Corona Devo 3236

Why not?  (Us..and why not today?)

What's stopping us?  

Usually...it's us stopping us.  But, how about if we don't let us stop us today, and how about if we ask the Lord today.   `

And how about if we live joyfully in His response today?

God doesn't say don't ask for His blessing (whether we feel worthy of it or not.)

In fact...get ready to be spiritually emboldened and empowered today: The Bible tells us to go for it in terms of asking about God's blessings on the next generation, on our barns to be filled, on our flocks multiplying, and on our oxen to be loaded down with produce.

Of course most of us don't have barns, flocks, and oxen, but we do have sons and daughters of the next generation, and we have resources, accounts, nesteggs, and dreams that we try to build and fill and utilize to His glory.

Go for it today, and (the Bible says) go ahead and pray for it today.

We (as devout and intentional) disciples want to feel guilty about requesting God's blessings, but if we are God's people and our intentions, (including our blessings), are to honor Him...then the Bible (God!) tells us today...ask away.    

Why not?  (Us...and why not today?)

~~~

Like every parent, I've prayed for our children since before they were born.  For health, wellness, purpose, and for them to seek the Lord and His will for their lives.

At a hotel breakfast the other morning, I watched a young mom and dad corral their three small children as bowls of Cheerios were eaten (and spilled).  And endless asks of tiny-people questions kept their family conversation lively as the children wondered about everything from the weather to why another had (seemingly) a larger portion, to how far away the zoo was that they would be visiting that day.  

The patient parents sprinkled discipline ("sit up straight" and "no kicking") in with love as they fielded leg kicks, chatter, and (normal) family-chaos.   I remember those days like they were yesterday. 

When my (all-around-six-foot-tall kids) sat down with their breakfast plates, I saw the stark size and height difference between toddlers and (late) teens, but my prayers for them now are the same as then.  

May our sons flourish in their youth like well-nurtured plants.  

May our daughters be like graceful pillars, carved to beautify a palace.  ~Psalm 144:12

With two boys in college, our sons are flourishing in their youth like well-nurtured plants.  

With a daughter who works hard in school and delights to work hard on a soccer field, she is like a graceful pillar, carved to beautify a palace.

I'm not speaking in pride...but in raw gratitude and praise to the Lord.  Anyone that knows our family well-enough, knows that our sons and daughter are far from perfect (as are my husband and I), but...we can pray for them (May our sons and daughters...  ~Psalm 144:12) and we can be joyful in their stages and God's goodness through them.

Yes, joyful are those who live like this!  Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord.  ~Psalm 144:15

  

Pray for our unborn today.  Pray for our babies today.  Pray for our toddlers, and our adolescents, and our college students today.  Pray for the next generation today.  

May our sons flourish in their youth like well-nurtured plants.  

May our daughters be like graceful pillars, carved to beautify a palace.  ~Psalm 144:12

And once in awhile, we should sit back and take a look at our kids, at the youth in our churches, our schools and at our leaders of tomorrow...and they should bring us joy.  

We can ask, and the Bible says to do so.  
And there is joy in the outcome of our prayers

Yes, joyful are those who live like this!  Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord.  ~Psalm 144:15

~~~

And beyond children (sons and daughters), let's go for it today.  Let's pray for God's blessings today.  The Bible shows us how:

May our barns be filled with crops of every kind.  

May the flocks in our fields multiply by the thousands, even tens of thousands, (14) and may our oxen be loaded down with produce.  ~Psalm 144:13-14

If we are reaching and working and stretched today...we can pray.  
May it be so, Lord.  

...And when applicable, let's be grateful and recognize our bounty as blessing!  If we have a full barn, and multiple flocks in our fields, or oxen that are loaded down...it's time to say, "Thank You, Lord", because it all comes from Him. 

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  ~James 1:17

Yes, joyful are those who live like this!  Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord.  ~Psalm 144:15

 ~~

Why not?  (Us..and why not today?)
What's stopping us?  

Scripture knows what stops us sometimes: we have enemies.  

Sometimes they are physical, but often they are mental and emotional, and even spiritual.  Our enemy breaks through our walls, and seeks to take us into captivity.  Our enemy alarms us, and we cry out in various "town squares".

But not today, and not with the Lord on our side, and He is.  

We can pray for unity in the Spirit and He gives it.  We can read His Word and we can trust God's Word today:

May there be no enemy breaking through our walls, no going into captivity, no cries of alarm in our town squares.   ~Psalm 144:14

~~~

Go for it today, and (the Bible says) go ahead and pray for it today.

Why not?  (Us..and why not today?)

What's stopping us?  Don't let us stop us...don't let others stop us...and may there be no enemy that stops us.

We can live joyfully in the Lord today.  He prefers and delights in this.

Go for it today, and pray for it today.  Why not?

May our sons flourish in their youth like well-nurtured plants.  
May our daughters be like graceful pillars, carved to beautify a palace. 
(13) May our barns be filled with crops of every kind.  
May the flocks in our fields multiply by the thousands, even tens of thousands, (14) and may our oxen be loaded down with produce.  
May there be no enemy breaking through our walls, no going into captivity, no cries of alarm in our town squares. 
(15) Yes, joyful are those who live like this!  Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord.  ~Psalm 144:12-15

Blessings,

sarah 

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com