What to Pray For Your ChildrenShembull

The second thing I pray for my children is “that they would have the heart of a servant.”

My heart skipped a beat when I saw a plaque on a friend's wall: “If we want our children to become great, we must first pray that they become servants.” 

It then listed Matthew 20:26, which states Jesus’ words: “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.”

Jesus taught us to live opposite of how the world lives. Jesus taught that the greatest among us, must be the greatest servant. Jesus showed us a different way of living – that a heart of humility and serving others is God’s main objective for our lives.

I am praying our children would grow up with a great love for serving others:

That they would someday learn to serve their spouse.

That they would serve the local church.

That they would serve their community and society.

That they would see clearly the abundant joy in abandoning selfish desires and talk, and instead expend themselves for the sake of others.

This humble verse from the book of Matthew teaches us that the “greatest” thing we can all do is exactly and only what God leads us to do. No parent decides their children. It is God who calls us each out by name, and summons us to His great purposes for our lives – that we would be fruitful to the glory of Christ. And God’s main call for each of us is to live a life of serving others.