Pray For Your Son: 31 Day Challenge—Day Eight

Today’s prayer comes from Brian McMillen

Day Eight: That he would hold fast to the Word preached to him

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you— unless you believed in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:1-2

I have two children that have professed faith in Christ at a young age, followed by baptism. My heart rejoices and my cup overflows that they have been rescued from Satan’s clutches, and that they have been bought with the blood of Christ. At the same time, my heart also trembles in light of such early conversions. I know all too well that early professions of faith still require a daily holding fast to God’s Word.

An early profession of faith is a flimsy foundation for confidence. Let us then pray that our sons would hold fast to the Word, and therefore, have a surety of their conversion. May they exalt Christ in everything. I pray that my little boys—when they become men—will stand upon the Word that they have held fast to since a tender age.

Father, save my children. Daily, God save them from an eternity separated from You. Make yourself known to them, use his parents as vessels to point them to You. Let this jar of clay somehow show them that Christ is my most precious treasure. Help them to see that it is solely because of Him that we can even take our next breath. Let my sons stand firm on the word they have received and in which they stand. Do what only You can, Father- work, move, save these young souls. For Your glory and in Your good name.

Brian McMillen is a Jesus lover, husband, and father to four amazingly cute kids. When he’s not busy entertaining those around him with his witty humor, he enjoys playing guitar, fishing, and cheering for the Royals.

—

This prayer from Brian M. comes with a story. Brian, like his two boys, had made a profession of faith at a young age, followed by baptism. He writes:

The remainder of my childhood and teenage years were spent swimming in a cesspool of self- exalting and Christ-belittling carnality.  I cared very little for God and the things of God.  I became addicted to pornography in middle school, an addiction that would follow me through college and wedding vows.

I spent very little time in the Word and not surprisingly missed the precious words of Paul to the church at Corinth.  It wasn’t until my junior year of college that I heard the Word preached, that my dead heart began to beat, that Christ became precious.  “In which you stand…..If you hold fast to the word”.

Suddenly–upon actually hearing the Word preached–walking an aisle at age 5, praying a prayer, and juvenile sincerity seemed like a flimsy foundation. I realized that there was not, nor had ever been fruit in my life. There was no evidence of salvation. I had never taken a stand on the gospel, had never held fast. Salvation was no longer ‘say a prayer and you’re in’.

I thank God He would choose me based solely on His good pleasure, that He would save me apart from myself, that the Word was received and I can hold fast, that my regenerate heart is being daily sanctified.  I pray this over my wife and children, and specifically here three amazing boys.  I want them to be sure of their conversion, I want them to exalt Christ in everything, I want them to hold fast to the word they’ve heard preached and have taken a stand on, even at such a tender age.  Like Paul, I wish myself a curse if they would know the pleasure of being children of the Most High.