My purpose as a parent shifted when my son got married and my baby girl went to college. How do you learn to let go of something that you directed, protected, and loved more than yourself? How do you learn to have your role shift into what God purposed your parenting to be at this moment in time? Are we done when our babies fly from the nest? We are not done, but our role and duty drastically changes.
This morning, God gave me a fresh look into the book of Nehemiah and a bold conviction to pray for my adult children even more than I ever have before. When my kids were little, Jay and I would pray with them, do devotions with them and after they went to sleep, boldly lay hands and pray over them. Our children have been released into a world that is full of God’s goodness and the enemy’s schemes. They will face unforeseen battles that I plan to go before them in the defense of prayer.
“He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.” Colossians 4:12
Let’s take a crash course through the book of Nehemiah and see the insight his life can give us into a fresh parental journey.
Nehemiah was a devout Jew and served as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes I. Being a cupbearer put him in a position to not only have direct access to the king but to have his ultimate trust. This position would prove to be a placement on his life that God would use to help the Jewish people. Think of it as his “for such a time as this” moment (Esther 4:14).
Nehemiah felt deep concern for Jerusalem when he heard of the Babylonian attack on the city. But he not only felt burdened over the city being left defenseless with burned down gates and broken walls, he took action. “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” James 1:22
Nehemiah knew that in order for the city to have security, controlled access of who could come in and out, and protection, the walls and gates would have to be rebuilt. Nehemiah not only led the people with strategic plans of how to rebuild, security plans when the enemies threatened to attack again, but he led them continuously in prayer seeking complete reliance on God for the project to be completed. This Godly leadership ultimately brought a secure city and a spiritual restoration.
“But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.” Nehemiah 4:9
It only took 52 days to complete the repairs. Less than 2 months to bring restoration to an entire city. Let that sink in. Let that motivate me to accomplish great things in the next 52 days. We all have a “for such a time as this” moment.
Where are you in your parenting role? Are they in the years of safety in your home while you are navigating raising them? I know it can be tiring, but savor it. Treasure it. God entrusted you to help mold those jars of clay in the likeness of Him. They are their own person, but YOU are there in this moment to “train them up in the way they should go” for when they leave you and your safe gates of HOME. This is your “for such a time as this” moment.
Have they flown the nest? Left your gates of protection to enter into the world? Go to battle for them. Pray scripture over their lives EVERY day. Secure the gates around them. “But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night…” Nehemiah 4:9
Whatever city or job God has placed you in… Whatever relationships… He appointed you there for a divine purpose. Use it. What can you do in 52 days?
Join me in a challenge. Set a spiritual goal for the next 52 days. Vow to pray over your children with me. Their spiritual walk, their friends, their relationships, their purpose that God has called them too. Pray direct scriptures over their lives. The same God that worked through Nehemiah to restore an entire city in 52 days is the same God wanting to rebuild something through you today.
I would LOVE to hear of the blessings that come from your 52 journey.
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26
Kristi W. Cook 
Awesome !! Sent from my iPhone
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