What I Want For My Children

I often hear people talk about things they want for their children.  They usually include things like health, happiness, success, that they would follow their dreams, etc.  But to be honest, this type of list rubs me the wrong way.  If God allows my children to have those things, that’s wonderful.  But while that list may make us feel good, it isn’t scriptural.  God didn’t promise us any of that.  I have been really focusing lately on praying for my children in several specific areas.  I am sure you could add things to my list, but these are the things that I greatly desire for my children.

1. Salvation: More than anything else in this whole world, I want my children to be saved.  This is a burden that I carry everyday and I often find myself uttering prayers throughout the day, nearly begging God to redeem them, to show Himself to them and to call them to repentance and salvation.  Apart from this, NOTHING else matters.

2. A calling or mission: I am praying now that God places in each of my children something to DO for His kingdom.  Maybe it will be being a doctor or a missionary, or maybe it will be being a mom. No matter what it is, I am praying that Oran and I will have the wisdom to see their strengths and to be able to encourage them in their calling.

3. Holiness: More than just being saved, I long for my children to be like Christ.  And that will be a long and difficult process (as it is for all of us).  I pray that they will submit to authority, learn from those who have gone before them, and seek to honor God in all that they do.

4. Strength to endure persecution:  This is a difficult one to even type, but the truth is hard to deny.  This world is only going to get harder for Christians.  Because of that, I am praying for my children to have strength when the persecution comes and that God would prepare them to stand firm on His Word and to have peace in each situation that comes along.  I pray they would point others to Christ by the way they endure.

5. Godly spouses: Oh what a difference it makes in a family to have a godly spouse.  This single choice could literally make or break a person’s life.  I daily pray for God to bring about the right person for each of them, someone who is also a Christ follower and will encourage them in their calling and in holiness.

Just to make sure you understand, I am NOT super spiritual in any way just because this is my list of what I want for my children.  I struggle greatly with letting go of the superficial desires and instead focusing on things that are more eternal.  But I am asking God to help me as I train my children, to put my efforts and prayers toward these kinds of things and not just hoping that my kids will be happy, healthy and successful. The truth is, in order for my children to grow in holiness they will have to be refined.  It may come about by hard times, as it did for me. In order for them to be strong in their faith, they may have to first be weak and learn to depend only on God.  That may mean that they will not always be happy and they may spend time sick or sad or lonely. I have been all of those things, and wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything because they helped to grow my faith.  I want that for my children, no matter what God has to take them through to get them there.  Is that easy? NO!  But it is my heart’s desire.  

And when it isn’t my heart’s desire, I am asking God to show me, convict me and change me to be more like Him and to want what He wants, for His glory and for my children's good.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Jessica