Praying Fathers

Written by Dr. Ken R. Canfield

This article is courtesy of ParentLife.

Do you pray for your children? Does it make a difference? Read what happened to several real-life dads and their children in a variety of situations.

Fervent Prayer

 Gary sometimes gets discouraged because his daughters live hundreds of miles away. But he has responded by praying and entrusting his girls to God’s care. Recently, after learning that Amber was struggling with peer pressure issues, Gary spent several hours one evening in prayer for her.

Three days later, Amber told him that on the same evening he was praying, she committed her life to God. Gary was moved to tears and has continued to pray for his girls even more fervently.

Although he sometimes feels powerless as a father, he is doing one of the most powerful things any dad can do.

Persistent Prayer
Your influence as a parent does not wane when your child gets older. Randy’s two teenage stepsons did not accept him right away. He tried to be a godly influence anytime he had the opportunity. Most of all, he prayed for them every day.

As time passed, the boys rebelled at home and got into trouble at school. They started using drugs, and the older boy became an unwed father. Randy never stopped praying for them and offering support when he could.

The younger son has stopped abusing drugs and is working to finish high school. The older son is completing a rehabilitation program, has a steady job, and is supporting his child. He told Randy that he will never run out on his child like his father had done. He wants to be a caring father like Randy is.

Ongoing Prayers
Pastor Arellano’s father is 96 years old. He says, “I believe my sons love and serve God because of a godly grandfather who never ceases to pray for them.”

Not long ago, Pastor Arellano’s father said to him: “Son, it’s getting to the place where I can’t really do much. All I can promise is that I will pray for you, your marriage, and your sons.”

Pastor Arellano continues, “That’s like a boxer saying, ‘All I can do is knock out my opponents’ or a baseball player saying, ‘All I can do is hit home runs.’ ”

Whether you are an aging grandfather, a struggling stepfather, a discouraged long-distance dad, or a dad facing everyday challenges, you always can make time to pray for your children and grandchildren. You may not see the fruits of your prayers until months or years later — maybe not even in your lifetime. But prayer does make a difference in their lives. And as you seek God’s best for your children, you will be transformed.

Dr. Ken R. Canfield is founder and president of the National Center for Fathering. He has written several books, including The 7 Secrets of Effective Fathers. He and his wife, Dee, have been married 25 years and have five children. Visit his Web site at www.fathers.com.

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