“How do you raise a child not to renounce Christ?” I asked a mother, who had just told me the story of watching her 11 year old son beaten to death by the Red Guard (China) because he refused to renounce Christ. She gave me three suggestions, one of which was …
“You must pray sacrificially for your children.
That means you are praying so much for your children so that
you are giving up things you want to do for yourself
to pray for your children.”
Click on his name to hear Dr Daniel Wong tell the story of his brother’s brutal death.
What are your prayers like for your children? Do your prayers center on who your children will be in the eyes of the world or the heart of the Triune God? Your prayers may tell you what your true priorities are!
For a printable copy of A MOTHER’S PRAYER click here (see list below)
Prayers from a mother’s heart:
- Jesus, make each one Yours – I beg You!
- Father pour Your love into each one – please, please- give to each a larger measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)
- Father, please put a righteous fear of You into each one – bring conviction of sin to each one with a desire to repent. 1 Peter 1:17; Proverbs 8:13, Ecclesiastes 5:7, 12:13 -14
- Father make each one bold – as more and more people grow cold towards You, give my children a boldness and confidence in You! Joshua 24:15; Acts 4: 29, 31
- Refine each one to become gold. Give each one a hunger for the Refiner’s Fire. Malachi 2: 17 – 3:6 For a full explanation of the Refining Fire read John Piper’s explanation
- Put each one on a path that glorifies You because they are pleasing You. 2 Corinthians 5:9, Ephesians 5: 8, 9, 10
- Give each heart a hunger for You, to know You deeper. Ephesians 1: 17, 18, 19
- Place a hunger for Truth within each heart. Proverbs 15:14, Matthew 5:6
- Father give each a hunger for the full counsel of Your Word, with keen insight and understanding. 1 Peter 2:2, John 6: 33 – 35, Psalm 119:11
- Father keep each one humble – place humility in each heart. Even if it hurts. Mark 9:35, John 3:30, Ephesians 4:2
- Reveal to each one his/her secret/hidden heart as You see it. Psalm 51:6, Psalm 139:23 – 24, Jeremiah 17:9
- Give each one a deep understanding of who You are so that they will not create their own gods. That no other person or thing will be more important than You in their life. Exodus 20:1-4,
- Give each one an understanding of Your Sovereignty – You are all powerful, all knowing, and all loving. You are in control of all things. 1 Chronicles 29:12, 1 Timothy 6:15, Matthew 10:29, Lamentations 3:37, Daniel 4:35, Daniel 4:17, Isaiah 55:9, Romans 11:33, Daniel 4:35, Job 1:12, 2:6, Luke 22:31-32,
- O please Father give each one an understanding and acceptance of the importance of suffering in their walk with You. Romans 8:17
- Father I cry out for each one – make each one deeply aware when they move from You, from Your truth. Please don’t let Satan have sway with one of them. I beg You Lord to hold each one close.
- Father prepare them to face and stand strong in the midst of persecution. 1 Peter 4:12 – 13, Philippians 1:29, 2 Timothy 3:12
- Father pour Your love into each one that they shall not live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. 2 Corinthians 5:15
Imagine who your child might be at 40 years of age if these prayers are answered. If your children are given keen understanding of truth (which only God can give, Proverbs 2 ) they will be filled with the love of God, eager to serve Him by serving others.
For a printable copy of A MOTHER’S PRAYER click here.
The prayers below come out of the Sunday Plus Curriculum parent’s take home page. There is also a topic, that goes with what you are praying for, to talk about with your children as you drive in the car or over dinner. Scripture can be found by going to the Sunday Plus Curriculum page and clicking on Scope and Sequence.
GOD’S WORD
Ask the Triune God to give your child a hunger for His Word; ask God to provide understanding as your child reads. Talk often about how you have used God’s Word to guide you through a day, a tough situation, a joyous time.
HIS STORY BEGINS
Ask the Triune God to give your child a craving for God and not His creation. Talk often about your relationship with the Triune God; share a daily God sighting.
MADE IN HIS IMAGE
Ask the Triune God to give your child insight into the importance of being made in God’s image – how that makes humans unique from rest of creation. Point out the uniqueness of your child from all the rest of creation, one thing at a time; mention the responsibilities we have due to that uniqueness.
ADAM AND EVE SIN
Ask the Triune God to give your child an awareness of his/her separation from God, and an understanding of what this means for eternity. Share your awareness of sin in your own life and your need for forgiveness.
GOD’S PLAN FOR YOU
Pray that Almighty God will give your child a desire to surrender to Him, a desire to walk with Him. Share with your child how you came to surrender to the Triune God; how has it made a difference in your life?
GOD SHOWS MERCY TO MANKIND
Ask God to show your child his/her sin; to make him/her aware of the need for mercy. Talk every day of God’s mercy and for what you need mercy.
NOAH WALKS WITH GOD
Plead (Proverbs 2:3) with the Triune God to put a desire in Your child to please Him. Make plans to discuss walking with God – ask each day this week how your child walked with God that day. Share how you walked with God.
JOB – WHY GOD WHY?
Ask the Triune God to give your child a great desire to seek truth along with a willingness to surrender when shown the truth doesn’t fit human common sense. Discuss over and over this week how man’s common sense often doesn’t fit God’s wisdom – a truth Job and his friends learned. Job 28
ABRAHAM – GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES
Ask the Triune God to give your child a righteous fear of Himself which would lead to greater trust of Him. Make plans to talk with your kids – ask questions – what are they learning about God and how can your family trust him more?
Check back every once in a while as I will be adding prayer topics.
