Tag Archives: children

Genesis 48—When the Prayer Changes

“Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me. He said to me, ‘I will make you fruitful and numerous; I will make many nations come from you, and I will give this land as a permanent possession to your future descendants.'” (Genesis 48:3)

This is so similar to what God said to Abraham, and then to Isaac.

“And to you [Abraham] and your future offspring I will give the land where you are residing—all the land of Canaan—as a permanent possession, and I will be their God.” (Genesis 17:8)

“For I will give all these lands to you [Isaac] and your offspring, and I will confirm the oath that I swore to your father Abraham.” (Genesis 26:3)

It was right here, in the book of Genesis, that I learned that God is generational. That in the same way He has been faithful to me, He will be faithful to my children and to their children. I understood, on a much deeper level, that those coming after me could know God, know His goodness and His mercy and His love, just as I had come to know them.

“I will be with you, just as I was with Moses. I will not leave you or abandon you.” (Joshua 1:5)

The revelation of this part of God’s character changed how I prayed for my family. There is a boldness, borne out of confidence in the truth of His Word, that begins to rest on your prayer life when you know that He desires for your children and their children the same thing He desired to do in you.

I believe that if you stopped random people on the street and asked them what they wanted most for their children, the majority of them would say “I want them to be happy.” We all want good things for our children – happiness, good health, good education, financial security, good job, good friends – all the things that will benefit and help them in life.

But most of the things we want for them will not follow them into eternity.

The greatest desire that I have for my children and their children is that they would know God the way I have known Him, and even more. That they would know His faithfulness to them, His goodness toward them, His mercy, grace, love, and the incredible peace that comes from trusting in Him above any other, including themselves. That desire becomes my prayer life for them, because of the revelation that it is the same desire that dwells in His heart.

But, as we pray, we also must obey…

“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children—” (Dueteronomy 4:9)

We cannot just let our Sundays at church, our kindness to others, or our prayers over our food be the extent of our children’s vision of God. Those are things they see us do, but unless we tell them, they will not know the things God has done. We must testify to our children so that they can know that He is faithful, even before they have seen it in their own lives.

Tell them that His covenant with you is also for them.

Forty Days of Praying the Word of God: Day 31

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Proverbs 22:6

Father, I pray for the parents, and I pray they would know You, and Your presence with them. I pray that You will give them wisdom at every stage. Give rest to the weary ones today, Lord, and strengthen those who are worn down. Come, Jesus, like a breath of fresh air in their lungs, and help them stay strong again today.

I pray for those parenting littles, that they would catch a glimpse today of the delight of a child, the joy they find in the smallest of things, and the peace that rests on them in the simple moments. I pray for divine strength of both body and mind for the parents who are missing sleep, and I pray You will give them unexpected rest. Hold on to them in this hard place, Jesus, and be their place of rest.

I pray for those who have children in school, and I ask for an outpouring of wisdom for them. Give them vigilance to know what their children are being taught, and the wisdom to counter whatever is not Your truth. For those who are homeschooling, I pray for patience, grace, and wisdom. I pray that You will help the parents in this season be present for their children, to engage with them with undivided attention. I pray for time and space to enjoy this stage of life, as busy as it is. Give them glimpses Lord, of the wonder that is held in the mind of a child who is learning the world around them. Hold onto them in this hard place, Jesus, and be their place of strength and wisdom.

For those raising teenagers, I pray for the strength and the fortitude to stand strong, and the ability to flex. I pray for wisdom to guide their teens in the confusion of this current culture. I ask that Your Holy Spirit would continually lead these parents on when to stand firm and when to stand down. Allow them to glimpse the man or woman who is slowly coming forth in their child, and to see them as You see them. I pray for the grace to begin to let go, and the grace to hold on. Grace to give freedom, and grace to maintain the boundaries. Hold onto them in this hard place, Jesus, and be their firm foundation and their place of grace.

I pray for parents in every stage, Lord, that You will teach them to be kind and forgiving, not just to their children, but to themselves. I pray You will pour out grace upon grace to them for the formidable task of raising the next generation, and that You will assure and reassure them that You are with them in it, and You will provide for every step. Help them Father, to train up their children in the way they should go. Help them to demonstrate faith, love, and obedience to You, Lord. Help them display both Your goodness and Your holiness. Teach them to pray, and to believe You for their children. Remind them that You love their children, have a plan for their children, and that You are after the hearts of their children. Remind them that You are a good, good Father, to them and to their children. Hold onto the parents Lord, and be their place of peace.

And for those who are grieving over children, come Lord Jesus, and comfort them as only You can. For those who are struggling as they watch their children struggle, I pray for Your tangible nearness to them. For the ones who are hurting, who are regretting, who feel helpless, I pray for Your healing and Your hope to come swiftly, Lord.

In the mighty name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Forty Days of Praying the Word of God: Day 29

“We will not hide them from their children, but will tell a future generation the praiseworthy acts of the Lord, His might, and the wondrous works He has performed.”

Psalm 78:4

Father, I pray that we will not keep Your wonders to ourselves, but that we will share them with our children. I pray that the next generation will know what You have done. I pray they will know Your power and Your great love, because we have told them of all of Your goodness toward us.

“so that a future generation—children yet to be born—might know. They were to rise and tell their children so that they might put their confidence in God and not forget God’s works, but keep His commands.”

Psalm 78:6-7

Lord, I pray that our children and our grandchildren, the generations of those faithful to You, will put their confidence in You and walk in Your ways, because they have been told of Your wonders, Your goodness, and Your sovereignty.

Make us Your storytellers, Lord. May we tell Your story more than we tell our own. May it be the wonders, and the exploits of You that we pass on. I pray that we will be a people who proclaim all that You have done, more than we tell of all that we have done.

I pray that our children will know how You saved us and how You have loved us. I pray they will know how You have forgiven our sins, and why. I pray they will hear of how You calmed our storms, delivered us from oppression, and brought us out of slavery. I pray that our children and their children will know of Your great mercies and the power of Your presence.

I pray they will know, because we have told them. And I pray they will then know for themselves, and tell their own children. May we pass on the stories of You from one generation to the next. I pray that we will repeat Your Words to our children, talking about them in our homes, and wherever we go, when we lie down at night, and when we get up in the morning. (Deuteronomy 6:7)

From one generation to the next, Lord, may You be known!

In the Name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Forty Days of Praying the Word of God: Day 27

“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.”

Psalm 127:3

Lord, today I pray for our children, and I hardly know where to begin. My heart is grieving, as must Yours be.

Father, I pray for repentance to sweep this nation for the blood of the innocent we have spilled through abortion. I pray that You will turn the tide that we cannot turn, Lord, and You will put an end to the abomination of killing our unborn. I pray that You would move, by Your Spirit, upon every woman contemplating an abortion right now, changing her heart and her mind. I pray that the demand for abortions would be eliminated, so that the suppliers will fall away. And I lift up to You all who have had abortions, and I pray salvation, mercy and healing over them. Would You pour out Your grace upon the mothers and the fathers, and lead them to their own surrender.

I come against the schemes of the enemy against our children through transgenderism, and I pray for Your truth to reign victorious in this battle. Lord, protect this generation from the mutilation being done to them. I pray again for repentance to come – to parents, to doctors, to all who advocate for evil, thinking it is good. I pray that You would lift the veil of deception and expose the works of the devil.

I pray for our children living in neglect and abuse and I ask that You would cover them. I pray that You will be their great Defender, their Comforter, and their Deliverer.

I pray for the children living with hunger and ask that You would open Your hand to them and satisfy their physical hunger, emotional hunger, and spiritual hunger.

I pray for those who are struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts, and I ask that You would intervene on their behalf. I pray You will send forth Your light, and lead them out of darkness, and into Your presence. I pray for healing for mental illnesses, for physical disease, and for the emotional trauma that our children are suffering.

Father, would You surround our children, and shield them from what the enemy has planned for them. I declare that You are a God of generations, and that You have a destiny for every child. Would You set a guard over each of those destinies, and would You turn this war for our children back on the enemy.

And I pray that all of this would be accomplished through Your great power, working in and through Your Church. May we continue to step up to the front lines and speak Your truth, and be Your hands and feet, and Your heart of love for these broken ones. Empower Your people to become a force against the darkness that wants to destroy a generation.

In the mighty Name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Forty Days Praying the Word of God: Day 4

“After I made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes.” When our enemies heard that we knew their scheme and that God had frustrated it, every one of us returned to his own work on the wall. From that day on, half of my men did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor.”

Nehemiah 4:14-16

Lord God, I pray that in our day, we will remember Your greatness and let go of our “fear of them”. I pray we will take our stand, and fight for our children, fight for family.

Mighty God, would You rise up on behalf of the children in this nation and the insidious, evil attack on their identity?! We cry out to You to intervene, for “So great is Your power that Your enemies cringe before You.”

“Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered”!

I pray for a mighty move of Your Spirit in this land that will turn the tide of evil, scatter darkness, and rescue all of those who are held captive by ideologies of wickedness. I pray that, with holy indignation, You will establish truth in this nation, and tear down the stronghold of lies concerning gender, marriage, family, and identity. I ask that You call Your Church to stand firm in this hour, to give no ground to the enemy and to actually begin to take ground, as You answer from heaven.

We will remember Your greatness, and we will not fear. We will build and we will fight. We will restore and we will protect. By Your Spirit. And by Your power, the darkness will turn. By Your power, schemes are exposed, lies are laid bare, and truth will prevail.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

legacy

I really don’t know much about Margaret Thatcher, but the news headlines I read today told me far more than I found on Wikipedia.

thatcher“Hundreds of opponents of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher partied in London’s Trafalgar Square to celebrate her death, sipping booze and chanting “Ding Dong!”

That was the headline. The very sad headline.

She was a wife and a mother. The first woman to become Prime Minister of her country. Her name was known all over the world. But the legacy she is leaving behind is one that moved people to celebrate the fact that she is dead. My heart felt heavy, wondering if she had any idea how she would be remembered.

Someday, we will all be someone’s ancestor. What will those who come after us remember?

I think ‘legacy’ is hard for the young to think about for too long. The strong. The world-changing ones. Leaving their mark on the world.  Give them a sword, a war cry,  and a dragon to slay. Because they are young and free and strong and brave, and they are marking the world with their presence. The world is smitten by the young.

But time happens, and young doesn’t stay young for long, and then they have children. (We, too, are smitten by the young.) We soon discover that there is little time for making a mark or slaying anything and suddenly we don’t feel so brave anymore. We feel scared. We feel the weight of responsibility and life becomes a series of “right now” moments. Everything demands us “right now” and there is little time to really think about “someday”.

But it will come. I promise, someday will come. Someday, you will find yourself sitting in a chair, feeling a beautiful breeze coming through your open window, and you will read a headline. And you will wonder what will be remembered of you. What will they take away from your life?

And in that small moment, legacy will matter. What you leave for those coming after you will matter.

It will matter whether or not they saw more peace in you than anger.More grace than criticism.

More faith than fear.

Did they see an over achiever, or an overcomer, who actually overcame? Because we can call ourselves overcomers in Christ, and never really overcome anything.

It will not matter that you didn’t make lots of money. It won’t even matter if you did. What will matter is whether or not they saw that you were content either way.

Were you always waiting for something good to happen, or were you making good happen right where you were?

Were you continually chasing after something, or were you steadfastly following Someone?

Did they hear you talk about caring for the poor, turning the other cheek, loving your neighbor as yourself, obeying God…or did they see you do them?

Did you believe in God, or did you believe God? There is a difference, and the difference matters.

Whether you have children or not, legacy matters. Because you will be an ancestor to someone. There are people watching you live life. What will they remember?

legacy2

it’s time to jump

high diveI only jumped one time. That was enough. When I take my mind back to that moment, I can still feel the fear. I saw others jump with ease, and go right back for more. I knew I could swim. I knew that the water was safe. I believed the mechanics of jumping, that if I went straight in, the water would catch me, I would touch the bottom and push my way back to the surface. And the one time I jumped, it happened just like that. I think I was crying when I got out of the water, and I never, ever climbed that high dive again. I remained terrified of jumping, but I never understood why.

(because believing and trusting are not the same)

I was watching a group of kids recently, barely toddlers. They were in the playroom at church, climbing up through the giant tubes and tunnels, sliding down and going right back for more. Only a few held back, content to go up the few steps so they could come down the small slide. But most of them were absolutely fearless. It never occurred to them that something bad could happen to them. We had led them in there and turned them loose to play, so they played with abandon.

(adults believe. children trust)

And then life happens. Hearts get broken. Innocence gets taken. We fall, we get hurt, we find ourselves alone. We learn the hard truth that not everyone is good, and sometimes, everything doesn’t turn out okay. Sometimes things just get worse. And fear comes in and bullies our trust into submission.

(“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”)

Jesus said we must change and become as little children. Change is a process. It takes time to grow from an adult into a child. To learn the truth that God is good. But time belongs to God and God cannot be bullied by fear. Instead, He sends love into the fight. And like ocean waves it just keeps coming, beating back the fear that keeps us from jumping. Because trust and fear do not dwell together, no sir, one of them must go, and God cannot be bullied.

Trust renders us dependent upon the one we are trusting. Isn’t that it, really? It’s the falling backward, trusting the one standing behind you to catch you that makes us vulnerable, wholly dependent on someone else’s ability to be trusted. No control. And isn’t the need for control the darkest place in our heart, after all? Isn’t that the biggest fear of them all?

(“but there is a God in heaven…”)

And the hardest thing about growing from an adult to a child is realizing that we never did have control. Not really. Some would call it an illusion. I think deception is a more fitting name.

Do I dare say my next thought? The one that keeps pulsing against my heart? Believing makes you safe. Trusting makes you dangerous.

(because believers rarely jump)

I am a believer, becoming a child who trusts. Because God has refused to be wave1bullied by my fear and love has been beating against my heart like ocean waves.

And He has me at the high dive again. I believe He is with me. I believe He is good. I believe He has good plans for me. But none of that will get me to jump.

I have to trust Him to catch me.

Luke 18:16; Matthew 18:3; Daniel 2:28

Note:  Many times Jesus asked, “do you believe?”, or He said that someone’s faith had healed them, etc. Both of those words contain, within their biblical definition, the word ‘trust’, and the idea of going beyond having a knowledge of something to actually trusting what you believe. In other words, when Jesus said “do you believe Me?”, He was asking “do you trust Me?”.

Webster’s dictionary does not use the word ‘trust’ in its definition of the word ‘believe’, and I am convinced that neither do many of us.