A teenage boy ran away from home to join hooligans, despite his parents’ efforts to counsel him. They kept praying. Years later, he returned, and his mother welcomed him warmly. He asked, “Why did you accept me back?” She replied, “I have prayed you into your destiny, so I know you’d be back home.” A reminder of the power of praying for our children.
Friend, you need to pray for your children. The time that the devil attacks people is their childhood (Genesis 3:15). By the time people wake up to the whiles of the devil in their adulthood, it is almost late. The devil does not see children as just children. He sees destinies. He sees arrows with a target (Exodus 1:22).
Notice that Herod did not wait for Jesus to grow up before launching his attack (Matthew 2:16-21). The same thing with Moses. The devil knows to catch people young. Why should we do less? If the devil can fill children with his demons, why shouldn’t we fill them up with the Holy ghost as children (2 Timothy 1:5-7)?
One mistake parents often make is to explain the behaviours of their children away (Proverbs 20:11). When a child continues to behave unusually wrong repeatedly, don’t keep quiet over it. Pray! Bind and lose. Decree and declare (Proverbs 22:15).
Do beyond just teaching your children, pray for them (Proverbs 22:6). Do beyond buying them gifts; introduce them to the Holy Spirit. Don’t just be present in the physical. Be present in the spirit. Pray them into godliness and divine purpose. Settle their future in prayers (Judges 13:12). Don’t fail them.
Perhaps, the biggest victims of the decadence in our world today are children (Psalm 127:3-5). Their values are being shaped. Their hearts are being cultured in a certain way. Their minds are severelly attacked. Some of them are possessed with demons that manifest as childishness. Parents must be discerning (Matthew 2:17-18). We must rise to pray!
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria