Silas
Beloved of All
Your prayer for the little ones is precious and it reflects the heart of God Himself. Thank you for bringing your children, their cousins, nieces and nephews, friends and extended family before the Lord. Jesus showed how deeply He values children when He said their angels always see the face of the Father, and when He warned that it would be better for a millstone to be hung around a person's neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.
We join you in thanking God for Jesus as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep. He is the one who carries the lambs close to His heart, who leads with His rod and staff, who gives rest and restores the soul. We ask Him to give His angels charge over each child you named and each child among the fellowship of believers, that He would camp around those who fear Him and keep them from harm. We pray Psalm 91 over them, that the Lord would be their refuge and shelter, and that He would guard their eyes, ears, minds and bodies from evil.
Part of that protection is learning what Scripture teaches about evil itself. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. That hatred of evil is the beginning of wisdom, because God Himself hates evil. Evil always seeks to be tolerated and asks us to compromise a little at a time, but love for children means we do not make peace with what would harm them. We are called to depart from evil and to teach our children to do the same. That also means we do not accept the justifications people offer for evil. Evil cannot be justified, even when people say they were made this way or that their desires should be accepted without question. God's word is clear that the heart set on wickedness simply desires evil, and we are to have no fellowship with it.
Scripture also warns about the person whose eye is toward evil. This is not superstition about a hex, but a description of a heart and mind that looks for evil and delights in it. Jesus warned that if the eye is evil the whole person is darkened. So we pray for discernment for you as parents and guardians, and for all who care for children, to recognize those who have an eye toward evil, whether they appear as strangers or even as religious leaders. The word warns that there will be wolves among the flock and imposters who mislead, and we must be on guard.
History reminds us how seriously God takes the harm of children. In ancient times the nations around Israel practiced child sacrifice to their idols, and Scripture calls that an abomination. God did not overlook it. He sees every child and He will not let evil against them go unanswered. At the same time we are told not to fret or be envious because of evildoers. Their way will be put out, while the Lord preserves those who trust Him.
We also join you in praying that these little ones would know the Holy Scriptures from their youth, which are able to make them wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. We ask that God would shed His love abroad in their hearts by the Holy Spirit, that they would grow in knowledge and understanding of the breadth and depth of His love, and that He would strengthen them to stand firm in spiritual battles. We pray for healing for any who have been hurt, and for strength for mothers and fathers who watch over them with love.
We submit all of this to the counsel of God's will, trusting that He works all things together for good and for the furtherance of the gospel. We submit to God, resist the devil in the authority of Jesus, and put on the armor of God, believing that the church built on Christ will prevail. We cast all our cares on Him because He cares for you and for every child you have lifted up, and we ask Him to draw each one, and those who are weary and heavy laden, to find rest in Him. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
We join you in thanking God for Jesus as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep. He is the one who carries the lambs close to His heart, who leads with His rod and staff, who gives rest and restores the soul. We ask Him to give His angels charge over each child you named and each child among the fellowship of believers, that He would camp around those who fear Him and keep them from harm. We pray Psalm 91 over them, that the Lord would be their refuge and shelter, and that He would guard their eyes, ears, minds and bodies from evil.
Part of that protection is learning what Scripture teaches about evil itself. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. That hatred of evil is the beginning of wisdom, because God Himself hates evil. Evil always seeks to be tolerated and asks us to compromise a little at a time, but love for children means we do not make peace with what would harm them. We are called to depart from evil and to teach our children to do the same. That also means we do not accept the justifications people offer for evil. Evil cannot be justified, even when people say they were made this way or that their desires should be accepted without question. God's word is clear that the heart set on wickedness simply desires evil, and we are to have no fellowship with it.
Scripture also warns about the person whose eye is toward evil. This is not superstition about a hex, but a description of a heart and mind that looks for evil and delights in it. Jesus warned that if the eye is evil the whole person is darkened. So we pray for discernment for you as parents and guardians, and for all who care for children, to recognize those who have an eye toward evil, whether they appear as strangers or even as religious leaders. The word warns that there will be wolves among the flock and imposters who mislead, and we must be on guard.
History reminds us how seriously God takes the harm of children. In ancient times the nations around Israel practiced child sacrifice to their idols, and Scripture calls that an abomination. God did not overlook it. He sees every child and He will not let evil against them go unanswered. At the same time we are told not to fret or be envious because of evildoers. Their way will be put out, while the Lord preserves those who trust Him.
We also join you in praying that these little ones would know the Holy Scriptures from their youth, which are able to make them wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. We ask that God would shed His love abroad in their hearts by the Holy Spirit, that they would grow in knowledge and understanding of the breadth and depth of His love, and that He would strengthen them to stand firm in spiritual battles. We pray for healing for any who have been hurt, and for strength for mothers and fathers who watch over them with love.
We submit all of this to the counsel of God's will, trusting that He works all things together for good and for the furtherance of the gospel. We submit to God, resist the devil in the authority of Jesus, and put on the armor of God, believing that the church built on Christ will prevail. We cast all our cares on Him because He cares for you and for every child you have lifted up, and we ask Him to draw each one, and those who are weary and heavy laden, to find rest in Him. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
