And so it begins. Another year and a few more worries and fears. Even though we know His power and believe His promises, do we really trust Him with our most precious treasures? Our children.

Just a few simple prayer ideas based on scripture for all the mammas with hearts a little undone due to sending them off to school and on to great things in His name this week.

Jesus actually prayed this prayer (paraphrased a bit by me) in the book of John in chapter 17. For me. For you. For all of our children. For His disciples. From the lips of the Savior to the ear of His Father. Jesus knew that there was nothing more powerful than prayer and he often spent His quiet times in prayer and on His knees.

11″Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by[d] the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. 20 My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” ~John 17:11-23

Pray for Him to protect them by the power of His name so that they may be one in Him. There is nothing stronger than the sweet name of Jesus.

Pray for protection from the evil one. Read Ephesians 6: 10-18 as a great reminder of who our battles are against, and better yet, who provides all we need to be victorious! Jesus. I love that this passage says, pray on all occasions and keep on praying…that is our calling, sweet friends.

Pray for them to be sanctified by the Truth. To be set apart by the Truth. Isn’t that what we all want. For them to be holy as He is holy. For them to be different because He was different.

Pray for Him to be in them so the world may believe. As cruel and hard and bad as this big world can seem, it really is why we are all here. Don’t we want others to know Him because we know Him? If so, we have to be in the world. As do our children. As great as my desire is for them to be protected, His greatest desire is that the world will know Him. By their actions. Their words. Their hearts. Because of them, the world may believe. We just have to pray it believing in His plan and promises!

Pray for them one day to be with Him so they may see His glory. Ultimately, we just want our children with Him in heaven one day. Yes, that we could all see His glory and live forever with Him. That, my friends, is really what it’s all about. Salvation. Heaven. Glory. Amen.

Let’s join Him, sweet friends. Let’s be on our knees for our children and ALL children. And, for anyone. We all need this prayer – young and old alike.

It is sad to think, but many sweet children may not have someone interceding on their behalf every day. Could you be that for them, maybe? Could I?

Even for those who don’t have children of their own or who have already sent theirs out of the nest, we can be prayer warriors for others. Our neighbors. Our nieces or nephews. Our friends. And, yes, even strangers.

There is no greater gift or privilege than to pray. And, nothing more powerful than the Spirit working through them to bring much glory.