We Pray Wednesday: How to pray for your Children

                Psalms 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. 

                When my children were just babies, my wife and I took turns praying with them every night before they went to bed.  We still continue this tradition now and my children are now 15,13, and 6.  We began to pray for some specific things that God would do in their lives.  These are a few things that all parents should pray for their children on a daily basis that God will do in their lives.  This is not an exhaustive list by any means.  Every situation is different, but we should go to God for our children daily.  There have also been times in their lives that they were dealing with some specific issues that we prayed about until God has answered our prayers in these matters. 

1.  SALVATION

                It is my hope that every Godly parent would pray this for their child until God answers the prayer.  This is the most important thing that can happen in a person's life.  It's a matter of eternal life and death.  After they have been saved, you can begin to thank God for answering the prayer.

2.  SPOUSE

                The second most important decision that a child makes in their life is whothey marry.  This means that we should pray that God brings the right person into their life at the right time for them to marry.  We should also pray that their spouse is saved and trusting God to bring along the right person for them to marry.

3.  WILL OF GOD FOR THEM

                We as parents should pray daily that our children would do God's will no matter what God wants them to do.  We should be careful not to direct them toward something that we think they would enjoy, or that would make them secure financially.  We should show them that God always has the best for them if they will believe and follow His leading.

4.  WISDOM

                The best way for a child to be wise is not by school or book knowledge, but by reading and receiving knowledge from THE BOOK every day.  The wisdom of God is far better than any piece of paper that they receive from a school.  This does not mean education is unimportant, but the wisdom of God is the most important.

5.  PURITY

                We should pray daily for the purity ofour children.  Purity is not just being pure of body, but also of mind and spirit.  This will not happen by accident.  We must be vigilant of what they are seeing, doing and listening to on a daily basis.

6.  PROTECTION

                We should daily pray that God will protect our children physically, spiritually, and emotionally.  In this world that we live in, we cannot know everything that may happen to them on a daily basis.  God, however, does know what is coming, and our daily prayers for them could mean the difference between a tragedy and a miracle.

7.  LOVE FOR GOD AND HIS WORD

                If we as parents will love God and His Word, our children will have a taste also.  We must also ask God to give them a desire for it so that they will love it, follow it, and obey it their entire life.

8.  HATE SIN AND BE CAUGHT WHEN THEY DO SIN

                This is hard to pray for because your child may get in more trouble than others.  This will, however, keep them from having a lot of the guilt and baggage later on in life.  If they also hate sin, they will see it as sin, stay away from it, and go in the right direction.

Family Friday: Keep It Between the Lines

            When I was learning to drive, my dad was my main instructor.  Every now and then, my mom would drive with me, and her method of teaching driving skills was very different than my dad’s method.  The end results, though, were the same: keep it between the lines.  So it is with rearing children.  We need to train them in God’s way, but give them a little freedom to still be an individual.

            This is an area with which I struggle tremendously.  I am tempted to micro-manage my children’s time, actions, and activities as if I perhaps could keep them from going astray if I know exactly what they are doing.  However, if I never give them a chance as children to make a mistake and correct it, then I am not preparing them for real life.  I will not always be there to remind them of the right action or response to a situation; that’s where their training will take over.

            I don’t really want my children to each be a “mini me”!  They have amazing talents and personality traits that can develop into tremendous tools for God’s use.  If I so strictly control them that they are not an individual, then I am not allowing them to be who God created them to be.

            Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6.  Train them according to the Bible, then trust God to lead them.  Let them develop a clothing style as long as it is modest.  Let them try hobbies you might not choose but they enjoy.  Allow them to choose the Godly music that they enjoy, not just what you enjoy.  All in all, your household will be happier; and your children will be more likely to develop a lasting relationship with Christ if you give them boundaries instead of expect them to duplicate you.

Monday's Message: There is a Fountain

There is a Fountain

(Source)

 
When a large religious service was being conducted at the Golden Gate Exposition in San Francisco, many people quickly became aware that the minister delivering the main address was not thoroughly orthodox. Although a gifted speaker, he began to direct most of his eloquence against the power of the blood of Christ.

       Ruth E. Marsden relates that when his fluent oratory ended, a timid, elderly lady stood up in the midst of the crowd and softly began to sing a great hymn by William Cowper as a touching rebuttal to the modernist’s remarks.

       A hush fell over the assembly as they heard those faint but familiar words: “There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel’s veins, and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.”

       Before she could begin the second stanza, approximately a hundred people rose to join her.

       By the time she reached the third verse, nearly a thousand Christians all over the audience were singing that blessed song of faith.

       The triumphant, thrilling strains rang out loud and clear: “Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power, ’til all the ransomed church of God be saved to sin no more.”

       Many were deeply moved as that humble believer stood up for her Lord and with the light of Heaven upon her face.

 

      

There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood

      

(1) There is a fountain filled with blood

Drawn from Emmanuel's veins;

And sinners, plunged beneath that blood,

Lose all their guilty stains.

Lose all their guilty stains.

Lose all their guilty stains.

And sinners, plunged beneath that blood,

Lose all their guilty stains.

 

(2) The dying thief rejoiced to see

That fountain in his day;

And there have I, though vile as he,

Washed all my sins away,

Washed all my sins away,

Washed all my sins away,

And there have I, though vile as he,

Washed all my sins away.

 

(3) Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood

Shall never lose its power,

'Til all the ransomed Church of God

Be saved, to sin no more,

Be saved, to sin no more,

Be saved, to sin no more,

 'Til all the ransomed Church of God

Be saved, to sin no more.

 

(4) E'er since, by faith, I saw the stream

Thy flowing wounds supply,

Redeeming love has been my theme,

And shall be 'til I die.

And shall be 'til I die.

And shall be 'til I die.

Redeeming love has been my theme,

And shall be 'til I die.

(5) Then in a nobler, sweeter song,

I'll sing thy power to save,

when this poor lisping, stammering tongue

lies silent in the grave.

Lies silent in the grave,

lies silent in the grave;

when this poor lisping, stammering tongue

lies silent in the grave.
 

Family Friday: Spirit-filled Lady

Being a Spirit-filled Lady

          I have heard the role of a wife and mother described as the Holy Spirit presence in the home.  This causes me to wonder how I can act like the Holy Spirit?  I know many Scriptures describing Jesus Christ’s attributes, but what about the Spirit?

          The Spirit speaks in a still, small voice.  He doesn’t demand attention or respect, but He compels us to have a close relationship with Jesus by showing compassion, love, and forgiveness. He comforts us in sorrow and helps us bear the burdens of life. He will lead us to the Source of strength and reveal the Answer to life’s questions. 

          During my devotions a few days ago, I was struck by a passage in John 16 about the content of the Holy Spirit’s message.  He doesn’t speak of himself, but speaks whatever the Father tells Him. The Holy Spirit speaks to glorify the Father, not to voice His own opinion.

          These few things about the Holy Spirit are plenty of food for thought as we consider our actions and speech in our home.  Certainly there is more about the Holy Spirit than I have brought out, but think specifically about how He ministers to us in comparison to the way we minister to our own families.  Let’s begin to act like the Holy Spirit in our homes.

We Pray Wednesday: Commitment to Prayer

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We have all probably heard this many times in the past couple days and have thought to ourselves that it doesn’t feel much different than the last one.  This is probably true; however, this is a time that most of us look back and make goals for things that we would like to change in the new year.  Whether it be work, church, family, or personal, we make “resolutions” to change things in our lives.  If we are honest with ourselves, most of these “resolutions” don’t last for a significant amount of time before we go back to the ways things used to be.  Rather than make resolutions, let us make commitments to God concerning our spiritual well-being.  The great thing about God is that there is always the opportunity to start anew - God always offers us a new day and is long suffering with us, no matter what has gone before.

One area of spiritual well-being that we should commit to God is to talk to Him daily.  Talking to God seems like it should be as easy as falling off a log, but often it can feel more like climbing a cliff. In order to keep this commitment to Him, here are 10 tips to help.

1. Choose a specific place to pray away from distractions so you can concentrate. Ringing phones and crying children will sabotage your "quiet time" before it gets started.

2. Pray at the same time every day, if at all possible. Make it part of your regular routine and it will become habit. Write it into your schedule and then treat it just like a daily appointment.

3. Pray out loud. Many people can pray under their breath or in their minds for long periods and still maintain intensity, but for most of us it's a quick ticket to dreamland. When we pray out loud we have to form intelligent sentences. We have to concentrate more on what we're praying about.

4. Keep a note pad handy so you can jot down different things that come to mind while you're before the Lord. Sometimes you'll get great ideas totally unrelated to what you've been praying about. If you jot them down you can quickly get back to the topic at hand without being too distracted.

5. Make a list to keep track of your prayer needs. This can be done several ways. Prayer needs can be listed by category like "Church," "Family," or "Unsaved friends." Or they may be listed by the days of the week. Each day you pray for a different set of needs.

6. Redeem time for praying out of unused corners of your schedule. Those who have to drive to work can use the time talking with the Lord instead of screaming at traffic (just don't close your eyes!). Busy homemakers can combine prayer with housework, especially if the task doesn't require a lot of concentration. Joggers, swimmers and cyclists can use their workout time for prayer.

7. Change the pace during your prayer time. Include praise, thanksgiving and singing as well as petition. Spend some of your time reflecting on the Scripture, meditating on it and digesting its meaning.

8. Keep a prayer journal. Keep track of what you prayed for and when you prayed for it. Leave a space to jot down the answer when it comes. This will help you to keep alert to God's answer so you can thank Him promptly. Sometimes prayer answers come in the back door and you don't want them to slip by you.

9. Pray with someone else. Though some prayers can only be said in solitude, there will be times when you'll want to join hearts with another person in prayer. If you commit to a prayer meeting on a regular basis, the accountability can really help build consistency.

10. Pray one-sentence prayers. If the thought of laboring over a topic wears you out, pray short, sincere prayers instead. A sentence or two may be all that's needed to exhaust the topic for you for the time being. If so, just move on to the next item without feeling guilty for your brevity.