This word ‘perhaps’ was a word that Job wondered about; here it is in full context: Job 1:⁴ His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. ⁵ When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.

This verses of Scriptures about Job shows the heart and love of a loving parent to their children.  As a parent, one always worries about one’s child.  I know as a parent, you cannot be where your child/ren are all the time and neither can you say you know what they are doing at all times. As such, it is most important that one intercedes on their behalf as much as one can, making it a habit and a regular thing because we are living in a world where the enemy is out to destroy the youth and make them to wreck the plans of God for their lives.  It seems that what the enemy has done this to fill their hearts with hatred for other human being with the killing epidemic in our society.  We are truly living in perilous times and what we can do as Christian parents is to intercede and pray for our children.  Do not forget that prayers move mountains.  This is so necessary now because if you say you can vouch for your child, can you also vouch for their friends individually?  So, it is vital to spend time and effort seeking God’s face on behalf of our children young and small.

This is what the Bible tells us about prayer in James 5: ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.  If Job during his time, could set time aside to fast on behalf of his children and we are told he did this regularly, then what is our excuse?  We have none and I can assure you that the time that we are in, is much more tougher than Job’s time.

I know that sometimes, we are fed up with our children and maybe upset about what they might have done to us as parents, but it is still very crucial that as parents we still keep on praying for them.  Despite Job standing in the gap on behalf of his children, God still tempted, this righteous man and his children died.  May we not be tempted beyond what we can endure.  Think about it, what the enemy wants to do is put a wedge between you and your child/ren in terms of relationship.  If there used to be a closeness there, his plan (the enemy) is to break that closeness so that you will no longer have that close relationship with him or her or them again.  Don’t give the enemy an inch because we are told in John 10:  ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; will a thief come and steal something that is worthless from you?  No he would not.

In Luke 8, we see what the parents of Jesus also did with him as a child:⁴¹ Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.  They all went to the festival together as a family.  This going together as a family would have instilled a lot of faith, discipline and spiritual guidance in Jesus’ heart as a child.

In Hebrews 11: ²³ By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.  Moses’ parents hid him for three months, they kept him, they protected him from harm, they did all they could for no one to know he was alive.  His parents could tell he was not an ordinary child.  What words of faith have you spoken over your child lately?  Speak life into your child/ren life or lives.  If you want to say something negative, pause and just speak life.  If you are born again, then I can tell you that your offspring is not ordinary either.

It is never too late to pray for your child/ren; the set time to do so is now; there is so much value in praying for your child/ren.  As Christians, we know that prayer is an essential part of walking with Christ on a daily basis.  If you don’t know how to start, then personalise the likes of Psalms 91, 121, 23 and call your child/ren name/s as you pray these Psalms.  As a parent, there is no way, that you would pray for your child/ren and it would not have a positive and spiritual impact on him or her in later years.  Be blessed as you do so.