Praying for You Children and Grands

Posted on May 8, 2023 by Elizabeth Welte in Freedom Fighters

I am reading through a new devotional by Jon Bloom, co-founder and teacher at Desiring God. It is called True to His Word – 100 Meditations on the Faithfulness of God. I highly recommend it to you.

One of the devotionals is titled “Pray for Your Children and Don’t Lose Heart, and in that devotional, he references seven things we can pray for our kids and grands.

I am going to give you a list and make a couple of comments at the end.

 

 

1. That Jesus will call them and no one will hinder them from coming.

“Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away.” – Matthew 19:13-15  

 

2. That they will respond in faith to Jesus’s faithful, persistent call.

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

 

3. That they will experience sanctification through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit and will increasingly desire to fulfill the greatest commandments.

“And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your Heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'” Matthew 22:37-39

 

4. That they will not be unequally yoked in intimate relationships, especially marriage.

“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:15

 

5. That their thoughts will be pure.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8

 

6. That their hearts will be stirred to give generously to the Lord’s work.

“All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose Heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord.”  Exodus 35:29

 

7. That when the time is right, they will GO!

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'” Matthew 28:18-20

 

I am very blessed to have four married children, and my children and their spouses all love the Lord and are serving Him in some capacity. I have 12 grands (one of the 12 is with Jesus), and all but one of them have made professions of faith.

There are NO guarantees that all of my kids, their spouses, and my grands will reach the finish line victoriously. It will only be by the grace of God.

I know parents who have been praying faithfully for their kids and grands to walk with Lord, and God has not yet answered those prayers.

I can tell you of many instances where it was 40-50 years of praying for their prodigal children before God answered those prayers of faith. And sadly, on this side of heaven, I know of prayers that were never answered.

BUT having said that, we should not just throw up our hands and say, “Well, why pray if God isn’t going to answer my prayers?”

That’s a great question, but I am asking the question, “Why not?” Jesus said in Luke 18:1 that at “all times they ought to pray and not lose heart.”

Our kids and grands are facing unprecedented problems, testing, and challenges. The enemy is after our kids and grands (adult kids too).

I think it is worth it to pray for our families. Declare war on the enemy and claim your families for the Lord. Pray by faith for their salvation and for them to live for Him and by all means, don’t faint and lose Heart.

 

Stay anchored to the Rock,

Bill Welte, President/CEO
America’s Keswick.

Email Bill: bwelte@americaskeswick.org

 

Written by Bill Welte: President/CEO of America’s Keswick: Bill has been married to his childhood sweetheart for 40+ years and has four married kids and 12 amazing grandkids. He loves music and is an avid reader.

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This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:8-9