A paraphrased parent’s prayer from the words of Isaiah 61
Scripture-prayers are powerful. When I meditate over the Bible, I notice that some
words seem to come forth from the page. There are certain messages within the verses
that seem to be planted there on the very day I need them. Some phrases become
promises, others bring correction and direction. The “rhema” of the Word is that part that
seems to jump off the page into our hearts.
Over the years, I have enjoyed meditating on the scriptures of Isaiah 61. We have even
written them into a purpose statement for Christian Cottage. Today I’m sharing a prayer
using many of these very words that could become a Parent’s Prayer for you to bring
you strength and encouragement.
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
Because the Lord has anointed me
To preach the good news of the gospel to my children.
He has sent me to comfort their broken hearts,
To proclaim freedom and liberty and teach them to be strong and free adults.
To open the doors to those places which seem bound up and frustrating;
To proclaim the greatness of the Lord’s presence in our home,
And the day of justice that God will bring in His time.
I am anointed to comfort them when they are sad,
To console them if they feel alone or isolated,
To show them God’s beauty for ashes of discouragement and difficulty;
And refresh them with the oil of God’s joy each morning;
To remember to put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That we may all be called Trees of Righteousness.
We are the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified in our lives.
You may recognize that Jesus used the Isaiah 61 verses to reveal himself as The
Messiah in the synagogue in Nazareth. (Luke 4:18) Now we are not saying that parents
are the “saviors” of their children, but only that God has anointed us as parents to
function in a very special place in their lives.
As you pray these words from Isaiah 61, we hope you will sense God’s strength and
encouragement. You are in our prayers for continued success with your children, that
God will give you the grace to help them to grow and become all that He has called
them to be. Amen