CityView Magazine

faith A Parent's Most Important Job taught me how difficult, frustrating, terrifying and wonderful being a parent is. They have also taught me that I need some outside help. The most important job that we have as parents is to pray for T his issue of CityView spans both Moth- er's Day and Father's Day, so I thought I might offer some encouragement in the task of rais- ing children. I have two young boys who have BY DAN ALGER listen and obey? Remember this parenting thing was God's idea. In fact, God commands that children honor their moth- er and father so that the children would have better lives. We should ask God to help with their discipline and obedience. Grow in wisdom. I pray for their education and their character. The Bible tells us that wisdom comes from God, so I ask him to give it our children. We try to control everything from the amount of formula they get when they are infants to their curfews when they are teens in order to keep them healthy and to raise them well, but honestly, do we really have control? Although we play a significant role, ultimately the survival and fruitful- ness of our children is up to God. If you try to take this bur- den on your own shoulders you could end up with high blood pressure and nubs of fingernails. This is where prayer comes to my children. Grow in stature. I pray for their physical health and growth. I pray that God would keep them well and grow them strong. I pray for their sports and activities and their safety as they play. Grow in favor with God. My deepest desire for my children is that they would have a deep relationship with Jesus and hunger and thirst for right- eousness. I need God to fill their souls with longing for him. Although we play a significant role, ultimately the survival and fruitfulness of our children is up to God. in: we need God's provision, help, guidance, and intervention in this great work and we need to ask him for it. But, what do we pray for and how do we pray for it? The ultimate desire that Christian parents have for their Grow in favor with other people. I pray for their friendships, their interactions on the play- children is that they become more like Christ who was the perfect example of strength and wisdom. Personally, I use a Bible verse that describes how Jesus grew up in order to pray that my children will grow up in the same way: Then [Jesus] went down to Nazareth with [his parents] and was obedient to them… And Jesus grew in wisdom and stat- ure, and in favor with God and men (Luke 2:51-52 NIV). Outside of praying with them when they are awake, I also night that they would: Be obedient to their parents. God can help with this — and we need all the help we can get. Have you ever thought about asking God to help our kids 18 | May/June • 2012 go into their room every night, lay my hands on their heads and pray using the formula this verse suggests. I pray each ground, their future professions, their future wives, their con- cern for issues of justice and all of their social interactions. I pray for health in their relationships and their contributions to their communities. One more suggestion that I would add is a prayer I make sure to include every night. I pray that God would protect my children from the sins of their parents. I know the issues I have in my own heart and I do not want to pass them on. My wife and I are not perfect and we are not perfect parents, so we will make mistakes. I ask God to shield my children from our sins and for them to be raised in his grace. There are many other things to pray for as well, but this gives us a starting place. I urge you, no matter the age of your children, pray daily and deeply for them. Don't try to do this parenting thing on your own; it is too big for you, and your kids are too important. CV

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