As we’ve been talking about prayer this month, I’ve been thinking about how we might use prayer to help protect our kids. The world is a scary place – and I don’t know about you, but it feels to me like there are just so very many frightening and potentially bad things to worry about when we send our kids out on their own, whether it’s to school (nursery school or college, or anything in between), a playdate, sports or other activities, or even just outside to play.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could place an invisible shield of protection all around them, so the bad stuff would all bounce right off?

It’s not magic, but there is a way to help protect your kids. Our pastors use it when they send the people out into the world at the end of each worship service. They ask, “Will you receive a blessing?”
A blessing is a special sort of prayer, asking for God’s favor, grace and protection. There are a number of them in the Bible, but here are a couple of my favorites:

The Lord bless you and protect you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his face to you and grant you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14)

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:7)

Praying a blessing is a great way to remind your child of how much you love and want to protect him (and God loves him even more). It reminds us too of how very precious and special each child is – to us and to God. (Sometimes, in the midst of the craziness of life, we need a reminder to slow down and really enjoy our kids, too.) And what better message to give your child at the start of each day than this: “I love you beyond words. God loves you even more than that. You carry our love with you all day.”
So here’s how:

• Choose one of the blessings above, or another one from the Bible, or make up your own.
• Touch your child – place your hand on their heads or shoulders, or hug them.
• Pray the blessing – share the words simply and directly.
• Make it a habit – share the blessing everyday as a part of your routine of leaving the house or of starting the day (on the way to the bus or car, before or after breakfast, whatever works in your family).

Share a blessing with your child, starting tomorrow. It really can make a big difference.