I came across this Bible story and it made me think of some “dad training” I took in the past. I’ll summarize it but I encourage you to go back and read it for yourself and let God speak to you.
It’s in 1 Chronicles 28 and 29 and it is the story of king David and his son Solomon. David realizes that it will be his son Solomon that will build the house of the Lord and not David himself. The king addresses all of Israel’s leaders and his son Solomon as well, and I can almost picture the assembly of important people gathered together as David commissions his son with this most important task. The plans and all the details are laid out. He describes the gold and the silver to be used for every kind of service and every article showing how all these items are of utmost importance. All of them in a house built to give God honor and praise and reverence because He is worthy of such things.
So, God really showed me that our children have a call to something just as weighty as Solomon’s call. They are called to build a house for God too! God wants us and our children to build houses and households and families that revere God and lift up the name of Jesus and bring Him honor and give Him glory. What an important task!
Sometimes it’s pretty easy to lose sight of how important it really is and so here is where our part as fathers comes in. David did a few things for Solomon in this story setting him up for success, but I wanted to point out two specifically. The king encouraged his son and he prayed for his son.
Verse 20 of chapter 28 says, And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God-my God-will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.” We can encourage our children. In every situation they come against, as they grow and mature, remind them of their noble cause and that the houses and the lives and the families that they are building are not for man but for the LORD.
And in chapter 29 David ponders how inexperienced his son is and what task lies before him, and so he invites the help of the God of heavens armies, the Creator of the universe, for nothing is too hard for God! 1 Chronicles 29:19 shows the king praying for his son “”And give my son Solomon a loyal heart to keep Your commandments and Your testimonies and Your statutes, to do all these things, and to build the temple for which I have made provision.” This just might be the most important thing that we can do for our children. Just like king David, we as kings of our house pray for our children. We need to do this EVERYDAY. They need it. They have a house to build.
Now, I don’t always know what to pray for so I thought I would take some advice from king David and I put this prayer together to pray for my children. You may use it if you wish or use your own, but please pray for your kids daily.
Heavenly Father, I pray that my children would know You and serve You with a loyal heart and a willing mind. That their hearts and their thoughts would be directed towards You. Your word in the bible tells us that if we seek You we will find You. I pray that my children would consider how much You love them and that You have chosen them to build a house for You. It is my prayer that they would be strong and do it. Father I pray that You would help me to convey the plans you have given me and help me to train them and teach them and prepare them for what is ahead. I need Your help LORD to encourage them. I pray that they would be strengthened with all might and that they would be of good courage. I pray that they would not experience one single ounce of fear and that they would not be dismayed. God I ask that they would perceive Your presence around them at all times and that they would remember that You will not leave them or forsake them. I pray that they would set their affection on You and that out of love for You dear LORD, they would honor You with their everything. I ask these thing in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord. AMEN.
