James Chapter 4

“Humble yourself before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” ~James 4:10

Prayer Over Our Children

Let my daughter ask and seek after You with pure motives. Oh God, may she find favor before You and likewise, her requests. Grant her a humble heart and bless her richly with Your grace. Oh God, I pray that she will submit herself to You and resist Satan, causing him to flee. Draw near to her, oh God, and wash her clean, purifying her heart. May she humble herself before You without boast or judgement that You will lift her up. Oh Lord, give her the strength to do what is good when she knows what is right so that she may stand blameless and pure before You. ... 

Have you ever heard of dancing cheek to cheek? Well, now I know what it is like to sing cheek to cheek with someone you love. There we lay on the bed like two peas in a pod with her soft, sweet cheek pressed up against my more aged one. 
     
“Mommy sing me a song please,” my little girl requested. It was bedtime. The evening shadows darkened the window blinds, transitioning us from day into night. 
     
​“Okay.” I smiled down at her. “But only one.”

Sweet Pea wiggled with glee, excited to commence our bedtime routine. Ever since her infancy, we had sung her a lullaby before tucking her snugly into bed. Now, in her preschool years, praise and worship songs replaced the lullabies of old. Yet, still the God-glorifying words served to soothe her active body and guard her mind before sleep while providing one last opportunity for joyful expression before the day's end.

​Sometimes, I even imagined a host of angels eagerly flocking and gathering to listen. I hoped that the joyful presence of such angelic hosts would also serve to shield my little girl from scary dreams and anxious nighttime noises. 

My husband was out at prayer meeting, leaving just us girls at home. It had been a long day and my Mommy radar was on high alert. Throughout the day, hints of bossy crankiness surfaced like submarines breaching to periscope depth on a reconnaissance mission. 
     
“I will choose the first song,” I said, then paused. Tonight, it felt important to choose a song whose words would fill her from the inside out and keep the crouching tigers at bay. What song shall I choose? I inwardly mused. What will draw us into the presence of God? Words flickered just at the periphery of my mind. Then, a flash and an answer. 
     
“Let’s sing the Lord’s prayer,” came my words thoughtful yet bright. For what could be better than to have Scripture cover us at bedtime? Afterall, the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit, piercing the enemy with a double-edged sword. 
     
“Okay,” agreed my zealous little girl. Her little nose pressed up against my cheek as she curled in for a hug. Then came the cherry on top: “Mwah!” Her lips smacked enthusiastically against my cheek in a kiss, “mwah, mwah, mwah!”

Satisfied that her work was well done, Sweet Pea once more settled herself beside me, pressing the side of her cheek against my own. Oh, how my mother’s heart overflowed like a waterfall.

“Our Father,” I began, a smile in my heart and on my lips, “who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name.”
     
“Thy Kingdom come,” joined in the sweet tones of my little girl, her child’s voice rising above my own, “Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.”

Our voices began to mingle and blend as we sang the well familiar tune. A gentle peace touched my heart and washed over my spirit as the words floated over us. 
     
“Give us this day, our daily bread.” The apples of her cheeks rose up as she grinned with pure delight. They pressed high against my own raised ones. The happy smile stretching over my own face mirrored the one on the little face beside me, almost as if she too felt the butterfly wings of the angels gathering close. There we lay, cheek to cheek with our voices blended as one in praise to the Father above. 

Joy as radiant as sunshine and a love as light as summer rain tap danced across our hearts in a waterfall of love. Love of a mother to her child, bonded through flesh, spirit, heart, and voice. Love from a child who sweetly adores and joyfully reciprocates. Love from the Father, who delights in hearing the praises of His children. Love so deep that God gave His only begotten Son to die on the cross for us that we might never know death but life eternal. 
     
Love which binds, love which knows no bounds, love that is patient and kind. Love that always protects, trusts, hopes, and always perseveres. A love which is humble yet pure, without boastfulness or pride. A love that transcends fear, chaos, discord, and the evil of man. 
     
Sweet Pea lay contentedly beside me, eyes shining. She radiated pure joy. My own heart overflowed with that quiet yet exuberant inner Light which fills you from the inside out and bubbles out from every nook and cranny. Sweet Pea peeked at me from the corner of her eye, a smile stretching over her entire face. There we cuddled, snug as bugs, united in heart and spirit with a song that spilled from our lips and welled forth from the depths of our souls. 
     
​“For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever!” We sang as one, cheek to cheek and heart to heart, “Amen! Amen!”

A Parent's Prayer​

Oh Lord, help me keep my eyes fixed upon You as I strive to do Your Will in my life and in the lives of my loved ones. Please grant me Your strength and provision for all my cares, burdens, and needs. Forgive me, oh God, when I fall short and do not do what is right for, I am weak and flawed. Yet, I plead that You will protect me against temptation and keep me from evil ways for You are powerful, glorious, and eternal. Amen.