April 9

Once our children have received the Lord, we must continue praying for their relationship with Him.  We want our children to always be "filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding" and to "walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:9-10) Power of a Praying Parent, Stormie Omartian

Study notes in The Full Life Study Bible said that Colossians 1:9-12 is "one of Paul's four great New Testament apostolic prayers, spoken under the inspiration of the Spirit (the other three are Ephesians 1:16-19; 3:14-19; Philippians 1:9-11).  From these prayers we learn how to pray for others, such as our children, friends, fellow believers, missionaries, pastors, etc.  We must pray that they may (1) understand God's will, (2) gain spiritual wisdom, (3) live holy lives pleasing to the Lord, (4) bear fruit for Christ, (5) be strengthened spiritually by the Holy Spirit, (6) persevere in faith and righteousness, (7) give thanks to the Father, (8) continue in the hope of heaven, (9) experience Christ's nearness, (10) know Christ's love, (11) be filled with God's fullness, (12) show love and kindness to others, (13) discern evil, (14) be sincere and blameless, and (15) eagerly await the Lord's return." 

Whew...that's a tall order on how and what to pray! Verse 11 says as we grow in the knowledge of God, we are "strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,..."  The key to it all is that "he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."   In my hopes and prayers for our children, my greatest desire for them is that they GET IT!  There is a reason that we are called a 'chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people'.  If our children would just GET IT, and gain spiritual understanding of what has already been done, I believe that our sons and daughters would not succumb to so many plots and schemes of the enemy.  I am persuaded that, if our sons and daughters truly grasp that the battle is already won; nothing can separate them from the love of God.  Even when the bully is bigger; you get bold when you see your big brother on the other side of the school yard!  #Thefightisfixed   

Lord, not that they have already attained or have been made perfect, but we pray that our sons and daughters follow after You.  We pray that they forget the things that are behind and reach forth to the things You have laid up before them.  Give them holy boldness!  Oh God...let them GET IT!!! In Jesus name, Amen!