Who is Jesus to Our Sons and Daughters?

Any parent who loves Jesus has a strong desire to see their sons and daughters do the same and follow after Him faithfully.  We want to know that they don’t just have a head knowledge of Christ, but they’re pursuing a living, growing relationship with Him, one in which they talk to Him, listen to Him, read His Word, and desire to do His will.

But really, have we stopped to ask who Jesus is to them?  Is He someone they know about or someone they know personally?  Is He a figure in history or is He a prominent figure in their personal life?  Are they compelled to follow, or do they sit idly by?  Is their heart burdened to obey or are they pursuing other things?

We can’t require their allegiance to the Lord, especially if they are adults, we cannot manage their faith for them.  They have to make that choice and commitment.  They must choose to follow and walk in obedience.  It’s between Him and them.

So today, and every day, we pray.  We pray a lot.

The following are scriptures and prayer points to pray over our sons and daughters daily.  Though the posts on this blog may change, the need for and importance of prayer on these points does not. 

Pray fervently, regularly, and with hope.  God isn’t done working!

Pray that they recognize the Truth and follow Jesus.

1 John 2:4 “If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him.  Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”

Pray that they would value their relationship with Jesus more than anything and choose Him above anything else.

Philippians 3:7-8 “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”

Pray that they would grow and mature in Christ.

Philippians 1:9-11 “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God.”

Pray for their spiritual protection.

Psalm 91 

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

Surely He will save you
    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence. 

He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You will not fear the terror of night,
  nor the arrow that flies by day, 

nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday. 

A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.

You will only observe with your eyes
    and see the punishment of the wicked.

If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,

no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent. 

For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;

they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
    you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call on me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.”

Pray that their life, lived in obedience to Christ, would be an ever-speaking testimony of the gospel of salvation and the hope, joy, and peace of life in Christ

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 “ With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Do they know Christ? 

Our prayer should be that they would truly and authentically know Him and follow after Him with their whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Do you know Christ?  Do you have more than just a knowledge ‘of’ Him?  Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus as your Lord and Savior?  Or are you longing for peace, joy, and hope that all seem elusive?  If this is your heart’s desire, you simply need to admit you’re a sinner and agree that Jesus’ death on the cross is the only way to receive forgiveness and eternal life.  He is the One Savior who can redeem - there is nothing too damaging, too dirty, or too deep that He cannot forgive.

1 John 1:9 “But if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness (unrighteousness).”    

“Lord, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior.”

“If you confess with your mouth and Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.”   Romans 10:9-10

“Jesus, I believe You died on the cross for me.  I believe You were buried and rose again to conquer death and all the power of darkness.  Please forgive me for my sins.  I surrender my heart and life to You.  Be my Lord and Savior and help me to live for You, in Jesus’ name, Amen”

Satan’s big lie is that we can be ‘good enough’ and by convincing us of that, we lay Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross aside.  We overlook His resurrection and that He conquered death …and we put ourselves in the place of God….the very lie that led Adam and Eve to eat the fruit in the garden, “You will be like God” Genesis 3:5

We have no ability to save ourselves.  But Satan wants nothing more than for us to believe that we do…because if we believe that,  then we are eternally condemned.  

But Jesus!! 

He died for our sins so we wouldn’t be condemned.  He rose from the dead to conquer death and sin and hold authority over every power, dominion, principality and authority.  He rules!   He reigns!  And we can be covered by his sacrifice and be their heirs to His eternal kingdom.  Why wouldn’t you want that?!

I’m praying for each of you who read this.  Jesus loves you dearly.  He died for you.  Will accept His gift of salvation; will you choose to surrender to His Lordship and live for Him?

If you made a decision for Christ today, I would love to hear it!!  

Pray without ceasing!