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Praying for the Little Children (of the world)


One of the best ways to learn how to pray powerful prayers is to look at prayers in the scriptures.  Today, I'd like to unpack a favorite scriptural prayer as you might pray it over your children, or the children you serve daily if you work in a school or are part of children's ministry.  Of course, these biblical prayers are applicable to all believers and can guide in how we pray for each other in general.  Pray this along with me for the children (big or little!) in our lives and across the world:

Colossians 1:9-12  

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God...

  • to fill you with the knowledge of His will
    • Father, we pray that our children will know Your will, that they will know deep in their hearts what You require of them and how You have called them to live according to Your laws.
  • through all spiritual wisdom and understanding...
    • Lord, we know that wisdom is knowing how to apply our knowledge of Your truth (Your Word) to our daily lives.  May our children grow in their ability to make good decisions on a regular basis and how to understand and discern what are the better choices.  
  • And we pray this order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way
    • Father, may our children please You with their lives, may they live for You whether at school, in sports or activities, or at home, and may their lives bring You glory.
  • bearing fruit in every good work,
    • And Lord as they make good choices, may others see that they are filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).  
  • growing in the knowledge of God.
    • May our children continue to grow to know You, to know how much You love them and to hear Your call in their hearts to follow You of their own will.  May they hunger and thirst for You, seek You, and keep pursuing You all of their lives.
  • being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might 
    • Lord, we pray that You would remind our children that they can do nothing without You but with You they CAN!  May they rely on Your strength to face the challenges they have each day and experience You empowering them!
  • so that you may have great endurance and patience
    • May our children grow in patience, learning to wait instead of the instant gratification of the 21st century.  May they learn endurance as they persevere through hard circumstances (with Your power in them!) instead of giving up the minute it gets hard.  
  • and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
    • And lastly, Father, we pray for our children most of all to know that their greatest JOY comes from knowing they belong to You.  May they find their identity and purpose in You alone and may they thank You daily for the biggest gift of all - the gift of forgiveness and eternal life through Jesus!

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