PRAYING FOR OUR FAMILIES
Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom. Job 1:5
King Solomon once wrote, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them” (Ps. 127:3-5). Realizing many of us have been given the blessing of children, we see the importance prayer has in family life. Parents with infant children earnestly pray for their health and happiness. A few years later, they pray for their children to be obedient and loving. Parents with teens ask the Lord to show their teenagers a godly path with Christian friends and proper goals. Interestingly, many parents think their prayer responsibilities will be easier once their children are grown, however older children bring with them big challenges. Many parents admit that their prayer lives took on a new dimension when their children became adults.
Job is an example of a parent who was concerned about the ways of his family. Job was a godly man, but as the curtain is pulled back on his home life, we see that he harbored a real concern for his grown children. Their wild parties concerned Job greatly. “His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, ‘Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.’ This was Job’s regular custom” (Job 1:4,5).
Parents pray that their children would learn wisdom and discernment; that they would understand God’s purpose for their lives; that they would resist evil, pursue only the good, and avoid temptations. They pray for their children’s health, that they would marry a god-fearing mate and raise a godly family. Most of all, Christian parents ask God to give their children the strength to remain faithful so that one day they would join their family in a heavenly reunion. Job knew the dangers his children faced. Their dangers were no different than our children face today. Third John 4 is the perfect theme of praying parents: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
Pray for your family today–by name.
From The Gift of Prayer