A Prayer For My Children's Heart

In preparing a sermon on Proverbs 4:23 ("Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."), I began compiling a list of verses in Scripture which describe a transformed, regenerate heart.

As a parent, I know all too well the temptation of trying to shepherd behavior without shepherding the heart. After all, it's a lot easier to say, "Stop that!" rather than take the time to ask, "So, what's going on inside that led you to do that? Let's talk . . ."

In the Bible, the clear emphasis is on the heart, as behavior flows from the heart (hence Proverbs 4:23). No wonder God is intensely focused on our hearts (1 Sam. 16:7). The heart is critical, and as I am learning, to focus on anything less as a parent is to fall short of what God wants me to aim for in my parenting.

And may I add, what a way great way to sense dependency upon God than to aim for the heart! Anyone can legislate behavior change, but it is ultimately God who transforms the heart.

All that being said, below represents a working list I hope to make regular use of when praying for my children's hearts. May it bless and challenge all who take the time to read through these verses . . .

Father, I pray you, by the power of your Spirit and through the accomplished work of your Son on the cross, would grow my children to have a . . .

Blameless Heart
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. 2 Chronicles 16:9

Generous Heart
Take from among you a contribution to the Lord. Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the Lord’s contribution: gold, silver, and bronze. Exodus 35:5

Whole Heart
Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly. 1 Chronicles 29:9

Tender Heart
. . . because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and you have humbled yourself before me and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. 2 Chronicles 34:27

Broken Heart
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalms 34:18

United Heart
Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. Psalms 86:11

Enlarged Heart
I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart! Psalms 119:32

Tranquil Heart
A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot. Proverbs 14:30

Cheerful Heart
All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast. Proverbs 15:15

Pure Heart
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8

Honest Heart
As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience. Luke 8:15

Sincere Heart
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ. Ephesians 6:5

True Heart
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22

Inclined Heart
Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Psalms 119:36

Enlightened Heart
. . . having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. Ephesians 1:18

Given Heart
My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways. Proverbs 23:26

Kept Heart
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23

Directed Heart
And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 1 Samuel 7:3

Wise Heart
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalms 90:12

Believing Heart
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:10

Trusting Heart
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

New Heart
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26