Praying Unhindered

Psalm 144:12-15 “Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace. Our barns will be filled with every kind of provision. Our sheep will increase by thousands, by tens of thousands in our fields; our oxen will draw heavy loads. There will be no breaching of walls, no going into captivity, no cry of distress in our streets. Blessed is the people of whom this is true; blessed is the people whose God is the LORD.”

What greater joy is there than seeing our sons and daughters thrive in their walk with Christ and embrace a passion for Scripture and a desire to serve Him and impact the world for the gospel?!  Psalm 144 gives a big picture view of God’s relationship with man. When man is obedient and submits to His lordship, the Psalm describes the blessings that flow out of that right relationship.  One of those blessings is sons and daughters who thrive.  Another blessing is provision for our needs and protection from the enemy.  

Friends, as much as we pray for our sons and daughters, our own personal relationship with the Lord needs to be right. Our example and our walk impact how our children flourish.  We hold a great responsibility.  We cannot excuse ourselves.  We must be actively pursuing Christ and ensuring our vertical relationship with Him is right.

THEN our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants and our daughters like pillars carved to adorn a palace.  Our thriving sons and daughters are a result of our right relationship with the Lord.  (ah, some may be saying ‘but what if my son or daughter ISN’T following the Lord?!)  Friends, it’s not a guarantee.  We can’t push buttons and make things happen.  Man’s free will gets in the way and often muddies the waters.  And the timeline for each is different. But if we, as parents, are following after Christ in the right way, He honors that.  If we are living in sin, He will not.  

Today, let’s stop and take stock. Let’s ensure that we are right with the Lord.  Let’s examine ourselves and see if there is sin that needs to be identified and then a need for repentance.  Let’s humble ourselves before the Lord so He can have full sway in our hearts and minds and create a clean heart in us.  Let’s lead by example so that our sons and daughters see what a right relationship with God is.  And then when we pray, we pray unhindered.  

Pray without ceasing.