Kids & Parenting

Pray

by Stephen Kimball 
07/07/18
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2 Kings 4:8-37 (NKJV) Elisha Raises the Shunammite’s Son

The Shunammite woman provided Elisha (God’s prophet) with food and lodging “as often as he passed by (v8).” Elisha wanted to repay her for her kindness. When he learned that the woman was barren; that she had no son to carry on the family name, he declared “this time next year, you shall embrace a son (v16).”

She did indeed bear a son and sometime later, the boy became sick and suddenly died. The mother made her way to Elisha, thinking perhaps he could perform another miracle. When they met, Elisha told his servant to quickly run before him, and touch Elisha’s staff to the face of the child. He did so…but the child did not awaken (v31).

What’s that? What went wrong? Everybody thought the staff thing would work, right? It would seem Elisha, in his hurry, forgot to seek the Lord and was attempting to do this miracle in his own power. We know that there is power in prayer because “when Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed. So he went in…and prayed to the Lord (v32-33).” Then Elisha “stretched himself out on the child (v34)…and the child opened his eyes (v35).”

The next time you face a dilemma, before you bang you head against a wall trying to find the solution on your own, pray. Ask God to get involved so that when he answers your prayer you can, in turn, give Him the glory for showing himself faithful. Do this with your kids at every opportunity, it will bolster your faith and give your kids something tangible to grab onto. When God directly answers a prayer, it makes a big impression. God honors prayer, so give Him a chance.