When God Calls My Child's Name

When God Calls My Child's Name

by Anna Frye

ChosenAndCrowned.com

New school years often remind me of how quickly my kids will be grown and gone from my nest. They step onto the school bus a couple inches taller than they did last year. Their new clothes and maturity are evidence that life continues to move forward. It’s bittersweet. New seasons are sugared with delicious adventure, but they sharply remind my heart that my kids are on temporary loan to me from God.  Mom Friend, as we finish this week of praying against our children’s fears, we will move into a new week of praying for our children’s physical, emotional and spiritual safety. Let’s continue to pray with urgency knowing our children are in our care for such a short time.

Hannah was a mom whose prayers show us that she knew her child was on loan to her from God. She prayed, “Lord, if you will give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime” (1 Samuel 1:11). God gave Hannah a son and she named him Samuel. When Samuel was about three years old, Hannah followed through on her promise to God and left him in the care of Eli, the priest. Samuel lived at the Tabernacle with Eli and learned to serve the Lord.  Although letting go of her beloved son must have sent sharp pains into her heart, Hannah tasted the sweetness of giving her child fully and freely back to God. What joy was hers as she watched God honor her prayers! The Bible tells us that “the boy Samuel grew taller and grew in favor with the Lord and with the people” (1 Samuel 2:26).

Interestingly though, just a short chapter later, we learn that Samuel did not yet know the Lord because God had never before spoken to Samuel. But that was all about to change! And I believe that Hannah’s continued prayers for her son positioned Samuel to hear God’s voice. Mom Friend, when you and I pray for our kids, we are positioning them to powerfully experience God in a very personal way. This is exactly what happened to Samuel.

One night, when Samuel was about 12 years old, he was sleeping in the Tabernacle and suddenly the Lord called his name. Thinking it was Eli calling, Samuel ran to him. Eli assured Samuel that he did not call him and sent him back to bed. Again God called Samuel’s name and again Samuel got up and went to Eli, “Here I am. Did you call me?” Eli assured him that he did not and sent him back to bed. When it happened a third time, Eli realized it was God who was calling the boy. Eli’s next words are ones I want to teach my kids, “If someone calls you again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening’” (1 Samuel 3:3-10).

Mom Friend, God desires to speak directly to our kid’s hearts. Let’s teach them to hear and respond, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.” As we raise our kids to ultimately fly from our nest, it will be God’s word that sustains, protects and guides them. Let’s continue to pray with boldness knowing that our prayers position our kids to powerfully experience God in a very personal way.

Now #MomArmy15, let’s pray like our kid’s lives depend on it! You may use the scripture prayer below and insert your child’s name when you see a blank. Or feel free to use other scriptures God has placed on your heart. We would love it if you typed at least one sentence of your prayer in the comments section or left a comment that shares your heart with us. We love you!

Lord, thank you for making me a mom by giving me ________. Today I give him back to you – his mind, his heart, his destiny. He is yours, God! You know when ________ sits down or stands up. You know his thoughts even when he’s far away. You see when he travels and when he rests at home. You know everything ________ does. You know what he’s going to say even before he says it, Lord. You go before him and follow him. You place your hand of blessing on ________ head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! He can never escape from your Spirit! He can never get away from your presence!

God, you made all the delicate, inner parts of ________’s body and knit him together perfectly. Thank you for making him so wonderfully complex!  Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched as ________ was being formed in utter seclusion, as he was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw him before he was born. Every day of his life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

How precious are your thoughts about ________, O God. They cannot be numbered! (Psalm 139) Call _______’s name and speak your thoughts to his heart today! Let him recognize your voice and respond, “Speak , Lord, your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:3-10). I pray all this in Jesus’ powerful name. Amen!

This post is part of a blog series hosted by Anna Frye, founder of Chosen And Crowned Ministries. Anna's heart, along with the 12 other mom writers in this series, is to raise up a growing army of moms (#MomArmy15) who Pray Like Their Kids Lives Depend On It. This series runs from Sept. 7-Oct. 2. Join the Mom Army and invite your friends at www.ChosenAndCrowned.com/blog.