Igniting Your Day with Bamidele Oloruntoba

Pray for Families in Stagnation: Asking God for Swift Help, Productivity, Discernment, and Peace

Bamidele Oloruntoba

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Some families desire to move forward but are being held back by unresolved circumstances, delayed decisions, and uncertainty. In this prayer message, we intercede for God to come swiftly, reveal productive ideas, protect families from misleading relationships, and keep them in perfect peace. Key passages include Psalm 128, Psalm 38:21–22, Deuteronomy 32:12, and Isaiah 26:3–4.

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Some families are ready to move forward, but unresolved circumstances have left them unable to take the next step. Today, our engagement is a call to stand in prayer for families that are waiting, believing that God can come swiftly, reveal what their hands can do, protect them from harmful influences, and keep them in perfect peace. Good morning and welcome to this expression of igniting your day. Today the assignment is specific. We are praying for families. I saw families that appeared to be stagnated. By stagnation, I do not necessarily mean that they are doing nothing. I mean that they would like to move forward, begin something, participate in something, or make an important decision. But unresolved issues are holding them back. For example, a family may desire to plan a holiday, but they cannot even begin because one of the parents may be out of work by the time the holiday arrives. They are supposed to move forward, but uncertainty has made it difficult to plan. I saw families that would have loved to begin certain things engage in new opportunities or become involved in meaningful activities, yet, particular issues in their lives made it unreasonable or impossible for them to proceed. The instruction is clear, we must uphold these families in prayer. Our foundation is in Psalm 128. The Bible says in Psalm 128, verse 1 to 6, Blessed is everyone that fears the Lord and walks in his ways. For they shall eat the labor of their hands. The Bible says, their wives shall be as fruitful as a vine by the sides of their house, and their children like olive plants round about their table. The Bible says, Behold, that thus shall that man be blessed that fears the Lord. The Lord shall bless them out of Zion, and these people shall see the good of Jerusalem all the days of their lives. Yes, they will see their children's children, and peace be upon them. I paraphrased. This is what we are going to pray for. That it will continue in the ways of the Lord. Yes. Blessed is everyone that feareth the Lord, that walketh in his ways. Our first prayer this morning is that every family connected to us, especially families of believers, that they will not depart from the ways of the Lord. We declare this morning that they continue to walk in the ways of God. They continue to walk in the ways of God so that they experience the blessings that come from following Him. We declare that they will not create schemes that contradict God's ordained methods for them. They will not abandon God's principles because of pressure. They will not decide that disobedience is necessary simply because the process has become difficult. We pray that no matter the challenges before them, they continue to rely upon the Lord. They do not give up on the Lord in the name of Jesus. This is very important because Isaiah chapter 50, verse 11 says, Behold, all ye that kindle the fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks, walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks that ye have kindled. These shall ye have of mine hand, ye shall lie down in sorrow. You see, there are individuals and families who because of what they are experiencing, or because of how long they've been experiencing it, have begun to kindle their own fires. They surround themselves with sparks of their own making and begin walking in their own light rather than in the light God supplies. But the outcome of walking in self-created light is sorrow. Therefore, we pray that every family connected to us will continue to rely upon the Lord their God. They will not give upon Him, they will not allow frustration to drive them away from the ways of God. They will not manufacture alternatives that contradict God's will. Even when the answer appears delayed, they remain faithful in the name of Jesus. Amen. I also saw a family that appeared to be waiting for help. It looked as though every actionable option had been exhausted. The father, the mother, and the child had done everything within their ability. There seemed to be nothing more they could do. I see them waiting. I could not tell exactly who or what they were waiting for, but the picture was clear. They had reached the limit of their personal options. Psalm 38, verse 21 to 22. It says, Forsake me not, O Lord, O my God, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation. This is our declaration over every family that has exhausted its option. That the Lord will make haste to help them. The Lord comes to their aid with speed. That the Lord intervenes before discouragement overwhelms them. Yes, we declare that the Lord answers them before pressure consumes them. We declare in the name of Jesus that the Lord will show himself as the God of their salvation in the name of Jesus. Friends, some families are waiting for a decision before they can move forward. It may be a governmental decision, it may be an official response, an approval or the decision of another authority. They are waiting to know whether they can take a particular step. Over these families, we declare Psalm 38, verse 22 Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation. While praying, I saw that the government authority was trying to reach them, but the Lord arrived first. This suggests that what they were waiting to receive from that authority might not be the best outcome for them. Before the authority reached them, God already stepped in with his own help. Therefore, we declare this morning that the Lord makes haste to help these families. The Lord makes haste to help these families. Before human systems determine their future, may God reveal his provision. Before an unfavorable decision controls their direction, may the Lord create another way. Before the expected response arrives, may divine help reach them first. Thank you, Heavenly Father. In Jesus' name. Amen. As I was praying, I saw what I can describe as productivity. I saw useful and relevant things growing out of the hands of a member of a family. Just imagine a person opening a hand and bread growing out of the palm. Imagine someone speaking and gesturing and something useful, something that can be sold or exchanged for money coming out of the person's hands. I saw this particularly in connection with a woman. Useful things were growing from her hands. The picture was one of productivity. Yes, and this brings back Psalm 128, verse 2 to 3. The Bible says there, for thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands. Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house, thy children like olive plants around thy table. The passage says that a person will eat the labor of his own hands, be happy and experience well-being. It also says that the wife will be like a fruitful vine within the home. In this context, fruitfulness is not limited to bearing children. It can also speak of productivity, the ability to produce something useful and beneficial. The family may still be waiting for an external answer, but while they wait, the Lord can show them what to do. He can place something in their hands, He can awaken an idea, He can reveal a skill, He can show them how to produce something that will help sustain the family. Therefore, we pray for productivity in the name of Jesus. We declare that the Lord teaches this family what they can do while they wait in the name of Jesus. We declare the Lord shows them what they can do with their hands, the Lord reveals the skills, the Lord reveals the abilities, the Lord reveals the resources that are already available to them. Yes, we declare that the Lord gives them clarity concerning what they can produce. The Lord lets them know what to do and gives them the courage to do it. We declare in the name of Jesus that may the things that can sustain the family begin to grow in their hands. May things that can keep the family moving forward begin to grow from their hands. May ideas, useful ideas, services, products, and opportunities emerge through the work of their hands. We declare that the labor of their hands become fruitful. We declare that they eat from the work of their hands. We declare the name of Jesus that they experience happiness and well-being as the Lord establishes them in what they do in the name of Jesus. Amen. The revelation of productivity gives us a direction, and Psalm 128 gives us a scriptural foundation. But the people for whom we are praying may not know that someone is interceding for them. They may not hear the prayer, they may not understand that something is being supplied from the spirit. To them, the answer may simply arrive as an idea. That is why we must pray over their process of forming and developing ideas. They must not get it wrong. The process of recognizing what to do, shaping the idea, evaluating it, and deciding how to proceed must be guided by God. Perhaps they need a resource to make the idea successful. Perhaps they need exposure to make the idea complete. Perhaps they need advice to prevent costly mistakes. Perhaps they need a particular skill to make the idea productive. Whatever they need, may it become available to them in the name of Jesus. We declare that their eyes are opened. We declare their understanding will become clear. We declare the right people, knowledge, resources, and skills become visible to them in the name of Jesus. Their teachers will no longer be hidden from them. They will recognize the instruction God is bringing into their lives. They will know what to do, and they will do what they are supposed to do in the name of Jesus. Amen. As we continue praying, I saw another family. A respected and apparently accomplished person came close to them. The family gladly received this person because the individual appeared to be advanced, perhaps in age, career, experience, or social standing. They believed that having such a person in their lives will be helpful. However, what I saw was different. The more advanced person was actually using the family to compensate for personal deficiencies. While the family felt blessed to have this person in their lives, the person was taking advantage of them to cover areas of weaknesses in his or our own life. This revelation brought an important caution. Not everyone who appears qualified to teach or help is sent by God. Some people may look like teachers, mentors, or helpers, but they may be using vulnerable people to compensate for their deficiencies. Deuteronomy chapter 32, verse 12 says, So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange God with him. The Lord alone led Jacob. The Lord alone led Israel. Now, this does not mean that people will have no meaningful relationships, advisors, teachers, or helpers. Relevant relationships are important, don't get me wrong. The emphasis is that no human being should assume the role that belongs to God in your life. There must be no strange God. No one should become an object of unhealthy dependence. No one should manipulate a family by presenting himself or herself as the only source of direction, only source of opportunity, only source of wisdom, or only source of rescue. Therefore, we pray for a separation from every harmful influence. Every person who wants to take advantage of families that are trusting God must be removed. However, God chooses to orchestrate that separation. Let there be a dropping away of unhealthy relationships. Let these families be delivered from people who are using them. Let them be delivered from false helpers, misleading teachers, manipulative advisors, and individuals who want to occupy God's place in their lives. We declare there will be no strange God with them. The Lord will lead them, they will receive healthy and relevant relationships. Nobody will play the role of God in their lives in the name of Jesus. Amen. Finally, we pray that the Lord will keep these families in perfect peace. Isaiah chapter 26, verse 3 to 4 in the King James. It says, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusted in thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. The passage says that God keeps in perfect peace the person whose mind is stayed on him. The prayer therefore begins with the mind. May the minds of these families remain stayed on the Lord. You see, there are passages that speak about people fixing their eyes on God. When you fix your eyes on the Lord, you are watching what he will do. But when your mind is stayed on him, you are not only watching for the outcome, you are also paying attention to the processes that lead to the outcome. You are not only looking for the acts of God, you are learning his ways. This experience must not end with families merely receiving help. It must also become a lasting learning process. May they learn lessons that will never be taken away from them. May they recognize God's patterns in the way he leads, provides, and delivers. May they understand how he directs them. May they pay attention to the ways through which he shows them mercy. They will not only become beneficiaries of God's acts, they will grow in their understanding of his ways. As their minds remain, oh, thank you, Lord Jesus, as their minds remain stayed upon him, may he keep them in perfect peace. Peace will speak over their homes. Peace governs their thoughts. Peace protects them from panic while they wait. Peace remains within them while decisions are pending. Peace guides them as they develop new ideas. Peace guide them as relationships are tested in the name of Jesus. Every family looking to God for a miracle, we declare they are kept in perfect peace because their minds are stayed on the Lord. In the name of Jesus. Amen. Wow. Heavenly Father, we bring before you every family that feels unable to move forward right now. We declare that you keep them in your ways. We declare that they do not allow pressure, delay, or uncertainty to push them into ungodly alternatives. We declare, oh God, that you make haste to help those who have exhausted every visible option. We declare that you reach them before the decisions and systems upon which they have been waiting. You reach them, you reach them in the name of Jesus. We declare that you show them what they can do with their hands. We declare that you give them productive ideas, relevant skills, wise counsels, and useful resources in the name of Jesus. Amen. Thank you, dear friends, for being here today. And I am wishing you an amazing, amazing, amazing day ahead. God bless you.