Author: The Sun Porch Lady

Palm Sunday is celebrated one week before the most Holy day of the year for Christians, Easter.  It is a celebration of Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem. Still, it is also the first day of a week of uncertainty, turmoil, and shock for those who followed Jesus and for those who were unsure of who Jesus was.

Several months earlier, Jesus had avoided the entire Judean area because He knew the Religious Leaders were waiting to kill Him (John 7:1), something that would happen on His timing, not theirs.  Then, when God’s timing was right, He set out for Jerusalem (Luke 9:51).  He was ready to fulfill the mission for which He had come.

During the next few months, He continued to teach His disciples, preach the Good News, and provide healing for the people.  Then came the day when He raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1 – 53).  That miracle increased the target on His back, forcing Him to withdraw again until the time of the Passover celebration (John 11:54).  As that day approached, the people wondered if He would come, and the Pharisees made plans for His arrest and execution (John 11:55 – 57).

When the people heard He was coming, they cut palm branches in preparation for the celebration.  As Jesus rode in on a donkey, a fulfillment of prophecy (Zechariah 9:9), as well as a beast fit for a king, the people shouted praises, acknowledging that He came in the name of the Lord.  While the people cheered, the Pharisees’ anger increased, as did their determination to kill Him.

Jesus heard the cheers and joyful welcome of the crowd, but He knew He was headed towards the imminent sacrifice that He had come to make, and that the people’s shouts would change drastically in the next few days.  Yet, He continued towards the cross.

Read: Matthew 21:1-11 & Mark 11:1-11

Food for Thought:

1. Why do you think Jesus “needed” the colt (Mark 11:3b)? If He had walked into Jerusalem that day, do you think the greeting would have been different?

• Read Psalm 118:24-26. Do you think the people understood the meaning of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem that day?  Should what we now know about that day affect the way we look at the second coming of Christ?

• Why do you think God orchestrated this celebration for Christ? What kind of “celebration” is God orchestrating in your life, and how should you respond?

For one fictional perspective on the Triumphal Entry, read Chapter 1 of The Shepherd’s Quest, by Elaine C. Duncan, available on Amazon.

“I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives” (Revelation 2:13 NIV84 emphasis added).

Antipas, my faithful witness!  As Jesus dictated the letters to the seven churches, he specifically mentioned this man, Antipas, but unfortunately, we have very few specifics about his life.  There are, however, several things that we can surmise from this letter to the church at Pergamum.

Pergamum was in ancient Asia and was once its capital.  Two of its primary attractions were its temple to Caesar and Rome and the temple of Asclepios, the god of healing.  It also had an enormous altar of Zeus.  With its focus on false gods, it’s no wonder that Jesus called it the place where Satan lives and has his throne. Both the leaders and the people of Pergamum placed their hope and their future in the hands of pagan gods, yet a church was able to survive amid them.

Jesus knew that remaining true to Him was not easy when surrounded by the power and lies of those who not only denounced Christ but also persecuted His believers.  The Christians who lived there did not have it easy, much like many of our Christian brothers and sisters in various parts of the world today.  Still, they remained true to Christ.  They stood fast in the face of persecution, and Jesus commended them for it. 

The Scripture does not tell us why Jesus singled out Antipas as His faithful witness.  Perhaps he was just representative of all those who had stood faithful despite the danger.  We know that Antipas ultimately gave his life for the cause of Christ, becoming the first Christian martyr in Asia.  We also know that not everyone in the Church had stood fast against the corrupt teachers of Balaam and the Nicolaitans (vs. 14 – 15).  Perhaps Antipas was one of the few who refused to compromise his faith.

I can’t tell you much about Antipas, but the important thing is that Jesus knew who he was and what he had done, and when you get right down to it, that’s all that matters.  Jesus also knows each of us and what we have done, so that makes me wonder, “Would he call me faithful?” That’s a goal worth striving towards.

Revelation 2:12 – 17

How should we respond to persecution?

“Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.  But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded him” (I John 2:10, 11 NIV84).

Those who persecute Christians are living in the darkness.  The eyes of Satan have blinded them.  Pray that they will have dreams and visions pointing them towards the light.  Pray that they will come to know Christ as the light of the world!

How should we pray for the lost?

“In everything set them an example by doing what is good…” (Titus 2:7a NIV84).

Sometimes the best way to share the gospel with others is through the example we set.  I’ve heard many times that the best sermon is the way that we live our lives.  If we hope to win our loved ones to Christ, we must “walk the walk”, not just “talk the talk.”  This week, pray that each of us will live lives that point people to Jesus.

Leadership Prayer Focus This Week: The People, You and Me

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established… ³For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong…” (Romans 13:1a, 3a NIV84).

We are quick to point out the rights and wrongs of our nation’s leaders, and it is often all too obvious that none of them, from the lowest to the highest, are perfect.  Still, God put them in those positions for a reason—sometimes known only to Him.  At the same time, He gave us instructions concerning our responsibilities towards the government.  If we recognize their God-ordained authority and obey, we have nothing to fear. That may seem like an impossible choice, but when we consider that God is in control, not the man or woman who holds the position, it is much easier to accept.

Pray that: We will seek God’s guidance as we try to be good citizens.

               We will speak God’s Truth in love, seeking to represent Him well.

               We will not take the freedom He has given us for granted.

               We will respect and honor our leaders.

For all our leaders and our fellow citizens, pray that if they do not already know Christ, they will accept Him as Lord.  For those who do know Christ, pray that they will stand firm on His Truth and His Word, never compromising it or minimizing it.

                          “Pray continuously” (I Thessalonians 5:17 NIV84)

“…But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13b, 14 NIV84).

In my last blog, I wrote about Lot’s wife’s costly look back at the life that she was leaving behind.  Perhaps she was just curious, but more likely, she regretted what she was giving up.  Today, I want to draw our attention to Paul’s comments about “looking back”.

When the Apostle Paul tells us to “forget what is behind”, we need to understand his past.  Before Paul encountered Christ on the road to Damascus, he was a devout Jew, convinced that those who followed Christ were blasphemers.  He stood calmly by, guarding the coats of those who stoned Stephen (Acts 8:1), the first Christian martyr.  He led the persecution that broke out in Jerusalem after Stephen’s death, going from house to house to drag out and imprison men and women who followed Christ (Acts 8:3).  His trip to Damascus that fateful day was no pleasure trip.  He had obtained permission from the high priest to go to the Synagogues in Damascus and arrest any Christians that he found (Acts 9:1,2).  In short, he did everything he could to destroy the Church of Christ!

Then, he met Christ on the road to Damascus, and his passion for Christ and for sharing the Gospel message exceeded his former desire to persecute the Church.  He became the first Missionary, taking the Gospel to much of then known world.  He endured prison, forty lashes minus one, beatings with rods, being stoned, and multiple shipwrecks. He lived in constant danger from both Jews and Gentiles.  He went without sleep and food and was often cold (I Corinthians 11:23 – 28). He did all this for the sake of Christ.

Despite all that he endured to spread the Gospel, I can’t help but wonder if there were days when the damage he did before he met Christ came to mind.  I’m sure he had regrets, but he also knew that looking back would not change what he had done in the past.  He also knew that because of Christ, those sins had already been forgiven and forgotten by Christ (I John 1:9).  Therefore, focusing on the sins of his past distracted him from the tasks that lay before him.  He had been called to bring the message of Christ to the Gentiles, and he labored daily to fulfill that goal.  He knew it was time to forget the past and look forward to the goal Christ had set before him.  Press on!

We all have things in our past that we regret, but we can’t go back and change them.  We can thank God that He has given us a Savior who will accept our confession and repentance and wash those sins away permanently.  Don’t dwell on a past that you can’t change.  Press on towards the future that God has prepared for you!

Philippians 3:12 – 14

I John 1:8 -9

How should we respond to persecution?

“I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting, men may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things” (Isaiah 45:5-7 NIV84).

Pray that those who deny Christ and persecute believers will come to know the one true God who causes the sun to rise and set on them even though they deny Him daily.

How should we pray for the lost?

“And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ… ⁵Be wise… make the most of every opportunity” (Colossians 4:3a, 5a NIV84).

How many of us regret missed opportunities to share Christ with those we love?  I know that I do.  Pray that as God opens doors for us, we will be bold and wise, making the most of every opportunity.  

Leadership Prayer Focus This Week: Appellate and Supreme Court Justices

“Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts (Amos 5:15a NIV84). “These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other and render true and sound judgment in your courts” (Zechariah 8:16 NIV84).

Truth, justice, and honor must begin in our legal system.  The Supreme Court, as well as both the Federal and state appellate courts, is tasked with reviewing lower court decisions to ensure that the law is applied fairly and correctly.  Often, their decisions will affect not only the parties to the case but also the entire country. 

Pray that: They will seek God’s guidance in the decisions they make.

               They will set aside partisan politics and base their decisions on the law.

They will be men and women of honesty and integrity.

               They will give impartial and just verdicts in all cases.

For all our leaders, pray that if they do not already know Christ, they will accept Him as Lord.  For those who do know Christ, pray that they will stand firm on His Truth and His Word, never compromising it or minimizing it.

“Pray continuously” (I Thessalonians 5:17 NIV84)

“But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt” (Genesis 19:26 NIV84).

Every time I read that verse, I wonder, “Why did she look back?” and “Why was ‘looking back’ worthy of a death sentence?” The Scripture never answers either of those questions directly, but I think it gives us some clues. 

The answer probably began back in Genesis 13, when Abraham and Lot realized that their herds had grown too large for them to reside in the same place.  Abraham gave Lot the first choice, and he chose the area that was well-watered with ideal conditions for raising his flocks.  He ignored the fact that the people of that area were “…wicked and sinning greatly against the Lord” (Genesis 13:13b NIV84).  So, Lot and his family voluntarily moved into a den of wickedness so they could grow richer.  Unfortunately, the wickedness rubbed off on them.

When the angels arrived in Sodom, they found Lot sitting at the city gate (Genesis 19:1), indicating that he had probably become a prominent leader in the city.  He immediately invited the men into his home.  But when the city’s evil men surrounded the house and called for the men to be sent out to be sexually attacked, Lot attempted to appease them by offering his daughters instead (Genesis 19:8). Wealth, power, and the evil that surrounded him had all but destroyed his allegiance to God.

Lot further showed his desires by hesitating when the angels told him to hurry and leave the city.  He and his family left only when the angels “…grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city…” (Genesis 19:16 NIV84).  He didn’t want to leave any more than his family did. 

I suppose that by understanding the background, we can gain insight into why Lot’s wife looked back.  She wasn’t ready to give up the wealth, the power, and probably some of the evil that they had become accustomed to.  She may have just been curious. That still leaves the question of why “looking back” warranted a death sentence.

I think it was her choice that sealed her fate, just as our choice seals our fate today.  Rather than choosing God and the salvation that He was offering, she chose the wicked city of Sodom.  From our vantage point, the correct choice may seem obvious, but we have similar choices every day.  Jesus said, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NIV84). Yet we often choose the power, wealth, and glory of this world over the saving grace God offers. 

Choosing God over the world may not bring riches, glory, or personal accolades in this life, but the eternal life God has promised far exceeds anything this world can offer. That should make it a simple choice. 

Genesis: 13:8-13 & 19:1-26

How should we respond to persecution?

“They know nothing, they understand nothing; their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds closed so they cannot understand” (Isaiah 44:18 NIV84).

Spiritual warfare is very real.  Paul makes that clear in Ephesians 6.  The lies of Satan have blinded those who persecute Christians.  Pray that their eyes will be opened and for dreams and visions that will introduce them to the risen Savior. Pray for open minds to receive the Good News of the Gospel.

How should we pray for the lost?

“Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word” (Psalm 119:37 NIV84).

This world draws our attention, and especially our eyes, to so many worthless things.  The only thing of value, the only eternal thing, is our relationship with Christ.  Pray that the Holy Spirit will turn our loved ones away from worthless things and turn them toward our Savior.

Leadership Prayer Focus This Week: Local Judges

“Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts (Amos 5:15a NIV84). “These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other and render true and sound judgment in your courts” (Zechariah 8:16 NIV84).

Truth, justice, and honor must begin in our legal system.  The local Judges who are daily faced with decisions concerning guilt and innocence, as well as decisions in civil cases, are our first line of defense against corruption, unfairness, and evil within our nation.

Pray that: They will seek God’s guidance in the decisions they make.

               They will be men and women of honesty and integrity.

               They will give impartial and just verdicts in all cases.

               They will not be consumed by the power that they hold.

For all our leaders, pray that if they do not already know Christ, they will accept Him as Lord.  For those who do know Christ, pray that they will stand firm on His Truth and His Word, never compromising it or minimizing it.

“Pray continuously” (I Thessalonians 5:17 NIV84)

“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit” (Luke 2:41 NIV84).

When I think of John the Baptist, I usually envision him as a “Grizzly Adams” kind of guy, with a scraggly beard, dressed in clothing made from wild animal skins. I expect to see him at the edge of the Jordan River, preaching repentance and eagerly baptizing all who will come forward.  Most of us know the story of John’s reluctance when Jesus came to be baptized by him.  He said, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” (Matthew 3:14b, NIV84).

 We often think of that special moment as John’s first encounter with Jesus. Actually, John’s first encounter with Jesus was when both were still in their mother’s wombs.  After learning about her pregnancy, Mary went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, who was already six months pregnant with John, another miraculous conception (Luke 1:5- 25).  Even then, John recognized Jesus as the Messiah!

Knowing who Jesus was from an early age and then being asked to baptize Him must have weighed heavily on John.  He had already acknowledged that he was not worthy to carry the sandals of the One coming after him (Matthew 3:11), yet it was Jesus who asked to be baptized by him.  What an honor that must have been! Still, it would have also been a very humbling experience. 

Like John, we each encounter Jesus in different ways and at different times in our lives.  I’ve met Him in times of great turmoil when there was no place to be except on my knees.  I’ve also met Him in times of amazement when He called me to serve in ways that I thought were beyond my abilities.  He surprised me with just what I needed when I thought I was in over my head. 

Sometimes, our encounters with Jesus excite us.  Others humble us as we realize how unworthy we are to be in His presence.  Yet, when we surrender our will to His, as John did when he baptized Jesus, I can almost picture a smile on Jesus’ face as He extends His hand and reminds us that we are part of His family, and He will never abandon us. 

The more we know Jesus, the more precious our encounters will become.  What are you doing in 2026 to increase your encounters with our precious Savior?  He’s waiting patiently for you to draw near!

I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5, NIV84).

Luke 1:39 – 45

Matthew 3:13 -17

How should we respond to persecution?

“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2 NIV84).

Have you ever noticed how someone’s face lights up when you smile and ask, “How are you doing?”  Even the hardest soul can be touched when someone takes even the slightest interest in them as a person.  We must never forget that every persecutor was created in God’s image, and God would like nothing more than to call them His children.  It’s our job to plant those seeds through acts of kindness.

How should we pray for the lost?

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Colossians 1:9 NIV84).

Like many of you, I pray daily for several of my loved ones who have not yet accepted Christ.  I pray that the Holy Spirit will work in their hearts, bringing them to that point where they realize that they need a Savior.  Pray that He will fill them with the desire to know Christ as Lord and Savior. 

Leadership Prayer Focus This Week: Cabinet Members

“For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure” (Proverbs 11:14 NIV84). “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22 NIV84).

The members of the U.S. Cabinet hold two important roles.  They are in the line of succession if the President and Vice-President should die, but perhaps more importantly, they serve as advisors to the President. 

Pray that: They will give Godly counsel to the President.

               They will seek God’s guidance in the various positions that they hold.

               They will maintain honesty and integrity.

               They will seek the good of the nation and not their own wealth or power.

For all our leaders, pray that if they do not already know Christ, they will accept Him as Lord.  For those who do know Christ, pray that they will stand firm on His Truth and His Word, never compromising it or minimizing it.

“Pray continuously” (I Thessalonians 5:17 NIV84)

Sometime after Jesus’ birth, Magi from the East came to worship the King of the Jews.  It is conceivable that they came from Babylon, some 1700 miles from Jerusalem.  A trip of that length is not fun even today, but back then, traveling by foot or camel would have been exhausting.  What would make Gentiles leave their homes and their comfortable lives to travel so far to meet the King of the Jews?

If they were from Babylon, it is conceivable that they were familiar with the prophecies of Daniel, who had also served as a wise man in Babylon.  In Daniel 9, he laid out a timeline for the coming of the Messiah, and Numbers 24:17 tells us “… A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel” (NI84).  Together, these prophecies would have told them when and where to look for the Messiah that Daniel had written about. 

Knowledge of when and where would not have been enough to cause them to leave their comfort zone.  Only divine intervention could have led them to the young Savior.  Their gifts served not only to recognize and honor His authority and Divinity but also provided the funds that Joseph needed to save his family from Herod’s wrath.

God sometimes moves us out of our comfort zone to fulfill a greater purpose, just as He did with the Wise Men.  Several years ago, He moved me way out of my comfort zone when He took me on a mission survey trip to Southeast Asia.  Before that 8,000-mile trip, I had only been on a plane once, and it was only a 4-hour flight.  This trip took almost two days, with layovers.  Once there, we experienced a train wreck, a taxi wreck, a taxi collision with a rickshaw, and a 7-hour taxi ride of “chicken.”  I was way out of my comfort zone!

Yet, God had multiple purposes for that trip.  First, our church adopted an unreached people group in that country, and after praying for almost 15 years, we recently learned that multiple house churches have been established there.  For me, He helped me overcome my fear of flying, which allowed me to serve on a mission in New England for several years.  More importantly, on that 7-hour taxi ride, when I was sure that we were going to die, He taught me what it means to have His peace, which is beyond human understanding (Philippians 4:7). 

If we are willing, God will take us out of our comfort zones to encounter Him in fresh new ways—ways that will deepen our faith like never before.  The Magi left their comfort zone to encounter the King!  How is God calling you to leave your comfort zone to encounter Him?

Matthew 2:1 – 12

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” (Proverbs 18:10 NIV84).

How should we respond to persecution?

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (I Timothy 2:1,2 NIV84).

Pray for those in leadership positions throughout the world, but especially in those nations where Satan has a foothold.  Pray that they will allow the Word to be shared freely and that each of those individuals would be gripped by the love of Christ.

How should we pray for the lost?

“… Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’” (John 8:31, 32 NIV84).

Those who are lost are captives of Satan and sin.  Pray that they will come to know the one true Deliverer, the only one who can set them free.  Pray that they will be confronted with the Truth of the Gospel message and become truly free from their bondage.    

Leadership Prayer Focus This Week: Vice-President

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.  The authorities that exist have been established by God” (Romans 13:1 NIV84).

In contrast to the President, the Vice-President has little or no power, except whatever is delegated to him by the President.  His primary role is to be prepared to take the helm in the event of a disaster.

Pray that: Even in waiting, he serves at God’s pleasure and for God’s purpose.

He will stay alert and prepared.

He will serve with honesty and integrity.

He will look to God for guidance, whether in waiting or leading.

For all our leaders, pray that if they do not already know Christ, they will accept Him as Lord.  For those who do know Christ, pray that they will stand firm on His Truth and His Word, never compromising it or minimizing it.

“Pray continuously” (I Thessalonians 5:17 NIV84)

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11 NIV84).

That was the message the Shepherds received that night, over 2,000 years ago, as they cared for their sheep near a small town called Bethlehem.  While the glory of the Lord surrounding them and the voice of the angel announcing the “Good News” must have been enough to scare them out of their wits, once they recovered from the shock, their curiosity got the best of them.  The Scripture tells us that they hurried to find the baby that the angel had told them about.  We don’t know exactly what happened as they approached that baby, lying in a manger, wrapped in cloths, but we do know how that first encounter with Jesus affected them.  “When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child” (Luke 2:17 NIV84).  They wasted no time in telling everyone what they had seen and heard!

The Shepherds realized that their first encounter with Jesus was not solely for their benefit.  His coming was for the benefit of the whole world, so they began immediately sharing the Good News.  We can learn a great deal from their example.  They encountered Jesus and wanted everyone else to encounter Him also.  That should be our message as well. 

Notice, it doesn’t say that they stayed to mentor the people or to try to persuade them to believe.  It simply says, they “spread the word.” In other words, they told people about Jesus and let God take it from there.  That’s our mission as well.  Too often, we think we must know the Scripture completely, have a Bible College degree, or be able to answer all the skeptics’ questions, when all we need to do is exactly what the Shepherds did—tell what we have seen and heard.  Tell what God has done in our lives.  Tell about our personal encounters with Jesus. 

I have often wondered what happened to those shepherds after their ten minutes of fame were over.  Did they follow Jesus as He grew to manhood?  Were any of them there when He was crucified?  How did their message impact those whom they told?  Did any of those people have encounters with Jesus? 

We may also wonder about the impact on the people we tell about Jesus.  We may never know whether some of them had encounters with Jesus and became His followers.  That may be a large part of the celebration in heaven, as we meet those individuals to whom we told everything that we have seen and heard about Jesus. 

Who do you need to tell today?

Luke 2:8 – 18

How should we respond to persecution?

“Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else” (I Thessalonians 5:15 NIV84).

Jesus spoke Truth boldly and fiercely, but He also displayed kindness and gentleness.  We must be bold in our witness for Christ, but we must also display the gentleness of Christ when speaking to those who oppose Him and His Kingdom.  Kindness rather than retaliation will be more effective in displaying the love of Christ.

How should we pray for the lost?

“I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none” (Ezekiel 22:30 NIV84).

Often, there is nothing we can do to reach the lost except pray for them.  That is especially true when we are concerned about family members.  They should already know that we are Christians, and I hope that we have been bold in our witness to them.  Ultimately, there is nothing more important than praying for them—standing in the gap, seeking conviction, the movement of the Holy Spirit, and the realization of the Truth of the Gospel message.    

Leadership Prayer Focus This Week: President

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.  The authorities that exist have been established by God” (Romans 13:1 NIV84).

The President of the United States is the most powerful person in the world, and whether you agree with his politics or not, God has placed him in that position for a reason. 

Pray that he will recognize that he serves at God’s pleasure and for God’s purpose, not his own.

That he will be a man of the Word and will seek God’s guidance in each decision that he makes.

That he will serve with honesty and integrity.

That he will seek to be a uniter rather than a divider.

For all our leaders, pray that if they do not already know Christ, they will accept Him as Lord.  For those who do know Christ, pray that they will stand firm on His Truth and His Word, never compromising it or minimizing it.

“Pray continuously” (I Thessalonians 5:17 NIV84)

“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:20 NIV84).

Like Mary, Joseph’s first encounter with God was through an angel.  This time, the angel appeared to him in a dream.  Joseph already knew that Mary was pregnant, but he likely wanted to shield her from further gossip, so he had made plans to divorce her quietly, that is, until the angel showed up.

Joseph must have thought it was a strange dream, but it must have been real enough to convince him to obey. To avoid public ridicule for himself, he could have taken the easy way out by divorcing Mary, but he chose to do the hard thing and obey (Matthew 1:24). 

Joseph took Mary as his wife, despite the gossip that was sure to run rampant in the small village of Nazareth.  Most people probably knew the truth, as that would not have been an easy secret to keep in a small town.  The tongues wagging about Mary could not have been avoided, but negative comments about himself could have been avoided by distancing himself from her. Still, Joseph did the hard thing.  He stayed with Mary and raised Jesus as his own son.

We’ve all had to do hard things at one time or another.  The question is, have we ever been led by God to do a hard thing?  If so, how did we respond? 

When I was at the end of my rope in my law practice, after making most decisions without God’s input, I finally turned to Him for help.  There was nowhere else to turn, so I turned to God. His response was, “Sell it!”   The hard part was that I had no plans for my future.  There was simply a first step of faith—putting the practice up for sale.  I felt somewhat like Abraham when God told him to go to the land that he would show him (Genesis 12:1).  Thankfully, my encounter with God reaffirmed His “plans to give [me] hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11b NIV84). I encountered some bumps along the way, but ultimately, He led me to the best time of my life, and He’s still leading today.

Obedience when God calls us to do hard things is not easy.  That’s probably why we don’t have more missionaries taking the Gospel to hard places.  Yet, the journey is well worth the hardships.  Joseph may have received a lot of grief for his decision to marry Mary and raise Jesus as his own, but I’m confident that it was a decision that he never regretted.  After all, obeying God, even when the task seems outlandish, opens the door to blessings beyond our comprehension. 

What hard thing is God calling you to do?

Jeremiah 32:17

How should we respond to persecution?

“A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense” (Proverbs 19:11 NIV84).

We live in a world that finds it easy to judge and condemn.  However, if we are to win the world to Christ, as the old saying goes, “You catch a lot more flies with honey.”  Jesus displayed righteous anger when He cleansed the Temple.  However, when He was unjustly tried, beaten, and crucified, He kept quiet.  Our patience, lack of anger, and gentleness will be far more effective in reaching the persecutors than our anger would ever be.

How should we pray for the lost?

“As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you.  And I will teach you the way that is good and right” (I Samuel 12:23 NIV84).

Too often, we see prayer as a last resort, when the most important thing we can do in any situation is to pray.  That is especially true as we attempt to reach the lost.  Pray that we will be walking examples of the love of Christ.  Pray that we will learn to teach them the way that is good and right with love.  Pray that God will give us the words and the boldness to pursue the loss.

Leadership Prayer Focus This Week: U. S. Senators

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.  The authorities that exist have been established by God” (Romans 13:1 NIV84).

The United States Senate has the exclusive power to approve Presidential nominations, ranging from Cabinet Secretaries, Judges, and a host of other positions.  Since each state is represented equally in the Senate, it is often perceived as the more deliberate body of lawmakers.

Pray that: They will recognize that they serve at God’s pleasure, not their own.

They will seek God’s guidance in each decision that they make.

They will deliberate carefully and thoughtfully, serving their constituents well.

They will serve with honesty and integrity.

For all our leaders, pray that if they do not already know Christ, they will accept Him as Lord.  For those who do know Christ, pray that they will stand firm on His Truth and His Word, never compromising it or minimizing it.

“Pray continuously” (I Thessalonians 5:17 NIV84)