Sometimes as moms, we don’t have all the words to express what we want to say prayerfully, so it can be helpful to stop considering how many words are needed and simply begin with one. Recently, I was sitting on the dock soaking in one of the last gorgeous summer sunsets and thinking about each of my children. They’re all in different stages of life, each with its own unique challenges, and for a moment I felt overwhelmed by their individual needs. I didn’t know how to put everything I felt into words, so I grabbed my journal and began to write, reflect and pray. I sensed the Lord urging me to write down my kids’ names, so I did. I prayed for just one word that would reflect where each one of them are at in life. I momentarily wondered how I was going to sum up where they are in just one word, but God showed up! My mind was swirling, but I was able to mindfully consider how to pray for each of my kids and not long after, a word for each one of them came to my mind. Once I had written them down, I sought out a Bible verse and a worship song to coincide with each word and give it more depth and context. I knew I needed to go back into the Word to pray for the scriptures that reflected what was in my heart. The worship songs were the perfect addition for me, because they allowed me to be able to enter into the music and pray over them simultaneously. What unfolded from this experience was a way to specifically and intentionally pray for my kids. 

I began with my oldest. I chose the word clarity for him because the stage in life he’s at requires the ability to think rationally and clearly about his future. Making life decisions can become a mountain that feels too high to climb, but it starts with a clear heart and a focused mind. Because I’m a mom, sometimes I just want to make his decisions for him. It’s that same feeling I had when my kids were very little, when it just seemed easier to do things for them like cleaning up their toys or folding their laundry! But I know he’s not a little kid anymore, and he has to do things independently so he can learn the most effective way of managing his tasks, and so that he builds trust and confidence in himself and his ability to make decisions. I can’t do that for him. All I can do is encourage him, pray for him, and gently suggest ideas when he asks for advice. It can be frustrating, but it comes with the territory of being a mom to grown-up kids! His trajectory is his, not mine. He is in God’s hands, and I must remind myself of this truth as I pray over his next steps. Where our kids end up may not be what we had planned and envisioned, but we can take comfort knowing that we helped set them up for the vital work of making their own choices and then acting on them.

In the past, I have written down specific words, phrases, verses or lyrics from a worship song that reflect where my heart is at that moment. I particularly appreciate looking back after months or even years and seeing how that word, phrase or verse wove itself into my children’s lives. It doesn’t always work out the way I planned, but I know my time and efforts are not wasted. I am simply being obedient and allowing God to move in his timing. Honestly, it’s hard to wait and see what unfolds. My impatience can get the better of me sometimes, so I must remind myself that raising children is ultimately a faith exercise. Only the Lord knows where they will end up, and I have to remind myself that he is sovereign over all, I am not!

If you are struggling to find the words to pray for your child, ask God to lead you to a passage of scripture and wait on him. You may not come up with just one word; it may be a phrase, a verse or a group of verses. God knows what they need regardless of how old your children are or what stage of life they’re in. It may be a sleep routine, tantrums, health issues, friends, or academics. It could be moving out, getting married, or starting their own families. He blessed you with them, and he has a plan for them. We must choose to trust God for the timing. As moms, we have an innate ability to understand the needs of our children, but it can be hard to articulate them, so we feel stuck on exactly what to pray about!

God is so gracious. He knows what we need before we even start praying, so we can have confidence when we take our requests before the throne of grace; he hears us! The next time I worry about what to say, I can go back to that journal entry, look at the word for each child, read the verse and listen to the worship song! Each child is unique in their needs, and it can be hard to know where to start, but beginning with just one word can open floodgates of prayer that will benefit our children in ways we may never honestly know.

How do you pray for your kids? What suggestions do you have?

These are words, verses and words for my kids, in no particular order.

Clarity – Psalm 119:18 – Alright by Jonathon Ogden

Lead – Proverbs 7:1-3 – What Makes a Man – Ben Rector

Function – Ephesian 3:20 – Hey Girl by Anne Wilson

Guidance – Psalm 119:105 – Sunday Sermons by Anne Wilson

Perseverance – Hebrews 13:20-21 – Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me – City Alight