This week two topics have been placed heavy on my heart. The first is our time here on earth. The second is our children. I will be honest I am somewhat of a coward. I know exactly what He wants me to write and I haven't done it. I will say time is short. Oh so very short. There is an urgency to bring all luke warm Believers back to the Throne. To become entrenched in falling in love with Him again. To be Awake. Ready. Actively seeking Him.
The second is praying for our children. Seems simple right? Well it is not. I have prayed for our children their whole lives. I know they are each marked by Him. And, yet, both of our kids are not walking with the Lord. One of my children had a very strong walk with the Lord. Went to college. Turned her back on God. Went through some tragically terrifying events. She came back to Him not soon after. Her walk, for her young age, is astounding. Another one of our children has the most miraculous testimony. But she doesn't see it yet. I know that she will come back to Him because she has been trained up in the way that she should go. Now it is a matter of waiting, repentance, return, and rejoicing(Proverbs 22:6).
I think in previous decades and generations our parents turned a blind eye when we were in college. They trusted our judgement. They knew we had been raised in the church. They knew we would be back when we married and had children. This generation is different. Much different. Traditional biblical values are no longer the thread of our national upbringing. Everything is immediate. Everything is about Me. This generation is not learning how to have a relationship. There are no social skills. I really believe that plays a huge part of the enemies plan to destroy our children. When your child is faced with immediate gratification monetarily, mentally, sexually, morally why in the world would they want to take the time to read and learn the bible? To develop a relationship with Christ? When every child in this nation is pushed to be a winner? Or handed a trophy for making it to class? Why would they need a Savior? They're being taught to be their own saviors.
The book of Joel, Timothy, Peter, John, Mathew, Luke, Revelation all tell us that we are living amongst the last generation. People, Christians specifically, do not want to hear this. I will tackle the scripture for this at a later date.
Back to our kids. We must be obedient, diligent, and deliberate in our prayers for our children. Here are some pretty great promises from our Savior. I invite you to begin praying in ernest over your children and grandchildren.
1) Pray that they will come to know Christ at an early age. (Timothy 3:15)
2) Pray that they will recognize sin and have a hatred for it (Psalms 97:10)
3) Pray that they will be caught when guilty (Psalms 119:71)
4) Pray that they will be protected from evil in their emotional, spiritual and physical areas of their lives (John 17:15)
5) Pray that they will have a responsible attitude in all of their interpersonal relationships (Daniel 6:3)
6) Pray that they will respect those in authority over them (Romans 13:1)
7) Pray that they will desire the right kind of friends and be protected from the wrong friends (Proverbs1:10-11)
8) Pray that they will be kept from the wrong mate and saved for the right one (2 Corinthians 6:14-17)
9) Pray that they will learn to submit totally to God and resist satan in all circumstances (James 4:7)
10) Pray that they will be willing to be sold out totally to Jesus Christ (Romans 12:1-2)
The most powerful tool that we have as parents is to pray for our kids. Specifically, pray for them to be broken. Gasp. Yes! It is in our depths of despair that we turn to God. It's probably one of the hardest things my husband and I have ever had to do. God hears us! He is not going to leave a single one of His children behind. When the fall comes step aside. It is then that you put your total and absolute faith in Christ. You trust Him to save them. And He will. Maybe not the way we think He should. But in His time.
Time is short. Pray for the ones you love. Cry out to the heavens. Be prepared to witness miracles.
"He learned obedience through the things he suffered"-Hebrews 5:8
