When You Lift Their Names – Part 2
Praying big prayers for our children is not just praying in a way that we are comfortable or lack belief; it is bold and purposeful.
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.” — Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)
Ministry wives carry many burdens quietly, but one of the heaviest is the constant prayerful concern for our children. As we support our husbands and serve the church, our hearts remain tethered to our sons and daughters’ spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being. It’s easy to shrink our prayers to what feels manageable or “”realistic,””—but we serve a God who deals with the impossible.
Ephesians 3:20 reminds us that God can do “”immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.”” That includes our children’schildren’s faith, friendships, futures, and failures. As women deeply embedded in ministry life, we often pray for protection: Lord, shield them from the hypocrisy they may witness. Guard their hearts from resentment. Keep them from rebellion.Those are essential prayers—but what if we also began to pray big, bold, heaven-sized prayers?
Bold prayers are not safe prayers.
Bold prayers are prayers of faith.
Bold prayers take us from what we can see to what is unseen in the spiritual realm.
Bold prayers enter into a spiritual battle for the souls of our children.
Put on the armor and stand firm – Eph. 6:10-20 (NLT)
Bold prayers realize the battle we are in for our children’s spirits, souls, and bodies. 2 Cor. 10:3-6 (NLT)
Bold prayers surrender our will to the Father’s will for our children.
What if we prayed:
- “Lord, make my daughter a worshiper who leads others into Your presence.”
- “Let my son be a man of integrity, courageous for the Gospel in a culture that mocks it.”
- “Raise them as disciple-makers, fearless and faithful in their generation.”
God isn’t limited by our comfort zones or our past experiences. He’s the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—each of whom had their flaws, and each of whom was still part of His covenant plan. He knows our children by name and invites us to partner with Him in intercession.
Don’t let ministry weariness shrink your vision for your children. When you feel unnoticed or overwhelmed, when their spiritual progress feels slow or uncertain, pray anyway. Pray bigger. Trust deeper.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Have I limited my prayers for my children based on fear or disappointment?
- What are one or two bold, specific prayers I can start praying over my children today?
- How can I renew my confidence in God’s ability to do more than I can imagine?
Prayer:
Lord, You see my children more clearly than I ever could. You know their potential, purpose, and place in Your Kingdom. Forgive me for the times I’ve prayed small out of fear or fatigue. Today, I ask for more—more faith, more courage, more vision for my children’s lives. I trust You to do immeasurably more than I can imagine. Make them mighty in spirit, rooted in grace, and bold in truth. In Jesus’Jesus’ name, Amen.