The Halloween Dilemma . . .

When it comes to Halloween, I have always felt a bit of a dilemma. As a child it was harmless. I dressed up as princess, a Japanese girl in a kimono, etc . . . simple costumes with no focus on gore or evil. My siblings and I trick-or-treated to the neighbor's homes on our street and always felt like we really "scored" with our buckets of candy! After all, it was really all about the candy!!!

When our children were young, my husband and I were concerned with the way the focus of Halloween seemed to be moving to the gore and evil, so we decided to replace Halloween with, "Family Night". We took our two children to the restaurant of their choice, then we went to the store and they both were able to choose two bags of candy, then we went home and played board games or watched a movie together.

Today, the move to the gore and evil is even more pronounced, so I believe we have to have conversations with our grandchildren/children. We need to help them understand there really is no such thing as ghosts, but evil is real. We need to help them understand how real "power" and fulfillment is not found in witchcraft or magic, but in knowing and walking with God.

This requires intentional conversations and focused prayer. With Halloween just a couple weeks away, be sure to make time for these important conversations with your grandchildren/children and especially at this time of year, pray they will understand the truth and not be deceived by Satan's lies.

I'm posting here one of the Scripture prayers from my book; Deeper In 4 Grandparents & Parents, Too! Praying the Scriptures for the Children We Love - Old Testament Edition - consider praying this for your grandchildren/children as well. 

Week 20 - Read – 2 Kings 6:8-23

Pay attention to –

·         What does this passage tell me about needing to have eyes which are open?

·         What do I learn about trusting God in this passage?

·         What do I especially like about this passage?

·         What do I not like or do not understand?

·         How does this passage help me know God better?

·         What will I do to live this passage today?

Prayer  -

Dear God, on this day when I see the world around me and the difficulties I face, rather than a response which says, “Oh no, my Lord! What shall I do?”, please help me remember to trust You. Please help me remember the truth; I do not have to be afraid, because more are those who are with me, than those who are against me! You are greater! As I go through this day, please help me to have open eyes which see the truth, so I am not deceived or tricked by anything Satan may use to derail me. Please help me remember no matter what I face, You are big enough to handle it, You are strong enough to do what needs to be done and You love me enough to take care of me.

As my grandchildren/children grow, please help them firmly believe the truth of how when they see the world around them and the difficulties they face, rather than a response which says, “Oh no, my Lord! What shall I do?”, please help them remember to trust You. As they grow up and face challenges, please help them believe and remember the truth; they do not have to be afraid, because more are those who are with them, than those who are against them! Please reassure them in every situation, You are greater! As they go through this day, please help them have open eyes which see the truth, so they are not deceived or tricked by anything Satan may use to derail them. Please help them remember no matter what they face, You are big enough to handle it, You are strong enough to do what needs to be done and You love them enough to take care of them. Thank You for Your great love for us; I love You, too! Amen!

Focus for the Week –

Make this your prayer in the coming week and as you go through your day, draw your thoughts to the following focus . . .

• Sunday – Dear God, on this day when I see the world around me and the difficulties I face, rather than a response which says, “Oh no, my Lord! What shall I do?”, please help me remember to trust You. Pray as my grandchildren/children grow, they will firmly believe the truth of how when they see the world around them and the difficulties they face, rather than a response which says, “Oh no, my Lord! What shall I do?”, they will remember to trust You. When I face difficulties, what is my response? When I see the world around me, am I afraid? How would my response to these things change if I remembered to trust God? Pray my grandchildren/children will remember to trust God when they face difficulties or are tempted to be afraid.
• Monday – Please help me remember the truth; I do not have to be afraid. Pray as they grow up and face challenges and difficulties, my grandchildren/children will believe and remember the truth; they do not have to be afraid. What am I afraid of? How would things change if I remembered to I do not have to be afraid? Pray my grandchildren/children will remember they do not have to be afraid when they face challenges and difficulties.
• Tuesday – Please help me remember the truth; more are those who are with me, than those who are against me. In the same way, pray as my grandchildren/children grow up and face challenges, they will believe and remember the truth; more are those who are with them, than those who are against them. What do I do; how do I respond, when I’m in a situation where others are against me? Do I remember God is with me, so it doesn’t matter how many are against me? How would remembering this change the way I handled difficult situations? Pray my grandchildren /children will experience how God is for and with them, so when they have others against them, they will not be afraid.
• Wednesday – You are greater! Please reassure my grandchildren/children in every situation, You are greater!  How does it change the way I live today if I know God and fully believe God is greater? Do I really believe this? Do I live like I believe it? Take some time to make a list of at least five ways God shows me He is greater– and take time to thank Him for them! Pray my grandchildren/children will understand and believe God is greater no matter what they face. Plan to take time to talk with them about how God shows you He is greater and then spend time thanking God together.
• Thursday – As we go through this day, please help me and my grandchildren/children to have open eyes which see the truth. How might I be deceived or tricked by things in this world? How have I been deceived or tricked? How would my life change if I asked God for open eyes and then “used” those eyes to see the truth? Pray my grandchildren/children will be people who have open eyes, so they are able to see the truth and are not tricked or deceived by anything in this world.
• Friday – Please help my grandchildren /children and I as we go through this day we are not deceived or tricked by anything Satan may use to derail us. Am I able to see the truth in the world around us, or have I been tricked, deceived or derailed in some area? How does the truth help me see things correctly? Pray my grandchildren/children will be able to see the truth as they grow up in this world and will not be tricked, deceived or derailed.
• Saturday – Please help my grandchildren /children and I remember no matter what we face, You are big enough to handle it, You are strong enough to do what needs to be done and You love us enough to take care of us.  How does knowing no matter what, God is big enough to handle it, strong enough to do what needs to be done and He loves me enough to take care of it, change the way I look at my troubles? Pray my grandchildren/children will not only believe this, but will experience how God protects, cares for and loves them.

We do not have to be afraid when we look at the world around us, but we do have to be intentional and focus on engaging our grandchildren/children in important conversations and in praying faithfully for them.