by Pamela Hamza, TCS Campus Coordinator
In utterance to the heavens, as parents, we often plead daily for the tasks at hand – “please help him do his schoolwork” (I’ll admit, that’s mine), “Lord, help her have a good day”, “please help me find a close parking spot” (mine again). While the urgent needs are vital, there is great opportunity for us to make future requests as well – investing in a time well beyond where we stand.
When I was 15 and involved in the student ministry of our church, the youth pastor suggested we all begin praying for our spouses. I had little desire to be married at the time but knew it would eventually happen and so I prayed without a name, “Lord, please protect my husband, keep him from harm, pull him closer to You.” I had no idea what I was doing or if it mattered at all. My husband wasn’t even a Christian when we met, but says he was drawn to the Christian in me. Over the years he has told me stories about his wild life growing up in Southern California and shared that he doesn’t understand why he didn’t get in more trouble than he did or have more physically damaging accidents (he was quite the daredevil). But I know why. . .
Fast forward to offspring. Our church offered a bible study to mothers with young children, in essence, teaching you how to be a godly mother. This time I was challenged to pray for my children’s futures. I was obedient and made my prayer cards. Begging the Lord to draw my children close to Him, leading them in the way everlasting at an early age. While my boys haven’t reached adulthood, we have recognized some of these prayers answered recently. And have found a few prayers that we should have dug into a little more deeply.
I am grateful to my own mother for teaching me how to pray God’s word back to Him – giving His promises power in your life. When you pray over your children and for their future, it’s an investment in yours too. You’ll be protecting yourself from future heartache and worry. James 4:16 has proven to be true “the prayer of a righteous person has great power.” God will fulfill these requests in His own timing but you will be blessed in the process.
Pray for your children:
1. To know Christ as Savior early in their life. (Psalm 63:1)
2. To have a hatred for sin. (Psalm 97:10)
3. To be caught when they are guilty. (Psalm 119:71)
4. To be protected from evil in every area of their life: spiritual, emotional, mental and physical. (John 17:15)
5. To have a responsible and Christlike attitude in all their relationships. (Colossians 4:5-6)
6. To respect those in authority over them. (Romans 13:1)
7. To desire good friends and be protected from the wrong friends. (Proverbs 1:10, 11a, 15)
8. To be protected from the wrong mate and saved for the right one.(2 Corinthians 6:14, 16)
9. For future spouse and child to be kept physically pure for marriage. (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)
10. To learn to totally submit to God and actively resist satan in all instances. (James 4:7-8)
11. To be hedged in so that they cannot find their way to wrong people or places and that wrong people cannot find their way to them. (Hosea 2:6)
12. To know they are loved completely and unconditionally. (Jeremiah 31:3)
Here are templates for prayer cards of your own – print them out and add names or scribble them out with fortitude and persistence. You’ll be glad you did.
