A pastor's prayer for parents

On Sunday, we began our new series "The Family Business". Aptly, as we dedicated the newest additions to our Christchurch family, the first message was on parenting!

Lewis encouraged us that the greatest thing we can give our children as parents is not a perfect childhood, every opportunity or an error-free example. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are called to take that gospel to heart, live it out before our children and speak of it in the ordinary moments of everyday life. (Listen to the message here!) As Lewis finished this talk, he prayed for all of the parents in our congregation:

Father, we thank you that we come to the Holy, Almighty creator knowing that we have been adopted into your family through the blood of your son Jesus Christ.  You delight to call us your children, you delight to be called our Father.  How amazing. How staggering. Thank you.
 
Father, we come to you this morning to pray first for each parent in this room.  We pray for each parent in this local church.
 
We thank you for the parents who have dedicated their children here this morning.  Thank you for each child.  We pray, give each parent wisdom as they seek to show their children by their lives and their words what it means to know you, Lord Jesus, as their Lord and Saviour.  Let each parent be living examples of grace received and grace applied as they parent their children.
 
We make the same request for every parent as they nurture their children.  Let each home be overshadowed by your grace.  Let each child be awed by your grace working in their parents’ lives.  And we pray, let each child come to acknowledge Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.
 
Father, we are mindful that there will be people here today when we're talking of children and parenting who are finding this morning really really hard.  We know some may not be here because being here would just be too much for them to bear.  You know the pain of each one.  You know the depths of anguish each person feels.
 
Lord, as they weep, help us to weep with them.  We pray, Lord Jesus by the power of your Holy Spirit, be a comfort to each one.  Let them know your presence and embrace.  Please hear our prayer.
 
And you know that many of us have seen our children turn their backs on the gospel.  And Father, it hurts.  Deep within our souls it hurts that our children are not yet yours.
 
We know Lord that salvation is only by your effectual calling of people to yourself.  So we pray, Lord, call our prodigal children back to you.  Let each one of them come to see Jesus as their Saviour.  Give us your peace to know that no prodigal is beyond the power of your saving grace.
 
Lord, we thank you for grace.  We thank you that your grace saved each of us.  We were all dead in our trespasses and sin yet you called us and we have been saved by grace alone.  Each one of us is a demonstration of the power of the gospel.
 
So we declare with confidence that there is no one beyond your grace in our families wherever they are in the world.  
 
Lord let your kingdom come.  
 
Amen