The Greatest Ministry we Have as Parents

As followers of Jesus, it can be easy to think that we need to go, go go, do, do, do, or live in some far away country to do what Jesus wants us to do.

Yes, sometimes the Lord does call our families to do that, but sometimes he calls us to stay right where we are.

In Mark 5, Jesus heals a man whose heart is so moved by Jesus that as Jesus is getting in the boat to leave, the man begs to go with him.

But, “Jesus did not let him.”

He said, ‘Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.’

So the man went away and began to tell how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.”

This verse makes it clear: sometimes the Lord just wants us to stay right where we are and to simply minister to the people closest to us.

As we raise our kids, we are doing one of the greatest ministries we could be doing: loving and leading our kids.

Remember that you can be a follower of Jesus by simply “going home to your family and telling them how much the Lord has done for you.” ❤️

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After things go how we prayed, we sometimes say, “prayer works.” But, the thing is, prayer always works. 

The phrase can infer that if something didn’t happen according to our prayers, then prayer doesn’t “work”. I understand that’s not what’s intended, but it can come across that way. Just because something goes how we prayed, doesn’t determine that “prayer works,” because prayer ALWAYS “works”. 

Prayer is powerful. 

Prayer aligns our will with God’s will. 

Prayer makes us less and him more. 

Prayer connects us with the Lord.

When Jesus prayed this from the depths of his soul: “Take this cup from me; yet, not my will but your will”, he reflected a beautiful prayer of honesty and wanting God’s will above His own.

Because God’s will prevailed, we can have life now & forever when we believe in him.

We can pray for ALL things. The Lord wants us to. 

But, I think it’s good to remind ourselves that when we pray, whether things go our way or don’t, God’s ways are above our ways. And, also to remember that prayer is powerful, one of its most beautiful aspects being how it connects our hearts to God’s heart.

Lord, make our hearts want what you want. Thank you that your ways are above our ways, that you are good, and that you always hear us and answer us. Thank you for loving us always. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Isaiah 55…
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.”