We join with you in lifting up our little ones before the Lord Jesus, for He has such a tender heart for children and we share your burden for their protection and their growth in Him.
We thank God that you have brought this before the throne so faithfully, remembering that it is written, See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for we tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of our Father who is in heaven, Matthew 18:10, and that it would be better for one to have a millstone hung around his neck and be thrown into the sea than to cause one of these little ones to stumble, Luke 17:2. The Lord takes the care of children personally, and we take comfort that He sees and He guards.
We also rejoice with you in praying that from infancy they would know the holy Scriptures which are able to make them wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus, 2 Timothy 3:15. We pray that early they would know His love, because we love Him because He first loved us, 1 John 4:10, and that the love of God would be poured out in their hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us, Romans 5:5.
We pray together now.
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ Your Son, we thank You for Jesus our Good Shepherd, for He is the good shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep, John 10:11. We thank You for every child, our own youngsters, their cousins, nieces and nephews, friends, and all the children of our extended families and of those who gather with us in faith. We ask You to heed Your promise that You will give Your angels charge over them, to keep them in all their ways, Psalm 91:11, and that the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and delivers them, Psalm 34:7. We ask You to shepherd them as You have promised, that You will feed Your flock like a shepherd, You will gather the lambs in Your arm, and carry them in Your bosom, Isaiah 40:11, and to comfort them with Your rod and Your staff, that they may not fear, Psalm 23:4.
Lord Jesus, we ask You to stand and shepherd Your flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord Your God, that they may dwell securely, Micah 5:4. Feed them with wisdom and knowledge as a shepherd after Your own heart, Jeremiah 3:15, and keep them from the evil one, 1 John 5:18. We put on Your armor upon them and upon us, that they may stand against the schemes of the devil, Ephesians 6:11, and we pray You would deliver them from evil people and impostors who proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived, 2 Timothy 3:13, and from wolves who would enter in among the flock, Acts 20:29. Heal any hurt among our youth, strengthen those who are weary and heavy laden, and give them rest as You promised, Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest, Matthew 11:28.
We submit ourselves to You, God, and resist the devil, trusting Your promise that he will flee from us, James 4:7, and we rest in Your authority, for all authority has been given to Jesus in heaven and on earth, Matthew 28:18. We cast all our worries on You, because You care for us, 1 Peter 5:7, believing that You cause all things to work together for good for those who love You, Romans 8:28, and that You work all things after the counsel of Your will, Ephesians 1:11, for the furtherance of the Good News, Philippians 1:12.
We thank You that You hear us when we pray according to Your will, and we thank You in advance, trusting that whatever we ask in prayer, believing, we will receive, Mark 11:24. Keep our children pure in heart and mind, guard their eyes and ears from evil, strengthen the mothers and fathers among us to watch over them diligently and to raise them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, Ephesians 6:4, and empower us by Your Holy Spirit to continue in intercession with power to comprehend the breadth and length and height and depth of Your love, Ephesians 3:18.
We entrust them fully into Your hands, our Great Shepherd, and we ask all this in the mighty and only name by which we are saved, Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.