Week 7
I have this idea in my head of what it will be like for our family years down the road when my children are grown and married with families of their own. I see one big happy family that loves each other and genuinely wants to spend time with each other. A family that has fun together. A family that meets up weekly (or more) for dinner and time together. A family that goes to church together and loves Jesus with all of their heart and a family that is focused on and centered around the LORD.
Do you wanna know something? I believe that I can have this for my families future. I totally believe it.
If my mostly unbelieving extended family (my brothers and their families) can meet up at my parents house each Sunday afternoon for lunch and a quick visit why would that not be possible for me and my centered around God family?
My mother has several siblings and she rarely ever talks to them. Thanks to Facebook I can keep up with my Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and their families and keep my mother posted about their goings on but it breaks my heart that she doesn't have a real relationship with them. In her case it's not that any of her siblings are upset with her or that she is upset with any of them it's just that they don't take time to keep up the family relationships. That can not be said of many of the other sibling relationships though. :(
I refuse to leave my family relationships not covered in prayer. I can't imagine not getting to see and talk to my own siblings and their families regularly. Likewise the thoughts of my own children and thier future families not having a good relaionship with each other and my husband and I is not something I will stand for.
There is power in the Name of Jesus and we can pray about this area of our children's lives now and believe God for good family relationships rooted and grounded in HIM.
What about you? Do you pray for your family relationships? Do you notice when you don't pray that even the best family relationships can often times be tested and can even break down?
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From the Book
(The following are quotes and passages from Stormie Omartian in her book "The Power of a Praying Parent")
How many family relationships are left to chance because no one prays about them?
We need to teach our children to resolve misunderstandings according to God's Word.
Pray for God to give our children a heart of forgiveness and reconcilliation.
Matthew 5:9 Bleseed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for bretheren to dwell together in unity.
Jen,
ReplyDeleteWhen I was facing the frightening prospect of sending a high school graduate out into the college world three states away, my desperation and fear drove me to the Power of Praying for Your Adult Children. From that amazingly empowering book sprung a monthly gathering of praying parents, and it has been amazing. We've seen God answer in beautiful ways. Keep sounding the charge! Visiting from Be Not WEary today :)
Excellent series..prayer is so very vital to our families. We have a child who recently moved out..prayer is what keeps me going in this difficult time.
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