The Overwhelmingly Awesome Responsibility

The other night I was home alone with the kiddos getting them ready for bed. Once everyone was fast asleep, I went to check in on each one. As I made my rounds, the silence of the evening got me to thinking about the HUGE responsibility it is having kids…not so much the physical responsibility; you know feeding them and clothing them. I was thinking more about things like guiding them into knowing and loving Jesus, teaching right from wrong, disciplining them, protecting them…the stuff that REALLY takes extra effort.

As I looked at the cute little faces, I was overwhelmed with gratitude and fear. Yes, fear. I began to think about all the aspects of their lives that are hugely impacted by me. As the emotions of this awesome responsibility began to set it, I was reminded by something that my friend Tony told me. One of the greatest things you can do for your children is to pray for them. She sent me a list of Bible verses to pray over children that she received from a friend. I also have a prayer calendar that guides me in daily prayer for my kids. I now have a copy of it posted on one of my kitchen cabinets and another copy that I keep inside my Bible or journal.

So, although I really don’t do New Year’s Resolutions, I do plan to be more consistent in my daily prayers for my kiddos…not just the “thank you for my kids” prayer, but really praying over detailed aspects of their little lives. So, want to join me? Here is the link for the prayer calendar so that you can pray specifically for the little one(s) in your life. Also, here is the email with the list of Bible verses from my friend Tony:

That they will know Christ early in life (Psalm 63:1, II Timothy 3:15)
That they will have a hatred for sin (Psalm 97:10)
That they will be caught when guilty (Psalm 119:71, Ecclesiastes 8:11)
That they will be protected from the evil one in each area of their lives: spiritual, emotional, physical (John 17:15)
That they will have a responsible attitude in all their interpersonal relationships (Danie. 6:3)
That they will respect those in authority over them (Romans 13:1)
That they will desire the right kind of friends (Proverbs 1:10-11)
That they will be kept from the wrong mate and saved for the right one (II Corinthians 6:14-17)
That they, as well as those they marry, will be kept pure until marriage (I Corinthians 6:18-20)
That they will learn to totally submit to God and resist Satan (James 4:7)
That they will be single hearted, willing to be sold out to Jesus Christ (Romans 12:1-2)
That they will be hedged in so they cannot find their way to wrong people or places (Hosea 2:6)

Your children are never too young for you to begin praying for them in these areas. If you have a daughter, even if she is only a day old, chances are that her husband is already born. In today’s world (let alone tomorrow’s) don’t you think they need all the pray support they can get? What if you will not be here when your children are old enough to marry? You can lay the foundation NOW. I know that I am living today on the prayers of my grandmothers who are no longer here. Prayer is the most awesome form of time travel! You can go back in the past and forgive old hurts that have sprung up from a root of bitterness. You can go into the future and pray for your children and your grandchildren.

Psalm 78
1 O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old-
3 what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.
5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children,
6 so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.
7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.
8 They would not be like their forefathers—a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him.