Prayer

Prayer

What we pray for is your restoration to maturity.

2 Corinthians 13:9

Marc Maillefer, one of the pastors at my church, grew up in a home where he was encouraged to love Christ, both by word and by example. In spite of his godly upbringing, during junior high he got involved with a disreputable group of boys, and before he knew it, he was taking part in things like shoplifting right along with the others.

Marc’s mom mobilized many of the women of her church to pray for her son, and it was no secret to him. Some moms reading this devotional keenly understand the urgency of a parent’s prayers for a struggling child. Nothing can bring us to our knees like feeling helpless in the face of challenges with our kids.

After eighth grade, Marc was invited to the Moody Church summer camp. Through the influence of God’s Word and Spirit, Marc decided to aim his heart toward Christ and a wiser way of living.

One memory Marc says he will take with him to the grave is the image of his dad, sitting in his blue Volkswagen Bug, praying for Marc each morning before dropping him off for school. Marc is incredibly grateful to God for his faithfulness and for answering the prayers of his parents. He isn’t the only one who’s grateful—so is my family, because we have benefited from Marc’s pastoral leadership.

When we pray for our children, we don’t know how many people’s lives they might touch in the future. Generations ago Abraham Lincoln said, “I remember my mother’s prayers, and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.”

Father,

Thank you that you listen to the prayers of concerned parents. Where else would we turn? In Jesus’ name, amen.