The Importance of Praying For Your Children
Children are a blessing from God. They are the single most lifelong investment you will ever make. Most people consider their jobs/careers to be a lifelong investment (and this holds true in many circumstances), but if you have children and a family then they outweigh the career. Praying for these children should be of high importance as they are highly targeted even at a young age.
We live in a society that is fueled by sexual tension, propaganda, violence, and misery. Building a foundation will set the stage for their success . . . or their failure. Often times the foundation is neglected by parents and they are left to wonder why their children seek destructive paths in the future. Most of the time, the blame is on the parents. This article will cover five key reasons why praying for your children is of high importance and why it shouldn't be taken as a shallow task.
1. Praying will Bridge the Gap Between Spiritual Death and Life
You as a parent are entrusted with another life. It is yours to guard, nurture, invest in, respect, and cherish. With that said, the children you have been blessed with are also your investment. That means whatever decisions they make while they are under your roof will ultimately lead back to you. Each person is responsible for their own conscious decisions, however, note that sin does not just affect the person(s) involved. It affects EVERYONE, even generations. What you struggle with will be displayed in your children, so take heed that you are also getting fed spiritually. The last three articles from this blog (Prayer Defined, Prayer's Foundation, and Prayer's Elaborate Context) cover the foundation of prayer as a whole, and if you missed those I would highly recommend going over them as they are key building blocks to closer communion with God.
Praying is often the most neglected aspect of a Christian's walk. I know for myself it was. The solution to this seemingly endless backslide lies in your priorities. If it means changing up your schedule to have a dedicated time spent with God, absolutely commit to it. If you can sit at a hockey game for six hours or fish until dawn the next morning, you have time to pray. This is an area God has heavily convicted me in since my days didn't start with Him. I wanted to grow in my faith, yet didn't want to commit in that area. Do you see the juxtaposition? We often wonder why God isn't near, but seldom do we ask if there is anything that we are doing that hinders the communion (fellowship) with God.
Praying will bridge the gap between death and life. I don't mean that praying for protection will keep your children from experiencing negative things. I do mean that praying (especially praying for true, genuine conversion) with a clean heart will bring changes and build a foundation for your home, even if you are a single parent. God hears the prayers of the brokenhearted.
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working" (James 5:16, ESV).
"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6, ESV).
"But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God" (1 Timothy 5:4, ESV).
2.) Praying for Your Children Brings Changes, Including Changes in Their Hearts
Put on your armor, because the road ahead isn't paved with luck. It's paved with grit, heartache, sacrifice, and (that's right) trials.Praying is the spiritual purposefulness of putting on the spiritual armor of God. It is what keeps you alert spiritually for the enemy's attacks. A battle is won by knowing your enemy's plan and fortifying your defenses. The enemy will not just rise up against you, but your household as well. After all, this is what led to sin entering the world. Eve was strategically targeted by Satan, which also led to Adam's spiritual demise. You can't do this on your own, nor should you. With God comes the victory.
When you pray for your children, you are admitting before God that you are seeking His help (and ultimately His direction over your own). Praying for your children to see right from wrong also has to be tied with you teaching them right from wrong. You can't rely solely on Awana programs or Sunday School staff. A family that prays together, is held together. Just like it takes two to make a marriage work, it takes two to have a fellowship. That means if you aren't married to the word of God (truly converted), that is the best place to start because a house divided is destined to fall. A marriage that is unequally yoked is destined for heartache. When we are joined in God's covenant, we have a Sustainer who intercedes on our behalf.There is nothing more powerful on Earth than prayer. Prayer brings changes and is the catalyst to growth.
"If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination" (Proverbs 28:9, ESV).
"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14, ESV).
"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded" (James 4:8, ESV).
3.) With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility, but with Great Dedication to Prayer, There Comes Great Humility
Do not deceive yourselves. God is not affected or moved by eloquent prayers of many words. Jesus stated in Matthew 6:7-8 (ESV): “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." God searches the heart of man and is not deceived by empty phrases. Prayer brings humility, just like power (positional authority) brings responsibility.