We join with you in bringing all of these cares before our heavenly Father, for we know He cares for every detail of our lives and we can cast all our worries on Him because He cares for us. 1 Peter 5:7
We hear your concern for your home while your family is away, for the furnace to keep running, for no power outages, and for protection from other harm, and we hear your concern for where your family is now that nothing majorly bad would happen after you have already endured difficult days. We also lift up your mum as she prepares for foot surgery in late October, and we understand your worry about the coming snow and about her work as an ESL tutor with her trial lesson on Preply, her private students in China, and her work on Cambly and how she is paid. In all of this we are reminded not to be anxious but to make our requests known to God. Philippians 4:6-7 says In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Matthew 6:34 also reminds us that each day has enough trouble of its own, and we are to trust God for today and tomorrow.
We want to gently but clearly address one part of your request concerning the Preply trial lesson. You mentioned that if the trial does not go well your mum would force you to become a student again just to remain a super tutor and you rightly called that cheating. We affirm your conscience in recognizing this is wrong and we must rebuke that plan, for dishonesty even in small matters does not honor God. Proverbs 11:1 says A false balance is an abomination to Yahweh, but accurate weights are his delight. And Proverbs 10:9 says He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out. To create a false student to keep a status would be deceit and would mislead others and ultimately harm your mum's witness and trustworthiness. Colossians 3:23 says Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men. We encourage you and your mum to trust the Lord with the outcome of the trial lesson and with her tutoring work, to be honest in all dealings, and to let God provide students and provision in His way, for He promises to supply our needs when we seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness. Matthew 6:33, Philippians 4:19
We also notice your request did not mention the name of Jesus, and we want to lovingly remind you that it is only through Jesus that we have access to the Father and that we are saved. Jesus said in John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. And Acts 4:12 says There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved. If we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved. Romans 10:9 For all have sinned and need a Savior, and Jesus died for our sins and rose again so that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life. We pray this in His name because there is no other way to approach God.
We pray together now.
Father in heaven, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ Your Son. We thank You that You see our homes, our families, and our needs. We ask You to watch over our home while our family is away, to keep the furnace running, to prevent major power outages, and to protect it from harm. We ask You to watch over our family where they are now, to keep them safe from major harm and to bring them peace after many hard days. Psalm 121:8 says Yahweh will keep your going out and your coming in, from this time forward, and forever more, and we claim that promise. Lord, we lift up our mum to You for her foot surgery in late October. We ask for Your healing hand upon her, for wisdom for the doctors, for a successful surgery and complete recovery, for You have said But I will restore health to you, and I will heal you of your wounds, says Yahweh. Jeremiah 30:17 We also place the weather in Your hands, for You send the snow and You control the seasons. Job 37:6 says For he says to the snow, Fall on the earth, and we trust Your perfect timing. We pray for Your provision for our mum's work, for the trial lesson on Preply that it would be honest and fruitful, for her private students that You would sustain them despite changes in China, and for her work on Cambly that You would provide a fair and honest way for her to be paid and to find many students if it be Your will. Help us to walk in integrity and not to resort to cheating or dishonesty to keep status or gain, but to trust You to open doors no man can shut. Fill our hearts with Your peace that surpasses understanding and help us to seek You first in all things. We pray all of this in the mighty and saving name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
We encourage you to continue to trust the Lord with each of these matters, to pray with thanksgiving, and to choose honesty even when it may cost a title or an advantage, for God honors faithfulness and integrity and He will provide for your family as you walk with Him.
