Silas
Beloved of All
Your prayer for the little ones reflects the heart of God Himself, and it is good to bring them before Him so fully and with so much Scripture. He hears the cries of those who intercede for the next generation, and He delights to be sought as Shepherd and Protector.
The Lord Jesus is the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep, and He still stands to shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him, for He knows our frame and remembers that we are dust. His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness reaches to children's children. He is the One who invites the weary and heavy laden to come and find rest, whose rod and staff comfort, who feeds and carries His lambs close to His heart.
One of the most important truths to hold as you pray is that the faith of parents and grandparents, precious as it is, cannot stand in for the faith each child must have for himself. Every generation must come to know the Lord personally. That is why teaching them the Holy Scriptures from their youth is so vital. The Scriptures give the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus, and they are not an empty matter but life itself. We are to set our hearts to command our children to observe the words of His law, because powerful forces are vying for their attention, their love and their worship. If they are not given a thorough understanding of who God is and what He has done and the power He holds, the world will quickly fill that void.
In the same way, it is wise to establish a clear witness for the future, so that in years to come no one can say to your children and grandchildren that they have no part in the Lord. A visible, faithful testimony that the Lord is God helps keep the next generation from being turned aside from fearing Him, and it becomes a point of unity and remembrance that God is faithful to His people.
You are right to ask for angelic protection, for God has promised to give His angels charge over those who make Him their dwelling, and Jesus Himself said that the angels of the little ones always see the face of the Father in heaven, and warned against causing one of them to stumble. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him. At the same time God is looking for people who will stand in the gap and intercede, and your prayers are part of that calling. To submit to God and resist the enemy, to be clothed in the armor of God and to keep eyes and ears and minds guarded from evil, is the way to stand firm against warped teaching and evil people and impostors, even when they appear in religious dress.
It is also a blessing to teach children to trust God in practical ways. When every need is met without prayer, they can miss the joy of learning to trust Him for daily provision. Helping them pray and see God answer, even for small things, builds a living faith that affluence alone can never give. Unbelief kept many in Israel from entering into the full blessing God had prepared, and we too can hold ourselves back from His best when we fail to trust Him. Keep casting all your cares on Him because He cares for you and for every child you have named, for cousins and friends and family, and for all the little ones among the fellowship of believers.
May the Lord keep them in His hand where no one can snatch them, cause His love to be poured into their hearts by the Holy Spirit, strengthen them with power in their inner being to grasp the breadth and depth of His love, heal any who have been hurt, and draw each one to love Him with all heart and soul and mind. May He work all things together for good according to the counsel of His will and for the furtherance of the gospel, and may the church which He builds on the truth of who Jesus is as Messiah prevail against every assault of the enemy. We join you in thanking Him in advance for His faithful care, in the name of Jesus who has all authority in heaven and on earth. Amen.
The Lord Jesus is the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep, and He still stands to shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him, for He knows our frame and remembers that we are dust. His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness reaches to children's children. He is the One who invites the weary and heavy laden to come and find rest, whose rod and staff comfort, who feeds and carries His lambs close to His heart.
One of the most important truths to hold as you pray is that the faith of parents and grandparents, precious as it is, cannot stand in for the faith each child must have for himself. Every generation must come to know the Lord personally. That is why teaching them the Holy Scriptures from their youth is so vital. The Scriptures give the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus, and they are not an empty matter but life itself. We are to set our hearts to command our children to observe the words of His law, because powerful forces are vying for their attention, their love and their worship. If they are not given a thorough understanding of who God is and what He has done and the power He holds, the world will quickly fill that void.
In the same way, it is wise to establish a clear witness for the future, so that in years to come no one can say to your children and grandchildren that they have no part in the Lord. A visible, faithful testimony that the Lord is God helps keep the next generation from being turned aside from fearing Him, and it becomes a point of unity and remembrance that God is faithful to His people.
You are right to ask for angelic protection, for God has promised to give His angels charge over those who make Him their dwelling, and Jesus Himself said that the angels of the little ones always see the face of the Father in heaven, and warned against causing one of them to stumble. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him. At the same time God is looking for people who will stand in the gap and intercede, and your prayers are part of that calling. To submit to God and resist the enemy, to be clothed in the armor of God and to keep eyes and ears and minds guarded from evil, is the way to stand firm against warped teaching and evil people and impostors, even when they appear in religious dress.
It is also a blessing to teach children to trust God in practical ways. When every need is met without prayer, they can miss the joy of learning to trust Him for daily provision. Helping them pray and see God answer, even for small things, builds a living faith that affluence alone can never give. Unbelief kept many in Israel from entering into the full blessing God had prepared, and we too can hold ourselves back from His best when we fail to trust Him. Keep casting all your cares on Him because He cares for you and for every child you have named, for cousins and friends and family, and for all the little ones among the fellowship of believers.
May the Lord keep them in His hand where no one can snatch them, cause His love to be poured into their hearts by the Holy Spirit, strengthen them with power in their inner being to grasp the breadth and depth of His love, heal any who have been hurt, and draw each one to love Him with all heart and soul and mind. May He work all things together for good according to the counsel of His will and for the furtherance of the gospel, and may the church which He builds on the truth of who Jesus is as Messiah prevail against every assault of the enemy. We join you in thanking Him in advance for His faithful care, in the name of Jesus who has all authority in heaven and on earth. Amen.
