By Jason (Connecting to Impact)
Respect carries many different meanings depending on who or what group you’re talking to. To one, it may mean that a child never addresses an adult by their first name, but rather with Mr., Mrs., or Ms. To another, it may mean consistent eye contact. Another might see a weak handshake as a sign or disrespect.
See what I mean? There are lots of definitions, but when we are teaching our children respect, I think we can focus on honoring others above themselves.
"Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king." (1 Peter 2:17)
I’m sure we’ve all witnessed kids who disrespectfully mock their parents to their face. It’s tremendously wrong. And if it begins there at home, the disrespect will expand to other authority figures and even God.
Respect is that important. Thankfully, my wife and I decided long ago that we would have each other’s backs and if we saw anything that looked disrespectful we would call our kids on it.
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."" (Ephesians 6:1-3)
I think many understand that parental relationships translate into how we are able to relate to God, but it’s the foundation for all relationships, friendships, and even relating to governmental authority. We can also mistakenly believe that we are allowing them to ‘express themselves’ or we’re being their friends, but the disrespect dishonors God and puts them at odds with Him.
For that reason, I hope you’ll join with me in praying for our children (either our own or the ones we know).
Dear Heavenly Father,
I am grateful for (insert child’s name), they are fearfully and wonderfully made. There is nothing that can stop your grace and word over them. They will not return to you void, but fulfilled. Help them not to entertain a mocking, prideful heart, but help them to honor others as better than themselves.
Help all those parents who feel overwhelmed with their children and their attitudes. Help us all to see the importance of displaying respect for them, for peers, and authorities so we might teach it effectively.
I thank you that (insert child’s name) is blessed with a submissive spirit that they might respond to your love and calling. May they see with eyes opened and understand their place in the Body of Christ and in this world
Lord, you are marvelous and you turn hearts wherever you want them to go. No parent or child is beyond your grace or salvation. May these things bring You glory first and foremost—in Jesus’ name. Amen.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." (Hebrews 12:1)
We live a society that has become transfixed on happiness at all costs. Everything seems readily accessible and easily replaced. The value on people has receded just as the value on things has.
Relationships with family, friends, spouses, and others are all judged and weighed through the lens of what we gain from the arrangement. Church becomes yet another place to be a consumer instead of a contributor. And even if they do want to contribute, they may not find something that immediately interests them and walk away.
Our kids have to have perseverance. It’s not just because that’s a nice value to promote, the Bible tells us a lot about enduring and overcoming. As Hebrews 12 goes on to say, the hardships we endure can be counted as discipline. Discipline doesn’t make us happy, but we need it to be all that He has called and made us to be.
As I said in the post about our kids and work, if these are important values, we certainly have to model them, but we also need to pray them consistently for our children.
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." (Romans 12:12)
There are things we aren’t able to accomplish simply by natural means, but by way of His throne, we can see an abundance of fruit in this area.
I once again invite you to think of specific children in your life (your own or others) and pray this prayer with me.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank you again for (insert child(ren)’s name). You have an amazing plan and destiny for their lives and you desire a relationship with them. There is nothing beyond Your reach so I ask you to help them develop true perseverance. Jesus told us that we’d have trouble in the world, but that He gave us peace. May they sense that abiding peace as they face the roads ahead.
May they be those who stand up for righteousness and Your truth without compromise. May they have a heart of compassion toward the weak and helpless and not give up when it looks too difficult. I ask that you would instill this attitude of endurance by your grace.
Help us as parents to not treat relationships and community with the contempt we see in the world. Help us model this perseverance well. Help us to have wisdom on when we are helping them and when we are cutting in your plan to help them learn to stick it out and not give up. We desire to know what to carry and what not to.
I know (insert child(ren)’s name) are loved by you and I trust what You do in their lives. May they receive the reward of faithfulness and the blessing of perseverance. Give them wisdom to know when they are following You and when they are following other passions so they will let go of what needs to go and stand firm in the good.
Thank You for your protection and mercy. I pray You accomplish these things for Your glory—in Jesus’ name. Amen.
“Many people pray as if God were a big aspirin pill; they come only when they hurt.” (Graham Dienert)
That may be true for ourselves, but it is also true many times for our children. We wish the best for them, try to set them on the proper path, but too often we forget to battle in prayer for them until they are hurt or hurting by their lack in some way.
What if besides teaching them as best we could we reinforced it with fervent prayer? The thought is exciting to me (and I am thankful to Ginny for starting my juices flowing by asking me to write about it).
I believe in the power of prayer. I have seen unmovable circumstances change dramatically and the impossible become possible as God answered a prayer of faith, but besides our bedtime prayers together, I have failed to get specific with what virtues I’d like to see instilled in my beautiful children.
Today, I’m doing something about that. I’m writing about the willingness and ability to work.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23, 24)
Knowing the value and blessing of work can be a long road for many kids. Adam and Eve were given a garden by God and He told them to work. God gives in grace and abundance, but He calls us also to labor with Him. It’s a part of who He’s created us to be.
Working against that truth, however, is culture, advertising, entertainment, and more. These work overtime to tell our kids that there are ways around work and promote the idea and ideal of a ‘slacker’ generation.
It should drive us to our knees to combat these false assertions, and that’s exactly what I plan to do. Would you take a moment now with me? I’m going to say this prayer and insert my children’s names and I hope you’ll do the same.
If you don’t have kids, think of a niece or nephew, a neighbor or child from church. The coming generation needs to be bathed in prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank you for (insert child’s name). You created them with a purpose and destiny, and I praise you that they can know and experience that in You. These children are pressured from every side to find the easy way out, to succumb to seeking instant gratification, but surrendered to You, there is always an eternal reward for our work.
I pray that they will be willing to work and give their all, to serve You and honor You in all things. You have given them abilities, and I pray that you would increase those now. May they be filled with divine creativity and curiosity. May they feel and understand your great pleasure at their working and all You lay out for them to do. Help us as adults to reinforce this in our own lives, speaking, prayers, and actions.
(Insert child’s name) has a great future and You have made every provision for their steps. Give them grace in this area of work and service, and let it all glorify You. It is in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
[Editor's Note: This post is the ninth contribution to a wonderful series we are doing on Biblical virtues and praying for our children. I firmly believe that as parents, it is part of our responsibility, and an honor, to pray to our Father in heaven on behalf of our children. I pray you are blessed and encouraged by the words of these posts and that you will join me in my passion for growing strong, confident, loving, honorable and faithful children of God. If you missed the first six posts, be sure to go and read them: Love for God's Word, Salvation for the Next Generation, Praying for the Willingness and Ability to Work, Biblical Self-Esteem: I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough... Or Am I?, Love Is..., Praying for Perseverance; Faithfulness; and Self-Control]
Jason is a guy who loves Jesus, his wife, and his kids. He's also the pastor of Breakthrough Church in Juneau, AK. You can check out his blog at EndlessImpact.com where the goal is to connect with others in a conversation about life, service, and faith while connecting to God who is true Impact.