Recently, I was asked to write a prayer on behalf of families for the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast in my hometown. Since the prayer was released, I have felt led to continually pray for families in this season. God’s divine favor and protection is the definition of a blessing. There is no better time than now to ask God for His divine favor and protection over the beauty of family. Amid these chaotic few years, relationships in marriage, with children and relatives have experienced stress and tension. As people preach unity, division is tugging on strength and trying to loosen its tight grips. But Jesus. Jesus is and will always be the center of it all, and when we continually keep our grip on Him, nothing can separate what God has put together.
I just had a beautiful conversation yesterday with a dear friend on Blessings over families and generations to come. As people stand up, no matter what the past generations have looked like and declare God to be the center of our lives, our children’s lives and their children’s lives, there is a blessing from the Lord in the obedience of faithfulness. My friend told me a story of how her mother spent months in Korea to minister to her family of unbelievers because she undoubtably believed that Jesus is the answer. Years later my friend’s daughter came home from church camp and after her mom asked her what she learned, she said, “mom, I didn’t really learn anything new, you taught me all of it already.” This was the blessing. My friend’s mom stood in the gap and declared blessing over her family and the fruit is in her children, grandchildren and someday great-grandchildren, carrying on the blessing of her faithfulness in God. This is the time to rise and not settle for anything less than a blessing for the faithfulness and trust in God and God alone. Not only will God bless you and it stops there, but He will bless others through you, just as He told Abraham that others will be blessed through Him (Genesis 12:3).
I pray this prayer over you all today, and pray a blessing from the Lord to shine down on each and every one of you and your family.
Dear God
We thank you for the unity, love and joy of family. We lift up every family to you and ask for your wisdom and blessing over each and every one. We pray as the adversary comes to cause division and confusion, you come to give life and life more abundantly. We ask for an abundance of goodness, peace, love and joy to surround each and every family that you have put together. You are the author and perfecter of our faith and we pray that faith will arise amongst families. We pray that children will grow to love you and parents will desire to know you and keep you at the center of their lives. We pray health and safety for each family as you continue to lead and guide them. In a world that feels uncertain at times, you are never changing, all knowing and we stand firm on your promises oh Mighty God. We thank you for the gift of family and praise you for your great mercy. In Your Name we pray, Amen!
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Ephesians 1:3
In 2020 my worship Pastor at Heart of the City Church and I sang over the people The Blessing by Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes and Elevation Worship. May it be our song over our families for generations to come.
Emily Rodewald 