Born With a Purpose

Parents have an awesome but sobering responsibility. To bring a child into the world, give him or her a name, and plan for the future of this little person is no easy task. Parents have hopes and dreams for their children. We want them to be successful and as much as is within our power, at the very minimum, for them to have a good education which will translate into a stable career, a relatively good life, and secure their future. We may not do everything perfectly, but for the most part our intentions are good.

However, parents are not the only ones who have plans for the child or children entrusted to their care. Though we embrace them as our own they are ultimately God’s and He too has a plan for their lives. Every child that comes into the world does so with a God ordained purpose. For a number of reasons that purpose may not be realized, but it doesn't change the fact of purpose. In the Scriptures we see several instances where individuals were called by God for specific purposes and in some cases, from they were in their mothers' wombs. For example, from the prophet Isaiah, "Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath He made mention of my name" (Isaiah 49:1, KJV). From the prophet Jeremiah, "The LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak" (Jeremiah 1:4-7). From the apostle Paul, "It pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by His grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen" (Galatians 1:15).

Clearly, not all of our children will be called as profoundly as Isaiah, Jeremiah and Paul. Not every child will be called directly to ministry, but every child is called to something God honoring and it is the responsibility of parents, god-parents, adopted parents, and other caregivers to pray for discernment in that regard. In our prayers we should pray for that God-given purpose, often times dormant in those lives, to be quickened and for our children to walk in that purpose. Yes, it is not just about giving them our love and other material things, but also about a spiritual legacy. Not only should we pray unceasingly for them but we should also consistently bless them by speaking words of life and encouragement into their lives. A blessing could be something like, “You are the righteousness of God and will walk in His purpose” or, “You will excel because you are a child of purpose and God’s plan for your life will be manifested for His glory.” Alternatively, declare your own blessing based on the God’s word and promises. No matter how rebellious they may be, they can never outrun our prayers and declarations. We do our part and trust God to do His. However, first things first. Those of us who have a position of influence in the life of a child need to nurture our own relationship with God and seek His wisdom for the task at hand. If there is ever a time our children need good God-fearing role models, it is now.

How are you doing in that regard?