Praying For Your Children

I believe that all parents pray for their children. Perhaps you might have uttered the following:

“Lord, ingatan mo po ang anak ko pag-uwi”

“Sana po maka-graduate ang anak ko.”

“Lord, ilayo mo po siya sa masamang barkada.”

“Sana po di makasira ang computer games sa pag-aaral ng anak ko.”

“Lord, tulungan mong makapasa ang anak ko sa long tests niya ngayon.”

These are prayers from the heart of loving parent. It is a godly thing to pray for your children.

What should we pray for regarding our children? I suggest that parents include the following in their prayers:

1. Pray for your child’s salvation.

The Lord said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matt.19:14) Pray for this with confidence for this is God’s will. My wife and I prayed for the salvation of our children even before they were born. Pinagbubuntis pa lang. And I prayed for the chance to share them the Gospel of Christ.

2. Pray that you child may be impressed by God’s Word as you teach them the Bible

“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deut. 6:6-7) Pray that they may adore and love God’s Word. In their younger days, I read and teach my sons passages from the Bible as they grow. I praise God whenever they are awed by what God has done and by who God is (Nature and Character of God) and by the Bible truths that were validated by scientists centuries later. Using God-given authority as parents, every day we ask them to read a passage of the Scriptures. Sana po humanga sila sa Iyong Salita. Sana po hindi nila malimutan ang Iyong Salita.

3. Pray that your child may walk in the truth

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (3 John 1:4). Pray that your child may walk (or live) according to God’s Word.  In our family prayer time, I always pray: “Lord, sana lumaki silang may takot sa iyo at maging godly.” God knows this is our desire as parents and I let my sons know that this is our prayer.

4. Pray that they may grow in the knowledge of God

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18). Pray that your child may grow in the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ. This is the Lord’s prayer: “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3). Clearly this is God’s will. I hope that this might be their goal in life: “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection.” (Phil. 3:10)

5. Pray that they may be wise

“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,

Turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—

Indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,

And if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,

Then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Prov 2:1-6)

This is our special prayer for our sons: That they may be wise. Even before they were born, we asked God to give them wisdom and understanding. For we know that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Prov. 9:10).

6. Pray for great dreams for your child

Every parent wants the best for his child. I also do. I had my share of prayers that God would help my sons win every contest in Math, Chemistry, Physics, Economics and even chess tournaments. Well, the truth is they did not win every time. There were more disappointments than gold medals. Sometimes we had to go to God and ask Him how come we lost.

But I have great dreams for my sons and I prayed that God would grant them success in whatever field of endeavor that God may place them in. I asked God to choose their college courses and careers and that my sons would love what God has chosen for them.

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:9-13)

So, to fellow fathers [and mothers], talk to the Father about your children. I am sure He would love talking to you about your children.

Btw, I forgot to mention that I have already asked God to prepare my future daughters-in-law. I am sure my 18-year old and 14-year old sons won’t mind that I have been praying for this, too.

Teach us to number our days

Thoughts on Psalm 90

Moses is a witness to God’s wrath against the stubbornness of Israel.

When they left Egypt, Israel had more than 600,000 adult men fit for war. We can estimate that there are also about 600,000 adult females in the wilderness. It could be assumed that there about 1.2 million adult Israelites that traversed the wilderness. When Israel entered the Promised Land, of the original adult Israelites only Joshua and Caleb remained alive. So that means Moses saw about 1.2 million adults were buried in the wilderness in 40 years.

With simple math, we can estimate that about 30,000 adults die every year or 82 perish every day. So Moses wrote with sadness, “All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.” The deaths of the people of God and the wrath of God set the sad lyrics of the psalm.

So Moses pleaded God, “Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” This showed Moses’ humility. Lord, open our eyes so that we may learn that our life on earth is not permanent. Life is short and fleeting and yet we choose to spend it in unprofitable ways. Instead of spending our days to obey and to please God, we waste our time contending against God as what the Israelites did against God and against Moses the servant of God.

Moses was actually praying that Israel would consider the shortness of their days and learn from all their troubles and sorrows in the wilderness:

• That they may obey the leading of the Lord who guides them by pillar of cloud by day and by pillar of fire at night;
• That they may be thankful also for the goodness and generosity of God who feeds them daily with manna;
• That they may see the daily miracles of God who made sure that their sandals and clothes last for 40 years!
• That their eyes may be opened to the goodness and character of God and so move them to fear the Lord and follow Him. This is the beginning of wisdom.

Life is short. How much time do we spend on Facebook? Shopping? Watching television? Gym exercises? Doing school work? Attending Bible study or growth group? Praying? Sharing God’s Word? Building up the family?

We can pray the pleading of Moses and ask God to “Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”  

Let’s use our time for something that matters: “To fear God and to keep His commandments for that is the whole duty of man.”

Happiness

Happiness is an elusive goal for most people. I guess one can find it if he can find his purpose in life. It is not amassing wealth nor being comfortable nor luxurious. It is doing what you enjoy most and doing what you are purposed to do.

Like our household items, each is brought into the house for a purpose. For example an electric fan, you can use it as a display item to make your house more beautiful but it is never meant to function like that. The electric fan would be "happier" if you use it the way it is meant to be. Its manual would say it is an excellent fan.

Each denizen (star, human or planet) in the universe is created for a purpose. According to The Manual (The Bible), each is created to glorify God and enjoy His provision and goodness. With that in mind, happiness is not difficult find for it is nestled in seeking God's perfect plans. Read your Manual and know your purpose in life.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jer 29:11 (NIV)

Voltaire and the Bible

Voltaire [Francois Marie Arouet]
1694 - 1778
French Author/Philosopher

Francois Marie Arouet was born in Paris, France on November 21, 1694. He studied law but chose to devote his genius to literature. In 1717, his writings and satirical spoofs on French authorities entitled him to an 11-month “residence” in a “suite” in the famous Bastille prison. There he wrote a theatrical tragedy entitled, “Oepide” using the pen name VOLTAIRE.

He became successful in creating theatrical plays but his unbridled tongue led him to trouble once again. In 1726 he insulted a powerful nobleman and caused him to be exiled to England where he lived from 1726 to 1729. The freedom and religious tolerance he enjoyed in England impressed Voltaire and wished that the same environment pervades in his native land, France.

The French Philosopher was a bold advocate of basic freedoms we enjoy today:

1. Freedom of speech
2. Freedom of the press
3. Freedom of assembly
4. Freedom of religion

Voltaire is considered an intellectual giant in his time and one of the most famous French writers in history. His most famous philosophical book, Dictionnaire Philosophique, showed his aversion to Christianity and opposition to the Bible. Voltaire claimed that the Bible was a product of imagination and that Jesus had never existed but was invented by men who claimed that he is God.

Voltaire is well quoted for his famous sayings such as:

1. ‘Common sense is not so common’

2. ‘A witty saying proves nothing’

3. ‘One hundred years from my day there will not be a Bible in the earth except one that is looked upon by an antiquarian curiosity seeker ’

Two hundred years have passed and we still have the Bible. It remains the bestseller of all time and translated in almost all human languages whether modern or archaic language. It is available in printed matter, CDs, cassettes, e-books, in html, MP3 and other formats beyond Voltaire's imagination.

Many Voltaires have lived and died in our lifetime and expect more come. But I am sure that their combined brilliance and influence could not outshine the Bible of Christianity.