God’s Lavish Love - Praying for Your Child from Head to Toe

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.” (Ephesians 1:7-8, NIV)

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1, NIV)

“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16, NIV)

Some pray as though trying to pry God’s blessings out of a stingy, relenting hand. Oh friend, He’s not hoarding His favor, waiting for us to say the right words. Prayer is simply opening the storehouse of heaven for lavish blessings He already wants to give.

Scripture describes His love and His blessings as being “lavished” on us (Ephesians 1:7-8). John wrote, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God” (1 John 3:1). He didn’t simply use the word given but lavished. The root word, lavish, means to superabound, be in excess, be superfluous. There’s nothing stingy about that.

While God longs to lavish us with His goodness, He often waits for us to ask. Jesus tells us that the Father knows what we need before we ask (see Matthew 6:8), yet He waits for us to pray and ask before meeting the need (see Matthew 7:7-8). James reminds us, “You do not have because you do not ask God” (James 4:2).

We don’t need to understand it fully. Prayer is simply the way God chose to engineer the flow of His power and activity from the spiritual realm into the physical realm. Prayer is the conduit through which God’s power is released and His will is brought to earth as it is in heaven.

James wrote “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16). And if you know Jesus as Savior and Lord, then you are righteous and holy because of what He has done for you and in you (see 1 Corinthians 1:30). Your prayers for your child are powerful and effective!

Pray the following verses over your child:

• Mouth — (The words they speak) I pray the words of my child’s mouth and the meditation of their heart will be pleasing in Your sight, Lord, our Rock and Redeemer. I pray their words will be acceptable, agreeable, and honorable to You. (Psalm 19:14)
• Neck — (The decisions that turn their heads) I pray my child will pay attention to godly instruction and learn good judgment—that they will follow wise counsel so that they will have a long, good life. I pray my child will make wise decisions that lead to straight paths so that they will move forward and not backward, run and not fall. (Proverbs 4:10-13)
• Shoulders — (Their burdens and worries) Thank You, Lord, for going before my child and always being with them. Help them remember that You will never leave nor forsake those who follow You, no matter what. Give my child the kind of solid faith that is not afraid of what the future holds or discouraged when circumstances become challenges. Help them trust in Your sovereign plan. In Jesus’ name, Amen. (Deuteronomy 31:8)