Praising the Lord of Peace
:: Lord of Peace, equip me for battle and be with me. May my soul find rest in you, my rock and my salvation, because you are my fortress. I will never be shaken. Even when life is hard and there are heartbreaking battles to fight, I will choose to find rest and hope in you. I will pour my heart out to you and pursue your Truth with passion. This life is like a fleeting breath but you endure forever. May I never fill my heart with earthly treasure or put my hope in human strength. Power belongs to you, God, and you never fail. Only you bring victory in the battle. Only you give me the power to survive tough times. Only you are my peace. (Psalm 62)
Protection from Evil
Summer is such a fun season; bless our kids with special moments that revive their souls and deepen family connections. At the same time, Jesus, protect them from worldly influences and from developing wrong priorities that focus only on entertainment and pleasure. When our kids travel, remove anything in their way that is intended to cause harm. Send your angels ahead of them to guard their way and take them safely to their destination. And when they’re away from home, guard their hearts with all vigilance and keep them from temptation so they will experience abundant life and spread everywhere the sweet aroma of the knowledge of you. Lord, just as you rescued the Israelites from their enemies, rescue our kids from anyone with malicious intentions and surround them with people who are helpful and kind. (Exodus 23:20, Proverbs 4:23, 2 Corinthians 2:14, 2 Kings 13:5)
Desire to Know God
As we celebrate freedom, Lord, may our kids develop a deep desire for the freedom only you can give – freedom from the consequences of sin and the fear of death. May they declare with their mouths that you are Lord and believe in their hearts that you raised Jesus from the dead so they will be saved from the bondage of this world. As they walk in that freedom, draw them into your presence often and teach them to pray – to seek your Word for direction when they face difficult decisions. When our kids don’t appear to make church a priority, we pray that you will renew their desire for Christian community. Give us wisdom as we seek to be good examples of obedience to your Word. May our lives inspire our kids to love you more, to seek you more, and to understand that being a Christian isn’t about being “good” but about loving you and desiring to follow your Word. (Romans 8:21, Romans 10:9-10)
Experience God’s Power
The Israelites were held captive in Egypt for decades, enduring “bitter and hard labor” that left them “broken in spirit.” They were stuck in a cruel situation with little hope of ever being free. Still, you were there. You saw their pain, you continued to love them, and you had a plan…even when they couldn’t see it. After hundreds of years, you led them out of slavery; displaying your power at every obstacle. When they didn’t know where to go, you sent a pillar of fire to guide them. When the Red Sea blocked them from safety, you made a way. Over and over, your power made a way out of captivity. Lord, we claim this same power in the lives of our adult kids. Where they are held captive by strongholds, set them free. And where they are lost, guide them. (Exodus 1:14, 6:9, Exodus 13:21, Exodus 14:21)
Healthy Relationships
Father, our parenting role has changed so much since our children were young, and it continues to change as the years go on. By your Spirit, give us the wisdom to “parent” well and the strength to release our adult kids into your hands every day. Forgive us for words and actions that have caused our kids to stumble or caused our relationship with them to be out of line with your plan. Just as you loved and guided Joseph, love and guide our kids. Just as Joseph was a servant, move the hands and feet or our kids to serve others. Just as Joseph rejected inappropriate relationships, guide our kids to the right people so they will experience healthy relationships that honor you. As Joseph was wise in how he dealt with others, plant wisdom in the minds of our kids so they will receive favor. (Genesis 39:21-23, Genesis 39:11-12)
Live with Hope and Purpose
Lord God, you revealed a beautiful purpose for Joseph; reveal your beautiful purpose for each of our adult kids also. So many things went wrong for Joseph. He was betrayed, beaten, and imprisoned, but each obstacle caused him to grow strong in character and in faith. Though the enemy had plans to harm him, you turned it all to good. We pray the same for our kids. Move their hearts to seek your direction when they feel stuck in darkness. Shine light on their path and give them a clear sense of purpose. When they feel lost, grow good character and faith. And crush any attempt by the enemy to rob them of the confidence that you began a good work in them before they were even born. Thank you for creating each of our kids purposefully, for loving them, and for promising to complete the good work you’ve started. (Genesis 50:20, Psalm 139:11-12, Philippians 1:6).
Wisdom for Parenting
Father, thank you for the grandkids we already have and for any we may have in the future. They are such a treasure and we pray that their parents will raise them with wisdom and love. Help our kids to understand that loving you with all of their heart, all of their soul, and all of their mind is the greatest thing they can do for their kids. When our grandkids are disobedient or unkind, may they receive discipline that honors you and leads to good character. Fill our adult kids with your Holy Spirit so they will demonstrate the wisdom of patience and gentleness, and resist the urge to respond harshly or in anger. More than anything, we ask that our kids will live lives that set an example of all that is good; full of integrity, discernment, and wise words so that our grandkids will learn to value behavior that reflects Jesus. (Matthew 22:37-38, Proverbs 15:1, Titus 2:7-8)
Emotional and Physical Health
Jesus, when our kids are discouraged or have anxious thoughts, give them the assurance that all who are weary and burdened can find rest in you. Send your Spirit to invade their hearts and minds, flooding them with the overwhelming desire to come to you for help. Teach them to have grit for hard times and to recognize you as their only source of renewed strength and freedom to soar. When their bodies are sick or hurt, intervene as their great Healer; restore their health and heal their wounds. Open the eyes of our kids to any habits causing harm to their bodies or minds. Convict them to make difficult changes and surround them with people who will support those changes. Lord, when we need to speak up, give us the right words to say. When we need to stay silent, put a guard over our mouths. We surrender their health to you. (Matthew 11:28, Isaiah 40:30-31, Jeremiah 30:17)
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.