American Reformation Church Prayer Journal 106
ARC Prayer Meeting:
This past Sunday at the American Reformation Church we celebrated Father’s Day. The church service was packed. It was literally standing room only. Praise God for a good problem. Brother Frank Campana delivered the message. At times, our hearts were moved to tears and other times we laughed so hard, some of us nearly fell off our chairs.
Frank got down to the nitty, gritty of life as he challenged men in their roles as husbands and fathers in the Lord. He shared the burdens of those responsibilities and imparted several principles of Scripture and nuggets of truth to encourage the men at ARC to faithfully fulfill their role as fathers.
Tonight, the task is to connect the call on fathers with developing a meaningful prayer life in the Lord. In the modern-day church, it is mainly expected that the wives and mothers will fulfil the intercessory role when it comes to the health and welfare of the family. Some of us may be surprised to find many examples in the Scriptures where godly fathers led in that much needed and necessary function.
In the Old Testament, Job was a constant prayer covering for his children. It is said of Job’s character that he was “blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.” Obviously, he had high credentials on his fatherhood resume.
God’s Word records, “So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus, Job did regularly” (Job 1:5). Job was fulfilling his priestly role for his family. He was interceding for his children in case they had sinned.
Just as Jesus has three official offices, Prophet, Priest, and King, to establish and spread His Kingdom in the earth, so men must exercise these offices in their families. Job was clearly involved in his priestly function as a father.
David’s prayer for Solomon reveals a father’s concern for the future stations of his children. In context, David is preparing Solomon to lead Israel. 1 Chronicles 29:19 states, “And give my son Solomon a loyal heart to keep Your commandments and Your testimonies and Your statutes, to do all these things, and to build the temple for which I have made provision.” This is a father praying for his child’s character, obedience, and spiritual maturity to glorify God by fulfilling the task set before him. It’s one of the most explicit father‑to‑God prayers for a child’s spiritual life.
Abraham also did this for his son, Ishmael, even though he was not the Promised Seed that was reserved through Isaac. He cried, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You” (Genesis 17:18)! This is one of the earliest recorded prayers of a father pleading for his child’s well‑being and spiritual future. It models a dad praying for his child’s life, blessing, and relationship with God.
One more example out of many is the cry of a father for the deliverance of his son. In the New Testament, there was a broken-hearted father who was helpless to protect his son from the torment of demonic possession. He went to the Apostles but to no avail. Finally, he is brought before the Lord, Himself. In his distraught, frail state, he pleads with Jesus, “But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us” (Mark 9:22b). The rest they say is redemptive history.
Altogether, there are certain prayer targets that fathers prayed that are recorded in Scripture. They are a good guide to make our prayers effectual to prayerfully avail much for our children’s future and hope. The key themes fathers should pray for their children concern their salvation, (Acts 16:31) wisdom, (Proverbs 2:1-6) protection (John 17:15) godly character, (Galatians 5:22-23) love for God's Word, (Psalm 119:97) future spouse and family, (Genesis 24) calling and purpose, (Ephesians 2:10) and perseverance in faith (Hebrews 12:1-2)
We should never underestimate the prayers of fathers. They can become one of the greatest spiritual inheritances a man can leave his family. As David, Job, Abraham, and our Lord demonstrated, godly fathers are not merely providers and protectors—they are intercessors before God for the generations that will follow them in a multi-generational Kingdom vision and mission.
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