How to Pray For Your Grown Children
Knowing how to pray for adult children can often be frustrating. They are no longer under your oversight nor do they want it. And dang, you know they need help!So you do what any mature parent would do ... you pray. A lot. And hopefully you learn new ways of praying your kids through their adult problems.Last week I told you the first part of a new approach to pray for adult children. I promised that this week I would share the rest of the adventure.
How to pray for adult children
A few weeks ago I was praying the Morning Prayer in The Divine Hours by Phyllis Tickle. (It's an updated version of the Daily Office prayed by many over the centuries.) I soon heard myself pray Psalm 111:5.
He has given food to those who fear him: He will ever be mindful of His covenant.
Now ... it's not that I don't know this verse. I do. But sometimes when you're reading something familiar, the Holy Spirit grabs you by the head, shakes it a little, and says, "Pay attention, Sweetie." (Or something like that.)The part that rattled my cage was the last eight words: "He will ever be mindful of His covenant." And in that instant, these covenant Scriptures came rushing up from my spirit and into my mind:
"As for me, this is my covenant with them," says the Lord."My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendents—from this time on and forever," says the Lord (Isaiah 59:21 NIV).All your children shall be taught by the Lord, And great shall be the peace of your children (Isaiah 54:13 NKJV).
These are Scriptures I've prayed for my kids for years.
Immediately, the Father communicated this:
You're worrying again, Susan. You're praying the Daily Office, but your mind is elsewhere. In worry mode.I'm more mindful of my ancient covenant than you are, Honey. Don't you think I know exactly what I'm doing with your son and his mess?I promised you that I would put my words, and the Living Word, on the lips of your son, and I will. I will teach him. And he will have peace.So back off. Trust me. Let Me do My job of keeping My covenant, and you do your job of trusting me.Don't get the two confused. I know what I'm doing.
Right. We were back to me minding my business of trusting, and God doing His business of keeping His covenant with me and my kids.(And yes, the Lord calls me "Honey" sometimes.)So I dumped my worry on the Lord's lap and prayed the way C.S. Lewis had taught me a few days before ... easy peasy.And I focused on the prayers I was reading.Now, I know you probably never go into worry mode over your adult kids. *snarky grin*But when you occasionally do, remind yourself of Psalm 111:5. Give yourself the lecture God gave me. And repent of worry. It's not becoming on you.Have a great week ... and pass this along to those you know who pray for adult children they worry about.SusanP.S. Don't miss a thing. Pick up my Spiritual Legacy Newsletter here and receive a free Spiritual Legacy Tool Kit.