A Spiritual Battle - Praying for Your Child from Head to Toe

“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (Ephesians 6:17-18, NIV)

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12, NIV)

All we have to do is watch the nightly news or listen to our kids talk about what they heard on the school bus to know that we are in a battle for their hearts and minds.

Interestingly, Paul refers to prayer in the context of warfare in Ephesians 6:10-18.

A spiritual battle is going on all around us—always has been and always will be. What began in Genesis 3 continues today. Paul urges us to be spiritually prepared and physically alert. He emphasizes this again in his second letter to the Corinthians: “Though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:3-4).

What are the weapons Paul is talking about? Prayer and God’s Word. Look back at Ephesians 6. Only one part of the armor is not defensive but offensive: “the sword of Spirit, which is the word of God” (v. 17).

How did Jesus win the battle against the devil in the wilderness? With Scripture! Every time Satan tempted Jesus to disobey His Father and take control of His own life, Jesus struck down the lies of the enemy with the Word of God.

“It is written” was the sword Jesus used to win the war (see Matthew 4:4, 6-7, 10). And that is what we use to win spiritual battles as well. God’s Word is living and powerful. It is sharper than a double-edged sword (see Hebrews 4:12).

As believers, we have authority over the enemy who seeks to harm our children (see Luke 10:19). Through prayer, the enemy’s plans are intercepted; the principalities and authorities are defeated. Through prayer, the power and provision of God flow into the lives of His people.

Pray the following verses over your child:

• Hands — (Gifts and talents) Whatever my child sets out to do, I pray they will do it with all their might—enthusiastically and excellently. (Ecclesiastes 9:10)
• Ring Finger — (Future spouse) Father, I pray You will protect my child’s future spouse from the evil one in each area of this individual’s life: spiritual, emotional, and physical. (John 17:15)
• The Side — (Influential relationships) I pray my child will form godly friendships with wise people and become wise. I pray they will flee ungodly relationships with foolish people who might lead them in the wrong direction. (Proverbs 13:20)
• Sexuality — (Sexual purity and identity) I pray my child will always remember that they are a temple of the Holy Spirit who was bought by the blood of Jesus. I pray my child will honor You with their body in all they do. In Jesus’ name, Amen. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)