With so much going on in the world and in our city, I feel the need to cover our children. Please join me in prayer.Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the blessing of our children. Thank you for the opportunity to get a glimpse into the way you love us and how our actions can bring you joys and sorrows.

I come to you today lifting our children up to you. Help them to be all that you would have them to be. The world may want us to believe that great kids don’t exist and that we’re headed to hell in a hand basket if we are depending on the next generation to lead us. I beg to differ. I know great kids exist, Lord. I see them every day.

I’m raising one.

I ask your blessings upon the next generation. Help them to be all you would have them to be. Where we are lacking as parents, help grace to be the difference. For those who are on the wrong track, make them so uncomfortable in their wrongdoing that they turn to you. For those who are trying to do the right thing, Lord, shine a spotlight on them so they know their doing right is not in vain. Open doors for our children that no man can open and close doors no man can close.

Help us as parents to be all that you would have us to be. Grant us an extra dose of patience and love every day. Help us to accept our children and not judge or reject them. Help us to not get so busy that we forget to truly engage with and encourage them. On the days when we find ourselves discouraged and overwhelmed, give us what we need to make it through. Help us to be the parents you would have us to be and to embrace this season of our lives.

Lord, thank you for all that you are and for all that you are doing in our lives and the lives of our children. It’s in Jesus’ name that I pray. Amen.