June 10, 2010
Last week, I suggested that summertime is a great time to continue praying for our children: prayers for their spiritual stability in challenging times, as well as spiritual protection when faced with temptation.
I suggested that we not let our own relaxed summertime schedule lull us into thinking that Satan is on vacation, as well. Summertime’s lack of structure may actually offer to our children more opportunity for temptation and spiritual vulnerability. Your own consistency with essential spiritual disciplines, including intercession on their behalf, will be a critical witness to the children who are imitating your walk with Jesus Christ.
Another kind of prayer that we can offer for our children this summer is one that requests that they will be used by God as His instruments of love and caring. We can pray that God will equip them to minister to others, as well as open doors of opportunity for them to serve the Kingdom of Heaven. No boy or girl is ever too small to be used by God, and your prayer as a parent or grandparent can help prepare them for whatever assignments God would send their way. Even a summertime sleepover at a friend’s house should be an opportunity for prayer, before your young one ever walks out the door. Pray with them that they will be a light and a witness for Jesus Christ. Trips to the home of relatives, or even vacations on the road, should be both viewed and prayed over as opportunities for ministry by and with your children.
Children who are followers of Jesus Christ must be made aware that they are not bystanders or spectators when it comes to being a witness to others. By praying at the beginning of the day and asking for doors of ministry opportunity to be open for your children, they will begin to expect God to provide child-size “divine appointments.” The end of the day provides another opportunity for prayer, as you review with your children the ministry adventures of the day, and commit every seed planted to God’s care and keeping.
It is appropriate that, as your children become involved in witness and ministry situations, that they would begin keeping a journal of intercessory prayer for those whose paths they have crossed. Make time for your children to share with you their prayer list, as well as the answers they have experienced. Your intercession for them should result in the children becoming ministry intercessors, themselves. They will begin to see that actively praying for others, as you are doing for them, is a real form of spiritual service.
Finally, pray that your child’s ministry gifts will be explored and developed. Summer is a great time for children to try things that they may have never done before. Let them explore different ways that they may serve God, using talents that are yet undiscovered. With academics set aside for a few months, there should be plenty of time and energy to explore other gifts and abilities.
Our program today was sponsored by our good friends Don and Suzanne Thomas, celebrating with thanks to God for their 32nd wedding anniversary.