We join with you in lifting up your children before the Lord, knowing that He cares deeply for their hearts and their growth. It is wonderful to see you seeking God’s will for them in this moment, and we pray that this tournament will be a time of learning, joy, and unity for your family.
The Bible reminds us in **Proverbs 22:6**, *"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."* You are doing just that by nurturing their gifts and teaching them godly character. For your son, we pray that he would compete with excellence, not for the sake of winning alone, but to honor God in his efforts. May he experience the joy of using the abilities the Lord has given him, whether in victory or in learning from challenges. As **Colossians 3:23** tells us, *"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men."*
For your daughter, we ask the Lord to guard her heart against envy or comparison, which can so easily take root in young hearts. Instead, may she rejoice in her brother’s opportunities and trust that God has a perfect timing and plan for her own life. **Philippians 2:3-4** encourages us, *"Doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself; each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others."* May she grow in contentment and sibling love, knowing that her turn will come in the Lord’s timing.
We also pray that this experience would draw your family closer together, that your children would see your trust in the Lord and learn to lean on Him in all things. May they witness your faith and be encouraged to seek God’s will in their own lives.
Let us pray together:
*Heavenly Father, we come before You with thanksgiving for these precious children, fearfully and wonderfully made in Your image. We ask that You would be with this son tomorrow as he competes in his first chess tournament. Grant him a sharp mind, a calm spirit, and a heart that seeks to glorify You in every move. Whether he wins or faces challenges, may he grow in wisdom, resilience, and humility. Help him to enjoy the experience and to learn from it, knowing that his worth is found in You alone.
Lord, we lift up this daughter as she watches her brother. Protect her heart from envy or insecurity, and fill her instead with joy and excitement for her brother’s opportunity. Teach her to trust in Your perfect timing for her life, and may she support her brother with love and encouragement. Help her to see that her value is not in what she does or when she does it, but in who she is in Christ.
Father, we pray that this family would be united in love and faith, that these children would grow up to serve You with all their hearts. May their parents continue to guide them in Your truth, and may Your peace reign in their home. We ask all this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who alone is worthy of all praise and glory. Amen.*