Prayers For My Children

(Note: The hi-lited passages provide links to Scriptures referenced)

One of the hardest challenges for a mom facing divorce is having to watch her children go through the process with her. I remember thinking "I am a big girl and I can handle this, but Lord, they are so small; please protect my children!"
You can be confident knowing that your children, all children, have a special place in the Father's heart. We are all familiar with the often quoted passage where the disciples tried to shoo children away from Jesus and He rebuked them, saying "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these" (Mark 10:14).
Jesus also said that for anyone who leads a child into sin, "it would be better for him to have a large millstone tied around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea" (Matt 18:5-6).
These words can be even more significant to us when we think about the time period in which they were spoken - during a time where children had very little value in people's eyes. They could not help out much in the fields or at home, they could not help earn bread like an adult or do heavy labor very well; they were not considered "precious" to most, but more of a hindrance and a nuisance.
But they were, and still are, precious to Our Father. Isaiah 40:11 says that Our Father "tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to His heart; he gently leads those that have young." Who are "those that have young"? That is you, Mama! God will "gently lead you" because your child is His lamb, who He carries "close to His heart"! We, like Abraham with Isaac, can confidently place our children in God's arms, in His care, on His altar, knowing that no matter how bleak things look, God will honor our trust in Him and He will redeem any injustice done to our children. After God spared Isaac, it says that the Israelites said, and still say "On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided" (Gen 22:12-14). On this treacherous mountain you are climbing, the Lord will provide wisdom for you, as He did for Abraham, and protection for your children, as He did for Isaac.

Isaiah 54:13 says "All your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be your children's peace." I pray this verse often over my children, especially for their peace, and I remind them often that they have a human father here on earth but that they also have their amazing Heavenly Father, God, and that HE "will always go before them and be with them and HE will never leave them or forsake them" (Deut 31:8).

In Isaiah 43:4-6, God declares His love for us and tells us that He will "bring our children from the east" or, as the amplified version says "bring them...from where they are dispersed." Isaiah 60:4-5 says, "Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the arm. Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come." Wherever the divorce tosses our children, whatever roads they may take in response to what they go through or as a consequence of actions taken, God says He can and will "bring them back", and restore them to us. He can and will redeem any harm done to them and give to them, and to us "beauty for ashes," rebuilding what was torn down around us and them (Is 61:3-4).

Matthew 18:10 is another precious verse to me illustrating God's protection on my children. It says, "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." It is so amazing to me to know that each of my children has an angel in heaven assigned to them and that those angels have direct access to the Father, interceding for my children! Not only are they covered by my prayers for them and by God's love for them, but to top it all off, they have their very own angel!

I also pray Psalm 91:10-12 over my home and my children : "...no harm will befall us, no disaster will come near [our home]. For God will command His angels concerning us, to guard us in all our ways; they will lift us up in their hands, so that we will not even strike our foot against a stone."

1 Cor 7:14 says, "...the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife... Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy." No matter what has gone on in your marriage and your home and no matter what your children were and are exposed to, through your faith and trust in the Lord, He blesses your children, establishes His covenant with them, and considers them "holy" in His sight.

Well, I am sure that there are 100s more awesome verses for our children out there - these are just a few that God has revealed to me and led me to pray over my own children. I hope to discover more and more each day as I spend time in His Word, the only true protection over my family. When I begin to learn more, I will be sure to pass those on as well - But no matter how many verses we know, God knows our hearts. He sees our love for our children and our concern for them. He knows that we want their physical, emotional, and spiritual protection and wholeness of mind. I encourage you to take your normal, natural anxiety for your children and place it on His altar in faith. Let Him reveal to YOU His love and mercy for these little ones.

Lord, thank you that my children have a special place in your heart and that they are precious to you, holy in your sight. I give my children to you, as they are not my own anyway, but are entrusted to me for this short time on earth. Lord, You are their True Father, their Abba, and I trust in your love for them. Lord, teach me how to pray for my children. Please show me verses to pray for them and teach me more about trusting them to you. Lord, I am not defeated by this divorce. My children are not defeated by this divorce. We can do all things through Christ, our strength. We are more than conquerors. We are victorious and protected through the blood of Christ. Help us to go forward and live walking each day in this victory. In Jesus' name.