Beginning with praise
:: Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you. You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me. Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. (Psalm 86:4-11)
Experience God’s Power
Lord, you’re our powerful provider and we boldly ask you to powerfully meet the needs of our adult children. Your Word tells of the widow who came to Elisha, crying in fear because of debt. With confidence in you, Elisha calmly instructed her to use the small amount of olive oil she already had in her home to fill many jars – jars that she would gather from her neighbors. The story never mentions doubt or negotiation; the widow simply and quickly acted on what she was told to do and you miraculously caused her small amount of oil to multiply as she filled jar after jar after jar. When every empty jar was full, Elisha told her to, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.” Not only did you meet her immediate need, but you gave her extra! May our kids simply and quickly act on what you tell them to do so they will experience your powerful provision in their lives! Help them to calmly trust you with every material need by surrendering everything they have to you and trusting you to provide. And when blessings come, may they fall before you with grateful hearts (2 Kings 4:2-7).
Protection from Evil
According to your Word and by your Spirit, cause our adult kids to desire only what is true, honorable, pure, lovely, and commendable; guide their minds to dwell only on what is excellent and worthy of praise. In whatever areas of life they’re becoming distracted or deceived, crush the enemy’s attempts to pull them away from you and from church. Open their eyes to every deception, Jesus, so they will recognize every temptation to do or say what is contrary to your best for them… however “good” the distraction may seem. We know that you understand our earthly desires – you were tempted in every way but did not sin – and you empathize with every struggle. Speak this truth into the hearts of our kids so that they will reject lies of shame and guilt. You are their strength to overcome temptation and their source of fresh starts when they’ve failed. Because of your great love for them, may they never be defeated. Thank you, Jesus, for your faithfulness in their lives. (Philippians 4:8, Hebrews 4:15, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Lamentations 3:22-23)
Desire to Know God
Father, your church is designed as a tool to grow us up and surround us with love. This week, increase our kids’ desire to be part of your church so they will no longer be tossed here and there by worldly wisdom or pulled into relationships that cause them to stray from you. Help them to see that being involved in church will increase their wisdom for life and their love for others. Most of all, plant an intense desire in their hearts to seek you above everything else…to know you and to please you. May our kids fall in love with your Word and walk in your truth so they will stand firm when life is hard. And if any of our children have not received your gift of salvation, convict their hearts powerfully even at this moment. Fill them with the presence of your Spirit and surround them with Godly people who will point them to you so that your salvation will lead them to live in a sensible and righteous way and to tackle life with a fresh and eternal perspective. (Ephesians 4:14-16, Matthew 7:24-27, Titus 2:11-14)
Healthy Relationships
Lord, lead our kids to relationships that are healthy and uplifting. You say that those who have wise friends will become wise and those who surround themselves with fools will suffer harm. Protect our kids from fools and from becoming foolish. Instead, give them the desire to spend time with people who are wise according to your truth. Father, we desire for our kids to have attitudes of kindness and generosity so they will never cause harm to others because of their pride. Fill them with the same empathy, brotherly love, tender hearts, and humble minds that your Son modeled when he walked this earth…always seeking to comfort others. In their marriages, convict our sons to love their wives sacrificially; to be abundantly patient and to be their protector. At the same time, convict our daughters to show respect for their husbands through their words, actions, and attitudes so their marriages will be filled with tenderness and unity. As we continue to learn how to parent our adult kids, fill us with wisdom so that our words and actions never interfere with your work in their lives. (Proverbs 13:20, 1 Peter 3:8, Ephesians 5:33)
Financial Peace
The cattle on a thousand hills are yours, Father – the world is yours and everything in it. Just as you filled the widow’s jars until they overflowed, we boldly ask that you fill our kids with favor; generously granting them work that is satisfying, profitable, and pleasing to you. May they work hard every day to provide for themselves and their families, yet be guarded from the love of money so they will never be consumed with wanting more and more and more. Father, overwhelm their hearts gratitude for the homes they live in, the cars they drive, and the possessions they own so they’re hearts will be content…never tempted to overspend just to have better “stuff.” You say that the plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. Lord, intervene when our kids become reckless with their finances so they will learn the value of saving, investing, and experiencing financial peace. In marriage, may they commit to having one financial mind…working together to make responsible decisions that lead to peace and never to poverty. (Psalm 50:10-14, 90:17. Proverbs 21:5)
Emotional & Physical Health
Whatever emotional burdens our kids are carrying, Jesus, may they run to you for relief and lay every worry at your feet. May they listen for your voice and make time to read your Word, because you promise that your Word brings life and health to our whole bodies. By the power of your Spirit, remind our kids that their bodies are your temple and should be used to bring glory to you…and never to bring harm to themselves or others. Strengthen them to make decisions for their bodies that lead to good health and a long life. When our kids experience stress and anxiety, help them to know that you are the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth who never grows tired or weary. You understand their pains and problems intimately and you have the power to give them strength when they’re weary, direction when they’ve lost their way, and wisdom when tough decisions need to be made. You are their hope and their healer, Jesus, may they seek you with all of their hearts, all of their souls, and all of their minds. (Proverbs 4:17-22, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Isaiah 30:28-29)
Wisdom for Parenting
Jesus, wrap your arms around our grandkids and fill them with an understanding of your kingdom. We pray for your Spirit to flood our adult kids with supernatural passion to bring their children into your presence by talking about you in their homes, praying as a family, and going to church. Speak into the hearts of our kids, Lord, and teach them to love their children with patience, kindness, Godly discipline, and grace so that our grandkids will have living examples of your love for them. May our kids be fully-present parents…actively guiding our grandkids through a culture that is becoming more and more contrary to you: slanderous, impulsive, bitter, greedy, immoral, entitled; having a form of godliness but denying its power. Protect our grandkids from such things and bind their hearts to yours so they will always accept YOUR truth about their bodies and their purpose…”without fault in a warped and crooked generation [so they] will shine among them like stars in the sky.” Flood the hearts and minds of our adult kids with YOUR wisdom for parenting their kids. (Matthew 19:13-14, Luke 6:36, Philippians 2:15, 2 Timothy 3:1-5)
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.