PRAYING FOR CHILDREN

There’s lots of talk in the news these days about whether students should go back to school after the holiday break.  Today would traditionally be the first day back.  Different places making different decisions. I thought today would be a good time to pray for children. 

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because God’s kingdom belongs to people who are like these children.”  Matthew 19:14  

In Matthew 18 we read about a lovely encounter Jesus had with children.  This is what it says:

About that time the followers came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in God’s kingdom?”  Jesus called a little child to come to him. He stood the child in front of the followers. Then He said, “The truth is, you must change your thinking and become like little children. If you don’t do this, you will never enter God’s kingdom. The greatest person in God’s kingdom is the one who makes himself humble like this child.  Matthew 18:1-3

Heavenly Father, We give thanks for children and their curiosity and creativity and their loving hearts as they laugh and learn and sing songs and do all sorts of things to celebrate life. We pray this will be a time where their hearts are actually trained in loving and caring and community and moved away from the distractions and personal needs that can sometimes overtake all of us in our consumer world.  Let respect for God and care for others find a place of deep rootedness in their hearts that will carry them forward.

We pray for protection of the minds and hearts of children as they are touched day by day with news of overwhelming problems.  We don’t quite know how all this affects them but we pray for protection, comfort, and peace for their hearts and minds as they hear things parents say or things on the news  Too many kids think things that have nothing to do with them are their fault and we pray for this kind of lie to not rest on their hearts.

For children who have lost a parent or grandparent or other loved one to this virus: bring comfort and fill even their minds and hearts with the sweetness of memories of times spent with these loved ones.  Bring others alongside during these times in safe ways to support them and explain things as best they can to them and to help them as they work through these significant events in their daily living.

We pray for those children who live in poverty and are hungry today.  May their parents find the supports and food that are available.  We pray for kids who live with anger and violence an abuse.  Protect them, God, we implore you.  Put a shield around them that stops these harsh attacks on their bodies and souls.  Show them ways they can reach out and link up with support.  Give them peace  Calm their fears and help them to be safe today.

We bring children and their caregivers to You today.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen