Prayers That Prevail For Your Children
By Clift Richards with Lloyd Hildebrand
Being a parent in today’s society is an awesome responsibility. It requires more skill and perseverance than any other role in life. Parenting is truly a ministry of eternal proportions.
Though it is hard work, parenting is immensely rewarding. It is a creative endeavor that involves the shaping and molding of a precious life. In this process, we become "labourers together with God" (1 Cor. 3:9) who is vitally concerned about the welfare of our child(ren).
We cannot become what parents should be without His help. As parents, we must learn to say with Paul, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil. 4:13).
Jesus said, "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). It is this exciting truth that every parent must recall and act on daily.
God has been so good to us. As our loving heavenly Father, He has made certain that all our needs have been supplied. In fact, He promises this to us in no uncertain words: "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19).
As we learn to appropriate God’s promises into our sacred calling as parents, our faith is built up and our children are blessed. As in all things, Jesus has paved the way for us. "I will pray to the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth...ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you" (John 14:16-17).
Every parent who understands and receives the truth of these words of Jesus has learned the secret to effective parenting. That secret is found as we open our hearts and our lives to the power and wisdom and truth of God’s Holy Spirit. We are not alone. He dwells with us and He lives within us.
This is a parent’s greatest resource – the power of God’s Spirit who inhabits each believer’s heart. The fruit of the Spirit’s indwelling is "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Gal. 5:22-23).
The parent who bears such fruit in his/her dealings with his/her child(ren) is an effective parent. The child of such a parent reaches out to take the fruit of the Spirit – to "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psa. 34:8).
Through personal prayer – a daily quiet time – a parent draws close to Jesus, the Vine of Life. Workers in vineyards prune the branches of grapevines very close to the main vine in order to make them more fruitful. The closer we get to Jesus, through His Word, prayer and the presence of the Holy Spirit, the more fruitful we become in our parenting and in all the responsibilities and relationships of our lives.
Through prayer we learn how to abide in Him and to let His words abide in us. The result of such abiding is answered prayer: "If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7). Believing activates this promise in behalf of our children as we learn to abide in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Praying the Word of God enables us to meditate upon His truths, principles and precepts. It gives us wisdom in living and in parenting. God promises that when we pray this way, He will give us stability. We will become like trees "planted by the rivers of water" (Psa. 1:3). These are healthy, strong trees that are not affected by floods, storms or winds; they stand fast and impart a sense of constancy and permanence to their environment. Parents with such stability give peace and security to their children.
The Power that Works within Us
"Be filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 5:18), Paul admonished the young church at Ephesus. He was giving them the key to successful church life. It is also the key to a successful home life, as the succeeding verses of Ephesians 5 point out. This is "the power that worketh in us" (Eph. 3:20), and it is the power that enables us to be good parents as well.
The power that enables a parent to pursue biblical goals that God has instituted for children is also the power that enables parents and children to fulfill the goals. That dynamic resource is actualized through prayer.
The power of prayer is lasting. It is a stream of divine energy that flows to each generation, carrying with it the grace and goodness of God.
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A Prayer for Parental Wisdom
Key Thought: "The greatest good is wisdom" (Augustine).
Key Scripture: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering..." (Jas. 1:5-6).
Prayer: Dear Lord, our loving Father, I beseech You now for wisdom to enable me to be the most effective parent I can possibly be. I need Your wisdom, Father, as I endeavor to make daily decisions regarding the discipline and nurture of my children. Help me at all times to be conscious of my need to bring them up in Your nurture and admonition (Eph. 6:4).
I thank You for Your Word which imparts wisdom to my spirit. I enter Your presence with trust, knowing that You are giving me wisdom (2 Chr. 1:10). Your wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated. It is full of mercy and good fruits and it does not show partiality. How I praise You that Your wisdom is so different from that of the world (Jas. 3:15-17).
Fill me with the spirit of wisdom that I might discern Your will, Father, when it comes to making decisions that affect the future and well-being of my child (Ex. 28:3). With You, Lord, I have strength and wisdom (Job 12:13). Let my mouth speak wisdom, Lord, because of the righteousness You have imparted unto me (Psa. 37:30). In the hidden parts of my life, make me to know wisdom (Psa. 51:6). Lord, help me to apply my heart unto Your wisdom (Psa. 90:12).
Your wisdom makes me happy, Lord, because the gain of it is better than fine gold. By wisdom You founded the earth and by knowledge You established the heavens (Prov. 3:13-20). In Jesus Christ, my Lord, I am put in touch with Your wisdom and power. He has been made wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption unto me. The knowledge of this causes me to glory in You forever, Father (1 Cor. 1:22-31).
Keep me from reacting rashly to my child and to the situations that affect him/her. Instead, help me, Father to take positive action only after I have sought Your wisdom which is more precious than rubies (Prov. 3:15).
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A Parent’s Prayer
Key Thought: Parenting...counts for all eternity.
Key Scripture: "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is His reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them..." (Psa. 127:3-5).
Prayer: Lord, I thank You so much for my children. They are a true blessing and a rich treasure to me. Help me always to value them in the same way You value them, for of such is the kingdom of heaven (Luke 18:16).
I commit myself to the important responsibility of training my children in the way they should go. I know that if I will do this faithfully, they will not depart from my training and Your guidance when they are older (Prov. 22:6). May they always delight to do Your will (Psa. 40:8).
Father, bring them to full salvation through faith in Jesus Christ (Eph. 4:5). May I ever live in such a way that they would be attracted to Your Son through me.
You are my Father and You show me how a parent should nurture and care for children (Eph. 6:4). Thank You for giving me Your example and Your Word to guide me as a parent in these difficult times (Psa. 119:105).
Lord, let me be a loving parent who seeks to understand his/her children. Let the emphasis of my relationship with my children be upon caring instead of controlling. May I become my children’s safe place, Lord, even as You are my refuge (Psa. 46:1), my high tower (Psa. 144:2), my sure defense (Psa 59:17).
Teach me how to manage my home well, having children who are obedient and respectful (1 Tim. 3:4). Help me to be fair with my children and to understand them even as You understand and love me (Psa. 139:23). Turn my heart to my children, and the hearts of my children to me (Mal. 4:6), so that our home may be blessed.
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A Single Parent’s Prayer
Key Thought: God’s grace is sufficient for me.
Key Scripture: "Our [my] help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth" (Psa 124:8).
Prayer: O God, I come before Your throne confidently in order to receive mercy and grace to help in my time of need (Heb. 4:16). It is not easy to be a single parent, Father, but I know that You are a very present help to me at all times which gives me a feeling of great comfort and security (Psa. 46:1). You are so great and You are greatly to be praised (Psa. 48:1). You will be my God forever (Psa. 48:14). As I call upon You, I know You will deliver me. I will always glorify You (Psa. 50:15). Your promises are so beautiful to me.
Yes, I do at times feel lonely, Lord, but I know You hear my cry. You always attend to my prayer. When my heart is overwhelmed, You lead me to the rock that is higher than I (Psa. 61:1-2).
Thank You for _______ (child’s name). I realize that he/she is a wonderful heritage You have given to me. I accept him/her as a reward from Your hands (Psa. 127:3).
You have promised, Lord, to be a parent to my child and to me (Psa. 68:5). Thank You for sharing the parental responsibilities with me and for showing me how to be an effective parent. You set the solitary in families (Psa. 68:6). Thank You for being a part of our family. You protect us, provide for us and watch out for us.
You, Lord, are my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me (Heb. 13:6). You are the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8). I cast all my care on You, for I know You care for me (1 Pet. 5:7).
I ask for the patience and wisdom I need to parent properly, for You give liberally to all who ask of You (Jas. 1:5). Thank You for Your promise that as I trust in You with all my heart, and lean not to my own understanding, but in all my ways acknowledge You, that You will direct my paths (Prov. 3:5-6). I praise You that You are my Shepherd (Psa. 23:1). You are my Helper and You will never leave me nor forsake me (Heb. 13:5-6).
I want to learn how not to worry about the needs of my life, what I shall eat, or what I shall drink; or what I shall wear (Matt. 6:25-34). I trust You to keep me from all worry about being a single parent and to teach me how to be content (through Your love and peace) in the present circumstances of my life (Phil. 4:11). I know You will supply all our needs in Your perfect way and in Your perfect timing (Phil. 4:19). Thank You, Father.
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– Taken from Prayers That Prevail For Your Children by Clift Richards with Lloyd Hildebrand. Copyright ©1994 by K & C International. Published by Victory House, Inc. in Tulsa, OK (www.victoryhouse.net). Used by permission.