A mom from our church prays specific scripture, for her children everyday for years and still praying into their adult lives. Hear this mother’s prayer of just 4 of 12 scripture verses she prays through, and know that scripture is God’s promises. This mom is praying his promises for her children.
Here she prays Ezekiel 11:19
“I will give them a new heart and a new mind. I will take away their stubborn heart of stone and will give them an obedient heart.”
She prays His promise for her children in 2 Corinthians 1:20.
“For in him every one of God’s promises is a “yes.” 2 Corinthians 1:20
“All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children” Isaiah 54:13
“I will transform her valley of troubles into a door of hope.” Hosea 2:15
She prayed His promises for her children.
When the Israelites were complaining and whining in the desert as they wandered around, God told Moses to tell the Israelites to make fringes on the corners of their garments. By touching the fringe, God said this will be a reminder for them to stay close to Him, and pray to Him and they will feel connected to Him. God knew they needed a reminder. The Israelites used the fringe to pray, the mom used the scripture to pray.
Today I look at prayer especially for children. When I say children, this includes grandchildren, great grandchildren, adult children, small children, children all ages. Nephews, or nieces or the child yet born, the orphan children and the foster children. For we are one body in Christ, on this earth. John Wilmont said, “Before I got married, I had six theories about raising children; now I have six children and no theories.” 1.
Better than a theory, is hope in Jesus Christ and a sure, devoted plan to cover the children in prayer. Let’s write their names on the palms of our hands and pray some more. Just as God has written our names on the palms of his hands which is promised in the scripture of Isaiah 49:16
Susanna Wesley gave birth to 19 children. Two of those 19 was John Wesley and Charles the founders of the Methodist movement. Where was she to pray, in a small house with 19 kids? She would sit in in the middle of the living room, put a blanket over herself and pray for her children.
There goes all my excuses and maybe yours too. Let the children know that you are praying for them, tell the grandchildren, call them up and at the end of the conversation, say, “Can I say a prayer with you before we hang up?” Do you have estranged adult children…. faithfully, pray for them, each day.
Is God is leading you to pray for orphans, and foster children? Scripture says in Lamentations 2:19 (NLT) “Rise during the night and cry out. Pour out your hearts like water to the Lord. Lift up your hands to him in prayer, pleading for your children.”
Pray for a hedge of thorns around each of our children; vision a hedge around them wherever they go. If anyone messes with them, they are messing with God. Then pray that they will be strong and courageous with the love of Jesus, because there is a target on their backs.
Have a prayer journal and look back to see answered prayers … because we tend to forget. It’s never too late to start one. And what a treasured possession being able to go back and be reminded of His work! And for our children to see some day the prayers they were covered in.
Pray Luke 2:52, Lord let them grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and with man. It is our job to pray for them to discover the God-blessed plan, their destiny.
Author Mark Barrington shared in his book, “Praying Circles Around the Lives of Your Children”, how his friend Wayne said his grandmother prayed until the day she died. She raised 12 children, but her busy schedule didn’t stop her from praying. After every meal she would lock herself in the bedroom to pray. Three times a day, the children could hear Grandma interceding for them by name. They heard their names being lifted up. When she was on her deathbed at the age of 91, she said though she was going to die, the power of her prayers will come to pass in each of the children’s’ lives. Her prayer was that every member of her family would surrender their lives to Jesus. At the time 6 children had, and 6 had not. That was fifteen years ago, the tally now is ten yes and two not yet. The oldest, Johnny, said yes to Christ, this is how. Johnny’s neighbor had a dream to invite Johnny to church. So he did, Johnny walked into the church and heard the grandmother’s prayer that he heard so many times when he was a child. He gave himself to Christ that day in church. Johnny was 92 years old! Grandmother passed away when Johnny was 77, from the day he was born until the day she died, she prayed for him 84,315 prayers.
Scripture says, “God’s blessings are guaranteed to a thousand generations.” Our prayers for our children will shape the destiny of the children and their children and their children, so on and so on. We don’t want to stop, even in those discouraging times, when a teenager rebels, or an adult child goes through a painful divorce, or is ill, go to God with Isaiah 61:3 “Put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.”
When we experience heaviness, get that garment of praise on, and when we don’t know what to pray for, pray with praises, let that garment of praises become like your favorite sweatshirt. Pray, and then expect crazy and outrageous favor where there is no human explanation. And then let’s celebrate the victories!
Nothing is more important than praying for our children. If we don’t, who will? One of the saddest things to me is that a child is not prayed for. Let’s pray for the children to be surrounded by people in their lives who have a deep positive influence on them. Make the most powerful prayers ones that are linked to the promises of God, such as “I will pour my spirit upon your descendants and my blessing on your offspring.” Isaiah 44:3
Can we get any more comfort or assurance then that? Everyone will have times in our lives that will be hard, and difficult, but we want our children to go thru such times covered in prayer. Do devotions each day with them. Years later those devotions will be memories and traditions and will be treasured! For adult children, email devotions so they know they are covered. Text scripture to the children each day. Remind them they are lifted up in prayer. For parents of school age children, place scripture in their lunches every day. Lay hands on them before they leave for the day.
Jesus put His hands on the children’s heads when parents brought their children to Him. Bless the children…. I wander how many miraculous moments we lost because we failed to act in a bold holy way? 2 Ask for that they hear His whisper, ask for that protection, ask that they listen for Him, ask for their heart be a loving heart, a heart to love others and love God.
Pray with assurance Luke 18:27, that “all things are possible through Christ,” even when we feel sometimes it’s impossible. . And when we get tired, remember the promise in Matthew 11 “I will give you rest….” If we don’t get the answer that we want, make that choice to believe that God has a better plan. Trust Him. In communion the liturgy says “the mystery of faith.” Accepting the mystery is about trusting in him.
When we feel like saying “I can’t keep going, prayers are going unheard”, Remember His promise in Psalm 91. I am reading from the translation of The Message which is a contemporary style.
“If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” says GOD,
“I’ll get you out of any trouble.
I’ll give you the best of care
if you’ll only get to know and trust me.
Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times;
I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party.
I’ll give you a long life,
give you a long drink of salvation!”
God has not forsaken them, He promises in scripture Hebrews 13:5 “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” Forsake means reject or disown. He will never reject us or disown us. He is standing right beside us, hearing our prayers! The mom here at WGUMC says, “I pray through those scriptures, it can be a real test of faith to hang in there, wondering if prayer is having any impact…especially when we cannot see outcome. Trust that God is able.”
1. https://artfulparent.com/2015/07/the-best-parenting-quotes-for-parents-to-live-by.html
2. In today’s sermon I was inspired and stirred by Mark Barrington’s words in Praying Circles Around the Lives of Your Children.
Old Testament Lesson: Jeremiah 29:12
Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you.
Old Testament Lesson: Psalm 103:1-17
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits— who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The LORD works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger for ever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love towards those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him. For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust. As for mortals, their days are like grass; they flourish like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children.
Meditations For Your Week
Sunday, March 26~ Saturday, April 1
Sunday: “I will give them a new heart and a new mind. I will take away their stubborn heart of stone and will give them an obedient heart.” Ezekiel 11:19 Live this day and all days on His promise.
Monday: “For in him every one of God’s promises is a “yes.” 2 Corinthians 1:20 Memorize this verse. Where in your life do you need His Word? Cover your children in prayer knowing they are the apple of His eye.
Tuesday: “All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children” Isaiah 54:13 Praise God today for His protection on your children and other’s children.
Wednesday: “I will transform her valley of troubles into a door of hope.” Hosea 2:15 Are the children in your life in the valley? Then, know to look for the door of hope.
Thursday: “I have written your name on the palms of my hands” Isaiah 49:16 Do you need comfort? Know that your name and the children’s names is inscribed on His hands. Breath slow in His comfort.
Friday: “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 The synonym for the word forsake is reject, disown. God’s promise is He will never disown or reject us or the children.
Saturday: “Put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness” Isaiah 61:3 When you don’t what to pray for, pray with praises. Whisper up praises all through the day for the children in your life.