It is difficult to pray focused, powerful prayers when our minds are distracted. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:22-25). Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. To be clear minded requires that Christians pay attention to what the Word of God says: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. The race cannot be won when the baggage of fuzzy thinking and the uncertainties of right or wrong hinder us. However, if the enemy can successfully see to it that our minds are cluttered with the unproductive excesses of our culture, then we can be turned off of the course Christ has set before us. Clear minded Christian families should have clearly defined, purpose-filled lives that are characterized by wise choices and mature decisions made from a relationship with Jesus in prayer. It is obvious that the Lord wants our prayer lives to be powerful and effective as we face what lies ahead. Peter emphatically stated, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that prayer is the key to living effective lives in the last days. The Message, by Eugene Peterson, translates this passage as, “Stay wide-awake in prayer.” Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray” (1 Peter 4:7). How can we, as individuals and as families be ready to do what God has called us to in the last days? God’s Word has much to say in this regard however, one specific command may indeed be the key to all of the others: “The end of all things is near. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams’” (Acts 2:17). If we are not spiritually prepared as families, we will be unable to respond to the powerful work of the Holy Spirit in our lives during the end times: “‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all people. However, Jesus tells us to be ready : “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come… So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Matthew 24:42-44). It is difficult to consider the reality of the last days when our children are young, or when we feel that there is so much of life yet to be lived. This knowledge alone should significantly affect our actions, our attitudes and our relationships with one another. What we do know is that it could happen at any time. We, of course, do not know the day or the hour of Christ’s return.

All things done for christ will last