Praying for Your Almost Grown Children; Power in the Scriptures
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:14
Mostly, as a momma, I have no idea what I am doing. As far as I know, there is not a standard protocol, not even a standard child. Each one is as unique as the set of circumstances they are bound to find themselves in. Not only are they unique, but you also, are unique. Now let’s mix in cultural pressure, expectations, gifts, notions, advantages, disadvantages and close living quarters. What you have is a recipe for disaster, and not a tiny disaster.
Did I mention that you have no practical experience in raising this one unique child in the unique circumstances of today, because well, because this is your first (and last) go around with this one particular child?
My heart rate just increased slightly. Whew…deep breath.
At least we are all in this together, all novices, all presented with the tremendous task of launching a human. A human that at some point may need to be equipped to launch their own almost grown human.
Again, holding my exhale.
I have good news to share with you. Each of these unique humans were first designed by the Creator. So while you are fumbling your way through figuring them out, what makes them tick, how they communicate, how they process, whether they are an introvert or an extrovert, He already knows. Not only does He know them, but He knows the plans He has for them! Already, before you even think to start googling “universities within a 200 mile radius”.
The Creator of the Universe knows your unique almost grown human. He knows them, like their names are carved on His hand kind of knowing them. He crafted them while they grew in your womb. I wonder, I just wonder, if even His voice was already known to them while they stretched their growing limbs against the cage of your pelvis.
Now we can breathe, and breathe deep. Turns out it isn’t all on our shoulders. In fact, He invites us to rest on His shoulders and whisper in His ears every angst, fear, hope, and dream we have for these humans. He even listens to our failures as mommas. He doesn’t just invite us, He actually pens His own prayers for our children in HIs great big holy book. Wow.
Below are some of my most favorite prayers to whisper for my almost grown children. If they knew, they might dissuade me or poke fun as almost grown children do. But above all things, it is the desire of my heart that both of my children know Jesus Christ as their most treasured friend, and that they walk obediently in the purpose He has planned for them. So if the prayers seem a little bit off, and don’t look like asking for great success or tremendous worldly blessing, or the fulfillment of every little plan I may dream for them, well, that is kind of the point. These are not my prayers, I have stolen them from His holy book and have learned to whisper them back. I invite you to steal them as well, for your own unique humans.
Then our sons in their youth will be like well watered plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace (Psalm 144:12 NIV).
Father, establish my son firmly in the knowledge of who You are. When all else gives way, help him to know that You will not give way. Grow Him strong, even in unlikely places. Help him to know where His strength comes from. Sustain him and allow him to bring kingdom fruit, to Your glory.
Father, establish my daughter, make her strong and wise, ever seeking Your presence. Make her beautiful from the inside and out. Help her stand upon the foundation of who You are.
The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing (Zephaniah 3:17 ESV).
Father, you and only you can save my children. You, the mighty warrior who stays close. Come and quiet their hearts with your strong hand, calm their thoughts and make them confident in who they are in You. Open their ears to hear Your song orchestrating their lives.
“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 for a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all of your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD (Jeremiah 29:11-14 NIV).
Father, You know the plans you have for my son and for my daughter, good plans. Give me wisdom to trust them completely in Your hands, without meddling, without forcing. Give me wisdom to let them be who You have designed for them to be, to follow the plans You have set for them. Give my son and my daughter an ache in their heart until they turn to seek You. Grant them endurance to seek You until they find You. Open their hearts, minds and mouths to call to You.
I will bring him near and he will come close to me. For who is he who will devote himself to be close to Me? (Jeremiah 30:21 NIV).
Father, bring my son and my daughter close. Give them each a heart of devotion to Jesus Christ. Place in each of them a desire to be near You.
May Your deeds be shown to Your servants, Your splendor to our children. May the favor of the LORD our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands (Psalm 90:16-17).
Father, reveal your splendor to my son and to my daughter. Delight each of them, revealing Yourself in ways that open their imaginations to the wonder of You. Establish the work of their hands, weaving all things together for their good and your glory (Romans 8:28).
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the age of God (2 Corinthians 4:4).
Father, keep my son and my daughter from being blinded by the culture. Reveal to them truth and give them strength and desire to walk in it.
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
Father, touch the hearts of my son and my daughter with Your own hand. Help them to see how You see, to be moved by what moves You. Teach their hearts to love others well, as You love us well. Plant your Spirit in each of them, giving them minds to know the mind of the Spirit, and a willingness to walk in obedience.
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like the stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life – in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing (Philippians 2:14-16).
Father, place in my son and my daughter hearts full gratitude. Give them eyes that see Your hand moving in their lives. Keep their eyes on Your Son Jesus Christ, so that they may walk blameless and be pure of heart, known as Your children. Teach them Your way in an upside down world, and give each of them a strong desire to walk in Your way even when it seems opposite of what their friends may do, what the world shouts to them as ok and as good. Let them shine to bring light to others who find themselves in darkness. Set their eyes on kingdom work and kingdom riches.
These are just a few of the verses that have been prayed over my children. There are so many more. Paul’s letters are full of verses about walking the Christian faith, David’s Psalms are brimming with emotional cries and pleas to the faithfulness of the Father. God is so good. He longs to bless us and our children, our grandchildren, our great grandchildren and so on with His purpose and holy presence.
Are my almost grown children perfect? No. Are they following hard after Jesus? No, they are not. Have all of these prayers been answered? No, they have not. But can I see Him working? Definitely. Can I trust Him with both of them? Yes. Can I trust Him to hear these prayers and to answer them in His way and in His timing? Yes. How can I trust this? Well…if you’ve heard my own story, you will know that this God relentlessly pursues those He has His eyes on, and Jesus will not lose one, not one.
Breathe deep sweet momma. He loves them more than you do.
