Hebrews Chapter 9

“. . . how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” Hebrews 9:14-15 NASB

Prayer Over Our Children

Keep my daughter from useless rituals but cleanse her by the blood of Your perfect sacrifice. Call her to You so that she may receive Your promised eternal inheritance and that she may serve You, the Living God. Purify her, oh God, and take away her sin so that she may know salvation and await Your glorious return. ...

“Wake up!” screamed an insistent voice. “Wake up!”

I lay there in the bed with eyes pasted closed in sleep, while the audio onslaught persisted with increasing volume. 
     
“Now! Now, now, now!” shrieked a semi-familiar pair of lungs. It was that messenger of God from months prior, whom God had sent to rouse me from my slumber – a noisy, unnaturally loud, shrieking, screaming bird. 
     
“Get up NOW!” it scolded.

I groaned and rolled over like a beached whale, peeking one eye to ascertain whether darkness or light illuminated the window blinds. My body ached, and my brain wheezed with cobwebs for it had been another series of days where sleep had eluded my household. 
     
What is it with this bird? I thought with annoyance. The megaphone blessed bird had been absent for quite some time and I had not missed it’s early morning wake up call. In the dusky morning light, God softly spoke an answer. Remember what you prayed last night at 1 a.m.? 
   
The groggy prayer I had uttered flooded back to me with sudden clarity. Oh God, wake me up when You want me up, so I can spend time with You. I had started up my morning devotions again, missing the still quietness of the early hours before the day’s stampede swung into high gear. Packed activities filled our days to the brim this week. Plus, with the necessary chores to keep the household running, I was left with late night and wee hours of the morn to complete any personal projects or find time to myself. To say I received a total of 14 hours of sleep over these past 72 hours is no exaggeration. My body dragged in protest and balked at the thought of rising early for morning devotions. 
     
But rise I did, not in my own strength, rather in the strength and power of God. He poked and nudged me, making my cozy cocoon uncomfortable enough to shake me out of it’s warm embrace. I smiled, remembering the ways this week God woke me up to ensure my time with Him. The early morning thunderstorm at 5 a.m., Sweet one’s unearthly arousal time, and screaming bird from today. God certainly showed me that He cared to protect my time with Him. Each night before I fell into bed, I had earnestly prayed that God would help me to rise for my time with Him, knowing I was too tired to awaken on my own. 
     
I lifted my head heavenward with deep thanksgiving in my heart. Thank You, Lord, I praised, for loving me enough to send a storm, wake my child, and use a screaming bird to rouse me so I can be with You. A sudden thought made me chuckle. I wonder how He will wake me tomorrow? 
   
God answers prayers. He cares about our requests, particularly when these very petitions spurn deeper intimacy with Him. When our hearts cry out with a sincere desire to walk deeper, seek greater fellowship with Him, and inspire others to Christ, He takes delight in granting our requests. For He desires close communion with us and wants nothing more then to walk with us in the cool of the day, beside our every step, and to infuse our very being. God heart yearns for us to give more of ourselves to Him, burns for us to want more of Him, and desires for us to seek greater intimacy, genuine relationship, and authentic communion with Him. God will do what He needs to do to grab our attention off ourselves and place it back onto Him. He will use whatever measures He deems fit to reach out and save us from our sinful selves. He is for us and not against us. God is our greatest advocate and most devoted Friend. 
     
Dear fellow friends, parents, and grandparents, if you have not given yourself over to the tender, loving care of our Heavenly Lord, I encourage you to place your faith, your trust, and hope in the Lord God Almighty. For He will fight for you, win your battles, and give you aid when you most need it. 

A Parent’s Prayer

Oh Lord, help me to want more of You. Make Yourself like honey to my lips and a delight to my soul. Please give me strength when I am weak and weary that I might see Your face. Oh God, pursue me You who are the Lover of my soul. So that I do not stumble or fall but stand firm upon Your promises.