On Friday evening, I had the pleasure of hanging out with some awesome folks at ‘What Rhymes with Orange?’ Our awesome Kid’s Ministry team hosted a night to encourage the parents of Cumberland.
Do you have kids? Maybe your don’t have kids, but do you have ‘spiritual children’ (younger believers whom you disciple)?
Parenting is tough. There never seems to be enough hours in a day, and before we know it, our kids are grown. There are many things we can do help our kids spiritually. We can teach them scripture, we teach them disciple, we can teach them to serve, we can teach them to pray, etc, etc, etc. But, I believe the most important thing we can do is pray for them.
Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians (1:17-19a) is a great one for us to pray over our own children:
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
I wish I could say I was good at this myself. Can we agree to all help each other grow in this area? Can we hold each other accountable in this area? Can we ask each other in a few months how we are doing praying for our children?
March 8th, 2010 - 6:33 am
Mike, thank you. I know my daughter would not be where she is today in her walk with Jesus were it not for you and the volunteers in the teen ministry at Cumberland.
You should never say your job as a parent ends, as long as your child is alive. It changes. My prayers for my kids are different now than when they were young and lived in my home. The thing we’ve learned is never give up. No matter what they do, never give up praying for them. Always forgive them. Never deliver your final judgment on your children, because your Father is not finished with you or your children yet. The words from Ephesians are a perfect prayer.
March 8th, 2010 - 9:19 am
Thank you, Mike for sharing and for all you do with our youth at CCC…I look forward to my own kids hanging out with you some day! I am a result of praying parents…especially my dad. I know that the time he spent on his knees played a big part in where I am today! I only hope that I can model that for my own kids and that my prayers for them will always be urgent and desperate.
Thanks!
March 8th, 2010 - 10:12 am
Once a parent, always a parent. In the beginning, a lot of time is spent on physical care. Then as a Christian grandparent, a lot of time is spent praying. I think God designed it this way. This wonderful prayer you’ve shared today seems to be the perfect intercessory prayer.
Thank you, Mike, and I’m glad I finally met you. I’ve been hearing many good things about you for a long time.
March 8th, 2010 - 3:09 pm
Thanks Mike! What a great verse to pray for Kyle and I to pray for baby Nighman and the kids of the youth group!