I Thessalonians Chapter 3

“May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.” (I Thess. 3: 12-13 NIV)

A Prayer for My Daughter

Strengthen and encourage my little one’s faith and help her stand firm in the Lord. Bless her with Your joyful presence and bring into her life those who will serve as iron sharpening iron. May You increase her love to overflowing for You and for Your people. Strengthen her heart so that she may be holy and blameless before You. ...

Our nightly bedtime routine consists of bath, story, prayers, last bathroom trip, song, and then kisses and hugs. After tucking Sweet girl under her covers and wishing her a good-night as we walk out of her room and close the bedroom door, my husband and I traverse down the hall to the loft. Here, before we disperse to whatever tasks or work still await us, we connect with each other and talk. We discuss the day’s events, touch base about the next day, and finally, join our hearts together in prayer.

Tonight, Sweet girl had difficulty settling down. She interrupted our conversation with calls, requests, and pure procrastinated measures. After several trips back and forth down the hallway to her room, I firmly informed Little girl that she needed to go to sleep, that this was the last time I would be darkening her doorway and that it was time for Mommy and Daddy to now pray. No sooner did I settle down with head bowed and eyes closed, when a plaintive plea filled the air.

“Mommy, I’m scared! Please come Mommy!”

​I confess to you, that I was a bit annoyed and displeased to hear Little girl’s beckoning cry following my directive. Marching down the hallway, I yanked the door open and poked my head into Little girl’s room. Bubbles of irritation simmered beneath the thin surface of my self-control. “Yes?” I asked, arching an eyebrow. “What do you need now?” 

Little girl sat up in bed and looked at me from beneath her covers. “Mommy,” she said in a pleading voice, “I’m scared. Will you stay with me?”

Uncertainty caused me to waiver in my resolve to make quick work of this final evening interaction. Sweet girl had sometimes employed such strategies in the past to postpone sleeping or to keep Mommy or Daddy by her side for a little while longer. But, even as I stood in the doorway, stubbornly refusing to set a foot into her bedroom, a tremble in her voice caught my ear.

“Please, Mommy?” she begged, “please?”

​An inner war waged within me as I shifted indecisively in the door frame. Was Sweet girl stalling? The hour was already so late due to her earlier antics. But what if she really was scared? Should I go in to comfort her and end up making the hour even later?

I cannot tell you fellow parents whether I made the right decision or not. Some of you will disagree with my choice, but due to the lateness of the hour and the knowledge that it is not Mommy who holds power over fear, I remained where I stood. Softening my voice, I answered gently, “Sweet pea, I love you. Remember, it is God who tells us we are not to be afraid for He is always with us.” I paused, carefully choosing my next words, “The Bible also tells us that when we are afraid, we are to trust in Him. Remember learning this verse?”

I opened the door wider so to emphasize what I said next. “Sweet pea, I want you to pray to God and ask Him to help you not be afraid or scared. If you ask Him, He will help you. Mommy and Daddy will also be praying for you down the hallway like we always do. I want you to pray and ask for God’s help first. Then, if you are still scared after Mommy and Daddy are done praying, I will come in to pray with you.” I blew a kiss to my Sweet girl and began shutting the door.

“Noooo!” cried Sweet girl with eyes wide, “Mommy, please stay!” 
     
​The door closed with a quiet click. 

I stood behind it with my hand cradling the door knob and my head hanging low in conflicted misery.

“Mommy,” Sweet girl’s voice raised in a wail, “come back!”

Feeling like the worst Mom ever, doubts and uncertainties assailed and accused me over my decision. I stood there immobilized with my hand on the door, silently praying over my little girl as she continued her pleas. Then, with a heavy heart, I slowly trudged back down the hallway to the loft. 
     
My husband looked up from his chair, a soft light in his eyes. “Yes? Is she okay?” His voice gentled, “Are you okay?”

​Shaking my head, no, I backed out of the loft and sat down in the hallway. I positioned myself on the hallway floor so that my husband could see me but that my body pointed towards my little girl’s room. Bowing my head, I started praying loudly with projected tones so that Sweet one could hear me. I prayed for Sweet girl, that He would remove her fear and give her peace, I prayed for Daddy and myself, then I prayed for Little girl again. Sweet girl quieted down, listening to my voice I assume.

Still struggling with inner voices shaming me, I kept my head bowed and opened my mouth again, “Our Father,” I began, “who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread…” Nearing the prayer’s end, I started placing the Lord’s prayer to the well familiar tune that I had learned as a child. “For thine, is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory FOREVER! Amen!” A peace washed over my soul and I momentarily reveled in the holy quiet. 
     
Breaking the reverent stillness came a sweet voice from down the hallway. “Our Father,” sang my little girl, “who art in Heaven, hallowed be ThyName…”

​Tears welled in my eyes as I listened to her sweet, innocent child voice. My heart overflowed with gratitude and my spirit bowed low in humble thanksgiving to the Lord. 

Joining my voice with Sweet girls’, our voices united in a holy duet. “Forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil ways.” Our voices melded together in joyful song as a love offering to the Lord. Once again, we sang the Lord’s prayer together, and then as my voice dropped out, Sweet girl sang the song a fourth and fifth time.

The most holy of benedictions washed over us in a covering of sweet solace. Then stillness, a quiet reverence filling our souls, followed by Sweet girl’s gentle breathing which quickly deepened into sleep. My husband and I sat motionless, feeling washed clean and covered by the Word of God and the sweet presence of the Lord. 
     
What a comfort and reassurance God’s Word is to our hearts, souls, and minds. We are exhorted, instructed, encouraged, fed, and comforted by His Word. In the ocean where waters run deep, the Word of God is as shallow as the newest toe dipper needs and as deep as the most seasoned of swimmer’s desire. It ministers to each wound and scar we gained in the crossfires of life, and it speaks to each individual, unique concern. God’s Word holds all the answers to live a productive, fulfilling, and content life. When we bare the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control through the Holy Spirit, how can we not? God, through His Holy Word, cleanses us clean and washes us pure as snow.

​When the darkness closes in, and the fire threatens to burn you, find refuge in the one True God, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the One who was, and is, and is to come.

A Parent's Prayer

Father God, Yours truly is the kingdom, the power, and the glory. May I, this day, be granted Your daily bread of provision. Please forgive me of my sin and protect me against temptation. Deliver me from my evil ways and the evil ways of the world. Help me do Your Will, oh God, in my life and in the lives of others. Holy is Your Name and worthy are You to be praised. Amen.