Speak Lifeنموونە

Luke 1:13-17 (NIV): 

But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

God named John before his conception and his parents were instructed on how to raise him. I believe God cares about our children's names, and names matter. If names do not matter to God, God would not have changed people's names in the Bible or told them what to name their children. If you are an expectant parent, please take the time to seek God for your child's name. Seeking God for our children's name is an act of humility and faith. It is part of acknowledging God in all our ways. You will be amazed by what God would reveal to you about your child.

People often say parenthood does not come with a manual. As Christians, we have a manual for parenthood- the Bible. The Bible teaches us how to parent. For example: Ephesians 6:4 (NLT) says, "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord." That verse tells fathers that the type of discipline and instruction they use in raising children must come from the Lord. The Bible is from the Lord, a perfect guide for instructing and disciplining our children. Also, our heavenly father models parenting for us to emulate- 2 Corinthians 1:3 (NIV) says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort”. 

Today, let’s make some declarations and speak life over our children, a pregnant friend’s baby, a new mom, or anyone believing God for a child. Fill the gap with a specific name. Prayer adapted from Luke 1:13-17 (NIV)

Heavenly Father, thank you for my children. In the name of Jesus, _____ will be a joy and delight to God, and many will rejoice because of _____’s birth. _____ will be great in the sight of the Lord. ______ will never become an alcoholic, and _____ will be filled with the Holy Spirit early in life. _____ will bring back many of the people to the Lord. In the name of Jesus, _____will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of God, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. 

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