Faith of our fathers: SOAP No. 4

SCRIPTURE: And she made a vow, saying, “O Lord Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” – 1 Samuel 1:11

OBSERVATION: Hannah was praying for a child and, even before he was conceived, dedicating him to the Lord.

APPLICATION: I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that so many parents of well-known figures of the Bible are mentioned.

Think about it. Ruth, the great-grandmother of David, has an entire book dedicated to her devotion to God. However, I think it’s important to note that Naomi, her mother-in-law, was a Godly woman who displayed her faith to Ruth on a daily basis, which eventually led to Ruth leaving her own people and religion to wholly follow Naomi and her God. Where would we be if it were not for mothers like Naomi and Ruth?

Think about Esther’s relative, Mordecai. He raised Esther as his own daughter, and when she was taken from him, she was able to draw from her faith to become queen. And what about Elizabeth, John’s mother? There are just so many examples of how the faith of the parents has influenced their children.

If the majority, instead of the minority, of parents prayed for their children as much as these people did, I think the world would be a much different place.

I pray for my future children. I don’t know when they will come or if there will be one or ten, but I pray that they are intelligent and discerning and, more than anything else, I pray that they are Godly. That is the greatest desire of my heart for my children. Everything else pales in comparison.

My parents continually pray for me. I would know they did even if they didn’t tell me. My dad still tells me – and will always tell me, I think – to say my prayers every day. I was raised by Godly parents – I was blessed.

It sickens and disgusts me to think of parents who physically or emotionally abuse their children. I cannot fathom it. There is no excuse. What kind of country – and, really, world – do we live in where parents do such horrific things to their children?

I do not mean for this to be a “downer” blog. I really don’t. It’s a Monday morning, and I’ve got three more days of work (leaving on a jet plane on Friday for a conference). But, honestly, I don’t know where to go from here – other than I just hope that my children and the children of my friends will grow up to be strong Christian men and women who can and will change the world.

And maybe they can have prayerful parents who initiated this change.

PRAYER: God, let the men and women of this country fall on their knees and pray for their children. Let parents raise their children to be fearful of You and to know You and love You. Let me be a mother who not only speaks her faith but shows it in action as well. Let my family – me, my husband, and my children – be one that continually worships You. Help the children who are not as blessed as I was to have hope and to find peace in their tumultuous lives. Take care of them, and, through the government system or other ways, let them find a happy, godly home.