Keep My Children Safe, Lord

My children's safety. I pray for it "daily." Mat rides bike every day -- rain, snow, ice, heat, and even on those occasional Minnesota-best-for-riding-bike-type days. April leaves home about 3:30 a.m. and let's just say, (and she would agree) we have different driving styles.

I still pray for their safety but my attitude is changing along with my prayers.

Jim Daly in "Stronger" writes about recording artist Danny Oertli. One night, Danny prayed for his adopted son Jack: "Lord, put a bubble around him and let nothing ever happen to this kid. Keep him safe emotionally and physically and spiritually."

One night, however, God caused Danny to remember struggles in his life -- times when Danny had nowhere else to turn but to God. In his memory, those are sacred times. "Danny realized," writes Jim Daly, "that he didn't want Jack to be safe. He wanted Jack to love Jesus."

If you had to choose, would you have your children safe or loving Jesus? That is SO tough!

God,
You know that, if it were possible, I'd spare my children every pain I could -- be it physical, emotional, financial, or relational. But God, like Danny Oertil, one of the times I felt You closest and one of the times Your voice seemed the clearest was when I was so broken I didn't know where to find the pieces. So God, I place the hearts and lives of my children in Your hands. There is no safer place for them to be. When they struggle and hurt and when confusion overwhelms, give them a heart to run to You. And let me, as a parent trust You. In Jesus Name, Amen.

How do "you" pray for your children? Marge shared that she prays for her chldren to forever walk with the Lord. Wow! That's a great place to start. Thanks Marge.

Forever Growing,
Lonnie

** Stronger by Jim Daly with James Lund (p. 99-100); David C. Cook Publishing 2010