Parental Prayer Persists

“And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.” (Job 1:5 AV)

What a testimony for a father towards his children.  The context is their riotous living.  But it doesn’t always have to be for the sin of our children.  It could be for any cause.  Job is making intercession for his children before the fact.  Not after the fact.  He is seeking God’s mercy for his children and he is doing so continually.  One wonders if we as parents do the same.  Do we continuously pray for our children whether they have a discernible issue or not?  Do we pray for them continually?  Do we pray the LORD would guide and protect them?  Do we pray the LORD would bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the LORD?  Do we pray they would walk with God with their whole heart, mind, body, and soul?  Do we pray the LORD that He would keep the adversary far away?  Do we pray for their encouragement, their service, their personal study and walk with God?  Do we pray for their physical needs?  Their spiritual needs?  There is so much to pray for, yet how much time do we take to pray?

What set Job apart from all others was his integrity and his concern for all others. This started at home.  He knew his children would need the grace of God in their lives.  He knew they would go through similar circumstances he experienced when he was their age.  He knew no one could navigate the trials of life without the intercession of others.  Particularly those closest to them.  We often criticize those families who will defend one another blindly and fervently.  They cannot see the faults of those closest to them.  They intercede even if their family member is at fault.  This is not wise.  Often, someone closest to us does not experience correction as he or she needs because we are too quick to defend them.  This is different.  Job is not defending his children.  He is interceding for God’s mercy.  He is asking the LORD would forgive them for any sin, even if is merely that of the heart, that God’s grace might shine upon them.  And, he did this continually.

In our devotional life, do we list specific things for which our children suffer need, and continuously pray for them?  Do we know them well enough to know what their concerns or anxieties are?  Do we take them before the LORD?  Do we rise in the morning and fall asleep at night praying for God’s hand upon our children?  Do we see them as targets of the adversary which need empathy and intercession that they might go one with life living for the glory of God?  Do we pray for their future as well as their present?  Do we ask the LORD to give us wisdom in how to more effectively pray for them?  DO WE REALLY BELIEVE OUR PRAYERS WILL MATTER IN THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN?  Or, are our prayer seen only effective for those whom we are unbiased?  Do we seek the comfort of the Holy Spirit in knowing the Father has heard us concerning our children?  Do we pray continually?  Do we wonder how their lives will turn out?  Do we ask the LORD to give us wisdom as they seek wisdom from us?  Do we acknowledge we may not know all they need to know as pray the LORD to send counselors that could advise them more effectively?  Do we pray for them continually?  This is the testimony of Job towards his family?  How is ours?