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The Lord Desires to Bless Our Children
Andrea Lende • January 17, 2021
Mark 10:16
The Lord Blesses Our Children
You can listen to the devotion and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/The-Lord-Desires-to-Bless-Our-Children-ep3dhr
Mark 10:16
“And He took them [the children up one by one] in His arms and [fervently invoked a] blessing, placing His hands upon them.”
Jesus loved the little children.
The disciples were trying to dismiss them.
Trying to shoo them away.
I’m sure they thought Jesus was too busy for them.
They didn’t want to disrupt the Lord’s real business at hand.
They were acting much like the gatekeepers we find today making sure only the important clients get to the important person they are protecting.
However, Jesus loved the little ones.
He desired to bless them.
He was even troubled by the disciples’ actions.
In verse 14 Jesus said, “But when Jesus saw [it], He was indignant and pained and said to them, Allow the children to come to Me – do not forbid or prevent or hinder them – for to such belongs the kingdom of God.”
As I read our first passage today, I was struck with the Amplified Bible’s definition of how Jesus blessed the children.
The word fervently was used.
The Lord blessed each child with great intensity.
Just as He fervently blessed the children over two thousand years ago, the Lord desires to bless our children as well.
We need to claim this today.
We need to stop believing the enemies’ lies about our children.
For they are the Lord’s and the Lord desires to bless them.
He created them, and He has a plan for them.
He will mold and shape them for Himself to be used by Him.
He will smooth out the rough edges.
He will make them shine in all His splendor and glory.
He will quiet their hearts.
He will call them to Himself.
It is our role to pray for our children.
And believe the Lord desires to bless them.
Stand in the gap for them, and see the enemies’ lies for what they are.
Lies and untruths.
Today I choose to pray all the blessings over my children that the Lord desires to bless them with and believe it is done.
May you find that as You believe in the Lord’s ability to bless Your children, it will come to pass.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for the promises in Your Word. Thank You for showing me You want to bless the children You have given to me. As Jesus fervently prayed blessings over the children two thousand years ago, He desires to bless my children. Help me completely rely on You, Father. Help me disregard the lies of the enemy. Through the blood of Jesus, Your Son, may Your perfect will be done. Keep my eyes on You, Lord. When all seems awry, keep my eyes on You. Thank You, Lord, for Your sweet presence and the peace You bring to me. Thank You for all You do and all You are. Thank You for every blessing you have already blessed me with and all those blessings you have in store for me. Do not let me sabotage any of Your goodness, Father. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM watching over and protecting your household and have many blessings in store for you and them.
Response: Thank You, Almighty and All-Powerful God.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.