On Wednesday nights I co-lead a college small-group of 12 freshmen through my church. What's refreshing about these girls is that they haven't done enough life to taste its bitterness yet. Starting off in their college careers, they're full of dreams, goals, and promise. As I sit and talk to them, it's clear that they have no idea what life can bring them, nor should they. A person needs to start off with the ideal first so that she knows what to reach for. But I do wonder - Are they prepared for what's to come? Are they equipped for the harshness that life sometimes brings?
Recently I heard that my job as a mom is to prepare my children for the day I'm no longer with them. Even though I can't prepare or protect them from everything they will experience, I can do my best to equip them with the tools they will need during those times. This starts with prayer. It takes divine guidance for God to transform their hearts and renew their minds so that they have an arsenal of truth to fall on when trouble comes.
Here are 10 promises from scripture to pray over your children. As you pray, ask God to grow deep roots in your children's hearts for each of these and help them to believe that these promises are for them.
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1. A Promise of Eternal Life
"But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life," (John 4:14). "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life," (John 3:16).
Lord Jesus, I pray that my children will drink of the water that you give so that they will never be thirsty again and so that they will have eternal life. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, help my children believe in you and experience eternal life through you. Amen.
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2. A Promise of God Always Being with You
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go," (Joshua 1:9). "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God," (Isaiah 41:10).
Lord Jesus, I pray that my children are strong and courageous when trouble comes. Please help them to not be frightened or dismayed, but remind them of your promise that you are always with them wherever they go. Amen.
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3. A Promise of Protection
"I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore," (Psalm 121).
Lord Jesus, I pray that my children believe and trust that their help comes from the Lord. I pray that they do not seek help from other places. May that know that you will not let their feet be moved nor will you ever sleep, but you will be their keeper and shade. Please, Lord, keep my children from all evil and keep their life in your hands. Keep my children's going out and coming in all of their days. Amen.
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4. A Promise of Always Finding God
"But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul," (Deuteronomy 4:29).
Lord Jesus, I pray that my children always seek and search after you with all of their hearts and souls because this is where they will find you. Amen.
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5. A Promise that All Things Will Work Out for Our Good
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose," (Romans 8:28). "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future," (Jeremiah 29:11).
Lord Jesus, I pray that my children love you. I pray that they are called according to your purpose. Please help them rest on your promise that you work all things together for good including sin, heartbreak, and tragedy. Also, help them to believe that you have great plans for them - plans that will prosper them and give them a hope and a future. Amen.
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6. A Promise of Comfort in Trials
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God," (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
Lord Jesus, I pray that my children know that you are our comforter. Help them to feel your presence in their affliction and run to you and not away from you. I pray that through the comfort you show them they are then able to comfort others with your love. Amen.
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7. A Promise of Rest
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls," (Matthew 11:28-29).
Lord Jesus, I pray that my children come to you so that they can receive your rest. Help them to take your yoke upon them and learn from you. I pray that you are the first place they go for rest. Amen.
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8. A Promise of Peace
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus," (Philippians 4:6-7).
Lord Jesus, I pray that my children will not be anxious about anything, but instead they will let their requests be known to you through prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving. Please, Lord, give them the peace that surpasses all understanding. Not just in times of great trial, but in the everyday, too. And please guard their hearts and minds. Amen.
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9. A Promise of Wisdom
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind," (James 1:5-6).
Lord Jesus, I pray that my children ask you for wisdom in faith, without doubting. I pray that they seek your wisdom daily for all the decisions they have to make. Please give them wisdom generously like you promise, and help them to know it is from you. Amen.
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10. A Promise of God Meeting All Your Needs
"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus," (Philippians 4:19).
Lord Jesus, I pray that my children will know and believe that you will supply every need they have according to your riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Brenda Rodgers considers herself a “recovering single” after years as a single woman chasing after marriage instead of chasing after Jesus. Now her passion is to mentor young women to live purposefully and grow in their relationship with God and others. Brenda has been married for five years to a heart transplant hero and is the mom of a toddler girl miracle. She is also the author of the eBook Fall for Him: 25 Challenges from a Recovering Single. You can also read more on Brenda’s blog, www.TripleBraidedLife.com and follow her on Twitter and Facebook.
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Originally published Thursday, 05 April 2018.
