Praying for Children Who Walked Away from God (What David Taught Solomon)
- Tessa Lind
- Aug 29
- 4 min read
Where a weary parent's hope is anchored.
I rarely give parenting advice. When I do share nuggets of wisdom, it’s typically to share my failings as a mom, helping others to learn from my mistakes. I look back at my years of parenting and see glaring faults which I would gladly go back and change if only someone would loan me their flux capacitor.
Here’s the question that is always present in my brain: Is there something I could have done or said that would have kept my children from sinning?
As he handed the throne to his son, King David shared these words with Solomon: “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever. (1 Chronicles 28:9)
The 3 things David shares?
Know God
Serve God with a loyal heart
Serve God with a willing mind
1. To Know God
When Hubby and I met, it was difficult to find a moment when he wasn’t in my thoughts. We desired to spend as much time together as possible, even meeting up for 20 minutes during our lunch hours (we were kinda like magnets)! As much as I love Hubby, he’s not God. Do I seek time with God daily? Is He constantly in my thoughts? Do I make an effort to meet with Him for lunch? Talking to God throughout the day in the form of prayer, and listening to His response as I read the Word, helps me to know the God who created the Heavens and Earth.
“We are cruel to ourselves if we try to live in this world without knowing about the God whose world it is and who runs it. The world becomes a strange, mad, painful place, and life in it a disappointing and unpleasant business for those who do not know about God. Disregard the study of God, and you sentence yourself to stumble and blunder through life blindfolded, as it were, with no sense of direction and no understanding of what surrounds you. This way you can waste your life and lose your soul.” (Knowing God, J.I. Packer)
2. To Serve God with a Loyal Heart
When I was first saved, I used to ‘serve’ God, thinking He needed me. But He didn’t create me to meet any needs that He has. God doesn’t need anything. He can accomplish everything without my help - He’s God! Even the effort that I expend in serving comes from Him; I cannot serve God without God giving me the ability to serve! Yet we are still commanded to serve the Lord with gladness and with a loyal heart - a heart forever committed to Him. Doing so brings Him glory and helps me to live as Christ, who came to serve by giving His life as a ransom for many.
3. To Serve God with a Willing Mind
“Choose this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.“ (Joshua 24:15)
Following the Lord is a choice. I am confronted with decisions daily. “What would bring the Lord glory?” is a good question to ask. The more time spent getting to know God, the easier time we will have answering this question.
As David shared with Solomon, the consequences of not knowing and serving God are harsh.
“If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.” (1 Chronicles 28:9b)
Did Solomon listen? I wish I could say, “Yes.”
“Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, ‘Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant.’” (1 Kings 11:11)
Solomon’s father, King David, was a man after God’s own heart. He gave great parenting advice, but Solomon didn’t listen. We, too, can keep pointing our children to Jesus, but they also won’t always listen and obey. When this happens, what hope do I cling to?
God’s word does not return void. (Isaiah 55:11)
He will never leave nor forsake my children. (Deuteronomy 31:6)
He who began a good work in my kiddos will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)
My children are more valuable to the Lord than sparrows. (Matthew 6:26)
And I will pray without ceasing, knowing He’s in control.
First published in Pursuing Perfection on Substack by Tessa Lind, tessalind.substack.com
More by Tessa Lind:
The Healing Power of Grace in Mother-Daughter Relationships After years of distance and hurt, one honest apology opens the door to healing. A tender look at honoring our parents and our children the way Jesus honors us: with undeserved grace.
Marrying an Unbeliever: A Mother's Reflection Twenty-eight years of praying for her daughter's husband, and now the wedding won't be what she dreamed. A raw, aching meditation on disappointment, letting go, and refusing to stop praying.
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