Praying For Our Children: How can I pray for my children? ( Part 5)

Prayers Against Anger

Scripture warns fathers against provoking their children to anger: “Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

The following list presents ways that a parent commonly provokes his child to anger. Take note of any specific areas of failure in your own life or in your son or daughter’s life. Often the attitudes of children reflect those of their parents; therefore, search your own life in relation to the struggles of your child.

How a parent can provoke a child to anger:

• By modeling anger. (See Proverbs 22:24–25.)
• By not having marital harmony. (See Genesis 2:24 and Hebrews 12:15.)
• By consistently disciplining in anger. (See Psalm 6:1, 38:1.)
• By being inconsistent with discipline. (See Ecclesiastes 8:11.)
• By having double standards. (See Matthew 23:1–4 and Philippians 4:9.)
• By not admitting error. (See Matthew 5:23–26, Job 32:2, and James 5:16.)
• By constantly finding fault in others. (See Colossians 3:12–15.)
• By reversing God-given roles. (See Ephesians 5:22–25 and Genesis 3:16.)
• By not listening to the child’s opinion or the child’s side of the story. (See Proverbs 18:13, 17.)
• By comparing the child to others. (See II Corinthians 10:12.)
• By not taking time to talk with the child. (See Hebrews 13:16.)
• By not praising the child. (See II Corinthians 2:6–8.)
• By failing to keep promises. (See Matthew 5:37, Colossians 3:9, and Psalm 15:4.)
• By scolding the child in front of others. (See Matthew 18:15 and John 21:15–17.)
• By giving too much freedom. (See Proverbs 29:15 and Galatians 4:1–2.)
• By being too strict. (See James 3:17.)
• By making fun of the child. (See Matthew 18:10.)
• By abusing the child physically. (See I Timothy 3:3, Titus 1:7, and Numbers 22.)
• By calling names. (See Ephesians 4:29.)
• By having unrealistic expectations. (See I Corinthians 13:11.)

In regard to each failure, repent of your sin and receive the Lord’s forgiveness. (See I John 1:9.) Ask the Lord for grace and power to forsake your sin and to walk in newness of life. Pray that the Lord would limit the damaging effects of your failures on your children, and where you see failures in their lives, pray for conviction and grace for them to change. Open your Bible to each verse and pray out loud the associated Scripture.

  This article is adapted from material by Dr. Jim Logan of the International Center for Biblical Counseling in Sioux City, Iowa. The section on intercession is adapted from material by Pastor Charles W. Wetherbee of Victory Baptist Church, Weatherford, Texas.