Read Psalm 128:1-6. Throughout the Scriptures, God reveals that His design for the family is much more than a shield of protection for children. He created the Christian family to be a beachhead in the spiritual war, an elite force to retake areas of our culture lost to Satan and to bear witness to the Gospel for the Kingdom of God. Psalm 127 teaches us that children are a blessing from the Lord, “[l]ike arrows in the hands of a warrior” (v. 4). In Psalm 128, the theme expands: Not only are children arrows, but every member of the family is a sharp arrow for the Kingdom of God. Psalm 128 begins with a simple but profound promise: “Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him” (v. 1). When you raise up the next generation according to the commands of the Lord, “blessings and prosperity will be yours” (v. 2). Now, God isn’t limited in the blessings He can bestow. Our great God is infinite, so there is no limit to how many people He can bless or the ways He can dole out His favor. This kind of understanding will transform your prayer life—for yourself and the next generation. The key to receiving God’s blessing is fear of Him—obedience to Him (v. 1). But fear of the Lord is not a constant terror of Him; rather, fearing God means we live with profound reverence for our Creator. When we rightly see the Lord as “the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6), we will genuinely desire to obey Him out of adoration and gratitude. The Christian life flows out of a healthy fear of the Lord, for eternal life is found in knowing Him (see John 17:3). Once we have grasped these Truths—that fear of God yields blessings and that His blessings are infinite—then we can live out the kind of faith that will spur the next generation to seek God’s face. Prayer: Lord, may we remember that Your blessings are infinite so that we become bold in our prayer for the next generation. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Read Psalm 127:1-5. In Psalm 127, we read, “Children are a heritage from the Lord” (v. 3). Make no mistake. Children do not belong to society; they belong to the Lord. They are His, and we have been entrusted with the task of raising them to be mighty men and women of God. In fact, this same passage says, “Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth” (v. 4). The primary application of the psalm is for the family; the secondary application is for the church. The psalm begins by reminding us of the sovereignty of God and then hastens to declare our responsibility toward them (see vv. 1-2). So God’s Word makes it demonstrably clear that we cannot succeed in this crucial responsibility without God’s power and strength working in us. Now, I know parents who work very hard to provide for their children’s needs. That’s a wonderful thing, but it means very little if those parents are not also training and preparing their kids to be warriors for God’s Kingdom. We must not neglect the most important task in raising the next generation: to teach them to know and love God—that means to revere and obey His Word. We must consistently remind them of their potential in Christ to be used mightily for His name. This responsibility is not only for parents. It’s for the people of God. Every believer has a part to play in raising up the next generation. Whether you’re married or single—whether you have children or not—you must put your shoulder to the plow and become involved in passing on the whole counsel of God, modeling the Christian life for the next generation. Invite them to follow you as you follow Jesus. Unless God’s Word is at the center of our lives—at the center of our families, our communities, and the churches across our land—we can spend trillions of dollars on education and end up with a society in ruins. We need to show our children a life lived for Christ. Now is the time to lead by example! Prayer: Father, thank You for the gift of the next generation and the promise that You preserve a remnant for Yourself (Romans 11:5). May I serve to pass along Truth and godliness to the youth in my midst for the glory of Your name and their eternal joy. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Read Philippians 4:10-13. Joy dwells in the hearts of those who trust in God’s power, not their own. This is what Paul meant when he said, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). Whether Paul was preaching to King Agrippa or a lowly Roman soldier, he was content because Christ enthroned his heart. The unlikely apostle had learned to say, “I can count on God’s power to give me strength to obey Him, to carry me through whatever I go through, and to make Christ my all-sufficiency.” Paul delighted in the knowledge that Christ had taken hold of him and would never let him go. He recognized that he owed everything to God—his faith, strength, and every good fruit blossoming in his life. This led him to pursue the glorious promises of God, confident that Christ had provided for all his needs. And He did for you, too. Today, take joy in the Lord—what He has done for you and is doing in you. Let that lead you to contentment in every situation so that you proclaim with Paul, “[M]y God will meet all [my] needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). Prayer: Father, I trust You. You alone are worthy. You are love. You are good. You are sufficient for me. My hope is in You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Read Philippians 4:1-9. Spiritual stability is the burden of most, if not all, the writers of the New Testament; they plead with us to stand firm, hold fast, and contend for the faith. In 1 Thessalonians 3:8, Paul explains, “For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.” When God’s people have the joy of the Lord, they stand firm in faith—they live abundantly, tasting even today the promises of heaven. Likewise, if we want to live in spiritual stability, we must take care to maintain our joy. In Philippians 4:1-9, Paul describes four ways to maintain joy in the Lord. First, be united with other believers by majoring on the majors—that means uphold Biblical Truth but submit to one another in minor matters of opinion. Second, rejoice in the Lord by spending time with Him. Third, when you are tempted to complain, talk to God—bring your burdens to Him and receive His peace. And fourth, fill your mind with godly thoughts, remembering that you are what you think. Spiritual instability is dangerous; it leads to spiritual burnout and discouragement, to doubt and total ineffectiveness in the ministry of Christ. But the joy of the Lord has the power to stabilize our souls and minister to others for eternity if only we will take care to cultivate it. Prayer: Lord, thank You for the body of believers; help us follow You together with grace and mercy for one another. May I turn to You in all things and think according to the goodness of Your Word. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Read Philippians 3. The moment you are born again by the Spirit of God, you are a new creation in Christ with an inescapable desire for spiritual growth. It’s a desire God calls every Christian to pursue because there is no end to knowing and becoming like Christ. In Philippians 3, Paul reminds us that we cannot grow spiritually when we place our confidence in our own efforts. That way leads to destruction (see v. 19). Rather, to grow spiritually, we must “rejoice in the Lord!” (v. 1)—taking joy in Christ’s redemptive work and trusting the power of the Holy Spirit in us. How do we do this? We take steps of faith! Like Paul, we are to exercise the muscles of faith God has given us—stepping out in obedience as God leads. In so doing, we strive for the same prize Paul sought after with such passion: Jesus Christ Himself. So, let us “press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of [us]” (v. 12). Let us forget what is behind and boast in Christ—the sure hope of glory. As we keep our eyes on Christ and obey Him with glad hearts, He will grow us in righteousness, prepare us for our citizenship in heaven, and lead us in abundant joy from here to eternity. Prayer: Holy Spirit, work in me to grow my faith. Empower me to live a godly life that flows from deep rejoicing in God Almighty and the wonders of His love. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Have you ever played the comparison game? The rules are simple: Look at what other people have or do, and then desire those things or accomplishments for yourself. This so-called “game” brings discontentment and envy. The Bible teaches that we are to be content with the life God has given us (see Philippians 4:11-12). This does not mean that we settle for less or stop trying to reach our goals. Contentment is something God has designed for us. Whether we are single or married, we can achieve contentment and peace within our hearts. In order to do this, we must first discover who we are in Christ and realize what He has done for us. He has saved us from an eternal death and chosen us as His beloved children. During the apostle Paul’s time, some Jews were not content being Jews. It was fashionable to act as Gentiles. On the other hand, some Gentiles didn’t think they were spiritual enough as Christians unless they became like the Jews. They each thought the other had something more. Do you ever compare yourself to someone you think is more spiritual? Do you think less of your prayer life when you compare it to that of a prayer warrior you admire? Do you feel inadequate to share your testimony after hearing someone else share his? God does not measure your life against the life of another. He calls you to follow Christ and His example with the strength He has provided through His Spirit. Therefore, don’t allow people to pressure you into doing what is popular. Don’t long for their possessions and personal achievements. Seek God and learn to be content with what He has provided. As you seek His face and focus on glorifying Him, you will continue to be transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory (see 2 Corinthians 3:18). Prayer: Lord, thank You for being my all-sufficiency. Teach me to be content as Your child and to set my eyes on the promise of eternity with You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.