Praying for protection
John 17:15: "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one" (NIV).
Knowing He would soon be leaving the disciples, Jesus prayed for them before His crucifixion. What a great model to follow in praying for our children! We live in a hostile world greatly influenced by Satan and our tendency can be to hold on to our kids too tightly. Instead of helping them become independent of us and dependent on God, our fears may cause us to make parenting decisions that foster reliance on us.
If anyone knew the reality of spiritual warfare, it was Jesus. His prayer, however, demonstrated confidence in the character and power of God to guard his disciples. In the same way, we can prepare to "leave" our kids by letting go a little bit each day. We do this by giving them age-appropriate responsibilities and by allowing them to experience the consequences of their choices. It is an act of faith to trust this process to God's plan and protection rather than giving in to fear-driven control.
Relinquish control of your kids to the One who will protect them.
