Why should parents pray diligently over their children?

Why should parents pray diligently over their children? I think to some extent parents pray over their children but to be diligent about it requires setting time aside for it and being purposeful about it. I must admit at the start of my parenting journey the thing that largely occupied my mind was keeping them alive. So that was what I prayed about, when I remembered to pray. I have since grown in my prayer outlook and on reflection I give more attention to the prayers I say now than I did then. 

Why do we pray?

The most popular response is to petition God because He gives life. He sustains all life and is our source for all things. So we pray to ask Him for things we want and also for things we need. We also pray because we believe it is the right thing to do, God is the right person to deliver on His promises. When the situation is desperate or impossible we pray and we believe He is the only one who can resolve it. We pray to feel better, prayer can be uplifting and we can obtain peace. We also pray to acknowledge who God is in our lives.

So why parents should diligently pray over their children?

Pray for protection.

I remember the first time I sent my son, who is the firstborn to school, I was very anxious. But I knew one thing about God, He is Omnipresent. So He had a better chance of looking out for my son than I did with all my worrying. So I prayed that He would keep an eye out for my son. We pray so that our loving heavenly Father would protect our children from our enemy, who prowls like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Think about this for a moment, do lions go after a full grown prey or do they strike the young? Think of your children as prey because of their youth, inexperience, innocence and size.

Pray for salvation.

I believe it is never too early nor too late to pray for the salvation of your child. As a parent it is hard to believe that your cute innocent looking baby is a sinner and needs salvation but that is what the bible says. Also for your older children who may not have had the benefit of getting saved before they went into the world and made choices that do not reflect the glory of God, know this that Jesus died for the sins of the whole world so kila mtu (everyone) is eligible for salvation. Once they are saved, pray that they will grow in the knowledge of God.

Pray for an abundant life.

Jesus came for us to have abundant life. Abundant life does not mean that it will not have trials and tribulations. But because you know that Jesus overcame the world then you too are an overcomer. You have a real hope that you too can be victorious. Pray that your children will live an abundant life, fruitful and victorious life.