And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,

And the hearts of the children to their fathers .... (Malachi 4:6). Strictly speaking this prophecy is not about the restoration of the individual family unit, for the phrase “the fathers” refers to the patriarchs. But we can take the principle behind the prophesy to direct our prayers in this direction. What the verse clearly shows, is that it's God's heart to reunite broken relationships (Ephesians 1:10).  This of course includes not only the reconciliation of children and parents, but also marriages (see 2:15, 16).  The enemy of our souls has different strategies for different seasons.  And over the last fifty years or so the family unit, the very basis of societal stability,  has been under heavy attack.

It started in the sixties with the relaxation of the divorce laws, laws that were there to protect the children. It progressed into a lawless hyper, pseudo,  sexuality, massively devaluing this precious gift of God. And in the aftermath of it all we live in the most orphaned age ever. It is surely true to say that the spirit of the age is fatherlessness! In fact masculinity, in this politically correct climate,  is said in and of itself to be toxic. But when the enemy comes like a flood like this,  the Lord raises up a standard agains him (Isaiah 59:19 ).  As part of this is He is restoring the office of the Prophet (Ephesians 4:11), and the  raising up of the end times prayer movement. Now “the Lord does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).  And there is much talk in prophetic circles of the billion soul harvest (Google these things)! It's all about reconciliation!


Two promises on my heart this morning are firstly “if any two agree as touching anything, it shall be done for them” (Matthew 18:19). The second one is “ if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And ...... we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” (1 John 5:14, 15). It seems to me that we have misunderstood how to pray according to His  will.  Now there are some things about which we do not know the will of God i.e. if I should marry Mary. But there are many things He has told us is His will. In particular, reconciliation is always His perfect will (Ephesians 4:11), salvation of loved ones is always His perfect will (2 Peter 3:9). What I am saying, is that our prayers should reflect this  unless or until He shows us otherwise. So please do not pray “Please save little Johny, if it is Your will!”  The only time we hear Jesus praying this way is in the garden.  And to my way of thinking it was more about His asking help to come to terms with what He already knew was the Father's will (Matthew 26:39).  

Lord Jesus, when Your disciples asked You to teach them to pray You told them to declare “Will of God be done on earth as it is in heaven.” So as we come into the new year, I declare as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. I declare that You will make even my enemies to be at peace with me (Proverbs 16:17). And I come into agreement with anyone reading this who is declaring and contending for Your will to manifest on earth, in Your precious Name Amen.