praying for my kids

today, i'm finding myself longing for a deeper revelation concerning the manifestation of God's character in my life. i know that i am the righteousness of God because of Jesus. i have exchanged my filthy rags for His fine linen. but, i want to experience more of the power and fruit of this brand new garment that i have been given by my Lord and Saviour. i want to laugh when He laughs. i want to cry when He cries. i want to respond the way He responds. i want to say what He says. i want to reveal His character in all that i do. and i want my children to experience this same kind of relationship with their Heavenly Father too.

as i looked into the Word of God today i heard the Lord speaking to my spirit concerning my children and this issue that was pressing strongly in my mind and heart. i want my children to develop their own personal relationship with God through His Word. but, i do not want to make them feel like reading their Bible and praying is something that they have to do, but something that they desire to do themselves. i know that if they do not understand, that when they read the Word, it is actually God speaking to them, revealing Himself in a personal way, then all they are accomplishing by reading it is just filling their mind with more information. and, they will not being changed by the power of what they read.

i have known many people who know the Bible inside and out and yet do not have the joy or peace that the revelation of the Truth brings to the person who seeks the Word of God as if they have found a priceless treasure with a never-ending bottom, knowing that God Himself has spoken each word to bring them a fuller understanding of Who He is. these people could be doctors of the Mosaic Law. They argue about seemingly unimportant, purposeless issues just to make themselves look as if they are so well-versed in Scripture. and yet they seem to be a stranger to the One who spoke every word. Paul refers to these types of people in I Timothy, chapter one.

i do not want this for my kids. so i pray today; "Lord, i know you love me and i know you love my children. i'm asking you today to draw my children to your heart through your written word. speak to them and reveal yourself to the deepest areas of their heart. help them to see that when they read Your Word, You are speaking directly to them revealing all that You are and all that You long for them to become because of Your love for them. create in them a tender heart and an attitude of awe for your written Word that will motivate them to read it and be changed by the revelation that You show them through it. Thank you Lord that you love them even more than i do."