Praying for Your Kids
kids 1 |kidz| noun 1 informal a child or young person.
I LOVE prayer. I believe so much of our lives depends upon our prayer life! Prayer is powerful! It shifts the atmosphere. It changes lives. And I believe it brings us closer to knowing the heart of our God! I just read and prayed over the prayer requests I received from the girls at Equipped by Faith this month–and I believe God is going to move in a powerful way over each request!
Some of my close friends and family make fun of me for my extra-long prayers and that I have an alarm set on my phone to remind me to pray with whoever I’m with about whatever we’re talking about at noon each day. But I do these things because I truly believe in the power of prayer and the positive effect it has on us and those around us!
There have been so many instances where simply praying with someone has led to healing in their body, in their heart or in their spirit. Prayer encourages me, especially when I see God moving in my life or in the lives of those I’m praying for. God hears our prayers and moves on our behalf. I think if we truly understood the power of our prayers, we would never stop praying!
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask for anything according to His will, He hears us.” 1 John 5:14
It is my greatest desire to display the power of prayer for my children. Field and I have been teaching them about prayer since they were born (and prayed over them long before that!). One of my favorite pictures of Field Christian is one where he is praying at the end of his bed in his room because it shows me the foundation we are creating for our kids. I want my children to know that we depend on God for everything in our lives and that we are thankful for every blessing that comes our way. When we show our children the power of prayer while they are young, they will grow with an understanding of where to put their hope for the rest of their lives!
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
Camila also gets annoyed with my long prayers–but I continue to pray with her and over her each day. Just last week we were talking in her room and she said, “Mommy, let’s talk. Let’s talk about Jesus.” So, I’m confident prayer works. LOL!
I was recently asked to contribute to a Children’s Prayer Book and wanted to share what I wrote with you. I want us to not only pray for and with our children, but to begin praying blessings over their lives!
A Prayer For Your Children:
Dear God, I place my child(ren) in Your loving hands. I trust You to light and guide their way. Father, teach them to trust in You with all their heart, to lean not on their own understanding, and in all their ways to acknowledge You so that You will direct their path. Plant Your love, Your presence, and Your Word deep within their heart as they develop a desire to have a personal relationship with You. Send angels to encamp around them, bless them and keep them safe. Thank you for setting them apart and for creating them with a specific plan and purpose. Give them the mind of Christ and help them to fully know and love who they are in You and the great plan You have for them.
As they spend their days at school, I pray You would direct the steps of those making decisions for them. Make Your way clear and place those who walk with You in positions of authority and decision-making above them. Guide, bless, and empower every teacher and administrator through the power of Your Holy Spirit. May Your Word and the fear of the Lord be the basis of their wisdom and instruction. Draw godly friends and mentors into their lives. Give them friends who are honest, wise, kind, and encouraging. Protect their hearts, and keep them free of rebellion and disobedience.
I pray for the protective armor of God over my child(ren): the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the sword of the Spirit, the shield of faith, the belt of truth, and the shoes of the Gospel of peace. May they be light in darkness, joy in sadness, peace in discontentedness, and order in chaos. Let their character and integrity shine as brightly as the sun! I boldly ask that our children grow in wisdom, stature, and favor with both God and with man. Above all, I pray they would live a life that honors and glorifies You in all they say and do.
Thank you for daily renewing our minds with Your Truth, and for giving us hearts of humility as we keep our thoughts on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, excellent, and worthy of praise.
We ask all of this in the powerful name of Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen!
XO-
Sabrina