An unsettling event involving my son over Christmas break really shook me up and let me to some deep reflection. As I looked back over the past few months, trying to figure out what might have led to it, I realized just how far I had strayed in my quest for biblical knowledge and how much I needed to reassess my priorities.
During the last few months, I had been pouring my time and energy into understanding the Scripture and planning for my church’s ministry, as well as my own evangelistic work. In the process, I completely overlooked my most important role at the present time: being a mother to my young children. Even worse, I had researched dark demonic topics – something I now seriously regret. I thought I was “equipping myself with the knowledge of the enemy” but I didn’t realize that the dark side of the spiritual realm isn’t something we should be exploring.
In the aftermath of my son’s incident, I visited a Christian bookstore, where I unexpectedly met a stranger, leading to a meaningful conversation. After sharing the details of my son’s experience, Winnie, also a Christian mom of young children, showed me a book from her shopping basket titled “Praying for Your Children. (Elmer L. Towns) ” Before parting ways, we exchanged WhatsApp contact. While I am not sure what prompted her to talk to me, she felt like an angel sent at just the right moment. I needed someone who would truly listen, and she not only offered me a compassionate ear, but also directed me to a resource that was precisely what I needed.
Below I would like to share some of the most important points from this book (Part 1):
Victory Over Danger
Because children are defenseless, the enemy target them more than any other age group, using addiction to drugs, alcohol, pornography, video games, etc. to keep them in bondage.
“ … the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” ( 1 Peter 5:8)
Lord, protect my children from evil enemies that I don’t even know are attacking them.
When God the Father fight against Satan, the father of lies, it’s spiritual warfare. Trust that God has victory over Satan and count on Him,
“ Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” ( 1 John 4:4 )
Lord, you are much greater in power than the devil.
I pray for you to stop his evil influence on my children.
God uses people to help others. He will use you to help your children.
“… Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord! Lift your hands to him for the lives of your children… “ (Lam2:19 )
Lord, I will read and learn to intercede for my children. I pray for you to guide me. I promise to do everything within my power to lead them to Christ and train them in righteousness. Help me keep my promise to you and bless my children.
Why Pray for Children
- Parenting is challenging
- Praying for Children Makes a difference, as seen in the Bible.
- 1 Samuel 1-6
- Hannah prayed for a not-yet-conceived son. Her sincere, selfless, stubborn, sacrificial prayers resulted in the birth and life of the great prophet, Samuel.
- Matthew 15:22-28
- A Canaanite mother prayed for her daughter who was possessed by a demon. The mother’s persistent, resilient, faith-filled prayers brought about a miracle on behalf of her daughter.
- Matthew 9:18-28
- The simple, direct, faith-filled request of a government official touched the heart of God and brought his dying daughter back to life.
- 1 Samuel 1-6
- Prayer is omnipotent and omnipresent.
- You can’t be with your children 24/7, but you can pray for them wherever they are.
Pray for wisdom when praying for your child
- Praying for wisdom is a request God likes to answer.
- If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. ( James 1:5 )
- Solomon is considered the wisest man who ever lived. When he assumed the spiritual responsibility for the “children of Israel,” his response was to pray for wisdom.
- Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?” ( 2 Chronicles 1:10)
Lord, give me divine wisdom to pray more effectively for my children.
You are responsible for praying for your children
- Do not reply on other people, like pastor or Sunday school teacher, to pray for your children. God tell parents that they are the ones accountable for the spiritual development of their kids.
- These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)
- Father, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)
- As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. ( 1 Samuel 12:23)
Lord, forgive me for the times I have been guilty of worrying about my children when I should have been seriously praying for them. Help me begin today to pray for my children more consistently than I have at any time in my life.
Praying Scriptures gives divine power to your prayers
- God’s Word has life giving power.
- For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.(Hebrew 4:12)
- Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)
Lord, help me to learn to pray the scriptures for my children in such a way as to make a positive, life-giving, powerful difference in their lives. Show me what it is You are working to accomplish in the lives of my children and help me pray for that to be occurring in their lives. Please parent them, especially in times and in ways I can’t.
The Prayer of Hannah for Her Future Son ( 1 Samuel 1:1-17)
- Surrender (1:Samuel 1:11)
- Hannah surrendered her future son to the Lord in prayer.
- God will be the giver and receiver of the son. Hannah just wanted to have a part in the middle.
- One advantage of waiting for answers is that it helps clarify our intentions. The longer we have to grapple with frustrating delays, the more we can shed any impurities in our motives.
- She wants a son who could be used by God to influence a nation for God.
- Hannah surrendered her future son to the Lord in prayer.
- Persistence (1: Samuel 1:12)
- Hannah was shameless, stubborn and persistent. Her faith refused to yield until her request is answered.
- Jesus promised that if we keep asking we will receive ( Matt. 7:7)
- “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. “ ( Matthew 7:7)
- Hannah was shameless, stubborn and persistent. Her faith refused to yield until her request is answered.
- Passion (1: Samuel 1:13-16)
- Hannah poured her soul out to the Lord, claiming to be praying “out of freat anguish and grief.”
- If we lack enthusiasm in our prayer, why should God be interested in responding?
- Sacrifice (1: Samuel 1:7, 17-20)
- Hannah fasted until she was assured that she had broken through.
- As parent, there are times when the needs of our children are greater than our need to eat. Prayer along with fasting can be powerful.
The Prayer of the Canaanite Woman for Her Daughter ( Matthew 15:21-28)
- Petition (Matthew 15:21-23
- The mother cried out to Jesus for mercy. Yet, her first request was ineffective
- Perseverance (Matthew 15:23)
- Instead of quitting, she preserved in crying out to Jesus for help, refusing to give up easily or go quietly.
- Pleading ( Matthew 15:24-25)
- Jesus made a comment to His disciples, but the woman refused to be denied even though she knew that she had no right to ask a Jewish man to help her. With all of her faith, all of her emotions, and all of her love for her daughter, she pleaded “Lord, help me !”
- Prevailing ( Matthew 15:26-28)
- Her prayer again goes without a response. But she was not going to give up until Jesus did something for her daughter. Finally, Jesus did something and commended her on her great faith.
This woman was a Canaanite, a non-Jew, a not yet fully devoted follower of Jesus. Her faith was great because it was not based on a sense of her own merit, wisdom, or strength. It was based completely on her strong conviction that Jesus was able and willing to help those in need.
Lord, I believe that you are willing and able to work on behalf of my children. I will keep on asking until I receive.
Read slowly through the following list and ask yourself which of these practices you need to take into your own prayers for your children.
- I have fully surrendered my child/children to the Lord.
- I am stubbornly persistent in my prayers on their behalf.
- I pour out my heart to the Lord in prayer for my children.
- I will sacrifice food (fasting) or other things to pray most effectively for my children.
- I pray for my children with as much faith as I can possibly express.
- I refuse to quit until the Lord responds.
- I keep praying because I know I don’t have all the answers, but the Lord does. He is willing and able to answer.
