Revelation 22

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb flowing down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and the servants will serve Him. For they will see His face, and His Name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night, they will not need the light of the lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.” Revelation 22:1-5 (NIV)
 
A Prayer Over Our Children
Oh God, may my children serve You and see Your face within Your holy city. I pray they will behold Your marvelous wonders and know Your glorious truths. Place Your Name upon their foreheads and illuminate them with Your Light. Give them wisdom, understanding, and knowledge of the things soon to come. Bless them through the keeping of the words of Your prophecy. May they fall in worship of You who is the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Wash their robes, oh Lord, so they may eat of Your tree of life and enter Your city gates. Quench their thirst, I pray, and let them come, blessing them with the free gift of Your living water. Come, Lord Jesus, come and bless my children with Your grace.
 
Revelation
Today, I sit. Thoughts flow. Questions hover. Gratitude envelops and awe abounds. As I pen this prayer of the last book and chapter of the Bible, memories surge.
    
Four years ago, I embarked upon this mission to use the Word of God as the double-edged sword of the Spirit in prayer over my daughter. Much has changed since then. Friends, communities, vehicles, and even jobs. Sweet Pea, too, has changed. No longer does she mispronounce words or brim with tears when at school. Gone are the sippy cups and toddler sizes. Goodbye to the days of picking or scooping her up in my arms.
    
Some things are the same. my little girl still loves to play. Legos and Hatchimals abound. With the same excitement as her first sung words, Sweet Pea still sings with enthusiastic abandon. We still live in our blessing of a home. And I still love to write.
    
Looking back, it seemed ridiculous, even impossible, to traverse from Galatians to Revelations in prayer and writing. I wondered if I would ever make it. And I wondered if it would make a difference.
    
Did it? Has it? I can only speak for my family and myself. But yes. It has. Whether it has simply been God’s grace, intentional parenting, or prayers galore, Sweet Pea walks with the Lord. Even at her young age, she weighs her decisions against the Word and prays for God’s wisdom. Of course, like all of us, she rebels and makes mistakes. And some days, I despair of ever teaching her self-control over her tongue, behaviors, and attitudes. But God keeps calling and she keeps following.
    
What about me? Many things have I learned from this prayer journey. One valuable truth I gleaned is how Scripture gives power and authority in prayer. It firms our footing, clasps high the shield of faith, and wields the sword of the spirit with deadly blow. It goes before our children. It surrounds, fills, and covers. It transforms. It renews.
    
For myself, I am amazed how reading and praying through the Bible metamorphosized me. I have fallen deeper in love with Jesus. I Treasure His Word more dearly and understand more clearly. It changed me from the inside out. It has given me new eyes in which to see.
    
As a wife, I find myself serving  my husband with deeper gratitude, more eager to support and follow. As a parent, greater gentleness and grace salt my words of correction while also arming me with Truth in love. And as an individual, God’s Word has filled me to overflowing. Each day my identity is found more in Christ and less in the world. Each day, I grow in peace with my weaknesses and find strength in my Lord.
     Now inches and feet taller, Sweet Pea has quickly gained ground against my small stature.

     “I’m gonna be taller than you!” she gloats, saluting against my breastbone. I smile down on her. In a few short years, she will be the one grinning down at me.

     “I hope so,” I remark. And I do. But where my daughter’s statement extended only to physical stature, mine encompasses more. Yes, prayer for healthy physical development. But just as important, perhaps even more so, prayers for spiritual growth. Pleas for an ever expanding shield of protection and covering. Petitions to God that our children will grow taller in their faith and deeper in their walk with Jesus to tower over their parents with greater humility, grace, and faith.

     Yes, praying Scripture over our children makes a difference. For the better. Both in them, and in us. Keep on praying my fellow parents and grandparents. Use God’s Word to guide and guard you. Wield it as a weapon in your lives and in the lives of those whom you love. Keep on praying.
 

A Parents Prayer
Thank You Lord for Your Word. May it be a lamp unto my feet and light to my path. Help me be a faithful steward of Your mysteries and Your humble servant. Guide me by Your Word, oh God, and help me to live it out in my life, my family’s life, and the world around me. Amen                 .