“Lord, raise up parents who will stand up against every threat to children. Refresh every
weary intercessor with peace and renewed hope.”
It’s easy to lose hope if you focus only on the negative reports concerning the younger generations. They are being bombarded with anti-biblical teachings at every turn, diabolical lies that affect children as young as elementary-school age. Despite how everything looks, however, I have hope for them, because my hope is in Jesus Christ. And if you are a Spirit-filled child of God, then every day you, too, have reason for hope.
Our children are being actively targeted and the Lord is calling us to stand in the gap and to
powerfully cancel out the Enemy’s plan. We know that Satan is behind this war on children. Our Lord Jesus called him “a murderer and a liar from the beginning”:
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44 NIV).
Jesus also exposed Satan’s plans for humankind — to steal, to kill, and to destroy — in John 10:10. This is the complete opposite of the Lord’s plan to redeem us and give us abundant life. Satan has from the beginning sought to pervert and destroy God’s creation, simply because he hates those whom God loves.
Satan was behind Pharaoh’s order for all the Hebrew male infants to be killed (Exodus 1:15–23).
Satan was behind Herod’s order to kill every male child in Bethlehem under the age of 2 (Matthew 2:16–18). Likewise, Satan was behind the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that made abortion “legal” and led to the killing of over 60 million babies. Satan is behind every school shooting. He is behind the current push to confuse children and teens about their gender and to surgically mutilate them. He is behind the ungodly and anti-Christ indoctrination now permeating America’s schools and colleges. Satan is most surely at work to steal, kill, and destroy.
Arms and Armor
Ephesians 6:12 declares that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against rulers, authorities, and powers of darkness in the unseen realms. We know that it is not ultimately people we are fighting, but demonic powers. Our enemy is never primarily the human being, however wicked, who happens to be confronting us at any given moment, but rather it is the spirits at work behind the scenes. Now, however, is not a time to shrink back in fear or to be dissuaded by negative reports; it’s a time to stand up.
In Ephesians 6:10–18 we read about the armor of God. It’s all about being prepared for the battle. Most of us are familiar with this. The Amplified Bible renders it this way:
Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil (Ephesians 6:11 AMPC).
We are called to stand against all of the devil’s plans and never to rest on our laurels. As
Ephesians 6:13 says: … and having done all, to stand firm.
- After you’ve praised, you stand.
- After you’ve prayed, you stand.
- After you’ve fasted, you stand.
- After you’ve meditated on the word and the promises of God, you stand.
- After you have put on the armor of God, which is putting on Christ, you stand.
A Personal Word of Encouragement
You may be burdened in prayer about what is going on with children right now, while you fight your own battles. If you have a prodigal in your own life while you contend for the children of others in this nation, keep praying, and keep standing. Don’t lose heart. Maybe you are praying for the healing of this young generation, while your own child is battling some sickness. Keep praying and keep standing. Don’t lose heart.
I know personally how hard it can be, but I say this to encourage those who are weary. We can praise God for his goodness and faithfulness to us in the midst of it all. We have a promise in His word that tells us that when we seek His kingdom first, He will personally care for our needs. In Matthew 6:25–32 Jesus was telling His disciples not to worry about what to eat or drink, or what clothing they were to put on. He reminded them that His Father cares for the birds of the air and for the grass of the field. If God cares for those, how much more does He care about you and your family?
But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right — the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also (Matthew 6:33 AMP).
Although that verse refers to provision, never forget that God knows about what your family is going through. He knows. He sees. And yes, He cares. He hasn’t forgotten about you or your labor in prayer. He promises that when we seek His kingdom and righteousness, He will care for our needs. I believe this applies to all our needs, not just the financial ones. In other words, if you are faithful to intercede for the children of this generation, He will take care of your family. He is with you, and He is for you, so who can be against you?
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might (Ephesians 6:10). In our own strength we fail, but we can be strong in the Lord. He gives us strength to stand in the battle.
It’s time for praying parents to step it up. The Lord is looking for those praying moms and dads, for those praying grandparents — indeed, for anyone who bears any title of parent and chooses to pray: a stepparent, a godparent, a spiritual parent; you are being called to the front lines.
This younger generation will bring forth our future leaders. They are future mothers and fathers. These are future pastors and church leaders. They are future doctors, entrepreneurs, lawyers, law-enforcement officers, politicians, teachers. If we don’t teach them, the world will. If we won’t disciple them, the world will. If we do not influence them, the culture will.
We must never stop contending for them. If you have already been standing in the gap, then keep on standing — and may the Lord bless you for your faithfulness, in due time. If you are reading this and are ready to accept the call to contend for the children of this generation, we welcome you. You are not alone. You are part of a growing army and community of intercessors.
Pray with us:
Father, we thank You. Life is such a precious gift. You said children are a gift and a reward from You, and we praise You. Thank You for every mother and father who has stood long in prayer for the children in the womb and in the schools. Thank You for those sacrificial prayers. Do as You have promised and renew their strength as they wait upon You. Bless them, keep them, make Your face shine upon them, and give them peace.
Hear our prayers for every parent who accepts the call to intercede, whether that be against abortion, gender confusion, or ungodly indoctrination. Give them boldness and strength for the battle.
Thank You in advance for the army of praying parents rising up in this hour and taking back stolen ground.
Give us wisdom to teach and to disciple this generation with Your word, not with our own opinions. Let the truth of Your word open their spiritual eyes and bring down every tronghold. Help us to love them the way You have loved us — with patience, mercy, forgiveness, and kindness.
We thank You for Your protection around our homes, and we pray for our schools to be hedged about on every side from every vile attack and evil plan of the enemy. Expose every dark scheme, and let it be foiled and become utterly fruitless. We pray that in this hour You would take what the enemy meant for evil concerning our children and turn it around for good. We pray that we would see waves of Your healing within families, bringing restoration.
Thank You, Lord, for Your promise that if we seek first Your kingdom and righteousness, You will add to us everything we need. Let each one of us say in faith: “I receive that promise for my family.”
In Jesus’ name. So be it. Amen.
Taken in part from IFA’s post entitled, “Hope for This Generation” written by
Gloria Robles, IFA Contributing Writer | February 9, 2023
