Revelation Chapter 11

​“Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightening, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.”
Revelations 11:19 (NIV)
 
A Prayer Over Our Children
     Oh God, draw my child into Your inner most courts. Let her stand before You, the Lord of the earth. I pray You will fill her mouth with prophecy and her tongue with truth. Through her, may You display Your mighty power as You consume her enemies with fire and strike them with fear. Help her to testify to the nations as a faithful witness. Oh God, I plead You will keep her from harm and defend her from the evil one.
     Breathe within her Your breath of life, oh God, as You raise her before her enemies. Speak to her, I pray, and call her by name. May You lift her up among Your heavenly places that she may worship and glorify You. OH God, how I pray Your name will fill her heart with thanksgiving and her mouth with praise. And just as Your Kingdom reigns in heaven over the earth, may You also reign in her life.
     Lord God fill my child with a holy reverence and awe of You. Look favorably upon my little one, I pray, but destroy those who seek the earth’s destruction. Pour out Your blessings over my daughter and grant her rich heavenly rewards. Open Your temple before her, oh God, so she might gaze upon the ark of Your covenant.
 
Prepared?
 
     We stood side by side at church. Masks were on our faces. Joy resonated in our hearts. Sweet Pea stood to my left and my husband to the right. The little body beside me jumped and wiggled in praise. As the worship leader cued the next song, Sweet Pea snuggled close. With both arms wrapped around my waist, she leaned in. Side against my side and head leaning against my chest, we swayed to the music. Back and forth we rocked. Warmth wrapped thick around my heart while waves of nostalgia crept over me. Memories surfaced of her baby softness snuggling close in my arms. Almost as one flesh joined together in spirit, today’s embrace was reminiscent of those earlier times. Yet, a significant distinction separated this moment from the baby days of old. What joined us together this time transcended body and blood. Where familial ties naturally drew us together, what knit our hearts together today was the Spirit of God and our shared love of the Father. Our souls bonded through the Holy Spirit, adoration of God as the one true King, and our praise of Jesus Christ, our Savior. 

The words to one of our favorite worship songs filled the sanctuary. Joy radiated bright. My arms raised high in worship. Together, Sweet Pea and I lifted our hearts up to the Lord. Her young voice cut through the air with her loud sweet offerings. My own intertwined with hers in bright harmony. Yet, as my arm reached to nestle her close, something was different. Something was changed. Where her little arm typically occupied the space by her side, no limb remained. Just air. Empty space.
     Where my blind eyes could not see, my fingers conveyed the story. Sweet Pea’s little arm was elevated in worship. Handheld high, voice raised to the Father, Sweet Pea praised and worshiped her God.
     Parents I cannot tell you the joy which filled my heart. What a special moment to witness your child pushing all cares and thoughts aside to worship her Maker. OH, how my heart thrilled. What gratitude filled my soul. And what tears flooded my eyes to know that my daughter loves the Lord and is one of His very own.
     Dear parents and grandparents let us not be caught sleeping. Let us be diligent in the admonition and training up of our children. Let our words be filled with love as we guide our children to the Father. I cannot help but think of God’s admonition to Joshua. Obey the law of Moses and do not stray to the right or to the left. Keep His Word on your lips and meditate on it both day and night so that we may do all that it tells us. Parents and grandparents, are we doing this? Are we keeping God’s Word on our lips as we engage with our children? Are we talking about His love, His faithfulness, and the great things He has done?  Are we meditating on God’s word both day and night that we might be teaching our children His truth?  What values are we promoting? The world or the ways of God? Are we actively and intentionally teaching them His purposes and calling for our lives? Or are we letting them fall to the popular ways of man?
I’ve been recently convicted about my daughter. Am I waiting to teach her God’s truth as a reactive response to what the world is teaching? Or am I taking a proactive stance to teach her God’s truth about creation, families, identity, and purity before the world champions it’s lies?
     You may struggle with the question as I. When is too young? When is too late? Yet, I know what I heard the Spirit whisper within my heart. Teach them first. DO not wait.
     Parents let us take a proactive stance. Let us give our children firm footing on which to stand so that when the issue presents, they know what is True and are prepared to ward off the lies. This is a lot to ask of us as parents of preschoolers and early elementary students. But, it can be done. Are we wielding the Word of God as the textbook in our children’s lives? Are we formulating offensive battle strategies of how we can reach our children first before the world?
     Parents and grandparents, we can begin in age appropriate ways. We can begin to shape our children’s views and perspectives through stories. We can start by telling God’s truth.
     So convicted was I to take a proactive stance with my daughter’s education rather than donning a reactive one, I began last week. It started with a story of a little boy named Darwin. It wandered into the Galapagos Islands. It found its way to his bedridden days where he held the Bible close and regretted his youthful wonderings. It ended with the Word of God.
Let us not wait until the world speaks but teach before seeds of doubts and lies are planted. I challenge each one of you to begin watering the tender shoots of our children’s roots. Let us begin preparing them so that their roots are firmly grounded. For how easily these roots can be yanked up by the world if we have not watered and tended the garden of our children’s hearts and minds. We need to raise our kids in the way they will go. Let us arm and equip them so that when the day of question arises, they are prepared to stand and not bend. Start now. DO not wait.
 
A Parent’s Prayer
Oh God, grant me great wisdom. Help me to know when to speak. Help me know what to share. Cover me with Your wings and protect us from confusion or fear. Oh God, reveal to me Your strategies for my child so the roots of her heart, soul, and mind will grow deep in the soil of Your Word. May You grant me the courage to purposefully plant and water my child’s understanding and knowledge while they are still young. Lord God, protect my child from the ways of man. Keep her from the world. Teach her Your Truth. Amen.
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