Praying Through Your Child's Room

It's quiet this morning. I'm alone in the house, which is odd for a Sunday morning. We attend church on Saturday nights, so we often enjoy family time on Sunday mornings. Every other week, Luke goes out to a friend's house where he meets with 4 other men for Bible Study. This particular morning, Kyle is out there, too, playing with the sons of the other men in the group and Bethany is back up at the church enjoying her new job working in the cafe. So, I found myself alone this morning on the couch enjoying the peace and quiet. I've been reading my Daily Bible, praying through our day and praying through our week. Awhile ago I was prompted, for some reason, to get up and go pray through my children's rooms.

There is a wonderful chapter regarding this in Stormie Omartian's book, The Power of a Praying Parent. I love what she has to say. For some reason as I was praying this morning I was prompted to go in the other room and grab this book, turn to this particular chapter and pray the prayer that she has written. The last statement she makes before the prayer in the chapter is this:

"This is not a superstitious little ritual. This is a powerful claiming of your home, your child, and all aspects of his life for God. It's standing up and proclaiming, 'As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord' (Joshua 24:15.) It's saying, 'My home is sanctified and set apart for God's glory.' "

So I have prayed the following prayer in each of my children's rooms this morning, and for some reason I felt like I should post it here. It could be that perhaps some of your children's rooms could use a "spiritual housecleaning" as well:

"Lord,
I invite Your Holy Spirit to dwell in this room, which belongs to (name of child). You are Lord over heaven and earth, and I proclaim that You are Lord over this room as well. Flood it with Your light and life. Crowd out any darkness which seeks to impose itself here, and let no spirits of fear, depression, anger, doubt, anxiety, rebelliousness, or hatred (name anything you've seen manifested in your child's behavior) find any place here. I pray that nothing will come into this room that is not brought by You, Lord. If there is anything here that shouldn't be, show me so it can be taken out.
Put Your complete protection over this room so that evil cannot enter here by any means. Fill this room with Your love, peace and joy. I pray that my child will say, as David did, "I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set nothing wicked before my eyes" (Psalm 101:2-3). I pray that You, Lord, will make this room a holy place, sanctified for Your glory." Amen.

At the moment I can hear the strains of praise music coming from upstairs, where I have it playing in both of their rooms. I'm not sure why the Lord prompted me to go up there this morning, but I'm glad He did. He's been to all of their tomorrows, and He's been inside their hearts lately. He knows exactly what's going on and what's coming. The song floating out of their rooms at this very minute is "It Is Well With My Soul." Oh, how I praise Him for that assurance, for myself and for my children. Thank you, Lord.

Pour out your heart like water

before the face of the Lord.

Lift your hands toward Him for the

life of your young children.

Lamentations 2:19