Praying for Your Children

Prayer...a simple word. It's simply our way of communicating with God -- talking to Him and listening to His voice. Prayer is not some special privilege reserved for clergy or the religiously devout. It's a privilege that we have all been granted. It is definitely in our best interest to make use of it.

If you are a Christian parent and you're strong in your faith, you probably pray for your children on a regular basis. That regular basis can be daily, weekly or whatever. But I often wonder how many parents seriously consider the importance of praying for their children.

We are all accustomed to asking God for the things we need. Those basic things that we know are necessary to provide good homes for our families -- food, clothing, shelter. What is it then that we should ask God for outside of those basic provisions? Many ask for a measure of good health. Others simply ask God to just bless their families. And, although we all want the blessings of God, shouldn't we ask for specifics?

It is our duties as parents to pray for our children. But that is a duty that is too frequently forgotten or neglected. Even if we raise our children in the church, there is no guarantee that they will accept Jesus Christ as their savior. Yes. We need to pray for our children's salvation. It is clear in Matthew 19:14 that God wants the children to come to Him. "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

It is the job of the parent to lead a child to Christ. Far too often that extremely important job is left to pastors or Sunday school teachers. We should consider it not only a duty, but an honor to bring our children up in the fear and nurture of our Lord. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 reads, "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up." Our homes are our most important mission fields. Let's not leave this important work for someone else.

If your children have already been saved, they are still in need of your prayers. We must pray for the welfare of our children. Your children will be faced with more obstacles than you can imagine. I have learned that my 6-year old is being faced with unfathomable challenges in only the first grade. This realization has permanently changed the way I pray for my children. Because they have already accepted Christ, I now pray for the impact that my children have on their peers. I pray for their educations and their future success. I pray for their future relationships. I pray for their future families. It is my prayer that my children will continue to serve the Lord and that they will seek His will for their lives. What is your prayer for your children?