“O Lord, the God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, make your people always want to obey you. See to it that their love for you never changes. Give my son Solomon the wholehearted desire to obey all your commands, laws, and decrees, and to do everything necessary to build this Temple, for which I have made these preparations.”
(1 Chronicles 29:18-19 NLT)
King David prays these words for the people of Israel and for his son Solomon.
In many parts of the country schools are either making preparations to begin the new school year, or have already opened. In reading these words of David, I wondered what would happen in the lives of our children, and grandchildren, if we were to ask God to do the same in their lives:
- Obedience. May our children always want to obey God. God can change their hearts so they desire to be obedient to God.
- Love. May our children always love God, firstly and faithfully, with a love that never changes in intensity.
- Wholeheartedness. May our children have an undivided heart and be full out for God. May they develop a wholehearted desire to obey Him for all of their days.
- Motivation. May our children see God’s plans and purposes unfold in their lives. May they remain focused and do everything necessary to complete what He has for them to do in this school year, and in their lifetime.
Can we even imagine what would occur in the lives of our children if we were to pray for them like this? Every school year presents it challenges, difficulties, and joys for both children and parents. We can set each day before the Lord in prayer, confident He will be the One to produce wonderful results.
“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” (James 5:16b, NLT)
“The battle for our children’s lives is waged on our knees.”
(Stormie Omartian)
In her post, “When the World Weighs Heavy“, Barbara Harper shares a powerful quote from Eric Liddell to remind and assure us God is not helpless and is always at work! You can read her entire post HERE.
Come, sit a spell. Bring your coffee, your posts, and your thoughts. If you link up, kindly visit those who have drawn up a seat around you.
Thank you for turning my thoughts this morning toward this parental prayer. Yes, it’s inspiring to imagine God’s good answers!
As we pray for our children (and grandchildren), we can have peace God is at work in their lives, even when we are yet unsure of the outcome.
I no longer have school age children, and my grandkids haven’t yet reached that age, but I do pray for nieces and nephews and children I know. These are such difficult days to be in school. Thank you for your encouragement, Joanne. May God’s blessings be felt by all.
I love seeing all the first day of school photos in my social media feeds. It causes me to pause and pray for each one to have a happy and healthy year. Yes, may God’s blessings be felt by all!
Beautiful thoughts, Joanne. We not only underestimate the power of prayer, but we also forget how specific prayers for the children in our lives can make a world of difference. This is great, sharing with my daughter.
Karen, you made me realize that even as we pray for the children in our lives, we also impact their parents who reap the reward of those prayers as well 🙂 Thank you for causing me to see how much I truly do underestimate the power of prayer. It reaches further than I can know. Blessings!
Amen, praying with you and for our children. My girls are adults, I pray that He guide, watch over, protect so no harm or evil go against them in their daily journeys and beyond. Blessings.
~Selah ~
School days still impact us here as my daughter is a school administrator, my son is a basketball coach, and then my granddaughters attend. I so agree with you, Paula, we will always be praying over our children, no matter their age.
Joanne, thank you for guiding us in prayer for our children today. My children are grown, but I do believe not beyond prayer! In addition I am surrounded by other school aged children and it seems to me now more than ever our nation’s children need prayer.
Donna, you are so right – our children are never beyond prayer. Mine are grown as well, yet school days still impact us as they now work in schools and my granddaughters attend. School days are so impressionable so may we pray for the children in our nation for they are the future leaders as well.
Thanks so much for featuring my post. These are good prayer requests for our children throughout their lives.
My joy to share your words as you always cause me to pause and think, Barbara.
It seems I spend half my time with God in prayer for my children these days. It is not a kind or godly world they are inheriting. Pray is vital!
The world is rapidly changing and prayer is needed desperately in the midst of these changes. May we be faithful to pray.
Thank you for these thoughts today Joanne!
I have many adult children including stepdaughters, their partners & 11 grandchildren who I pray for each day.
I love the Stormie Omartian quote & it’s so true!
Blessings,
Jennifer
Jennifer, I love that we can reach out and impact the lives of many children through prayer. May God bless and keep each one through the power of your prayers!
Looks like I’m going to have to add another verse to the scriptures I pray for my girls, Joanne! Wholehearted love and obedience to Jesus … yes and amen!
It is amazing to me how God reveals something new in these familiar stories. As our children (and grandchildren) possess wholehearted love and obedience to Jesus, they can impact our world in their generation.
This was a wonderful post and very on point! Thank you for sharing it…many people should relate to it in my humble opinion.