Parents Prayers
Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, “Go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” … The servant arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. And he made his camels kneel down outside the city by a well of water. … Then he said, “O Lord God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day. … Let it be that the young woman to whom I say, ‘Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink’—let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac.” And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. Then Rebekah did and said all that the servant had asked of God. Genesis 24:1-4, 10-12,14-15 (alt)
Abraham’s servant offered the “parent prayer” at the well, but he was acting on Abraham’s behalf, asking for the Lord’s guidance and blessing in choosing a wife for Isaac. The servant understood the importance of what he was doing. He was finding a life-long partner for Isaac—a wife through whom the Lord’s promise would be fulfilled leading to a great nation and eventually the Messiah. The Lord needed to lead and bless this endeavor!
It is hard to imagine a greater decision in one’s life than whom to marry. The bond and blessing of having a Christian spouse is modeled and eclipsed by our Savior’s relationship with sinners like us. (Ephesians 5:22ff)
How could a parent not pray for his child to find a faithful spouse? Or, if God’s will is not to give a spouse, then to pray for their children’s purity and service in their singleness. (1 Corinthians 7:7-9) While parents are nurturing their son or daughter, somewhere other parents are doing the same for their child’s future spouse. The parental prayer is for the child, for the future spouse, and for the parents who raise them.
Lord, if You are not the builder,
Then the house is built in vain,
For a home without Your presence
Shall without true love remain.
Yet when You within a marriage
Come and dwell with grace divine,
There You fill the empty vessels,
Changing water into wine.
Lutheran Service Book 860:2