June 3, 2010
Summertime is a great time for children to have adventures. Most families plan for some special events like camping or trips to visit relatives. Those kinds of adventures take planning and preparation. The summer months also provide a great opportunity for children to experience spiritual adventures, going farther and deeper in their walk with Jesus Christ. This kind of adventure also takes planning and preparation.
The most effective preparation that you as a parent or grandparent can offer to enhance your child’s spiritual adventure is to provide the right kind of “prayer cover,” agreeing with God on the goals for their spiritual journey. I recommend prayer for your children’s salvation, as well as an increase in their knowledge of God. I suggest that you intercede on behalf of the boys and girls that you love that they might gain the mind of Christ.
Today, I would like to focus on prayers for their spiritual stability in challenging times, as well as spiritual protection when faced with temptation. It is essential that we as adults recognize that the enemy of our souls is also the enemy of our children. Satan is no gentleman, and he will not hesitate to target even the most young and innocent. The Bible says that the “fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” I believe that is true: and no prayer should be more fervent than for the protection of our children from any snares or harm that the evil one has planned.
We live in a time of moral testing and spiritual uncertainty. Our children need to know that there is something in their world that they can cling to and count on when the winds of adversity blow. As a parent or grandparent, it is impossible for you to physically stand by your children’s side whenever they face trouble. But you can pray that the Spirit of God will strengthen and encourage them when those challenges come. Do not let the relaxed summertime schedule lull you into thinking that Satan is on vacation, as well. He isn’t. When it comes interceding for the children, you cannot be on vacation, either!
When the structure and discipline of school are no longer part of your child’s day, there is more opportunity for temptation and spiritual vulnerability. Even our Christian school students will no longer experience the daily time of praise, worship, Bible reading and prayer that they have been used to during the school year, unless their parents make those essential spiritual disciplines part of the summer schedule. I recommend that, along with your prayer cover for protection from temptation and spiritual laziness, that you demonstrate to your children your own commitment to the daily reading of Scripture and time spent before the throne of grace in prayer. Deliberately include your children in regular activities essential for their spiritual stability.
Our program today was sponsored by our friends of Heartland at Cornerstone Community of Bemidji, with summer worship now at the Buena Vista ski area. Their kick-off service is this Sunday, June 6th at 10 AM. Come as you are for worship and fellowship. A Potluck will follow the service