“To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)

Father, the life I want most for those I love is one that pleases you, that you would find delight in, that you could use for your honor and for your highest glory. Would you grant that they would each reflect your character the way water reflects the sun’s rays – a life that sparkles and shines and directs the attention of others to a relationship with you.

May those I love walk in obedience to you, trusting you for all the sharp curves in the road, all the bumps and detours along the way. When they cannot see you up ahead, may they have the faith to believe that you are there, nevertheless, and to continue keeping on faithfully as you direct their steps.

Would you fill them with your Holy Spirit so he is the one directing their lives, and the one completely in charge. Would you pour your love through them so those nearby long to know you too. Father, please give them a boldness to lead others down the path to you, proclaiming the gospel to their generation. Let their faith in who you are and what you can do be true and strong, their love for you sincere, their dependence on you steady and unwavering regardless of the circumstances swirling in their lives.

May they act like followers of the Lord Jesus all the days of their life, devoted to him in love, listening to his voice, resting in the strength of his presence. Would you guard their hearts from the fear of the unknown, from the fear of failure, from the fear of doing the hard thing. May you give them a spirit of contentment that eliminates the clutch of greed which would call them to pursue lesser plans than you desire for them.

Help them to remain humble, to elevate you every chance they get, to bow before you as your servant, realizing that serving you is their highest possible calling. During times of adversity, may they turn their face to you, seeking you in the darkened hours, waiting on you in the stillness when you seem far away and silent.

May joy be the primary color on their wheel, vibrant joy that infuses them with wonder and invites them to celebrate the beauty of life with all its complex, inexplicable ways. May they see you as the source of the goodness and blessings they enjoy and, in turn, be people of praise who choose to worship you with all their heart, strength, and mind.

Loving Father, overrule any of these requests that you consider unworthy. Above all else, I pray that your perfect will would be accomplished in their lives. That your purpose and your plans for each of them would prevail. That they would be significant and successful on your scale of measurement, not mine.

Thank you for gifting my life with them. I know your love for them far exceeds mine. I entrust them to you, again. And again.

“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one…May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ” (2 Thessalonians 3:3,5).

Elizabeth Karram Mitchell