Releasing Our Children Into God's Hands

Let me begin this post by saying that if there was ever a time to be praying for our children it is NOW.  Last Sunday evening before my first post on Monday for this series a young boy in my son's class was shot and killed.  A young boy in my 6th graders class that was only 12 years old.  Apparently things were very bad in his home and he decided at 12 years old that life was not worth living.  This past Friday I had the heart wrenching task of taking my son, my 11 year old son to the funeral home to say his goodbyes.  We must pray for our children.  If we don't then who will?  Please pray for this young mans family.  God knows who they are.  I am quickly reminded of last weeks post and the following quote from the book.

"We don't even have to be parents. We can be a friend, a teacher, a grandparent, an aunt, a cousin, a neighbor, a guardian, or even a stranger with a heart of compassion or concern for a child. The child may be someone we hear of or read about in the newspaper; the child may even be an adult for whom we have a mother's or father's heart. If you're aware of a child who doesn't have a praying parent, you can step into the gap right now and answer that need. You can effect a change in the life of any child you care about. All it takes is a heart that says, "God, show me how to pray in a way that will make a difference in this child's life." -- Stormie Omartian

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When my oldest son started kindergarten it was a huge deal for me.  He had attended a Christian Preschool for 2 years prior to starting "real" school but that was a couple days a week for 3 hours each day not 5 days a week all day long.  The first day of school I drove him but on the second day I put him on the school bus.  The big yellow school bus that looked like it would swallow him whole when he walked up the steps because he was so small.  I got on the bus with him and introduced him to the driver and then left him, all alone on the big yellow school bus.  You see as our children grow and mature we can't always be with them. 

There will come a time that our children are out of our sight and care and in the hands of someone else whether it be at school, at church, a friends house, a babysitters, daycare, on the school bus or a great many other possible places.  For some of us it happens a little sooner than others but it will happen to all of us.  It is not possible for us as parents to be with them ALL the time but I have good news for you - God can be with them and is with them ALWAYS!

When I put my son on the school bus that morning I was like a crazy lady getting my younger son in my car so I could "follow" the bus down the road.  Yes, I really did that.  I followed my son's bus all the way to school and parked to watch him get off the bus and walk in to the school.  I wanted to be sure he made it there safely.  I had not yet learned to "release" him to God.

I have learned since that I have to trust God to watch over my boys and take care of them.  He does a better job than I could ever do and He loves them more than I am possible of so why would I not release them into His hands? 

What about you?  When have you had to release your children into God's hands and trust Him to take care of them?

From the Book

(The following are quotes and passages from Stormie Omartian in her book "The Power of a Praying Parent")

 

Chapter 2 - Releasing our Children Into God's Hands

 

Partner with God

 

"Lord my son is the biggest "care" I have, and I release him into Your hands.  Only You can raise him right and truly keep him safe.  I will no longer strive to do it all by myself but will enter into full partnership with You."

 

We can trust God to take care of our children even better than we can.  When we release our children into the Father's hands and acknowledge that He is in control of their lives and ours, both we and our children will have greater peace.

 

We can't be everywhere.  But God can.  We can't see everything.  But Gd can.  We can't know everything.  But God can.  No matter what age our children are, releasing them into God's hands is a sign of our faith and trust in Him and is the first step toward making a difference in their lives.  Prayer for our children begins there.  --  Stormie Omartian

 

Matthew 7:11  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

 

1 John 3:22  Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

 

Psalm 127:3  Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward.