[Please join me in praying for children, families, and the future on Thursdays this year.]
“The Lord Almighty has sworn, ‘Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will happen’….For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?” (Isaiah 14:24, 27 NIV)
Have you ever wondered why someone finds membership in a gang desirable? Why would gambling or drugs or online addictions be attractive to someone? What is it about being a terrorist fighter that is appealing? While there is no quick, easy, and all-encompassing answer to these questions, I believe that one factor is that people have a warped sense of their purpose. Recently as I was reading about the war between Israel and Hamas, I was wondering where do all the Hamas fighters come from? I cannot understand a mindset that believes it is honorable to intentionally kill and destroy others.
Then I read more about how in many countries the economic policies have ensured that unemployment for youth is around 25%. Instead of a young person pursuing education or job training, or a making a (hopefully) positive contribution to society, they drift into boredom, thrill-seeking, or economic struggles, and are, then, easy prey for idealogues who can convert them to terrorist mindsets and activities. (I realize that the indoctrination toward evil often begins much earlier than youth and young adult, but stick with me for a moment….) Aside from a massive movement of Holy Spirit and the presence and power of Jesus Christ being poured out in their lives – and I believe there are places where that is happening! – how do we pray for these young people?
One way we can pray is that they would find God’s true and righteous purposes for their lives. Job 36:5 (NIV) tells us that, “God is mighty, but despises no one; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.” Psalm 33:11 (NIV) tells us, “The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” And Proverbs 19:21 (NIV) says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” All over scripture we hear of God’s sovereign purpose. Even when we humans mess things up, God can and will still prevail. His call, though, is always to seek him first to know and do HIS purposes.
Omnipotent God,
We praise you because your Word is right and true and you are faithful in all you do. You love righteousness and justice and you are full of unfailing love. May the people of this world revere and fear you, for you speak your creation into being and you lovingly care for it. Thank you that you fashioned each of your created ones for a purpose and you offer each of us eternal life in Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit’s presence in this life. You save us and call us to a holy life because of your purposes and grace. You are the Potter whose purposes are renowned. Today we come to you praying for young men and women who do not know your righteous and good purposes for their lives, especially those caught in terrorism, gangs, drugs, gambling, or online addictions. We pray in Jesus’s name against any spirit that would convince them that evil is good. Instead, turn them from evil so they will do good. Destroy leaders who train and encourage wickedness. We pray your Spirit would be poured out upon them, that they dream dreams of you, or that you reveal yourself in any other way so they are convicted of their unrighteousness and repent of their sin. We pray they will know your Way, your Truth, and your Life. May they would be made holy, useful, and prepared for your good works and rewarded for their deeds. May they be zealous for your good purposes. We pray all this in the powerful name of Jesus Christ, AMEN.
“Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” (2 Corinthians 5:5 NIV)
“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.” (2 Timothy 1:9 NIV)
“Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?” (Romans 9:21 NIV)
“Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” (2 Timothy 2:21 NIV)
“So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:7-9 NIV)
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 NIV)
“It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.” (Galatians 4:18 NIV)
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.” (Isaiah 5:20-21 NIV)
“Turn from evil and do good;
then you will dwell in the land forever.
For the Lord loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.
Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed;
the offspring of the wicked will perish.
The righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it forever.” (Psalm 37:27-29 NIV)
“Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
Praise the Lord with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.
For the word of the Lord is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.
The Lord loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of his unfailing love.
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
He gathers the waters of the sea into jars;
he puts the deep into storehouses.
Let all the earth fear the Lord;
let all the people of the world revere him.
For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.“ (Psalm 33:1-9 NIV)
AWAKENING