Friday, May 27, 2011

Journey of Faith Friday: Praying For Your Children

Amber's Articles

Praying For Your Children

As I struggle (on and off) with my prayer life I am consistently led to read and re-read the prayer Jesus prayed for Himself, His disciples, and all believers in John 17 (more about prayer HERE, HERE and HERE).  

While the prayer is full of specifics that can be used to pray over all people, I have consistently used three of them:
  1. Lord, who have You given me out of this world that I should reveal You? (from John 17:6 "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world...")
  2. Lord, I pray that ________ may experience the full measure of Jesus' joy. (from John 17:13 "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them...")
  3. Lord, I pray that You would not take them out of the world, but that You would protect them from the evil one. (from John 17:15 "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one...")
    Yesterday, while re-reading John 17 (and after my mother-in-law had encouraged several young mothers with the reality that our children are a part of the world we are serving) I was able to apply more of Jesus prayer for His disciples specifically to my son.  


    Here is my personal example:

    Lord, 

    You have given me Bennett (v.6).  I pray he would obey Your word and know that everything You have given me (given his daddy) comes from You (v.7).  Grant me the wisdom, knowledge, grace, and discernment to share Your truth with him that he would accept it (v.8).  I pray he will know and believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son and was sent by You (v.8).  I, specifically, lift this little life before Your throne proclaiming it as Yours (v.9).  May his life bring You glory (v.10).   I pray that You would protect him and keep him safe by the power of Your name-the name JESUS (vv.11,12).  

    I pray that while he is in the world he would have the full of measure of the joy of Jesus within him (v.13).  I pray he would not be of the world, but would instead live by the truth of Your Word (v.14).  "My prayer is not that You take [him] out of the world but that You protect [him] from the evil one...Sanctify [him] by the truth; Your Word is truth." (vv.15-17)  God, as You have called me to be Your disciple, I pray that I be sanctified, so that he, too, may be truly sanctified (vv.18,19)

    **This is a personal version of Jesus prayer adapted from John 17:6-19 NIV


    What are some ways you pray for your children?


    ------------------------------------------------

    You can read previous Journey of Faith posts HERE.

    Amber's Articles

    3 comments:

    Casey Martinez said...

    I have just recently become aware of the power of inserting names into scripture to pray for things. It is such a powerful way to pray! I love doing this for my husband and my daughter and reading this passage that you shared with your son inserted was awesome. I could feel the Heavens being shaken! Awesome!!

    Warren Baldwin said...

    Very neat prayer, Amber. You write challenging posts.

    Sandy said...

    Thanks for your great reflection and application of Jesus' prayer for/about his disciples - using it to pray for those whom God has given to you to reveal/uncover His character.

    I know I've prayed parts of it before, but your post struck me as completely fresh and new! I've read it about 4-5 times now and it is spurring much thought in me. And hopefully, fresh application on my part.

    One thought thread: the power in the joy that Jesus had in him / set before him: "...that they may have the full measure of my joy within them..."

    "Jesus...who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

    This post calls me back to "scripture prayer" with additional perspective/support from recent neuroscience research. Thank you