Recently, someone complimented me for having well-behaved children. I must confess I was happy to hear it. Only a fellow parent will understand the sheer terror parenting can sometimes be. Parents (and I can only speak from a mom's perspective), constantly wonder whether they're doing things right. They always wonder whether they're setting their kid up for failure or success.
And the thing about parenting is there is no adequate way to prepare for the role. You won't know what you need to know until you get into parenting and realize all you don't know. All the training happens while in the position. And so when someone says, "You've got some good kids," all you can do is take a deep breath, thank God, and get back to being a vigilant parent who doesn't want the world's madness to infect your offspring.
The compliment got me thinking about my relationship with my heavenly Father. How do I behave and would God ever get complimented because of me?
The more I pondered this question, the more I realized I needed His help to reflect and represent Him better. See, my mother made it clear that my behavior could impact my family's reputation. She also warned that I had better not go out into the world and embarrass her or bring shame to the family name.
Although I was far from perfect, my mother's warning always rang in my ears. It kept me from doing certain things and steered me away from plenty of trouble. I'd often worry that my mother would have my hide if she heard I was around certain types of people or places.
It took a while but I now understand that I have to take the same approach as a child of the Lord God Almighty. I need to pay attention to what I say and do, where I go, and who I spend time with. All this so that at the very least, I won't cause others to speak about Him poorly. I also pray that I will cause at least one person to compliment Him for the way He's raising me to interact with people and situations.
I am not deluded to think that this will be easy. There have been too many times when I've tried to be a good reflection of the Lord only to look back and see huge mistakes. However, I can also look back and see how His grace always redeemed me and guided me to do a little better the next time. And with each new circumstance, I'd see how God was helping me to better represent Him and His kingdom.
I realize that these desires of mine are part of my journey as I walk the earth. I've also come to terms with the fact that even when I'm an old woman, there will still be much to learn. But since the Bible says "His mercies endure forever," I'll keep relying on that mercy and much more to get me through (Psalm 136).
The great thing is that neither you nor I have to rely on our strength or intelligence to please the Lord and bring Him praise. We need only cooperate with His Holy Spirit who is charged with transforming us for God's glory and purpose. Philippians 2:13 also states "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him" (NLT). Therefore, I know that God will always help us to be who we were created to be.
What amazing grace! In His mercy and patience, God has taken on the responsibility to build up His children so they get them to the finish line. And "...if we [really] walk in the Light [that is, live each and every day in conformity with the precepts of God], as He Himself is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another [He with us, and we with Him], and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin [by erasing the stain of sin, keeping us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations]" (AMP).
By His grace, therefore, every child of God can cause their Heavenly Father to be complimented when their "good home training" is recognized. He is more than able to make this happen. All it requires is submission to what He has taught and is teaching us. And that isn't impossible because He has also provided the Holy Spirit to guide. When combined with His word, we will develop into the very ones who bring Him glory.
Someday, somewhere, someone will compliment Him on having a good child and that child will not just be me. By His grace and to His glory, that child will also be you, IJMN Amen.
To learn more, please read the following related posts:
Exploring the Role of the Five-Fold Ministry in the Christian Faith: How Do You Fit In? (The Five-fold Ministry 1)
Unveiling the Crucial Role of the Five-Fold Ministry: How Do You Contribute to the Body of Christ (The Five-fold Ministry 2)
Embracing the Five-Fold Ministry: Unlocking Personal Benefits of Serving God (The Five-fold Ministry 3)
CLOSING PRAYER
Thank You, gracious Father for another day of fellowship. Thank You for those who worshiped and those who prayed. Thanks for those whom You will bring in the future. Be Thou glorified now and forever in their lives, oh Lord.
God, I call on You to help each of us to remember that we are Your children and that the way we carry ourselves reflects on You. Help us to represent You well and not give You a bad name. Guide us, dear King as only You can. We rest in the assurance of being Your children. We rest in the knowledge that You are moving as a good Father to establish us as You deem fit and for Your purposes.
As we proceed with the rest of this day and this weekend, please cover us in Your grace and kindness. Bring us together once more on Tuesday for fellowship and all the many more days that we will gather for You. IJMN, Amen.
LAST 10 MINUTES
We're almost at the end of today's fellowship and we're still on this issue of becoming the sort of child our Heavenly Father will be complimented on.
The message established that on our own, it will be near impossible to do this, but with the help of God's Holy Spirit, we can be a reflection of our Father to someone, somewhere, someday.
So, let us pray -
Heavenly Father. Thank You for calling me Yours. I am grateful that I bear Your name.
Father, I need Your help. I want to reflect You well. I want to someday have someone compliment You for how You've raised me well. I know I can't achieve this on my own but I also know that You can help me. So, I pray for grace to reflect You well. I pray for Your strength to represent Your kingdom in a way that pleases You. May others rejoice in You because of what You are doing in and through me, IJMN, Amen.
Lord, thank You. You are the Sovereign Lord. The Creator of the heavens, the earth, the seas, and everything in them. Hallelujah, El Shaddai!
Almighty God, I wish to place leaders before You in prayer. Your word states in Proverbs 28:2 - When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.
God, the devil seeks to place wicked leaders into positions of authority to achieve it's goal of stealing, killing, and destroying. However, You are He who has complete dominion. Your authority over this world and everything is eternal. The devil doesn't rule this world or anywhere else. It doesn't even control hell because Christ said He has the key to hades. Hallelujah!
Therefore, God, I stand on the knowledge that all is subject to Your control. I hereby pray for leaders who serve You. Leaders who walk in the fear of the Lord. Leaders who kiss the cheek of Your Son per Psalm 2:10-12. You are He by whom leaders make just laws and rules. I pray for godly leadership across the nations. In organizations. At schools. In churches. In families. In fellowships. You reign, oh God. Forever, You reign.
IJMN, Amen.
From JIR - I pray for skeptics to be blessed with a mustard seed of faith in You and for that mustard seed to grow into a large tree of faith in You Lord. Please rebuke any haughtiness or stubbornness they may have and bless them to humble themselves to You Lord. Please bless them to discover the Bible and read it with the yearning to get to know You Lord. Please open their hearts up to You Lord and bless them to come to You and seek You. Please bless them to realize that they need You and are nothing without You. Please bless them to give their lives to You Lord and live for You. IJMN. Amen.
Lord, I come against every disease that affects women and their reproductive health. I decree against all fibroids, every sign of PCOS, anemia, and anything else presenting as a disease but is a weapon of the enemy to bring ill health and impact the reproductive capacity of your daughters in this group.
Father, I decree that I bind each and every of these diseases in the mighty name of Jesus. As they are bound here on earth, they are bound in heaven in accordance with Your word.
God, I speak life and good health. I loosen on earth Your healing grace and transformation of bodies to Your glory and by Your grace. I decree that these diseases are healed and canceled IJN, Amen. I decree that people shall experience Your healing and the attempts of the devil against them in this way - such unauthorized touches are destroyed - through Christ, Amen!
From AW - Father God, I pray you bless my dear friend LS with a new job that will not only help her survive but thrive. The road has been long, and there have been many rejections, but Father, I know you have a plan for her life (Jeremiah 29:11). Please bless her with the perfect opportunity where she will be appreciated and respected. IJMN, Amen!
From JIR - I pray for the terminally ill and sick. Please Lord place Your healing hands upon them and remove whatever ails them. Please bless them with compassionate doctors and surgeons. Please bless those doctors and surgeons with wisdom and knowledge, a supportive team, steady hands and sharp eyes to provide their patients with the treatments and surgery needed to heal them. Please bless those affected by severe conditions to be able to live full lives and put their illnesses behind them. Please bless them to turn to You Lord and seek You with all of their hearts and give their lives to You. IJMN. Amen.
In the name of Jesus
enemy, you must flee
I am saved by the blood
How He loves me
He loves me
Hallelujah!
Glory to the King
I am bowing to Your Presence
In the presence of the King
Say His name
His name is Jesus
And He is the One who says
You are saved by the Blood!
Here's a prayer sis FJ shared last week:
Lord IJN, I pray for the circles of my brethren. Lord I pray over the people they are closest to, those that are speaking words into them. Lord, as "iron sharpens iron", I pray that these friends edify them. But "a companion of fools becomes foolish" -- so Lord I rebuke the bad seeds that are trying to influence the brethren. Lord, please silence the voice of the enemy, please expose every evil word that is trying to corrupt Your children. Let the Holy Spirit become more abundant in them to help guard their hearts. Amen.
From AW - Father God, thank you for blessing us with @FFJ's incredible leadership in P&P. Father, we ask that you continue to bless @FFJ with wisdom, guidance, and strength. May her commitment to serving You be rewarded tenfold, and may her light continue to shine brightly among us. Thank you for allowing her to enrich our spiritual journey. IJMN, Amen!
Lord, I want to thank You for being the God who keeps His promises.
Thank You for Your word which states that Your word shall be fulfilled without delay.
Covenant Keeper. Oath Maker.
Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.
I worship and adore You!
I cannot afford to
Be out of touch with your spirit
I cannot afford to
Be out of touch with your spirit
Lord It's your way
Your will be done (hm)
It's your way
Your will be done (hm)
Until you say where I go
Holy Spirit Holy Spirit
Until you say what I do
Holy Spirit Holy Spirit
Have your way
Have your way
Cause I cannot afford to
Be out of touch with your spirit
Holy Spirit
I cannot afford to
Be out of touch with your spirit
Holy Spirit
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
From JIR - “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: Therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.”
Psalm 28:7 KJV
God, I thank You for the favor I experienced this week. Thank You for showing great mercy to me and mine.
The Bible says, and I believe it to be true, that You do not abandon Your children. Your word states that if we draw near to You, You will draw near to us.
Thank You for being the God who draws near and stays near even when we're naughty and stray away from You.
Hallelujah!!
From AW - Father God, thank you for guiding me through a successful surgery and for being by my side every step of the way. Your love and healing power have worked wonders in my life, and I am forever grateful for your grace. I praise you for the skilled medical team that you placed in my path, who used their knowledge and expertise to bring me through the surgery safely.
I appreciate this opportunity to learn and grow this summer semester. Thank you for opening doors for me to further my education and expand my horizons. With your strength, wisdom, and guidance, I can overcome any challenges that come my way during these classes.
Thank you, Father, for always listening to my prayers and blessing me abundantly. IJMN, Amen!
Father, I want to thank You for being the prayer-answering God who does exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask or imagine.
I'm learning to expect more from You and I thank You for being the Big God for whom nothing is impossible or difficult.
Glory be to You, my great King.
From JIR - Thank You God for Your faithfulness. I thank You for showing me what love is and never leaving me. You have brought me so far and have made the impossible possible. You have changed ways of mines that I never thought could be changed. You are the Way-maker and I would like to give thanks for pulling me out of the darkness when You did. I owe You everything and give my body to You as a living sacrifice to be used for Your glory. I love You because You loved me first. Thank You for the transformation that You have made, You are making and that You continue to make over my life. All glory to You, the Most High, Sovereign, Almighty God. IJMN. Amen.
God, I want to thank You for an amazing week!
Every day, You have shown kindness and have surprised me.
I am truly grateful and I appreciate You beyond what words can say.
Praise be to You, oh Lord!
From JIR - Thank You Lord for this day You have made. Thank You for blessing all of us to open our eyes and take our first breath this morning. You are so good to us and it is a blessing to call You God. You have blessed us today to meet again to praise You and pray for others. You alone are worthy of all praise, Lord. Thank You. All glory be to You! IJMN. Amen.
Thank you for this message @FFJ. It feels so good to know how amazing the Lord is and how He cares and loves us so much that by His grace He guides us back to where he wants us to be as long as we abide in the Holy Spirit. There would be no greater compliment than others noticing the demeanor and behavior we give out as children of God.
My nephew who just turned 2 came to visit us with my sister for the month of July. He noticed that I pray over my food before eating and told his mother “I have to speak to Jesus before I eat.” That was just a minor thing but it really melted my heart. I hope to be a good representative for God and by His grace for all of us to honorably walk in His Ways and shine in a way that impacts others and make others take notice. IJMN. Amen.
From EC - Amen and good morning ladies!