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What to Pray For Our Children

by Melissa J | More from this Blogger

01 Sep 2006 10:37 PM

I believe one of our jobs as believers and parents is to seek Christ and ask Him what He wants for our children and how we are to help achieve those things through Him. When our children are very young, they will not always know in which direction to pray for their life. Certainly we can teach them. It is so important that we intercede for them just as Jesus Christ intercedes for us.

I stepped away from this blog for a minute to ask my 5 year old son what I should pray for to God for him. His response was, "Make the sky super, super cool!" When I asked him what he would like to ask for, he told me, "To go to the park." Yes, we are to come to Him like little children as shared in Matthew chapter 18. There is such a bigger picture than what our children can see.

Ephesians 6:12 says, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."

This is pretty heavy. Certainly there is an enemy that is after our young children and teens as much as they are us. It is so important to understand there is power in prayer! We are born with a sinful nature. This nature needs to be tamed so that we can be the children God would have us to be. I think this comes through discipline and prayer. When your children are struggling with something, offer to pray with them that God will step in to help. Give them too the tools they need to do prayerful battling themselves. "Jesus, please help me," or, "Satan, flee in Jesus name!" are just two examples. Teach them how to submit to God and resist the devil so that he will flee (James 4:7). Pray too that God would show you what to pray for your children. Many nights in prayer for my boys I've felt the Lord bring to mind some other specific things to pray for regarding my boys. I pray for my kids' development and behavior. I pray that they will grow to love the Lord and serve Him.

I'd learned from my aunt's example, as she would pray over her kids before sleep, she would ask the Lord to minister to their spirits. What a wonderful thing to do, praying that the Lord would guard over your child's mind even in their sleep.

It doesn't hurt to pray for their future too. I have heard of people praying for God to prepare the right spouse for their child one day. I pray that my children will make wise choices and they would never want to stray from God. I pray that I would be the mother God wants me to be for my kids.

Please check out my other Christian parenting blogs from this series:

Parenting Series: Intro

We Are Our Kids' Role Models

Dedicating Children

Getting into Your Kid's Business

Discipline for Children

Honoring Your Mother and Father

Courting vs. Dating

To My Parents

Teaching Our Children Modesty

Teaching Our Children Self-Respect

All Scripture referenced was quoted from the NKJV.

 
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User Comments

Grammi58 (396) 03 Sep 2006 09:11 PM

MJ-I used to always pray for my kids when they were younger. When they reached their teenage years, I think I even prayed more. I would climb into bed & just pray that God would be with you at school or whereever you may be & that you wouldn't do any wrong. I'm just thankful & blessed that my 3 kids turned out to be such good kids(by the way they are all grown now).

Jody Moreen (3274) 06 Sep 2006 06:02 PM

Following my dear godly mother's example I pray for my 3 sons, as my mother has prayed for me. It is wonderful to pray scripture and God's promises for your children for example: " May "Daniel" grow in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man" For years I was a Moms in Touch Prayer group leader- and it was awesome to meet with other women and pray for your children. And even more exciting to get together weekly and see God's answers and the wonderful working of His hand. Prayer is the GREATEST gift you can give your children!There is power in prayer and also God's word. Try praying God promises for your children - so beautiful! Thanks MJ! Jody Moreen

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