I’m as guilty as anyone about getting all excited about something and diving in full force…for a while…then it tapers off. Healthy eating, being organized, cleaning my house (ugh), exercise, (trying to do better on this one - again!), different things for my family, etc. I learn a new tip or strategy and I am eager to try it. So I do. But few things last.
One thing, however, has sustained.
Almost three decades ago, I learned to pray for my kids. And by God’s grace, I have kept it up since then.
You might be thinking - what’s new about that? I pray for my kids. We all do. Such a benign idea. Nice, of course, but what’s new about this?
Here is what I mean:
Praying SCRIPTURE for my kids.
Faithfully. Daily. In times of crisis and when I don’t know what to do. Proactive prayers. Asking for God’s favor. Pleading His promises into their lives. Going to battle against the enemy on their behalf.
Let me explain….
We know that we are in a battle, a spiritual battle, against the forces of evil. And, wow, those forces are so strong! Sometimes we feel helpless against them, right? Even though we “know” we aren’t, it sure feels that way sometimes. 2 Corinthians 10:3 addresses this battle: “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses”.
Amen and hallelujah! But look closely - this verse says weaponS - not weapon.PLURAL, not singular. We have more than one weapon! I thought this referred to all the armor of God listed in Ephesians 6. Those pieces of our spiritual armor are indeed critical in this battle but the helmet, the girding up of loins, the belt, the breastplate, the shoes and the shield are not weapons - they are protective gear! Only ONE offensive weapon is listed - the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God!
Where is the other one that makes the verse in 2 Corinthians plural???
Well, it’s right there in Ephesians 6:18. Right after the Apostle Paul tells us what the sword is, he says with all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit and with this in view, be on the alert with all the perseverance and petition for the saints.
The Sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) WITH all prayer….. He is telling us to combine the Word of God with our prayers - literally pray Scripture!
So how does this work?
Well, I don’t know that there is only “one way” but here is what I did and still do (ever expanding)
Knowing that God’s Will is His Word, I asked the Holy Spirit to show me what He wanted for my kids. (Not what I wanted, mind you, but what HE wanted. And through the years, He has shaped MY will to HIS! The point of prayer is way more about what God wants to do in the PRAY-ER than in the PRAY-EE…) And He did just that.
I found verses asking God to call them to Himself for salvation (Acts 26:18), character traits like courage (Deuteronomy 31:6), perseverance (Hebrews 12:1), kindness (Ephesians 4:32), Integrity (Psalm 25:21), compassion (Colossians 3:12) and for protection (Psalm 91:11). He showed me Scripture to pray specifically for my son (Proverbs 13:20, 7:1,2) and for my girls (I Timothy 2:10). I prayed and continue to pray for them to discover and use their spiritual gifts (Romans 12), to have concern for the lost (Matthew 9:36-38), to be content (Philippians 4:11), successful (Psalm 1:2-4), pleasing to the Lord (Micah 6:8),cheerful (Proverbs 15:13), and yes, even to be smart (Daniel 2:9, 17)!
It wasn’t long before I was praying His Word for my husband and for me!
And y’all, I can attest to His faithfulness. He fulfills His promises. He answers our prayers. I never want to present Him as some sort of prayer-Santa Claus that I can give Him my wish list and He delivers. NOT AT ALL . So please don’t misinterpret what I am saying.
But He is faithful to His Word. His will for our lives is His Word. We can pray that with confidence and with perseverance. He is faithful.