IT’S NOT AN OPTION

“’As for Me, this is My covenant with them,’ says the Lord. ‘
My Spirit will not depart from you, and My words that I have put in your mouth
will not depart from your mouth or from the mouths of your children and grandchildren,
from now on and forevermore,’ says the Lord”
(Isaiah 59:21 BSB).

Dearest ladies, would you mind if I reminded you about two things as we venture into this New Year? We need to remind one another, don’t we? And I know I am always reminding you about these two things, but I believe they are so important. Peter reminded the believers in 2 Peter 1:12: “Therefore, I will always remind you about these things—even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth.”

Are you faithfully imparting God’s Word to your children each day? Are you consistently conducting Family Devotions (or whatever you call it in your home) with your family each day?

It is not enough to have faith for yourself; you must impart it to your children. Deuteronomy 6:6-8 (AMP) says: “You shall teach them diligently to your children (impressing God’s precepts on their minds and penetrating their hearts with His truths) and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up.”

The NLT says: “Repeat them again and again to your children.”

God’s Word is clear that we must pass on His truth to our children. He has shown us the way in His Word that He intends us to gather as a family morning and evening. You can read more about it in the following link: http://aboverubies.org/morning-evening-principle.

It’s not something we do haphazardly, but diligently. The word “diligently” in Deuteronomy 6:7 is the Hebrew word shanan and means “to point, to pierce it into their hearts, to prick, to sharpen, to do it intensively, to whet (to sharpen by grinding).”

Can you establish this as a habit in your family life this year? It’s not just a good idea. It is imperative for the saving of our nation. It is crucial for the preservation of future generations—our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Now for the second reminder. You’ve guessed it of course. It is praying together as a family. I believe this is one of the greatest things that we can do together as a family. Prayer brings God on the scene! Prayer touches the heart of God. Prayer changes the world. Praying families are world-changing families.

But the devil hates prayer! He will do everything in his power to stop you praying. He’ll even use good things to stop you. Mostly good things because he knows he can’t tempt you with evil things. He’ll use busyness and getting involved in too many outside activities. He’ll get you running your children around to so many good things that you don’t have time to pray together as a family every morning and evening.

Dearest mothers, praying together doesn’t just happen. I have found by experience that we must MAKE IT HAPPEN! We must make praying together twice a day the most important agenda on our daily calendar. Everything else fits into this biblical and most powerful thing we can do as a family. We don’t hope it will fit in with our plans because it never will. We must prepare, plan, and purpose it to happen.

God revealed a principle of prayer in the tabernacle of the wilderness through the golden table of incense. As you know, incense speaks of prayer, intercession, praise, and prayer. Read the following Scriptures: Exodus 30:6-8; Psalm 141:2; Revelation 5:8; and 8:3-5.

How often were they commanded to light the incense? God commanded them to light it every morning and every evening. That was God’s plan to keep the sweet aroma filling the holy place continually. It was to be a perpetual incense, never to go out.

These basic foundations of daily reading God’s word and praying together will keep the presence of God filling your home. The enemy of our souls is on the prowl to stop your home from being filled with God’s love and His presence. But you know the answer. Make it a habit in your family.

It’s a great way to begin this New Year.

Many blessings from Nancy Campbell

www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

“Dear Father God, I confess that I want You to be God in our family. I don’t want to serve any other gods, even the god of busyness that keeps us from Your presence. Help me to organize our home so we can gather our family morning and evening into Your presence, to hear You speak to us from Your Word and to cry out to You for this nation and the needs of those around us. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I am no longer allowing the lesser things of this life to crowd out that which is the most important.