Encouragement for Imperfect FathersSample

Don't Stop Praying For Your Children

Have you ever had that one child that tests every ounce of your patience? Well, one of my sons went through such a phase (It did NOT seem like a phase at the time, though). Remember the wooing thing from Day 1? Yeah, that did not work here. Neither did disciplinary measures.

I prayed and prayed for God to help me and change him. Nothing seemed to be working. Until... one day, I decided to pray a different prayer. I had been praying for the answers I wanted in the way I thought it should happen, and obviously, it was not working. At the end of my rope, I prayed, "God, how do You want me to pray?" Best prayer ever, truth be told. God reminded me of the sweetest, most affectionate boy that used to follow me everywhere I went. "That boy is still in there," He said. "Pray for that boy. Pray for his heart."

So, one day my son was in his room, and from the sounds of it, he was smashing his chair on the ground. (I had just taken away some of his screen time, and he was not happy). Usually, my response would be flying into his room to read the riot act. Instead, I went into my room and prayed for his heart. I prayed that anger would be replaced with peace. I commanded that rage to leave my sweet little boy.

Then a miracle happened! My son came out of his room not a raging animal but an affectionate angel. The change was so drastic that all the other children were asking us later in the day what was going on with him. They were not used to this friendly and warm behaviour on a normal day, far less after a meltdown like he had just had!

I believe fathers' prayers are special. That whole head of the home thing.... that's what it's for - to take authority over what spirits are and aren't allowed in our home. Never underestimate the power of our prayers.

Pray:

Jesus, I ask like the disciples: Teach me how to pray. Holy Spirit, help me to pray from the right heart and lead me in the declarations that set the spiritual atmosphere in my house for my family to thrive.