Prayers offered up by parents are not magical mantras

They are heart-felt, scriptural cries to our God, who cares for our children more than we do.

When I first became a parent, I didn’t know how to pray for my kids. What should I say? What do they really need? What words should I use?

But I discovered… it’s not all that hard.

I just needed to relax, think about what God Himself wants for all of us, and ask Him for those things in the hearts and minds and lives of my kids.

That made it a lot simpler for the prayers of this parent to become more meaningful.

So how do I pray?

Nothing fancy.

In fact, my prayers for my kids have become shorter and more to the point the older they’ve gotten.

I think that’s partly because I remember my teens and twenties better than I do my childhood. And that’s where my kids are at now.

I remember the struggle with:

peer pressure
self identity
respectfulness
pride
insecurity
emotions, and more.

I’m able to enter in to their lives and the struggles they are having through my own memories…

and those memories inform and fuel my prayers.

Some examples of what I pray

The following prayers are straight from my morning journal… things I’ve written out as prayers on behalf of my kids.

The prayers of parents are so vital… don’t let busy-ness and responsibility keep you from that simple duty.

There’s nothing magical in them. Nothing super spiritual.

Just the caring heart of a Daddy asking his Daddy to care for his kids.

Protect and enrich Mel today. Give her joy. Give her Yourself. (Mel was in Zambia when I prayed this)

Caleb‘s right in the midst of those crazy teen years. Make him into a man whose heart is fully Yours. Captivate him by giving him a deep, full recognition of Your greatness and glory. Stir up tremendous desire for Yourself in him. Cause him to see Your wonders and to love all he sees.

Fill up our dear Faith with security from Your indwelling presence. Enable her to see more of You in her, and less of her. Give her joy, and peace, and deep, lasting confidence that sustains her. Replace “self” with You – entirely. (Faith is 11 years old)

Aaron and Hannah have their hands full with the responsibilities of young married life. Two boys under the age of two, and the financial and life-direction issues so typical of that time of life. LORD, give them wisdom. Give them You. Enable them to rest in You even in the midst of crying babies, inconsistent schedules, and insecure living arrangements. You are their security. Please be that for them.

Maddi is full of excitement about life and the future. Ground her in the reality of each present moment, that she will be rooted personally to You, the”I AM” of the now. (Maddi is 18 years old)

My prayers for my kids are nothing fancy

Just heart-felt… and aligned as well as I can manage with the things I know God wants for my kids.