MENTIONING OTHERS IN PRAYER
The preacher was talking to little
Bobby about the importance of praying for other as Paul said in Romans
1:8--9 First, I thank my God through
Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole
world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the
gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my
prayers,
Bobby said, "My Mom mentions me in
prayer every night.
"So your mother prays for you
each night? That's very commendable. What does she say?"
The little boy replied,
"Thank God he's in bed!"
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Many of us who have had lively
toddlers and preschoolers can identify with the mother above.
But, those prayers change over the
years as we get concerned about their relationships: with God, with peers, with
the opposite sex, and ultimately their spouse and children.
Like Job, our concern for our
children never ends. Job 1:4--5 And his
sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would
send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 So
it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and
sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer 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 Job did regularly.
These were Job's adult children
that he was deeply concerned about. Specifically, about their relationship with
God.
As Christians the spiritual
condition of our children should be our greatest concern.
Matthew 16:26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains
the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange
for his soul?
Ephesians 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your
children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the
Lord.
May we always remember our
children in our prayers and help them to focus on the most important thing in
this life, their relationship with God.
With love and concern,
Larry