The call came at 4 a.m., a month before we were expecting it. “Mom, Erin just had an emergency C-section. We have a tiny baby girl. Can you come soon?” Of course my answer was yes. I was on a plane the next day to Edinburgh, Scotland, where Eric was working on his doctorate. Soon I held our first grandchild, Kathryn Grace, in my arms as the tears of joy and gratitude flowed—and the prayers. Prayers for this tiny new princess.
Oh, Lord, thank You for this little girl. Call her to claim you as the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent (John 17:3). Fill her with all the fullness of God (Eph. 3:19). When her heart is searching for happiness and security, let her find her rest in You alone (Ps. 62:1). Give her the gift of counting Your instruction and wisdom more valuable than the most costly gold and jewels (Prov. 8:8–11).
Help her to store up Your Word in her heart, protecting her from sin (Ps. 119:11). Let her heart always say, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’” (Ps. 122:1). Let her flourish in Your courts (Ps. 92:13).
As her body grows into the beautiful woman You have created, develop within her the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to You (1 Peter 3:4). May she be like the corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace (Ps. 144:12), living a life of noble stability.
Keep her from being a lover of her own self (2 Tim. 3:2), from being wise in her own eyes and leaning on her own understanding (Prov. 3:5–7). May she be as fearless as Sarah (1 Peter 3:6), as loyal as Ruth (Ruth 1:16–17), as discerning as Abigail (1 Sam. 25:3), and as faith-filled as Mary (Luke 1:38).
Protect her and her future husband as they go through their teen years. Give them purity of mind and body so they can enter their marriage free of shameful memories and uncomplicated by past relationships (Heb. 13:4). Give her a man who loves You with all his heart, one who will nourish and cherish her, as You do Your Bride (Eph. 5:29).
When she marries, help her to do her husband good, and not harm all the days of her life. Let their marriage be one of deep trust and joy. Help her to look well to the ways of her household, making her home a foretaste of heaven. Clothe her with strength and dignity. (Prov. 31:11–12, 25, 27).
When you bless her with children, open her mouth to tell them Your glorious deeds, Your might, and the wonders You have done, so that the coming generations will set their hope in You (Ps. 78:3–7; Ps. 79:13). Let her walk with You be irresistibly beautiful to her family (Deut. 4:9).
Make her flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar. When she nears the end of her life, keep her heart young and fresh, always ready to speak of Your goodness (Ps. 92:12–15; Ps. 71:17–18).
Oh, Father, take this little girl and build her into a mighty woman of God, for Your kingdom’s sake. Pour Your Spirit upon our family so the truths my little princess hears coming from my mouth will be heard by her children from her mouth. Make our faith a generational faith in our descendants forever. Let not one of ours wander from You until we all gather round Your throne (Isa. 59:21; Jer. 32:39).
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
What do you pray for your little girl? What prayers have you seen answered in the lives of your daughters?
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