I think we have all seen the news where a young person is cut down in the prime of life. No matter the type of lifestyle they might have lived you will invariably see the loved ones wailing on the news what a “good” child they had been. Hysterical in their grief. After they have passed the tears are for naught. The time for weeping to God is when they are alive. While there is still hope they might turn their hearts toward Him.

We indeed need to cry over and pray for our children. We need to be communicating with God about them. We need to be seeking His face for them. If there is still breath there is hope, but after the breath is gone there is no hope.

Look at the book of Second Samuel chapter 12:

2Sam.12 [15] And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.

[16] David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.

[17] And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.

[18] And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?

[19] But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.

[20] Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.

[21] Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.

[22] And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?

[23] But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

Let me ask you, when was the last time you pulled an all-nighter with God praying for your child? Weeping over your child who was out of the way? David knew as long as his child was alive there was hope with God. David also knew there was no hope apart from hope in God.

After the passing of the child David knew it was too late. David knew the time to grieve for the child was while he was yet alive. David also realized God was not to blame and after the child was dead he still worshipped God.

Let us look this morning at several things we should be praying about for our children using the Apostle Paul as our example.

In Romans chapter one we find:

Romans 10:[1] Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

We like the Apostle did for his people should be praying first and foremost for the salvation of our children. Of course, we should be living a life that leads them to the cross even before we utter a prayer for them to accept salvation.

As a parent the first need our children has is salvation. Not good grades. Not being on the dean’s list. Not having a great job. Not having good health. The first thing is to be a Christian.

 

Look in Second Corinthians chapter 13:

2Cor.13:[6] But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

[7] Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.

We should be praying our children do no evil. Not because of how it looks on the family but for their own good. We should not care how it effects the “family name” but rather the important thing is our children’s walk for their own life.

 

Look at Ephesians chapter one:

Eph.1:[16] Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

We should thank God for the children He has given us to raise. We should be grateful for the opportunity to lead our children to make an impact for God on this wicked world.

 

Look in Philippians chapter one:

Phil.1:[9] And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

[10] That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

[11] Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

We need to pray that our children are loving. There are way too many cold and indifferent children being raised in this perverse world. Looking out for themselves, greedy and callous at a young age. We should want our children to be kind and caring for the world around them but not only this but to grow in knowledge and in decision making. We should want their knowledge and judgment to be made from a position of love and not just for themselves.

We pray this so they will stay out of trouble doing what is pleasing to the Lord. We pray they are filled with the fruits of the Spirit. In order to have the fruits we must first have the Spirit.

 

Look in Colossians chapter one:

Col.1: [9] For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

We should not only pray they have love and knowledge but the knowledge of the will of God in their life. We not only pray they have understanding but we pray they are filled with spiritual understanding. The Bible teaches us that man’s wisdom is foolishness with God and God’s wisdom is foolishness to man. Far more important than a college education for our children is the knowledge of God and a personal walk with our Lord.

 

Look in First Thessalonians chapter five:

1Thes.5: [23] And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We need to pray for our children inside and out, head to toe. We need to be concerned with every facet of their life. We need to pray they glorify God with everything they say and do. We need to pray they are changed from the inside out. We need to pray they continue doing right until the day they leave this world.

 

Look in Second Timothy chapter one:

2Tim.1:[3] I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;

We need to be praying for our children continually. We should never stop and never give up.

 

Luke.23:[28] But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.