I’ve always been struck by this verse from Job 42:10
“The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold.“
I think that there’s something honorable about asking for something for someone else. I think God likes it. And I believe that one day we will see how very important our prayers have been.
I also believe that confessing things to others is effective and also that Prayer really does work… it “availeth much”
James 5:16 King James Version (KJV)
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
I’ve actually confessed/ shared some dark or shameful things at times because I believe it heals us to confess to each other.
In praying for our kids, I think we start with what we WANT for them. If what we want isn’t the same as what God wants, I trust him to move our hearts to pray in accordance with His Holy Spirit.
First, that they’d REALLY know God. Not church or religion or Christianity. God. Him. Jesus. That they’d know him. And he would know them and show himself to them. If they don’t recognize him now, they will…and say “it was always you.”
Solid Jesus-following influences: We want God to put into their paths solid, influences who follow, Jesus And know him. Who are able to be true friends and encourage them on a path of righteousness.
For their lives to glorify God : that they would bring glory to God with their lives.
Christian friends: that God would richly bless them with friends that are true, and that believe in Jesus, and really want to have good friendships- not just get their own needs met.
Fulfillment : that they would be fulfilled in what they were born to do. That God would guide them into his plans and they would feel his joy and pleasure in them when they are in step with his purposes.
Make connections: that they would have a strong connection with positive actions and positive results. That when they apply or work hard, or pursue joy- they would reap what they sow, and find a great return for their labors.
Spouses: that God would lead them to a spouse that is a life-giving true and pure love.
His word : I pray that his word will show up in their lives. Mystically placed before them in things they read, or see, in things they hear, and implanted in their hearts, drawn up from their subconscious memory.
Some times I like to pick a verse that I pound on the door of heaven with.
Because
Isaiah 55:11 King James Version (KJV)
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
If we return his word to him- it won’t return void. It will accomplish what God pleases.
Also- Hebrews 4:12 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Scripture prayers :
Ephesians 3:14-21
14For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16that *He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be *strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17so that *Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that *you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may be able to *comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to *know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. 20Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Colossians 1:9-14
9For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask *that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10so *that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, *bearing fruit in every good work and *increasing in the knowledge of God; 11*strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light 13For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Ask God to give you specific scripture for you to RETURN to Him on behalf of your kids
Short and sweet is ok. I’ve heard that calling on the name of Jesus is the same as praying a prayer.
Romans 10:13 King James Version (KJV)
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
When it looks with our limited human eyes the OPPOSITE of what we are praying for (as it often does):
John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Hebrews 13 : 20 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, 21equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
(He equips us to obey, and works in us to please Him! )
John 14: 27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
1 john 4:4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
1John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
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