Faith Filled Family

Enhanced – Listen: to the audio article

with Steve Demme

n our first three articles we focused on the question, “How Jesus has loved us?” For He is the divine example of how we are to love each other. Not only has Jesus loved us well, He is ever loving us well. For when He ascended to sit at the right hand of the Father, He did not sit back with His arms folded, but committed Himself to pray for us.

Consider these two passages from Romans and Hebrews:

“…Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”

—Romans 8:34, ESV

“Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”

—Hebrews 7:25, NASB1995

I knew Jesus was praying for me, however as I was preparing to write this missive, I paused and thanked Him afresh for interceding for me. What a wonderful Savior we have who not only died for us, but also lives for us!

Job’s Great Job

Many years ago I was reading through Scripture and noticed the heart of Job for his sons and daughters. He continually and diligently prayed for them.

“His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, ‘It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed] God in their hearts.’ Thus Job did continually.”

—Job 1:4–5, ESV

This was Job’s great job and now it is mine as well.

When my children were living under our roof we taught them God’s Word and encouraged them to read it themselves. They now have households of their own, yet my prayers have not stopped. God helped me to establish the habit of remembering my family before the throne many years ago and the only change today is that I have added six blessed grandchildren. As a father, I can emulate Job and my Lord, by praying for my family regularly and consistently.

How Do We Pray?

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, He gave them a model. Most of us have memorized it. I have often adapted portions of this prayer for my family. Sometimes I ask God to “give them their daily bread.” Other times my request is to “deliver them from evil” and “lead them not into temptation.” I like to employ the inspired Words of God when I pray, and another prayer I use is asking God for His will to be done for them and their respective families, “on earth as it is in heaven.”

If I sense they are under attack from our enemy, I might “resist the devil” (James 4:7) in the name of Jesus, or “bind the strong man” (Matthew 16:19). God has given parents authority in their home, and He encourages us to pray and fight for those we love.

Jesus’ Prayer

In the Christian world today, we refer to the Lord’s Prayer as the one Jesus taught His disciples. Yet I have a good friend who pointed out that perhaps we should call this the “Disciple’s” Prayer for it was given to His disciples. This same brother believes that the true “Lord’s Prayer” is found in John 17, as Jesus pours out His heart for us who make up His bride, the church.

Several passages in this inspired prayer may be adapted to our family such as: “Holy Father, keep them in Your name, which You have given Me, that they may be one, even as We are one” (Verse 11) or “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one” (verse 15) as well as “sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth.”

Divine Benediction

God gives Aaron and His sons an amazing prayer to pronounce over the children of Israel. I believe it may be used to pronounce over our families as well.

“Tell Aaron and his sons how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
May Yahweh bless you and protect you; may Yahweh make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; may Yahweh look with favor on you and give you peace.
In this way they will pronounce My name over the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

—Numbers 6:23–27, HCSB

As priests of our home, we can ask God to bless and keep our spouses and children, and make His face to shine upon them and be gracious to them. We can also ask and believe for our good God to lift up His face upon them and give them peace. And God declares that He will put His name upon them and bless them Himself!

Pray Together

One of the most powerful forces on earth is two people of like mind, praying for those they love and care for. This prayer team is known by another name—parents. Consider the efficacy of husbands and wives praying for their children.

“Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”

—Matthew 18:19–20, NASB1995

I have heard it said that Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon their knees. I think that may be accurate, but I know for certain, based on God’s immutable word, that he also trembles when he sees two devoted parents agreeing in prayer. For when they join in faith, their requests shall certainly be done for them, on earth as it is in heaven. Let’s carve out a few minutes each week to love our children as Jesus is loving them, and join Him in praying for them. Amen!

“God has given parents authority in their home, and He encourages us to pray and fight for those we love.”

Another Helper

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

—Romans 8:26–27, ESV)

When we don’t know how to pray, we always appeal to the Spirit of God to help us. I frequently ask the Spirit to assist me in the sacred realm of prayer, then I open my mouth wide and trust Him to give me the right words. He knows how to pray.

Let’s close in prayer, Father, we want to love our families well by bringing them before the throne of grace. Teach us how to pray. Help us, Spirit, when we don’t know how to pray. Thank you for listening to the prayers of Jesus for each of us. Help us to be faithful followers of Jesus and pray well. We do this in the name of Jesus. Amen!

teve Demme and his wife Sandra have been married since 1979. They have been blessed with four sons, three lovely daughters-in-law, and six special grandchildren. Their fourth son has Down syndrome and lives with them in Lititz, PA. Steve has served in full or part-time pastoral ministry for many years after graduating from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He is the creator of Math-U-See and the founder of Building Faith Families.

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