Erwin W. Lutzer - A Practical Guide for Praying Parents

2020 by ERWIN W. LUTZER

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Scripture quotations are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

All emphasis in Scripture has been added.

Names and details of some stories have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.

Some of the content of this book was previously published on The Moody Church website. The adapted prayer of Daniel was previously published in Decision magazine. Used by permission. Content in the introduction and the daily prayers for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday were adapted from Covering Your Life in Prayer, copyright 2013 by Erwin W. Lutzer, Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon 97408, www.harvesthousepublishers.com. Used by permission.

Edited by Amanda Cleary Eastep
Interior and cover design: Erik M. Peterson
Cover illustration of leaf frame copyright 2019 by vectortwins / Shutterstock (1092403787). All rights reserved.

All websites and phone numbers listed herein are accurate at the time of publication but may change in the future or cease to exist. The listing of website references and resources does not imply publisher endorsement of the sites entire contents. Groups and organizations are listed for informational purposes, and listing does not imply publisher endorsement of their activities.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Lutzer, Erwin W., author.

Title: A practical guide for praying parents / Erwin W. Lutzer.

Description: Chicago : Moody Publishers, [2020] | Includes bibliographical references. | Summary: Your best intentions can become effective intercessions for your children or grandchildren. Trade your lists of requests for Scripturally-based prayers that will immerse you in Gods promises and will. A Practical Guide for Praying Parents will help you pray scriptural prayers that bring you closer to God and bless your children-- Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020004649 (print) | LCCN 2020004650 (ebook) | ISBN 9780802420404 (paperback) | ISBN 9780802498977 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Parents--Religious life. | Grandpareents--Religious life. | Parents--Prayers and devotions. | Grandparents--Prayers and devotions. | Bible--Prayers.

Classification: LCC BV4529 .L88 2020 (print) | LCC BV4529 (ebook) | DDC 248.3/2085--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020004649

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020004650

Originally delivered by fleets of horse-drawn wagons, the affordable paperbacks from D. L. Moodys publishing house resourced the church and served everyday people. Now, after more than 125 years of publishing and ministry, Moody Publishers mission remains the sameeven if our delivery systems have changed a bit. For more information on other books (and resources) created from a biblical perspective, go to: www.moodypublishers.com or write to:

Moody Publishers
820 N. LaSalle Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60610

Bruce and Lori

Shay and Lynn

Ben and Lisa

We pass the torch to you

Friend,

Thank you for choosing to read this Moody Publishers title. It is our hope and prayer that this book will help you to know Jesus Christ more personally and love Him more deeply.

The proceeds from your purchase help pay the tuition of students attending Moody Bible Institute. These students come from around the globe and graduate better equipped to impact our world for Christ.

Other Moody Ministries that may be of interest to you include Moody Radio and Moody Distance Learning. To learn more visit www.moodyradio.org and www.moody.edu/distance-learning.

To enhance your reading experience weve made it easy to share inspiring passages and thought-provoking quotes with your friends via Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, and other book-sharing sites. To do so, simply highlight and forward. And dont forget to put this book on your Reading Shelf on your book community site.

Thanks again, and may God bless you.

The Moody Publishers Team

E rwin Lutzer is one of the foremost Christian authors in the world. His books have instructed and inspired people around the globe. My friend has now taken aim at one of the most critical issues facing believers in Jesus today. In his new book, A Practical Guide for Praying Parents, he is helping us to understand the power of prayer as it pertains to the spiritual needs of our children.

Years ago my wife Carol and I went through a long dark tunnel that seemed to have no light at the end of it. Our oldest daughter rebelled against both us and God, leaving us bewildered and heartbroken. This was the model child that grew up in church with parents trying to serve the Lord. I made every effort to reason with her but all to no avail. It was then that my eyes were opened afresh to the fact that only God could change our daughters heart. And He did!

Erwin Lutzers new book will do more than just answer your questions with sound biblical truth. It will also draw you to the throne of grace where miracles happen as God responds to simple childlike faith. This book is a blessing from the Lord!

JIM CYMBALA

Author and Pastor, The Brooklyn Tabernacle

M oreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you (1 Sam. 12:23). Those are the words of the Old Testament prophet Samuel who, in a single sentence, tells us two important truths: prayerlessness is a sin against the Lord, and we should pray without ceasing. If Samuel could speak to parents, I have no doubt that he would say:

It is a sin for you not to pray for your children!

Our children belong to God. If we want to honor them, the best way we can do that is to pray for them regularly, fervently, and optimistically, expecting God to answer. Do you love your children? Prove it by praying for them.

If I dare to be honest, often when we pray for our children, we either fall into meaningless repetition, or we submit a grocery list of requests to God. We hope that Hell respond to our wishes and desires. These types of prayers leave us unsatisfied, fretful, and uncertain as to whether or not we can trust God with the assignment weve just given Him.

Years ago, I would pray need-based prayers for our children. I was repeating myself and rehearsing the same lists of requests each day. Often, I confess, my prayers were boring, filled with uncertainty, and reduced to a meaningless exercise. Like many of you, I found myself in a rut as I prayed for my children and grandchildren.

Then it all changed.

I realized that if I pray Scripture, I can change the focus of my prayer each day; and what is more, I am echoing back to God that which is His will. Wouldnt such prayers stimulate our faith, bring glory to Him, and rid us of the repetition that Jesus warned us about? The answer is an unequivocal yes.

I now anticipate my time of prayer with enthusiasm, wondering exactly what Ill pray next. Best of all, my prayer time sinks deep roots into Gods promises and His will. That kind of praying is effective, not just in moving Gods heart toward us, but by giving us a deep-settled satisfaction that weve just connected with our heavenly Father.