Where Have all the Knights and Maidens Gone?

As we begin to conclude the first decade of the 21st century, many things have changed. We were well on our way to change as we ended the 20th century, but in the past 10 years it seems that societal changes have begun to hit us at light speed. Unfortunately we have come full circle since the Industrial Revolution when children were expected to act like adults and find a job in a dangerous and often deadly occupation like factory work. Now we do not expect our children to perform physically deadly work, but our society has again removed the innocence of childhood by pushing our children into the spiritually deadly realm of forcing them to grow up and behave in ways and be exposed to material and discussions that should be reserved for adults.

When I was a middle school teacher, I felt that my students were being exposed to information by the media that I did not have any knowledge of until I was in late high school or even college. Now in elementary, I am seeing that same knowledge creep down to even lower levels. In many government schools, students are discussing sexual education in lower elementary grades and even kindergarten. The goal and aim of the current public school leadership is for schooling for ages 0-5 with sexual education beginning as low as kindergarten and junior kindergarten, with an emphasis on seeking one's own sexual identity. What kindergartner even needs to have knowledge of what sexual identity is at this age?

The dilemma we face as parents in preserving our children's innocence, is that these influences are everywhere. Many agendas are being slipped between the pages of children's books, and often, we as Christian parents are having our values attacked even in how we raise our children. Mainstream media does not support our efforts in teaching our children the values and beliefs that we hold so dear. It is important as we fight in this often toxic environment to remember to do as we are called and be "in the world, but not of the world". We cannot create a bubble for our children, as much as we would like to, but we must try in every way to shelter their innocence as long as it is healthy and appropriate. There will come a time when we as parents must begin to explain the dangers and pitfalls of the world to our children, lest they become ensnared in its temptations. As parents we must each individually decide when that time comes. It is also important for us to teach the values that are so important to our children as they grow, and to begin at an early age in order to have the most significant impact possible.

Over the next two entries, I will explore how to create a "knight" in your son and a "maiden" in your daughter in this difficult world that we now encounter. Look for each of these two entries over the next few weeks. Please feel free to leave a comment below and share your thoughts on how you have fought to preserve the innocence of your children.

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31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids

First, let me give credit to Bob Hostetler for this list. This list came from Pray magazine. I have begun praying for these virtues daily for my own children, and I want to share this list with you if you are interested in doing the same. It has been a great way for me to focus on specific ways to pray for my children, and it is great because it gives you a specific virtue through scripture allowing you to pray scripture for your children.

1. Salvation. "Lord, let salvation spring up within my children, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory." (Is. 45:8, 2 Tim. 2:10)
2. Growth in grace. "I pray that my children may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Pet. 3:18)
3. Love. "Grant, Lord, that my children may learn to live a life of love, through the Spirit who dwells in them." (Gal. 5:25, Eph. 5:2)
4. Honesty and integrity. "May integrity and honesty be their virtue and their protection." ( Ps. 25:21)
5. Self-control. "Father, help my children not to be like many others around them, but let them be alert and self-controlled in all they do." (1 Thess. 5:6)
6. Love for God's Word. "May my children grow to find Your Word more precious than much pure gold and sweeter than honey from the comb." (Ps. 19:10)
7. Justice. "God, help my children to love justice as you do and act justly in all they do." (Ps. 11:7, Mic. 6:8)
   
8. Mercy. "May my children always be merciful, just as their Father is merciful." (Lk. 6:36)
9. Respect (for others, self, and authority). "Father, grant that my children may show proper respect to everyone, as your Word commands" (1 Pet. 2:17)
10. Biblical self-esteem. "Help my children develop a strong self-esteem that is rooted in the realization that they are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus." (Eph. 2:10)
11. Faithfulness. "Let love and faithfulness never leave my children, but bind these twin virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts." (Prov. 3:3)
12. Courage. "May my children always be strong and courageous in their character and in their actions." (Dt. 31:6)
13. Purity. "Create in them a pure heart, O God, and let that purity of heart be shown in their actions" (Ps. 51:10)
14. Kindness. "Lord, may my children always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else" (1 Thess. 5:15)
15. Generosity. Grant that my children may be generous and willing to share, and so lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age." (1 Tim. 6:18-19)
16. Peace-loving. "Father, let my children make every effort to do what leads to peace." (Rom. 14:19)
17. Joy. "May my children be filled with the joy given by the Holy Spirit." (1 Thess. 1:6)
18. Perseverance. " Lord, teach my children perseverance in all they do, and help them especially to run with perseverance the race marked out for them." (Heb. 12:1)
19. Humility. "God, please cultivate in my children the ability to show true humility toward all." (Titus 3:2)
20. Compassion. "Lord, please clothe my children with the virtue of compassion." (Col. 3:12)
21. Responsibility. "Grant that my children may learn responsibility, for each one should carry his own load." (Gal. 6:5)
22. Contentment. "Father, teach my children the secret of being content in any and every situation, through Him who gives them strength." (Phil. 4:12-13)
23. Faith. "I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children's hearts, that by faith they may gain what has been promised to them." (Lk. 17:5-6. Heb. 11:1-40)
24. A servant's heart. "God, please help my children develop servant's hearts, that they may server wholeheartedly, as if they were serving the Lord, not men." (Eph. 6:7)
25. Hope. "May the God of hope grant that my children may overflow with hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Rom. 15:13)
26. Willingness and ability to work. "Teach my children, Lord, to value work and to work at it with all their heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." (Col. 3:23)
27. Passion for God. "Lord, please instill in my children a soul that 'followeth hard after thee' (Ps. 63:8, KJV) one that clings passionately to you."
28. Self-discipline. "Father, I pray that my children may acquire a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair." (Prov. 1:3)
29. Prayerfulness. "Grant, Lord, that my children's lives may be marked by prayerfulness, that they may learn to pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." (Eph. 6:18)
30. Gratitude. "Help my children to live lives that are always overflowing with thankfulness and always giving thanks to God the father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Eph. 5:20, Col. 2:7)
31. A heart for missions. "Lord, please help my children to develop a desire to see your glory declared among the nations, Your marvelous deeds among all peoples." (Ps. 96:3)

I hope that you enjoy praying these for your children and receive the same blessing from it that my wife and I have doing this for our children for just a week.

May God bless you and your famiy!