Parents do a lot for their children. Mothers, especially, can argue that until their child is of a certain age, they do everything for them. But outside of the feeding, bathing, clothing, advising, praying, and general parenting that we do, I wonder: are we blessing our children with the words that come out of our mouths? We must recognize that there is power behind what we say to and about our children.
I often wondered why my son was so musically inclined. (Surely, my husband and I didn’t pass on the gifts of perfect pitch and inspired rhythm.) Was it because he was talented or because from the first day he picked up a drumstick at age two I told him he was talented?
Likewise, did my daughter’s personal and spiritual transformation take place as a random act of God or because I declared the words, “This will be your summer,” over her at the age of seventeen? I always knew the importance of words, the power they held, and their ability to manifest into reality; but I don’t think I expected to see the fruit of the words I spoke over my children materialize so clearly and abundantly.
It’s pretty evident that when God speaks, whatever He calls forth, materializes. The first lines in the book of Genesis document how powerful God’s word is over the act of creation. As our Father, scripture after scripture assures us that we, His children, have the ability to speak, declare, and decree blessings over our lives and the lives of our children, too.
So, are we maximizing the incredible gift we’ve been given? Can we, as parents, be more intentional in what we say so that our children receive the full benefits of our creative power?
God’s will plays an integral part in what we see come to fruition. Not every parent prays or speaks “God’s will” over their children. Like an over-used promise, “You’ll be the next president, Son,” which surely won’t come to pass for a kindergartner. But don’t misunderstand me; I’m not saying all of our prayers should be confined to what we can conceptualize in our reasonable imaginations. In the case of my daughter, I had no idea how prophetic my words would be, or the magnitude of adventure that would follow. But I do believe that the clincher for my daughter and I to see the outrageous results we did was that not only did I declare them over her, but she repeated and to some degree, believed them.
Excerpt from Just Believe:
I reminded her. “You have the rest of the summer. Remember what I told you in the beginning of the summer?”
“Yeah, this is going to be ‘my summer,’” she said quietly as she bent her pointer and middle fingers up and down to indicate quotes.
I had a feeling about that summer. Seventeen was a magical age and my motherly intuition revealed that it was going to be a special year for Des. I didn’t have a particular reason, just an internal knowing, that there was a surprise in store for her.
As reluctant or doubtful as my daughter may have been, she confirmed my words by repeating what I had declared. Within three days of doing so, something extraordinary happened to her.
1 Corinthians 14:3 reminds us that our words are meant to encourage and strengthen one another. Speaking a blessing over your children was serious business in the Hebrew culture. In fact, the firstborn blessing was so powerful that when Isaac prayed it over his son Jacob instead of the rightful heir of the blessing, Esau, he couldn’t take his words back. The father’s blessing:
Genesis 27:28-29 "Now may God give you of the dew of heaven, and of the fatness of the earth, And an abundance of grain and new wine; May peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you; Be master of your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be those who curse you, and blessed be those who bless you."
Isaac’s powerful words, once spoken, were ironclad. Therefore, let us be mindful of the words we speak to and about our children. Let our intentions be pure and inline with God’s word. And when we don’t know what to pray, let us pray that God’s will be done in their lives. That there would be clarity, joy, and abundance, where He sees fit. God has gifted us with an awesome endowment and responsibility. May our ultimate goal be to use it for His glory, our children’s highest calling, benefit, and blessings.
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