Praising the God of Armies
:: God of Armies, you are our refuge and strength; a helper who can always be found in times of trouble. Even if the earth trembles and the mountains fall, we will not be afraid. Nations rage and the earth melts when you raise your voice. The Lord of Armies is with us and is our stronghold. You make wars cease throughout the earth. You shatter every weapon that is raised against us. You say to stop fighting and to know that you are God. You are the king of Heaven and Earth and you are with us. (Psalm 46)
Healthy Relationships
Father, you teach us to love each other and warn that when we fight against each other, we will be destroyed. Our world is flooded with hate and fighting, and culture says to always put our own needs first…to fight for ourselves before we fight for others. Destroy this message in the hearts of our kids so they will love others with the same love and humility Jesus demonstrated while he walked the earth. Destroy rudeness and guard them against “keeping score” with their spouse. Instead, fill their hearts with love, humility, and a desire for peace. When our kids are tempted to say rude or hurtful things, close their lips so the only words they speak are helpful for building others up. And may they faithfully love their families, never allowing anything to undermine the love they have for one another. (Galatians 5:14-25, Galatians 5:22-26)
Protection from Evil
Jesus, we believe you love our adult kids and that you have a great purpose for each one. Command your angels concerning them and guard them in all their ways. May our kids love you and call on you, the God who will fight for them, so they will experience your protection in times of trouble. Bless them with long life and protect them from all sexual immorality, impurity, evil desires, jealousy, and idolatry. Crush every attempt by the enemy to trap our kids into believing that life is about chasing temporary pleasures. By your Spirit, cause them to be passionate about using your truth as a weapon against temptation and a compass that leads them to a healthy and fulfilled life. Where anyone is trying to persuade our kids away from Truth, open their eyes to it so they will never walk away from you. (Psalm 91:11-16, Colossians 3:5, Galatians 5:7-10)
Experience God’s Power
Lord, you showed your power to fight for us thousands of years ago, when the king of Babylon commanded all people to worship a golden image. If they didn’t, they would be killed. When three men refused, the king had them bound and thrown into a fire to die. Even though it seemed hopeless, the men believed you would rescue them, and because of their faith you fought for them. By your power, the flames did not consume them. The Bible says they were in the fire “unbound and unharmed.” We ask for you to grow this kind of faith in our kids. And by your Spirit, give them the desire and strength to honor you by the way they live so that your saving power is unleashed in their lives. Stand with them in their fires so they will walk through them unbound and unharmed. (Daniel 3)
Financial Peace
Lord, thank you for the promise that we can enjoy our work and never labor in vain. Plant this attitude in our adult kids so they will find joy in whatever job is paying their bills. When they work hard to provide for themselves, reward their efforts by meeting their needs according to your glorious riches. When they feel discontent, open their eyes to the freedom they can find in a grateful heart. Even in their darkest financial times, help them to find things to be thankful for. When making financial decisions, send your Spirit to counsel our kids so they will always calculate the cost first and never buy things that lead to a bondage of debt. Help us to be excellent examples of what it looks like to be good stewards of our money and possessions so we will never cause our kids to stumble. (Isaiah 65:22-23, Philippians 4:19, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Luke 14:28, Romans 13:14)
Live with Hope and Purpose
In your mercy, you give living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and grant us an inheritance that will never perish, spoil or fade. Thank you so much for this promise! We pray that it pierces the hearts of our kids so they will find hope for the future and truly believe that their purpose far exceeds the temporary pain of this life. Fill them with inspiration from your Spirit so they will have a strong sense of direction and never be held back by insecurity or fear. Help our kids to rejoice when things go well, to be patient in trials, and to be persistent in prayer for their future. Jesus, stop us from interfering with your work in the lives of our kids. And give us the emotional strength to release everything into your hands, knowing you are in control. (1 Peter 1:3-4, Romans 12:12)
Wisdom for Parenting
Heavenly Father, teach our adult children to parent their kids with purpose and by example. When our grandkids misbehave, convict our kids of the importance of discipline. You promise that discipline leads to peace and righteousness, so teach our kids to raise our grandkids in a way that they will learn that Godly discipline is compassionate, patient, and life-giving. Lord, we pray for any future grandchildren we may have; for knitting them together perfectly and ordaining their days before they’re even born. Guard the health and minds of our daughters during pregnancy and delivery. Teach our sons to be wise and kind fathers who are examples of Godly love to their families. And prepare our adult kids to be parents who are pleasing to you. (Hebrews 12:11, Colossians 3:12).
Emotional and Physical Health
Lord, your Word says, “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” What a beautiful picture of what we want life to be like for our adult kids. Please speak this truth into their hearts so they will put their confidence in you, even on the darkest days. Heal their emotional hurts, remove fear and anxiety, and crush any lies that cause them to feel discouraged. You are the God of sound minds. Thank you for the hope that you will restore our kids when they have faced trials and make them strong. (Jeremiah 17:7-8, 1 Peter 5:10)
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 20-21)
KRISTI is the author of the Before books and coloring books for children and the Your Soul To Keep one-year prayer book for parents of adults. She writes to inspire parents and grandparents to shine the joy of Jesus into the lives of their families and to laugh without fear of the future (Proverbs 31:25). She and her husband Tim live in Iowa where they love doing life with their sons and daughters-in-law, six grandbabies, and two very spoiled dogs.