Category — Family

My little girl, Zoe, just turned one.  We celebrated her birthday with the usual fare of cake and cookies.  We took a lot of photos and captured some video.  The grandparents broke out presents and all had a good time. Everyone except for me.

To be totally honest with you, I’m aggravated that she is getting older.  Something is already ticking inside telling me that my time with Zoe is going to go by fast and that I had better make the most of every moment.  That protecting-shepherding-connecting chemistry thing that people tell you is between fathers and their daughters is real (at least in my case).  I really feel the weight of loving and investing into her life in such a way that will produce spiritual fruit.  I also feel totally inept to see this happen…

And so I am learning to pray for her.  I pray for Zoe (and Levi) in the morning, at night, and every moment in between that they enter into my mind.  I pray over them while they sleep, when I change their diapers (lots of opportunities there) and when I am driving home from work.  Most of my prayers are quiet inclinations of my heart that rise for both practical and spiritual things.  Some of my prayers are out loud with them as I lay them down for sleep.  Still other prayers are pleas with God to help me not to mess them up (please break every cycle, pattern, tendency or sinful rythym that I might pass generationally).  Often, it just gets down to, “Please God, have mercy on them.”

I started writing down some of the things that I am praying for them and I thought that I would share it with you in the hope that it will help you pray for your children or grandchildren (if you don’t have kids feel the freedom to pray for mine). I am guessing that the older my children get the more specific and situational my praying will become. As well, I would love to hear from you if you have some good suggestions for my list. But for now, I am sowing these prayers for them:

• That she would be a follower of Jesus Christ with strong faith
• That she would be a lover of God who lived her life as unto the Lord
• That she would be pure in thought and action; sexually and morally whole; protected through her choice of holiness above all
• That she would read, love, hunger, meditate, memorize, and apply the Word of God
• That she would be submissive and trusting
• That she would be discerning and wise beyond herself
• That she would hold a sensitivity to the Spirit and to the people around her that would allow powerful ministry
• That she would know that she is loved by the Beloved Himself, secure and significant in her creation and beauty (that she would not look outside for esteem)
• That she would be humble toward God and others but full of faith in God that all things are possible
• That she would love the church, the Bride of Christ (that it would not become so familiar that she become numb or bored but that her appreciation for its beauty would intensify as she grows up in community)
• That she would love and be a good receiver of love
• That she would have a world view that allows her to see that the world is bigger than her and God loves all peoples
• That she would receive Gods conviction and correction when she sins
• That she would be respectful of her parents, grandparents, and others
• That she would be protected from rebellion
• That she would be surrounded by witnesses of all ages that would move her forward to completion
• That she would marry someone who loves God and her without restraint, who calls the great things out of her, who compliments and balances her and has the capacity to lead her spiritually
• And finally, that she would be a lot like her mother, Lynnette

Well, that’s my list at this point in time.  If you’ve got some suggestions for me, please send them to me.  Happy Birthday Zoe!