Day 21 -- 30 days of prayer in the home

Praying for children:

When praying for our children we need to remember:

1) God loves them even more than we do.
2) God is the perfect parent.
3) We need to pray for God's will for our children, even if it means that His purposes require some sacrifices on our part and on the part of our child.
4) Even though Jesus was God's Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. Hebrews 5:8. Jesus was God's perfect son. From all eternity, He was with God in heaven and He was God. John 1. Yet, God did not spare His Beloved and Only Son from suffering. He let Him come to earth to live with us and die for us. This love of God is a great and beautiful mystery. If Jesus, who was perfect, identified with us in his suffering so that He became the High Priest who understands our temptations Hebrews 3:14-15, then how much more will our children, who are less than perfect, have to suffer to learn things like deep compassion, godliness, unselfishness, etc.
5) God's desire for our children is to have an eternal relationship with them. He wants to bless them with joy and an abundant life. He loves them and cares tenderly for them. Any suffering He allows in their lives is to refine their faith. (I Peter Chapter 1; James Chapter 1).

Therefore, when praying for our children, one of our greatest tasks is to surrender them fully to the Lord with the understanding that His will is always best and right and true. Along with godly mothers, such as Hannah, we find examples in scripture of mothers who tried to do things according to their own plans. Think of the pain that accompanied Rebekah's favoritism of Jacob. Even Mary, the faithful mother of our Lord, had at least one moment when she wrestled with God's plan for her Son's life. Though, for the most part, she is the supreme example to us of godly motherhood, there was a point at which she tried to interfere with Jesus' ministry out of fear for her son. Mark 3:20-21, Mark 3:30 ff. Yet, God's plan for Jesus led to salvation for Mary and for all of us. What joy Mary must have had in seeing her son after his resurrection, knowing that glory had now swallowed up any motherly pangs she had endured during his time on earth.

We can be sure that God understands a mother's heart, which swells with joy and tenderness and protectiveness and love. God created motherhood. He, Himself, often explains His nature to us in terms of being a parent, and, sometimes, in maternal imagery. Not only that but, in Christ, he experienced what it is like to receive a mother's love. Isaiah 40:11 gives one of the most beautiful pictures of our Lord's tender heart toward mothers. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

We may fear at times to surrender our children fully to God, but we need not do so. God will gently lead us as we raise our children when they are young. He will be there for us as we watch our children grow up and become adults. He will continue to show us how to nurture and love our children, and, best of all, He will gather our precious lambs close to his heart! Where could our children be safer, more loved, and more joyful than snuggled in the arms of Christ?

Enjoy!
Elizabeth