Praying for Our Children, Part 4

June, 2003

by: Brock Bolde

This month we are taking our final look at some specific Biblical virtues that we can be praying for on behalf of our children. God's Word tells us that, “the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16). I trust that this would apply to impacting the lives of our children as well! Let us be diligent to lift up their souls to our glorious Savior in the hope that He might show them His matchless mercy and immeasurable grace. We will continue with the numerical sequence from the past months.

21. Responsibility (1 Corinthians 11:28-29) “Lord, help my children to take responsibility for their actions. Help them to rightly examine their lives so that they might not bring judgment upon themselves.”
22. Contentment (Philippians 4:12-13) “I pray that my children will always be content with what your gracious hand has provided. May You help them to learn the secret of trusting in Your sufficiency.”
23. Faith (Hebrews 11:1-40) “Father, help my children to have faith. Help them to understand that without faith it is impossible to please You. Like the faithful that have walked with You of old, may my children come to trust in the Author and Perfecter of their faith.”
24. A Servant's Heart (Ephesians 6:7) “I pray that my children would possess a servant's heart. May they never seek to render their service solely to man, but rather may their service be first and foremost unto You.”
25. Hope (Romans 15:13) “May my children be full of hope. Help them to experience the joy and peace that comes in trusting in Your incredible promises.”
26. Willingness and Ability to Work (Colossians 3:23) “Lord, help my children to be hard workers. Help them to work heartily so that You might be the one glorified in everything that they do!”
27. Passion for God (Psalm 63:1) “I pray that my children would have a great passion for You. Give them a deep thirst and an insatiable hunger for You. May their love for you never be lukewarm!”
28. Forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32) “Lord Jesus, I pray that You will enable my children to readily accept Your forgiveness when they sin. May Your Holy Spirit strengthen them so that they might also never hold a grudge against someone who has sinned against them.”
29. Prayerfulness (Ephesians 6:18) “Grant, Lord, that my children's lives might be marked with prayerfulness. Help them to pray in the Spirit at all times, lifting up Your saints and those who are blinded by our enemy.”
30. Gratitude (Colossians 2:7) “I pray that my children would possess a heart of gratitude. May Your Holy Spirit remind them of the immeasurable grace You continue to show them as they are being built up in Christ!”
31. Godly Friends (1 Corinthians 15:33) “Father, help my children to have godly friends. Give them a good measure of discernment in the choosing of their friends so that they might not be corrupted in their walk with You.”

It is a great responsibility to train up a child in the way that he should go. As such, we must use every means possible to properly fulfill this endeavor. I hope that this list of Biblical virtues will assist you in this glorious undertaking. May God find us all in our “inner rooms” crying out to Him for the spiritual wellbeing and development of our children!