Pray For Your Daughter: 31 Day Challenge—Day Nine

Mike Leake

Day Nine: That she would run to the throne of grace

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16

As a parent, I’ve tried to reassure my daughter that she can come to me about anything. I want her to be confident that my love for her will not waiver. How much more should I desire her to draw near to her Heavenly Father? As a child of God, she can be confident that He will receive her. She doesn’t come to Him on the strength of her record but on the perfect record of Jesus Christ.

Father, I thank you for saving my daughter. I thank you she can draw near to you, not in the hope that her good deeds outweigh the bad, but because of Jesus. He has taken her record of wrongs on the Cross and has transferred His record of righteousness to her. May she hold fast to this truth when she is struggling with sin and discouraged with her Christian walk. I pray the gospel will be louder and clearer than the voices that tell her she needs to try harder and do better before she can come to You. May she run to Your throne of grace with confidence knowing that grace and mercy flow freely to Your children. In Jesus Name, amen.

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Persis is an ordinary mom who loves the Lord, her family, and the local church. You can find her at Tried With Fire (http://triedbyfire.blogspot.com) and Out of the Ordinary (http://out-of-theordinary.blogspot.com).

5 Reasons We Get Angry

Mike Leake 1 Comment

In Ephesians 4:26 we are told, “in your anger do not sin”. The question is not how we prevent anger; the question is what we do with anger once it crops up. We all get angry—occasionally righteously angry but mostly not.

One of the ways to battle sinful anger is to think through the reasons why we get angry. Here are five:

  1. I get angry when my perceived rights are violated. No matter how legit these “rights” are whenever they are violated I am prone to anger. I feel that I have the “right” to fair treatment and I do not receive it then I get angry.
  2. I get angry when my pride is wounded. Every person battles pride. Sometimes even those that seem the most humble take great pride in their humility. Whenever our pride (read source of identity) is wounded we often resort to anger. Our pride can be wounded through disrespect or a loving rebuke from a friend.
  3. I get angry when my hopes are disappointed. Who of us does not have an imagined future? We have hopes, dreams, and aspirations. Some are bigger and stronger than others. This can be as simple as the hope of getting to watch a football game or the agony of a broken relationship. Any time things are not going the way that I envision them going I am tempted towards anger.
  4. I get angry when my fears are confirmed. Just as we have hopes we also have fears. There are things that we hope no person ever notices about us. There are things that we hope never happen to us. There are things that we pray for and things that we pray never happen. When our fears are realized, either through someone exposing our true self or a situation that confirms our fear we are tempted to anger.
  5. I get angry when my comfort is interrupted. We love our comfort. We plan vacations with the hope of relaxation and comfort. Sometimes we plan mini-vacations after getting home from school or work. We hope to sit down and relax, when that comfort is interrupted we can be quickly tempted to anger.

One thing that all of these have in common is idolatry. Whenever I place my comfort, hopes, fears, pride, or rights above my identity in Christ I will respond in anger. Sinful anger is a great barometer that my heart is not holding fast to the One that it should be.

A good deal of that which parades itself as righteous anger is really  motivated by one of these five things more than it is motivated by a deep love for Christ. All of my anger is righteous in my own eyes. Unfortunately the Lord doesn’t see it the same way.

Anger is conquered by remembering what really matters and who is really in charge. I like these words from Mark Dever:

We do not have to squander our words, uttering things that are unloving and untrue, words that are pointless or useless. The most important problems in the universe, and in our own lives, have been solved for us through the gospel. (Dever, Twelve Challenges Churches Face)

The gospel won’t keep you from getting stuck in traffic or secure you a good parking spot—but it’s truth will cause you to see things in the proper perspective and to get a grip on foolish anger.

Today in Blogworld 01/08/14

Mike Leake

Evangelicals and Hollywood Muck

I’m with Trevin Wax on this one. “…sometimes I wonder if evangelicals have swung the pendulum too far to the other side, to the point where all sorts of entertainment choices are validated in the name of cultural engagement.”

Fighting Porn by F.A.I.T.H.

It might be a “kinda corny” acronym but I think this a very helpful way to think about fighting for purity.

The Launch of Pastors Today

I’m honored to be a part of this. Check it out.

Is Recreational Marijuana Use a Sin?

Be prepared to have to answer this question more and more. Soon we won’t be able to make the simple, “It’s against the law” argument.

This guy has inspired me to start wearing more ugly sweaters:

(HT: 22 Words)

Pray For Your Daughter: 31 Day Challenge—Day Eight

Mike Leake

Day Eight: That She Would Be Content in the Lord’s Provision

“Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.” (Proverbs 30:8-9, ESV)

Our world is consumed with the pursuit of things. Our culture values wealth and prosperity, brand names and big cars, large houses and large living. Money is a constant draw on the hearts of many, and our daughters are not immune. She will contend with the idols of this land, whether she has little or much. She, like we, cannot serve God and money. (Matt. 6:24)

Oh God, protect the heart of my daughter from the idols of money and prosperity. Guard her desires and keep her content with what you provide, not with what the world says she should have. Do not give her so much that she forgets you, or so little that she steals and sins against your name. Fill her heart so full of you that there is no room for the gods of this world. Keep her from temptation and fill her heart with passion for you. 

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Nick lives and serves the Lord with his wife Amy and Son Gabriel in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. He loves his Lord, his family, his church, and lives to proclaim the Gospel in whatever way he can.