Why would we, as parents, NOT pray FOR our students, WITH our students? And I mean those two prayer aspects to occur at the same time. In other words, we should be praying regularly FOR our children, WITH our children. It is good for them to hear Mom and Dad plead on their behalf before the throne of grace! The reasons why we don't pray for and with our children are pathetic at best! We simply do not put forth the effort, schedule it as routine, and discipline it into our lives. When at the same time, the thought of missing a dance recital, football game, or some other activity that has its benefits but is of no eternal consequence whatsoever, is out of the question. In fact, these extra activities are so important to the health, growth, and wellbeing of our students (or so we think) that corporate worship even takes a backseat to them!

I want to propose 2 monumental reasons why we can't afford NOT to pray FOR our students, WITH our students.

In Luke 22:31-32, Jesus tells Peter, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have "you all," that he might sift "you all" like wheat, but I have prayed for "you, singular" that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."

#1) Prayer builds a shield that stays the daily, constant onslaught of the enemy against our children!

Did you notice that "you" is plural in v31 and singular in v32? In other words, Satan is after ALL the disciples! And Satan is after every single human being on earth. He is a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may DEVOUR! (1 Pet 5:8) That's right-Satan wants to devour our children. And he is successfully ripping most of the upcoming generation apart. He wants to "sift" them. And he uses all means to do so. He "sifts" by distracting them with "stuff." He "sifts" by elevating popularity and acceptance as foremost of importance. He "sifts" by presenting fame and fortune as life's ultimate satisfaction. He "sifts" by replacing the ugliness of sin with a façade of "cool, hip, fun, exciting, and acceptable." And the sad fact of the matter is that by the way most parents live in this society, we actually reinforce the sifting instead of living radically Christ-centered lives that "shout" to our children, confront the culture, and declare "Christ is the greatest Treasure in the Universe!"

Notice in the v32 that although Satan has DEMANDED to have the disciples, Jesus tells Peter, "But I have PRAYED for you..." See that! Prayer is the answer to the demands of Satan. We must pray FOR our students, WITH our students because Satan DEMANDS them! Pray builds a shield that stays the daily, constant onslaught of the enemy against our children. That's the negative side, next is the positive side.

#2) Prayer secures eternal, spiritual blessings.

See what Jesus says! Although Satan has demanded Peter, Jesus has prayed for Peter. And He has prayed for eternal, spiritual blessings: perseverance of faith, repentance, and encouragement for the brothers! And Peter lived out those three graces! He endured in the faith, he repented of denying Christ, and he led the early church to be bold witnesses and evangelists and missionaries! (Notice-Jesus told Peter exactly what he was praying for him, thus my plea for us to pray FOR our students, WITH our students!)

It is those spiritual blessings that alone can satisfy the soul! Above all of the distractions that crowd into the lives of our students, do we not, as Christian parents, desire things like faith in Christ and purity of life for our children? So should we not be before the throne often, pleading for these things for our children?

In 3 John v4, John is addressing his children in the faith, but this verse applies to us as parents as well. Surely, we desire our natural children to also be our children in the faith! (BTW-side note here-God has given us our children for us to have the privilege of making disciples, not for us to neglect that joy and depend upon the student minister to disciple our children for us!) Listen to what John says: "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."

Can we say, "Amen" right there! If my daughter wins a beauty pageant, I'll be a most happy and proud father-but I have no greater joy in this life than when she comes to me one day and says, "Daddy I want Jesus!" If my son scores the winning touchdown, I will surely be excited and celebrate with him-but I have no greater joy in this life than when I send him off to labor for the Lord in whatever capacity God should call him! As a matter of fact, whether anything like the pageant or the game happens or not, nothing will change about who they are. But I MUST see them come to Christ and live for the glory of God! I have no greater joy than that!