FAST FRIDAY FOR FIRSTBORNS FRIDAY 20TH MAY 2022
THEME: BLESS MY FIRSTBORN WITH DESTINY RELATIONSHIPS AND GODLY FRIENDSHIPS O LORD
TEXT: 1 SAMUEL 20:42 MSG “Jonathan said, “Go in peace! The two of us have vowed friendship in GOD’s name, saying, ‘GOD will be the bond between me and you, and between my children and your children forever!”
Destiny relationships and Godly friendships are key to the advancement of our children and the quality of life they lead. When our children have the gift of the right people and association in their lives, when these people and relationships are GOD-appointed and orchestrated, our children are the best for it.
David and Jonathan swore commitment and loyalty to one another and we see that for both of them, in life and in death, they were true to the covenant of their friendship. They were not only loyal to themselves when the other was present, but in presence or absence, they never reneged on their vows to one another. Our children need such a solid support of commitment in their lifetime because they need to be surrounded by the right set of people.
Daniel and His three friends are another classic example of a relationship model that we should desire and pray into our children’s lives. Though this foursome had been taken captive to another land and had been uprooted from where they knew to be home, this right company helped them in navigating the terrain of the land of their captivity where they thrived as a result of being there for each other and doing life together u der GOD. They were able to encourage one another to remain right with GOD.
The story of David and Jonathan is one of great friendship that was GOD-centred as can be seen from our key text. Jonathan was so committed to his vow of friendship that he was willing to give up everything he had to his friend, even his throne and did all in his power to protect David from his father Saul when the latter sought to kill his friend (please read the full account in 1 Samuel Chapters 19 and 20 for full context). David on his own part too never forgot the commitment, love and covenant with his friend because he looked after Jonathan’s children long after he was dead. Great friends do those kinds of things for each other; watching each other’s back. In this kind of friendship is no guile, no ulterior motive, just plainly serving and loving each other with the love of GOD.
In 1 Samuel 18:3, the Bible tells us that Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. Jonathan liked David so much that they promised to always be loyal friends. This friendship wasn’t one-sided, the love and commitment went both ways!
Today, our prayer and assignment as parent-intercessors is to ask for friendships, relationships and associations without guile for our children. Friendships that will not stab our children in the back nor betray them. Friendships that will not be one-sided but well balanced at both ends.
Let us meditate also on these scriptures and be spurred to pray:
Proverbs 18:24 “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Pray: Father, help my firstborn and by extension my other children to be drawn to and pick reliable and Godly people as friends.
Job 42:10 “When Job prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes, giving him twice as much as before.” Pray: Father, bring into my children’s lives Godly and prayerful friends whom they will intercede for one another from time to time
Proverbs 27:9 “Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.”
Pray: Father, bring into my children’s lives friends who will give them Godly counsel per time. Help my children to also be one who gives right counsel per time.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” Pray: Father, send true friends who are encouragers, builders, activators, motivators, emphatizers, challengers, accountability partners, intercessors, listeners filled with wisdom, authentic in their dealings into my children’s relationship-arsenal. Make my children all these and more in return to their GOD-ordained relationships and friendships.
Romans 12:10 “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”
Pray: Father, cause my children’s relationships to be full of genuine love. Let giving honour to one another be the code of these friendships.
1 Peter 4: 8-10 “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of GOD’s varied grace.”
Pray: Father, bless my children with relationships that are devoid of guile, envy, jealousy, disloyalty, back-biting and back-stabing, etc. Let brotherly and sisterly love reign in my children’s relationships. Cause them to esteem each other in their friendships and relationships under GOD.
Ecclesiastes 4:10 “If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”
Pray: Father, in Your mercy, cause my children not to lack good men, friends who will be willing to help them up when they are down in the name of JESUS CHRIST. Help my children to be this kind of friend when the burden of help falls upon them too.
To our duty posts beloved parents. This manual is only a guide, it is by no means exhaustive on this subject. Using this guide, we are encouraged to pray in our understanding as well as in the language of the Spirit and as we connect with the Father and Son through the Spirit, more portals of understanding as is peculiar to each of our children will be opened unto us in JESUS’ name. May our children be blessed with and enjoy all their days the gift of Godly, covenanted, destiny relationships that will still speak for their posterity even long after they are gone Amen and Amen.
See you at the fast breaking meeting by 6pm WAT. Remember your direct log in link to the Zoom Meeting Room is bit.ly/FastFridayFirstbornPrayers.
I love and honour you! Blessings.
