Prayer For Kids Vulnerable to the COVID-19 Virus and In So Many Other Heartbreaking Situations

 Children

Listen to these lovely words from Psalm 116:

I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!

Psalm 116:1-2

What a lovely picture of God that gives us doesn’t it.  It reminds us of a parent bending down to speak to a toddler and looking them right in the eye with full attention and a desire to hear every little word they have to say.

This picture of a dear child beloved by it’s parent is one used more than once in the Bible.  The prophet Hosea reminded God’s people of His love for them even though they were rebellious (like a “Terrible Two’s” child) and moved away from God.  It was God who taught them how to walk and healed them, who was always so gracious and kind in His dealings with them

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.

Hosea 11:1-4

Many of us are familiar with Jesus and the children.  When His followers sought to keep kids from Jesus – because they had no social standing in their time –

Jesus said:  “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

Matthew 19:14-15

So let’s pray for children today and for ourselves to be open and receive the overwhelming joy and love of our Good Father for us.

Heavenly Father, we are so grateful for Your enduring love for us.  We too often live like rebellious little kids and how it hurts Your heart to see the pain we cause ourselves because of it.  Yet, just like a parent comforts and cares for a wounded little one, despite the behaviour behind the injury, so You stand ready to receive us when we turn from our sin and turn to You for forgiveness and healing  We do that today with thanks for the generosity of Your patience with us and love for us.  Lift us up. Comfort and heal us. Steady us with Your strong presence.  Teach us how to walk with You today.  We place our hand in Yours.

But today we particularly want to pray for children.  They are living in a time like no other.  They hear so much unsettling news and we pray for you to settle their hearts in spite of it all.  They are having to put on masks as they go here and there.  Give them unusual ability to adapt to new practices like mask wearing and extra hygiene practices.  The idea of physical distancing seems so foreign to the make-up of kids but we pray that they will be able to learn and put into practice those measures that will keep them safe and keep the spread of the virus at bay.

We pray for parents and teachers and care gives of kids that you will sustain them during this time of extra work and vigilance.  We bless grandparents who are so often isolated from these little ones. Comfort them and make creative ways for them to have interaction with these little ones,

We also want to bring those children who fall ill with the virus to You, Loving Father, for healing and comfort.  We know there are unique complications with some of these kids who fall ill.  Bring healing and relief.  Surround these kids with Your loving care.  Give wisdom to doctors and health care providers as they work with them.

But there are so many other children who suffer today in refugee camps, in squalor, in abusive situations where they are not yet identified, victims of human trafficking and child porn and on and on.  Our hearts are grieved and filled with sadness at the hardship these kids have to endure.  Minister to them today, we pray.  Bring along those who can provide help and release from suffering and the ugliness of exploitation and abuse.  We bless those children who are unwanted by their parents and ask that Your love, Heavenly Father would lift them up and that other adults surrounding them would bless them in deep and caring ways.  We pray for orphaned children that they could find a home in a loving family. 

We pray for every unborn child living and growing today in their mother’s womb.  Lord, You are the one who is knitting their bodies  together in an amazing way so they can grow up in Your image and likeness to love You and be a blessing to other on the earth.  We pray that the lives of unborn children would be spared, that even if the time of conception seems inconvenient that the parents will learn to love and cherish these kids and nurture them and raise them up in the love of God.

And so today, for those just conceived to those drawing their last breath we pray:  The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26