One More Prayer for the Children

Earlier this week I shared two prayers with you for the children in our families, church and everywhere. Today I have one more. As a grandma, there isn't anything more important to me than for my grandsons to grow to be men who know and love Jesus. This world can be a scary place; it seems evil is laughed at, discounted and accepted like it has not been before . . . at least in my lifetime. As I think about the things I want to pray for them, I think about the things Jesus prayed for His disciples and for all of us as recorded in John 17. Jesus prayed His disciples would be protected by the power of God's name so none of them would be lost. He did not ask God to take them out of the world, but to protect them from the evil one so they - and we - will have unity and the world will believe.

I believe there is good reason to pray these same things for my grandsons, the children in my church and all children; please join with me in praying once more for children . . . 

John 17:6-21 - "6 You have given me some followers from this world, and I have shown them what you are like. They were yours, but you gave them to me, and they have obeyed you. 7 They know that you gave me everything I have. 8 I told my followers what you told me, and they accepted it. They know that I came from you, and they believe that you are the one who sent me. 9 I am praying for them, but not for those who belong to this world. My followers belong to you, and I am praying for them. 10 All that I have is yours, and all that you have is mine, and they will bring glory to me. 11 Holy Father, I am no longer in the world. I am coming to you, but my followers are still in the world. So keep them safe by the power of the name that you have given me. Then they will be one with each other, just as you and I are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them safe by the power you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost, except the one who had to be lost. This happened so that what the Scriptures say would come true. 13 I am on my way to you. But I say these things while I am still in the world, so that my followers will have the same complete joy that I do. 14 I have told them your message. But the people of this world hate them, because they don’t belong to this world, just as I don’t. 15 Father, I don’t ask you to take my followers out of the world, but keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They don’t belong to this world, and neither do I. 17 Your word is the truth. So let this truth make them completely yours. 18 I am sending them into the world, just as you sent me. 19 I have given myself completely for their sake, so that they may belong completely to the truth. 20 I am not praying just for these followers. I am also praying for everyone else who will have faith because of what my followers will say about me. 21 I want all of them to be one with each other, just as I am one with you and you are one with me. I also want them to be one with us. Then the people of this world will believe that you sent me." (CEV)

Dear God, on this day I want to first of all thank and glorify You for Your love and for sending Jesus and for giving Him the power to give us all eternal life. Thank You, Jesus, for showing us what God is like; please help me make the choice each day to obey You. I want to glorify You. I pray also for the children and ask they will come to know, love, obey and glorify You. Please keep them safe from the evil one by Your amazing power so they will not be lost. Thank You for the complete joy You give; please help the children experience and know this joy! As they go about their everyday life in this world, please help them come to understand they do not belong to this world, but instead they belong to You. Please help them be at one with other believers so the people of this world will believe in You. Thank You for Your love, Amen!