I’ve spent a lot of time praying over our oldest daughter in recent weeks.
She begins her public school journey next week and I fully admit I’m fearful.
What if she gets picked on?
What if she falls into picking on someone?
What if someone gossips about her?
What if she gets hurt and I’m not there?
What if she hates it and feels an overwhelming sadness?
You get the picture. Although, deep down I know she’ll be more than ok and whatever happens we’ll call on the Lord and face it together. However, that doesn’t change the way I’ve been praying.
My prayers have been from a place of fear. Things like:
⁃ Lord protect her from <insert all of my fears>
⁃ Watch over her while <insert all of my fears>
⁃ Keep her safe.
If I’m being honest with myself, all of those, though valid, are stemming from a parental fear in me that I simply should not be carrying. It’s a fear that I want her protected from worldly things. Things like bullies, exclusion, gossip, stereotypes, all of the above and then some. As if those could ever touch her in the Kingdom of God.
It was when I was washing dishes tonight when God hit me with truth. I began my prayers over her and He stopped me mid prayer.
I’m not supposed to be praying for her from a place of fear. At least not fear of worldly things. Although it is my job to help protect her from things of this world it is not my job to operate that protection out of fear. It is my job to operate that protection out of the spirit of power, love, and self discipline.
So, instead He gave me new direction. He guided me to pray from a place of certainty and strength. A place where she is no longer the victim of worldly idols but a warrior for the kingdom of God. My prayers of intercession are to equip her not cripple her. Which is what my fearful prayers have the potential to do. Instead I opted to intercede for her from the spirit God gave me. The one He gave us.
Which brought me this:
Lord,
May you equip her to do your will. May you clothe her with your armor so that she may be a force to be reckoned with in the enemy’s eye. May her struggles be divenly timed so that we can glorify you through our parental guidance and correction. May you give her wisdom to discern her small and big choices. May you grant us wisdom in our language, actions, and reactions as she brings us her celebrations and struggles.
Lord, I pray grace upon grace over her. And that she would dish out that grace as freely as you do. May her heart burn bright with a desire to glorify you in her everyday. May her desire to share your heart with others pour out in love to those around her.
Father may she love you and see your kingdom first. May you burn Bright and deep in her as she begins her public school journey.
All in Jesus name.
Amen
Guys join with me as we enter into intercession for our kiddos, intercession that stems from love, power, and self control. Not one of crippling fear.
“for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
2 Timothy 1:7 ESV
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