The Pastor's Pen: The Time To Pray Is Now
Message by Dr. Lovely Haynes - Isaiah 40:30 – 31; Luke 1:17
The time for serious prayer is now.
Our children and youth are faced with so much peril, many have just given up on life. For many youth, their development and growth is hindered by low self-esteem. They are searching for someone who they can model their life after, and coming up empty.
Children today live in a make believe world of their own, and they fantasize that things are not what they seem while at the same time hoping they get better. They keep reaching out for someone to really care for them and love them to no avail. What a world of indifference a child has to contend with and grow up in. We tell them about Jesus and His love for them yet in many cases children are treated worse than an enemy. So many harsh words of abuse are spoken with cruel intent, and yet they endure as if it didn't bother them (Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21).
The admonition that Paul gives to fathers, "Provoke not your children to wrath (anger)" may be applied to anyone that is caring for children. He was saying don't discourage children: "Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged." (Colossians 3:21) We are told to nurture them, that is "bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord" (Ephesians 6: 4b ESV). Parents, and guardians are you really listening? Open your hearts to hear to the silent cries of the children who are saying, 'I am living in a make believe world where all around me is chaos, and yet no one is paying attention to my real need. (Luke 2:41-52) Yes, you take me to the house of God, but where are you? Even if you are there, where are you in your walk of faith? Where are you in your love for others? Where are you as a pattern for me to follow as if they were the footsteps of Jesus?'
I say to the children and youth: God knows how you feel, and He is adequate to meet your need. Sometimes you may not have the strength to obey Him but he will give you strength. Just trust him to provide the strength you need. (Philippians 4:13) The words of Isaiah are encouraging, "Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainted not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:27-31)
I say it's praying time. Time to thank God for his goodness, love, and mercy. We are still here, despite our shortcomings and neglect of our responsibilities. It's time to turn our love back to the children by redeeming the time through prayer because "the days are evil." (Luke 1:17; Ephesians 5:14-20)
