue skies was far more appealing to me than any of my favorite foods. It seemed truly appropriate to fill my normal times for breakfast, lunch and dinner with prayer.

It would have been impossible to keep from praying. Like a moth drawn to a flame, every waking minute I was either praying silently, praying aloud or praying in the Spirit that God would change the situation.

Once every hour, I would stop everything and intercede on my knees for ten minutes. Here is what I prayed during these focused times of intercession, inserting the name of the person I was praying for in the blanks:

Based on Colossians 1:9-14 (NIV)
God, please answer this prayer for _____________ in Jesus’ Name:
“. . . we have not stopped praying for _______ and asking You to fill him/her with the knowledge of Your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that _______ may live a life worthy of You and may please You in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in Your knowledge, being strengthened with all power according to Your glorious might so that _______ may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to You, Father, who has qualified _____________ to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For You have rescued ________ from the dominion of darkness and brought him/her into the kingdom of the Son You love, in whom he/she has redemption, the forgiveness of _____ sins.”

Based on Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
God, please reveal to ______________ in Jesus’ Name:
“You, the LORD his/her God are with ____________,
You are mighty to save him/her.
You will take great delight in him/her,
You will quiet him/her with Your love,
You will rejoice over him/her with singing.”

Based on Ephesians 1:17-19 (NIV)
God, please do this for _____________ in Jesus’ Name:
May the ". . .God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, give ______ the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that he/she may know You better. I pray also that the eyes of ______’s heart may be enlightened in order that he/she may know the hope to which You have called him/her, the riches of Your glorious inheritance in the saints, and Your incomparably great power for him/her because he/she believes.”

I began praying that God would reveal the Truth of these Scriptures to my loved one, but I had no feeling of reassurance. As I pressed on, more in desperation than in faith, God gave me a strong sense that these times of intercession based on His Word were driving back the darkness.

God answered, changed my loved one’s heart and the entire situation. He will do the same for you! Go to war, intercede, pray and fast with confidence in God. He WILL win!

The Hour of Prayer

By Cheri Bunch
“And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27 NASV).

I had a feeling . . . a very bad feeling about home.

My husband and I were in Scotland. Our youngest son Josiah was with us. The rest of my children were at home in the USA.

My dad had died only a month before and my mom and brother were still in deep despair because of his sudden and unexpected death.

Who was in trouble? I didn’t know! The heaviness intensified . . . something was really, really wrong! I began to pray. I didn’t know how to pray. I had to pray in the Spirit. He knew what was wrong. He was quickening me in this moment to pray . . . to earnestly pray.

I didn’t feel that I could call to find out what was going on. We were staying with a family to whom we had just been introduced and I didn’t know the cost of the call. Since I knew that overseas calls could mount up to an exorbitant cost quickly, I shut the door on a little room of our host’s house and began to sob and intercede, for what, I really didn’t know. I prayed for whatever urgent matter was on the heart of my God.

I was not able to get in touch with anyone from home for several more days. I called my mother as soon as I was able to get to a phone with reasonable rates for international calling. The first thing she said was, “Did you know that Caleb and Luke wrecked the truck?”

No, I hadn’t known. Caleb and Luke are also my sons. They were driving to a Christian concert that was a long distance from home. They headed into some road construction that was poorly marked. Wrecks were happening in the very spot where they had their mishap almost daily. In nearly every wreck that happened at this location there had been a death. I believe the tow truck man told us that there had been at least one death in every wreck that had happened in that particular spot.

When we returned home, we contacted the garage where the truck had been towed. The truck was totaled. The boys had to leave it behind.

“Do your boys believe in God?” the man who had towed the truck to his garage asked my husband.

“Yes, they do,” my husband replied.

“Well, they should, because they should be dead. Their truck is totally destroyed and those boys came away from that crash with nary a scratch. Yes, sir, if they didn’t believe in God before the crash, they should now. They escaped the worst kind of disaster!” The man seemed shaken by this fact.

Who can understand why the Lord lets us be a part of intercession? Scotty and I were so far away. . . yet the message to my heart was clear! “Pray--pray in the Spirit! I will pray through you!” So I responded to the burden with tears, empowered to pray with most holy faith.

The hour that I was burdened to pray was the exact hour that my boys were in trouble.

I used to waste much of my life in a state of worry, but I am learning that when there is something serious going on, the Lord can lead me to a place of intercession. The Holy Spirit doesn’t worry; He pleads with the Father, who is in heaven, and miracles happen. As we surrender to His leading, He will help us to have an active role in the bringing miracles to pass that will testify to the power and faithfulness of our God.

There is a tow truck man somewhere in Illinois that will tell you that my words are true.

Blessings to all!

Discerment or Suspicion?

By Cheri Bunch
Our son walked in the front door and began to walk into the kitchen when I heard the Lord speak. I said to him, “What is that book under your shirt?”

My husband looked up from eating his lunch with a puzzled look on his face. Josh, our son, had on a loose-fitting shirt with a jacket over it. The book hidden beneath was not visible outwardly, but I knew that it was there.

Josh pulled the book from underneath his shirt and handed it to me. “I want to read it, Mom. I knew you wouldn’t like it, so I hid it from you.”

The Lord wanted Josh to know that He can see the hidden things and He can disclose our secrets to others.

The Lord was also teaching me . . . teaching me to trust Him.

It is so easy to slip from discernment into suspicion. Many times I have been suspicious of what the kids were doing, what my husband’s intentions were or even about what my friends were thinking. My suspicious mind can conjure up just about anything!

I have found that it is so much better for everyone that I walk in discernment rather than in suspicion. (It’s also much more peaceful for me and those around me!) I have learned to ask the Lord for discernment and I am learning to trust Him to give it to me.

Discernment is an act of faith. Suspicion is a fruit of fear. Which one have you chosen to walk in?

Take it to prayer, friend. The Lord will equip you for every good work, including the work of discernment.

Ecclesiastes 8:5b “ . . . for a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure” (NASV).

Burdened to Pray

By Cheri Bunch
Hudson Taylor, the great missionary to China, grew up in a strong Christian home. As a child he was very determined to be a missionary and take the gospel into China, but he began to stray from the faith in his teen years. I would like to share a bit of his testimony taken from a book entitled Hudson Taylor and Maria: A Match Made in Heaven by John Pollock (Christian Focus, 1996). I love the way the Lord used Hudson’s mother illustrated in the excerpt below:

“A year later, in June 1849, his mother was away. One warm afternoon Amelia [his sister] was out and Hudson had nothing to do on a half-holiday. He looked idly over his father’s books and rummaged in a basket of popular ‘Gospel tracts.’ He picked one out, intending to read the story and skip the moral. He went into the barn behind the house and shop, curled up comfortably and began ‘in utterly unconcerned state of mind, with a distinct intention to put away the tract as soon as it should seem prosy.’

As he read, one sentence gripped him. Suddenly he realized that he approached religion from the wrong angle. He believed Christianity to be a dreary struggle to pay off bad deeds by good. He had long abandoned this struggle. He owed too much. He had gone into spiritual bankruptcy, paying a small dividend to his Divine Creditor in the shape of chapel attendance and of prayers rattled off at night, but with no hope of discharge; like most bankrupts he had sought to have a good time.

One sentence in the tract broke open his mind to a sudden certainty that Christ by His death upon the cross had already discharged this debt of sins. ‘And with this dawned the joyful conviction, as light was flashed into my soul by the Holy Spirit, that there was nothing in the world to be done but to fall down on one’s knees and accepting this Savior and His Salvation, to praise Him forevermore.’

No Luther, Bunyan or Wesley had a more complete sense of the rolling away of his burden, of light dismissing darkness, of rebirth and the close friendship of Christ, than Hudson Taylor on that June afternoon of 1849 at the age of seventeen.

Several days passed before he shyly told Amelia under seal of secrecy. At the return of his mother ten days afterwards he ran to the door ‘to tell her I had such glad news to give’. She replied as she hugged him, ‘I know, my boy. I have been rejoicing for a fortnight in the glad tidings you have to tell me.’ Hudson was amazed. Had Amelia blabbed? His mother denied it. She said that eighty miles away, on the very day of the incident in the barn, she had felt such an overwhelming desire to pray for Hudson that she spent hours on her knees, and had arisen with the unshakeable conviction that her prayers were answered. ‘It was perhaps natural,’ Hudson wrote years later, ‘that from the commencement of my Christian life I was led to feel that prayer was in sober matter of fact transacting business with God.’ ”

What a testimony! I hope it encourages you as it has me!

The Weight of the Past

By Cheri Bunch
“… let us strip off every weight that slows us down …” Hebrews 12:1 (NLT).

Past failures had gripped my heart with a stranglehold.

I couldn’t find relief.

My spiritual life seemed to be suffocating from the grip my past failures had upon me.

I had made mistakes. Now my children were making mistakes. It was a result of my failure, wasn’t it?

I wanted my guilt to cradle me with comfort, but I only felt a steely coldness from its gaze.

My help was not in my guilt.

My help was in my God.

Finally I took hold of grace and let go of my guilt.

Instead of asking the Lord for the “ump-teenth” time to forgive me, I began to pray a proactive prayer.

“Lord, I have made huge mistakes as a parent. My heart is breaking with regret. I lay my regret and my guilt at Your feet, Jesus. I trust that You have forgiven me. Now will you please take my mistakes and turn them into something beautiful? Touch the cracks in the foundations of my children’s lives that are present because of my inadequacies and bring restoration and healing. I am deciding at this moment to trade the yoke of my guilt for the yoke of Your forgiveness. I believe that change will come. There will be freedom in my heart and restoration in my children’s lives. Thank you for Your great love for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

I was restored and given a spiritual “second wind,” so that I was able to run and complete this race.

Now my gaze is fixed, not on my past, but on my Savior’s face!

At last . . . liberty!

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith,” Hebrews 12:1-2a (NLT).

The Whole House

By Cheri Bunch
Cheri Bunch  believes that W. A. R. (Wisdom And Revelation; see Ephesians 1:17) are what we as parents need to successfully prepare our children for the future. We need to be well equipped to fight against the enemy’s schemes to destroy the home and the next generation.
In order for Satan’s battle plan to be thwarted, we must be seekers of God, listening to and waiting for the guidance He is generous to provide. We must lay aside our carnal weapons and pick up the weapons of the Spirit that are mighty and will prevail on the spiritual battleground.
We must have faith! We must join in agreement for the next generation! We can be confident that this is the will of God! When we know that we have His vision for the next generation, we can be confident that the Lord will be our Commander in Chief and that we can defeat the enemy and win the war!
Cheri has been married to Scotty for thirty years. They have raised five wonderful children; Joshua, Ashli, Caleb, Luke, and Josiah. They have been on the frontlines of battle for this generation for many years. The Bunches live in Chanute, KS.

"The Whole House"

Isaiah 59:1: “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear” (NKJV).

Is everyone in your family saved? How does that make you feel? If they are I imagine you are jumping up and down and praising the Lord right now!

I have a feeling that someone reading this devotion has a family member that has not made a decision to come into the Kingdom yet. Is your heart heavy with intercession for them?

How do you pray for your lost loved ones? I would be very interested in finding out. Please leave me a comment below if the Holy Spirit has taught you a way to pray for your lost family members and friends.

There are at least four ways that I pray for lost souls:

1. Pray for the Household. I pray that the whole household will be saved. Acts 10:24 says that Cornelius had called together his relatives and close friends to hear Peter preach. While Peter was preaching the Holy Spirit fell in that house and they were all saved and baptized with the Spirit and with water. Also, in Acts 16:31-33 (NKJV), Paul tells the jailer to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”  And they were! I don’t know about you, but I get excited when one soul finds Jesus, but what about the whole house? Can we believe for that? I think that we need to start asking for whole households to be saved!

2. Make Haste. Many times in the Psalms David would ask the Lord to make haste. Let me paraphrase, “Lord, please hurry!” When it comes to souls, I think there is nothing that the Lord would like to do more than move upon men’s hearts and draw them into the Kingdom. The sooner the better. Ask Him for souls today!

3. “Get ‘em, God!” One prayer that I pray does not sound very spiritual. Many times I have prayed, “Get ‘em, God!” This means “God, please go after them with tenacity!” Believe it or not, this is a prayer that the Lord has answered many times.

4. Praying Pertinent Scriptures. Many times I find a Scripture that pertains to lost loved ones. Most often I ask the Holy Spirit to highlight a verse for me to pray and other times He just puts His finger on a verse for me. A verse that I pray for my children is from Isaiah 59:21: “As for Me,” says the LORD, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,” says the LORD, “from this time and forevermore” (NKJV).

I want this to be true of my family for generations to come. I ask the Lord to make this verse true for us.
Pray and believe with me and may the Lord save whole households!

What If?

By Cheri Bunch
“What ifs” wear me out and wear me down. They steal my joy and my hope. Thoughts of “what ifs” want to control my life. It is totally up to me whether they have their way with me or not. The Lord gives me the authority to say “NO” to them, but I don’t have to. I can welcome “What If” thoughts into my mind, entertain them, let them multiply, and allow them to make me miserable.

What-if thoughts are prudent with their timing knocking at the door of my mind:

When my child is on his motorcycle and is late returning home.

When I have a writing assignment due and the words will not come.

When my child is sick, fighting a high fever.

When the money is short and the month is long.

When I don’t know what to fix for dinner!

And the list goes on and on into oblivion!

Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 10:5 empower me. “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (NASB).

The Message says it this way, “We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.”

Do what-if thoughts try to take over your life and steal your hope? Join me in asking the Lord to make you aware of them, and ask Him for the grace to help you take them captive at the door of your mind. We have authority, friend, to take those thoughts captive before they destroy our hope and faith. What do you say, let’s pull out our “God-tools” and get busy “smashing”!

Just a Minute

By Cheri Bunch
When my children were little, it seemed like I was always replying with those three words to one of my kids.

My son, Luke, age 4 at the time, once replied back, “Mom, do you mean your minute or my minute?”

Our minutes were different. My minute was very long to him. Do you know that child got my attention and I tended to his needs right away?

Have you noticed that the Lord says “Just a minute” sometimes? He does not seem to get in a hurry. I think He desires to be known as the God of “just in the nick of time!” He desires to get all the glory for His work. When it is just in time, it testifies to the world that it had to be Him. So, sometimes we must wait.

Sometimes when I am waiting on the Lord for an answer to prayer, I just want to say, “Lord, I know you said to wait just a minute, but is it Your minute or my minute we are talking about here?” His minutes seem so much longer to me. Sometimes His minutes test my heart. Sometimes His minutes are necessary to carry out a bigger plan. But sometimes I begin to wonder if He doesn’t delight in watching me sweat a bit! (Big smile.)

Several times David prayed: “Make haste, O Lord, make haste!” Please allow me to paraphrase, “Hurry up, Lord! Now would be a good time! This minute! My minute, Lord!”

If the man after God’s own heart can petition for the Lord to expedite the situation, then I think we can as well.

Below are some petitions that were intended to speed up the Lord’s intervention.

Psalm 38:22 “Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation” (NKJV). (My paraphrase is, “Remember, Lord, You are my Savior!”)

Psalm 40:13 “Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me!” (NKJV).

Psalm 141:1 “Lord, I cry out to You, Make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry to You” (NKJV).

Have you been praying for a situation for a very long time? Perhaps the Spirit is prompting you to ask for the Lord to hurry things up a bit.

Let’s pray together: Lord, we have been waiting to witness Your mighty arm of deliverance. Would You please come quickly and do Your work as only You can? We trust You, Lord. Your timing is perfect. We know our times are in Your hand. Your children wait for You. All love to you, Sweet Jesus! Amen.

A Bigger Reason

By Cheri Bunch
Going out for football for the first time in your senior year of high school is probably not the best idea. If you want to get to play at all, that is. A lot of people were encouraging our son, Josiah (a senior), that he should play. He is a big guy and would surely be an asset to the team. He likes football, so he decided to give it a shot.

He was picked to play defense on the second string, which means he doesn’t get to play much, if at all. Day after day, Josiah goes to practice, runs extra laps if the team is punished for penalties, works hard and comes home knowing that he probably will stand on the sidelines at game time, watching his team win or lose.

It is hard, even mundane. He would rather be out there playing every minute of the game, or if not every minute, he would settle even for a couple of minutes of playing time.

He wears a shroud of heaviness after a game. I try to break the silence with positive comments like, “I am so proud of you! It is hard to stay in there when you don’t get to play. Your commitment to the team will pay off.”

Taking the field under the big lights on Friday nights would be a high for Josiah, but he has a bigger reason for playing football. He wants to go into the Navy and become a Seal. He knows that it will be tough and he must physically prepare himself for the application tests. Football is a great way to get into shape.

To persevere spiritually when all is going well and we are in the limelight, with everyone watching and applauding our success, proves beneficial. Persevering when no one is watching, or at least noticing, or calling us out to “perform,” reveals to us and to the Lord that we have a higher purpose, a greater cause, an eternal reason beyond the glory of the spotlight.

I have a plaque hanging above the shower head in my shower that reads: “A person’s true character is revealed by what he does when he thinks no one is watching.”

There will be moments of spotlighted glory for a few of us, but the majority of our days on this eternal journey will be spent serving the Lord and our families during the mundane, hidden hours of life. For this reason, it is imperative that we have a bigger, eternal purpose and recognize that serving is the higher calling and perseverance will be rewarded.

For me, I am finding it difficult to watch Josiah wait on the sidelines at the football games hoping that he will get to play. I want him to get to go in and show his stuff! But I have to keep in mind there is a bigger purpose, a more important goal, something greater to be gained from his experience. His dedication will not be without reward. He will gain endurance, he will grow in perseverance, he will be disciplined, and he will grow in compassion. So I am choosing to rejoice in what will be gained and realize a larger purpose is being fulfilled.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 (The Message)
“This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that’s left now is the shouting--God’s applause! Depend on it, he’s an honest judge. He’ll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming.”