Here in Omaha we have gotten absolutely buried with snow this winter. As a result I have found myself, depending upon which day it is, staring at either a perfect blanket of fresh snow or a lot of little footprints due to my kids’ traffic. These contrasting images have served me well in thinking about prayer for my children.
Think of each day when you wake up as a fresh snow. There are no tracks. All is quiet. Then you get up and bring your petitions to God for your children. You pray for their salvation. You pray for them to honor Christ. You pray for their studies. You pray for their potential spouses. You pray for them to serve in Christ’s church. You pray for them to grow in their understanding and love for Christ. You pray for them to be faithful. You pray for God to supply a rich gospel legacy. And so on.
Think of such praying as making tracks in the fresh, undisturbed snow. You are, as their parent, bringing your petitions to the throne of grace. You are interceding for them. You are begging God that you would not do anything that would hinder their love for and faithfulness to Jesus. You are making a lot of tracks.
And here is the thought that troubled me so. Consider with me if we get lazy as parents. We don’t pray. We don’t care for our children’s souls. Think about what the snow looks like in front of your child’s ‘house’ so to speak. It is smooth. It is undisturbed. It is picturesque. It is indicting.
In a verse that should be on every parents’ mind comes from Samuel who felt the burden of spiritual growth, understanding and fidelity:
(1Sa 12.23) Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way.
If Pops and Momma are not going to carry their children to God’s bosom for care, then who will?
We may rightly impugn those who neglect their children’s most basic needs (food, shelter, clothing, time, development, etc). However, how indicting is it Christians if we remain mute at the bench of petition and not utter our child’s name and their good at the feet of Jehovah?
I am so thankful that God hears our prayers through the merit of Jesus. I am thankful that he is gracious to imperfect parents like me. And I am thankful that he is Sovereign and Good; whatever he has decreed will come to pass. Therefore, I pray and mess up the snow.