Praying For Our Children

Recently, my youngest daughter had a birthday. Somewhere in the craziness of planning and executing her birthday party, I set aside some time to reflect on a life verse my husband and I had chosen to pray over both of our daughters before they were born.

The verse is a prayer the apostle Paul had for the church at Colossae. Paul wrote the letter to the Colossians from prison, with the purpose of fortifying the church against false teachers. While rereading this familiar verse, I was struck with the tenderness of the prayer and the hopes Paul had for the Colossians in Christ. It made me think of the modern day "false teachers" my young daughters will face as they grow, as well as my desire for them to be grounded in the truth of God. I often sit with parents who are overwhelmed with the different issues their children face with stress and anxiety about friends, school, and technology. It can be overwhelming!  I was also struck by my need to pray these things for my own heart as I navigate parenting and counsel others in the current culture, being mindful of what I allow to influence my choices and my heart.

"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light." – Colossians 1:9-12 NIV

I hope you can find some hope in these verses, as you navigate your life, in whatever circumstances you find yourself in today. I hope you can know the tender care the Lord has for you as you walk with Him, and as you care for others who walk alongside you.

My prayer for my whole family has become:

Lord,

May we be filled with the Spirit, so that we can walk with you and live a life that bears fruit by your strength alone.

Your strength is what helps us endure with joy.

Lead us to deep gratitude in You, and to a posture of humility that you have chosen us, and qualified us to share in your kingdom of light.

Amen.