I just this minute finished being interviewed on a live radio show. The conversation and host were wonderful. But interestingly, the conversation took a turn away from our “talk points” about raising well-mannered children and onto something we really hadn’t planned on discussing – praying for our kids.
Do you pray for your kids? If so, what do you pray?
I would love to know.
This is one area we can learn and grow from one another’s input. As for me, I pray for my kids daily. Sometimes it’s only right before bed – especially on days when I am exhausted and really just want to fall into dream land as quickly as possible. “Lord, bless Ashton. Give her a good night’s sleep with happy dreams and help her to love you with all her heart. Amen.”
That’s the quick prayer I pray when I’m too tired to pray. But there are other prayers, too. Prayers of protection. Prayers of direction. Prayers for wisdom and success. Prayers for health and tests and friendships.
My radio conversation sparked something I’ve been pondering the last few days: God answers prayer on behalf of our children, especially prayers prayed in light of his word.
When each of our kids were born my husband thought and prayed about a scripture to pray for them throughout their lives. For our son Taylor, J.P prayed a passage from the book of Joshua: “be strong and courageous…”. From Taylor’s earliest days J.P tucked him into bed praying for him to be “strong and courageous”. At the age of three Taylor began praying “Dear Lord, help me be brave, strong and courageous. Strong in the name of you, Lord.” Honestly, at the time, I just thought this prayer was cute coming from a 3 year old. What I neglected to remember was that God takes our prayers seriously. Even prayers prayed by a 3 year old.
As the years passed Taylor continued to pray this same prayer every night.
All through preschool. All through elementary school. All through middle school.
At the age of 13 Taylor went to a church retreat and came home with a new addition to his prayer. I never found out exactly what happened at that retreat but from that point on his prayer became, “Dear Lord, thank you for the world and my family. Help me be brave, strong and courageous; strong in the name of you, Lord. And may people know I’m a Christian by my actions.”
This he continued to pray through high school.
4 years ago this public school educated kid went off to a secular university miles away from home. In a mere 8 weeks he’ll graduate from college. Last Sunday he called to tell us what he’s decided to do after graduation.
My son is headed to El Salvador to serve Christ full-time.
My first “mom thoughts” were “El Salvador? Isn’t it dangerous? You won’t even be allowed to come home for Christmas! Are you sure you want to serve in a third world country?” Of course, I didn’t actually say any of these things.
Because I remembered.
I remembered what Taylor and his dad had prayed over him and for him every day of his life:
Help me be….
Brave
Strong
Courageous
Strong in the name of You, Lord.
And may people know I’m a Christian by my actions.
To be equipped for El Salvador what will by sweet son need? He’ll need to be brave. He’ll need to be strong. He’ll need to be courageous. He’ll need for people to know he is a Christian by his actions.”
This is the answer to his prayers.
Now I must tell you that throughout the years God hasn’t answered “yes” to all our prayers. There have been many “no’s” along the way. But I am convinced that prayers for our child’s character, based on God’s word, get God’s attention – even if the answers sometimes take years.
So I ask, do you pray for your child? If so, what do you pray? We can pray about everything – the big stuff and the little stuff. But along the way, let’s not forget to pray for the stuff that counts.
