Faculty As Shepherd Series Dr. Greg Harris - I Pray This For My Children Part II Below is the answer for some of the prayers prayed for our children. It is not that my answers are exhaustive, nor does it mean that each element had to be prayed in every prayer session. Also, seasons of life necessitate changed elements within the prayer. But here is what I pray/prayed for my children: I pray . . . —as a child to my heavenly Father before praying as a father for my own children (1 Peter 1:17). —for my own walk with God (Eph 4-6) before I pray for their walk; it starts with me, not with them. —for my wife Betsy’s walk with God (singular) and ours collectively as husband and wife. Any true ministry (and parenting most certainly is a ministry, and an incredibly responsible ministry at that) is merely an extension of your walk with the Lord (or lack thereof). And though we fail miserably at this at times, I pray that our children will see Betsy and my relationship with God (Eph. 5:22-33)—although obviously imperfect—will be a natural carryover to our working with them (Eph. 6:1-4). I pray . . . —for our marriage. —for our parenting. —for wisdom and discernment in each of these areas (James 1:5-6; 1 Pet. 5:5-9). —for what to say; for what not to say. —for godly disciplining that will not exasperate (Eph. 6:4). I pray that God will bless beyond our capacities and limitations to be parents. I pray for my children . . . —that they will come to a saving grace of God early in their lives (1 Sam. 3:7). —that their hearts will always be tender before God (2 Chron. 34:27). —that their hearts will always be inclined to God (Josh. 24:23). —that they will fear God and turn away from evil (Job 1:8). I pray for my children . . . —that God will raise up godly influences for them, and —that they will become godly influences. —that they will have godly friends and be godly friends to others. —that true biblical Wisdom will be their close associate (Prov. 1-9; 1 Cor. 1:22-24; 1 Cor. 1:30). I pray for my children . . . —that God will make them be/become blessings to others (Philemon 7). —that they will be thankful to God and to others (Luke 17:11-18; Col. 3:15). I pray for my children . . . —that God will grant them an insatiable hunger and thirst for Him and His Word (1 Pet. 2:1-2). —that they will worship God in spirit and truth frequently (John 4:23-24). —that they will have a Second Coming mentality (1 John 3:1-3). —that they will live their lives with eternity in view (Phil. 3:20-21). I pray for my children . . . —that they will come under strong conviction when they sin (Ps. 51), and —that they will confess their sins to God (1 John 1:9) and to others (James 5:16). I pray for my children . . . —that God will protect them from themselves, violent people and the evil one. (I received these three prayer items from a godly uncle of mine who has since gone home to be with the Lord). I pray for my children’s spouses, if they are to have them (1Cor. 7:7), . . . —that God will cultivate godliness and the same traits already mentioned within them. —that God will bring them together at the proper time. —that they will honor Him in the courtship and keep them pure before Him. —that God will be the center of their home and this become evident to others. —that God would bring them to a godly, Bible-centered church, where they may grow in their walks with the Lord, both individually and collectively. I pray that my daughter will become a Proverbs 31 woman and my son an Ephesians 5 man whether God grants them spouses or not. I pray for my children . . . —that God will be at work within them both to will and to do according to His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13). —that God will grant them a sense of excellence in doing things unto the Glory of God in the everyday activities of their lives (1 Thess. 4:1 and 4:10; 1 Cor. 10:31; 2 Cor. 1:20). —that they will know experientially that He alone is worthy to receive all glory, honor and praise and live their lives accordingly (Rev. 4:11; Rev. 5:1-11). I pray for my children . . . —that they will not be conformed to this world, but instead they will be transformed by the renewing of their minds (Rom. 12:1-2) and the washing of water with the Word (Eph. 5:26). —that they grow in the grace and knowledge of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 3:18), and —that they grow in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52). Simply put, I pray for my children . . . —that they will walk with God all the days of their lives (Judges 2:7; 1 Sam. 1:11; Ps. 23:6), and —that we will see the fruits of a lifetime of walking with Jesus before His throne (Rev. 4:9-11). May God be glorified as we pray for our children.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 21:51:47 +0000
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