As you can easily assume from this recent picture, we are blessed with two healthy, bright, wonderful children. They are both miracles. During pregnancy, some very dark prognoses were declared over both of them, especially our daughter. Praise God! Prayer works and God has the last word. Against all odds in the natural, they came forth perfect. Did this happen because they had Christian parents who were devoted to God—who sought God fervently—who trusted God to fulfill His promises of healing? Yes, we would dare to say, “Faith in God had a great deal to do with it.”

Our children are older now. At the time of this writing, our son, Zion Seth, is fourteen and our daughter, Destiny Hope, is five. They are good kids. They do well in school. They love God, but there are still plenty of challenges that we face as parents. The fight of faith is not over and we still find ourselves grasping for promises in God’s Word that relate to our day-to-day circumstances. Yes, in stormy seas, the Bible is still an “anchor of the soul” (Heb. 6:19).

God has warned, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Ho. 6:4) How often this proves to be true! If we, as parents, do not know what God has said concerning the offspring of the righteous, we have no basis for our faith. Then when the enemy comes in like a flood against our families, we are vulnerable and too often, we succumb to the darkness. Some might even be tempted to give up, to throw in the towel. Not so, after you read this book. Knowledge is power—in this area as well.

Being knowledgeable concerning our biblical parental promises is only half the story. We can obtain these promises “by faith” (Heb. 11:33). The first step is discovering a divine pledge that relates to any given parenting situation; the second step is seizing it by faith—through prayer, intercession and confession. Then, as we pray these promises over our children—even laying our hands on them in the process—impartation takes place, and we obtain what is rightfully ours.

So it is essential that we view parenthood from God’s perspective. Let’s see what He says in His Word.

The first sign of the blessing of God, on both animals and men, was procreative power: the ability to produce image-bearing offspring. Immediately after creating the animals—

God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply.” (Genesis 1:22)

Later on, He made a similar statement over Adam and Eve. God manifested His blessing upon them by giving them children. Then all other aspects of the blessing of God were passed on from generation to generation through those who walked in covenant with God. God further reveals His motive in giving us offspring in this choice passage:

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD and the fruit of the womb is His reward.

(Psalm 127:4)

When tough times come and children are not as manageable as we would like them to be, we might be tempted to say things that are quite opposite to the scriptures just quoted. But winning the battles of life—and the challenges of parenting—starts with a choice. You choose to view parenting as God views parenting, and you choose to believe—so much so that you are willing to utter confessions of faith.

Quit saying things like:

• “My kids stress me out.”

• “My kids are so rebellious.”

• “My children just don’t respect me.”

• “My kids have such bad attitudes.”
  

Try the following four faith-confessions, based on the scriptures we just read.

Speak them slowly, prayerfully, worshipfully and adamantly in faith:

• “My children are an inheritance from God.”

• “My children are part of the fruit I bear in life.”

• “My children are a reward from God.”

• “My children are a blessing!”
  

GOD’S PROMISES FOR OUR CHILDREN

It is very important to see that part of God’s commitment to His covenant people is to overshadow their offspring with His divine influence and care. He has given numerous promises in this vitally important area of revelation.

The collective mindset of the world appears to be descending deeper into darkness with each successive generation. Like a many-tentacled octopus, spiritual darkness is wrapping itself around the minds and hearts of our youth. Multiplied thousands are being swept away by drugs, alcohol, immorality, homosexuality, gang violence, witchcraft, the occult, false religion and other strategies of the enemy. Thankfully, in the midst of all of this danger there is a place of protection—a place where our children can be preserved from harm. This refuge is made up of at least 52 promises God has given concerning the offspring of the righteous.

I pray these promises over my children often. I urge you to go through these divine pledges one-by-one, commit them to memory and prayerfully release them into manifestation as often as you can—on a daily basis, if possible. Speak them over your children every time you approach God’s throne.

You may want to take one blessing per week, meditate on it, confess it, pray it over your children and embrace it by faith. Then after a year (52 weeks) you will deeply and fully comprehend and hopefully, apprehend all of these promises (52 blessings). This could be the pivot on which the future of your family turns. We pray that it will be a supreme blessing to you and yours.

Mike and Elizabeth Shreve

1. LIFE, BOTH NATURAL AND SPIRITUAL—“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).

2-5. LOVING GOD, OBEYING GOD, CLINGING TO GOD AND DWELLING IN THE LAND WHICH GOD GIVES—“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)

6-7. FREEDOM FROM CAPTIVITY AND THE OUTPOURING OF GOD’S COMPASSION—“Now it shall come to pass, when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the LORD your God drives you, and you return to the LORD your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul, that the LORD your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the LORD your God has scattered you” (Deuteronomy 30:1-3)

8-9. CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART AND LOVE FOR GOD—“And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.” (Dt. 30:6)

10-11. COVENANT RELATIONSHIP AND MERCY FROM ABOVE—“Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.” (Deuteronomy 7:9)

12. SALVATION—“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:31) “…for I will contend with him who contends with you, and I will save your children.” (Isaiah 49:25)

13. THE BLESSING OF A GODLY LEGACY—“The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him” (Proverbs 20:7) This verse speaks primarily of the legacy passed on from a righteous man or woman. The descendents are blessed because of the value system passed on from their parents, the stability that a righteous life creates and true happiness. Amplified version says Living Bible says, “It is a wonderful heritage to have an honest father.” New Living Translation, “The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.”

14-17. GOD’S WORD REVEALED, GOD’S BLESSING, THE OUTPOURING OF HIS SPIRIT AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH—“ For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring. They will spring up among the grass like willows by the watercourses” (Isaiah 44:3-4).

The water being poured out speaks of man’s spiritual thirst being quenched. Nothing in this world can do that. Jesus said, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again” (John 4:13) Water is used in Scripture to represent both the Word and the Spirit. (See Ephesians 5:26, John 7:38) These alone will satisfy the dry and empty hearts of men. It is promised to the righteous, then the blessing of the outpouring of the Word and the Spirit is passed on to the offspring of the righteous. This is speaking primarily of the legacy passed down from those who walk uprightly before God. Their relationship with God provides becomes a stream of living water flowing through the lives of their children. This brings spiritual growth to them, like “willows by the watercourses.”

18-21. HOLINESS, CONSECRATION TO GOD, ACCEPTABILITY TO GOD AND PREPARATION FOR GOD—“For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy” (1 Corinthians 7:14). Today’s English Version says they are “acceptable to God.” The Amplified Version says they are “prepared for God [pure and clean].”

22-26. CONTINUANCE, STABILITY, PRESERVATION, PROTECTION AND LIVING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD—“The children of Your servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before You.” (Psalms 102:28) The Living Bible paraphrase says it nicely, “But our families will continue; generation after generation will be preserved by your protection.” The NIV promises, “The children of Your servants will live in Your presence.”

27-29. STRONG CONFIDENCE, SECURITY AND A PLACE OF SAFETY—“In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge” (Pr. 14:26). The NIV says it wonderfully, “He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.” Today’s English Version explains, “Reverence for the LORD gives confidence and security to a man and his family.”

30. INFLUENCE IN THIS WORLD—“Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way he should choose. His soul will abide in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land.” (Psalms 25:12-13 NASU) This promise means more than acquiring real estate (though that certainly could be included). To “inherit the land” is to have prominence and influence in society, in order to help shape the values of that particular generation and culture.

31. PROVISION—“I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” (Psalms 37:25 KJV)

32-33. DELIVERANCE AND RESCUE—“Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.” (Proverbs 11:21) The Living Bible says, “God will rescue the children of the godly.”

34-35. INSTRUCTION AND PEACE—“All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.” (Isaiah 54:13)

36-41. SPIRITUAL MIGHT, SUCCESS, HONOR, WEALTH, RICHES AND RIGHTEOUSNESS—“ “Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who delights greatly in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.” (Psalms 112:1-3) The Living Bible explains, “His children shall be honored everywhere, for good men's sons have a special heritage.” The New Living Translation says, “Their children will be successful everywhere.” The reason the righteousness of a God-fearing man endures forever is because of the standard of righteousness he passes on to his offspring.

42-43. HOPE AND RESTORATION—“There is hope in your future, says the LORD, That your children shall come back to their own border.” (Jeremiah 31:17) Of course, this was initially a reference to the children of Israel who were in the bondage of Babylon and longing to return with their children to the Promised Land. However, I believe we can also claim this in a higher spiritual sense concerning backslidden children of godly parents who are trusting that their offspring will be brought back to the “border” of a spiritual Land of Promise: the place of a blessed and fruitful relationship with God that the obedient enjoy.

44. FRUITBEARERS—“Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plants all around your table” (Psalms 128:3).

45. PROCLAIMERS OF TRUTH—“As for Me,” says the LORD, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants,” says the LORD, “from this time and forevermore.” (Isaiah 59:21)

46. SOURCE OF GLORY TO GOD—“Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west; I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' And to the south, 'Do not keep them back!' Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth — Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.” (Isaiah 43:5-7)

47. AN ENDURING HOUSE—“Then it shall be, if you heed all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build for you an enduring house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you” (1 Kings 11:38). The KJV says “a sure house.”

48. INCREASING IN EVERY WAY—“May the LORD give you increase more and more, You and your children” (Psalms 115:14).

49. SPIRITUAL WEAPONS TO ACCOMPLISH GODLY PURPOSES—“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.” (Ps 127:3-4, See also Is. 49:1-2) So let us load our children like “arrows” into the “bow” of our faith and “shoot” them toward the goal of their God-given destiny in this world. We are in a spiritual war—the war to establish the Kingdom of God in this world. Let’s start in our homes.

50. PROPHETIC VISIONARY INSIGHTS— “And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.” (Joel 2:28)

51-52. A GIFT AND A REAL BLESSING—Today’s English Version of Psalms 127:3 says, “Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a real blessing.” Let us confess these things over our children that the reality of all fifty blessings may be manifested in their lives, and ours as well.

—Mike Shreve

© Mike Shreve 2006

(FINAL NOTE: Whenever I mention these promises in evangelistic services, I always have requests from concerned parents for a copy of the list. You are welcome to copy this article and hand it out to as many people as you wish. However, please indicate on your copies the author and the source: www.shreveministries.org).