Steve Chapman - A Dads Guide to Praying for His Kids: The Greatest Act of Love You Can Give

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE, OREGON

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture verses are taken from the New American Standard Bible, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Verses marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Italics in Scripture quotations indicate the authors emphasis.

Cover by Koechel Peterson & Associates, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Cover photo Tatyana Vyc / Shutterstock

Names and minor details have been changed in the real-life stories shared in this book to protect the privacy of the individuals mentioned.

A DADS GUIDE TO PRAYING FOR HIS KIDS

Copyright 2016 by Steve Chapman

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97402

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

ISBN 978-0-7369-5591-1 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-0-7369-5592-8 (eBook)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Chapman, Steve.

Title: A dads guide to praying for his kids / Steve Chapman.

Other titles: Wednesdays Prayer

Description: Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2016. | Rev. ed. of: Wednesdays Prayer. 1998.

Identifiers: LCCN 2015021778 | ISBN 9780736955911 (pbk.)

Subjects: LCSH: FathersReligious life. | Intercessory prayerChristianity

Classification: LCC BV4529.17 .C44 2016 | DDC 248.8/421dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015021778

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To my beloved children, Nathan and Heidi, and their spouses and their children, for whom I gladly pray.

Father God, to You I come

In the name of Your Son

I bring my children to Your throne

Father, hear my cry

Above all else, Lord, save their souls

Draw them near You; keep them close

Be the shield against their foes

Make them Yours, not mine

Give them peace in Christ alone

In their sorrow, be their song

No other joy would last as long

Father, calm their fears

Guide their feet, Lord; light their path

May their eyes on You be cast

Give their hands a kingdom task

A purpose for their years

And as my flesh cries out for bread

May I hunger, Lord, instead

That my children would be fed

On Your words of life

So, Father God, to You I come

In the name of Your Son

I bring my children to Your throne

Father, hear my cry

Contents

The evening was to be an enjoyable time of reconnecting with friends at a local restaurant. When we gathered with them in the waiting area, my wife, Annie, and I knew immediately that something wasnt right. There was a noticeable tension between the other couple as we all talked. As our time together began to fade, the urgency we felt about asking if things were okay with them bore down on us. Finally, Annie spoke up.

How are you two doing?

Her question forced the door open to some serious conversation that lasted nearly until closing time. Annie and I tipped the waiter very well for the extra time we spent in the booth with our precious but hurting friends. We discovered that their teenaged daughter was the source of their current struggles. Her rebellious behavior and choosing to associate with some young people who had very questionable moral standards caused the two of them to feel their child was slipping away into the abyss of hopelessness.

Annie, who is incredibly perceptive, asked, How is this affecting the two of you?

The wife responded with an alarming answer. We cant stand each other. Every time we look at one another, we see only blame for the condition our daughter is in. Something has to change; otherwise, our family is going to completely fall apart.

Our hearts were moved by their desperate cry for comfort and encouragement. We knew their marriage had to be first on the list of things that needed attention, and rightly so. As we talked, they agreed to make it a priority to seek counseling regarding their relationship. But as much as their marriage needed help, I felt a gnawing need to address their daughters situation as well.

The Reclamation Plan

The dad was at a loss about how to reach his firstborn. Too many arrivals back home after midnight and far too many of her friends leading her into unacceptable types of entertainment had sapped his strength and willingness to think about his wife.

With the knowledge that his girl was on a course too dangerous to ignore, I felt compelled to suggest to my friend that the two of us go to God on his daughters behalf. Lets begin praying in earnest for your daughter, I said. And to show God that were serious about this, Im willing to fast a full day at least once a week with you on her behalf. Little did I know that just a few days prior, the Lord had impressed on his heart to add fasting to his prayers for his child. Though hed never faced that type of challenge, he was confident God was leading him to do so.

Without hesitation, he enthusiastically responded. Lets do it. I really want to see God do a mighty work in my girl.

His wife sort of laughed at the idea of us fasting for all our kids. I dont believe her reaction to our plan was malicious. Im convinced that it indicated just how hopeless she was feeling too.

In spite of her doubt, her husband and I set out to reclaim their teenager. That night the dad and I agreed that Wednesdays seemed to be the best day for both of us. It was midweek and a church night, as well as the least busy day in both our work schedules. Thus began a journey for the two of us that lasted a couple of years.

How grateful I am to report that the daughter made a spiritual one-eighty. It didnt happen in an instant, but like a big ship turning around, the teenager slowly began to show signs of moving toward the Lord. Gradually her friend base changed, and the influence of godly young people replaced the bad company that had helped corrupt her morals. Her late-night escapades ceased, and she became more accountable in terms of her whereabouts. Today, she is a totally different person.

One of the sweetest moments Ive ever experienced in a church service was on an Easter Sunday about three years after my friend and I started doing Wednesdays together. Annie and I had taken seats in the balcony of the church. As worship music filled the room, Annie nudged me and quietly pointed toward our friends sitting below us on the main floor. What I saw filled my heart with indescribable joy. Standing next to her dad was the daughter who had been the subject of our prayers on Wednesdays. The memory of the hunger pangs that accompanied the fasting disappeared as I saw her lift her hands in praise to our Father in heaven. God had heard our cries and answered our prayers. What a beautiful sight!