3 Important Steps for Helping Your Children to Overcome
Being a teenager in today’s society can be rough. With all the temptations, relationship struggles and insecurities, it can be difficult for our teens to navigate through the different hurts they experience. As adults we have had years of experience learning how to rely on God to lead us.
But what about our kids?
They are just laying the foundation of trust in an unseen God. Their faith is being built step by step and sometimes during these formative years, they come across those who seek to rock that foundation, leaving an unsteady break in the relationship with their Creator.
How do we protect our kids from harboring these hurts?
As I prayed for guidance on how to help my children overcome offenses, a process of praying and declaring arose. I quickly began to see the power and authority that we walk in as believers when we choose to speak God’s words over our lives.
3 Steps for Helping Children Overcome Offenses
Lay it Down
The first step towards overcoming any offense or hurt is to lay it down at the feet of Jesus.
If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
Prayer & Declaration
Lord, thank you that I don’t have to carry my burdens alone. You are able and willing to take them as I lay them down. I give them to You now…. every hurt, every disappointment, malicious or not; I give them all over to you. You are a faithful God and you will never leave me or forsake me, even when others do. I release them and the hurt to you. I pray that you bless them. Lord, help me to see circumstances through Your eyes. Give me an eternal perspective in life, that I may gain a heart of wisdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Meditate on these Scriptures:
Control Your Thoughts
Although we don’t often consider this, our children struggle with thoughts the same way we do. It’s so important to teach them at an early age how to control their thoughts and make them line up with God’s Word.
We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 MSG
Prayer & Declaration
Father, thank you that You have given me the ability to control my thoughts. I do not have to allow every random thought to stay in my mind and wreak havoc on my emotions. My mind is being renewed as I read the Word.I have the mind of Christ and my emotions are balanced. I will not give into the temptation to hold offense, but will stand strong and receive the crown of life that God has in store for me. I will take every thought that does not line up with Your word and speak Your truth to it. Each time I am reminded of the offense, I will lay it down again, by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus name, Amen!
Meditate on these scriptures:
Use Your Words
Our words have power. Our children’s words have the same power. Teaching them to speak words that line up with God’s Word rather than their feelings will help them to overcome offenses and gain peace in the midst of a hurtful situation.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat it’s fruit. Proverbs 18:21
Prayer & Declaration
Thank you Lord that you have given me power in my words. From this day forward I refuse to speak any negativity over my life. I will only speak those things that line up with Your word and think on what is true, pure and right. I reject any lies from the enemy that say that I’m not good enough or that I’m not valuable. My identity is not wrapped up in my friends, my possessions or my abilities. I am worthy because of the Sacrifice that was made for me. You have a great plan to prosper me and not to harm me; plans for a prospering future. Thank you, that you are bringing godly friends into my life that will encourage me and have the same values I have. I confess these things in confidence, knowing whatever I believe I will receive. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Meditate on these scriptures:
I invite you to continue to use this process of praying and declaring.
The biggest value that we can add to any one person, including our children, is prayer. When we teach our children how to declare God’s words and turn them into prayers, they are set on a course to overcome and conquer. It is the strongest weapon in our arsenal, which has the potential to shut down any plan the enemy launches against our kids. When they are declaring God’s word and believing along side of us, there is a harmony and unity that unleashes the blessing of God.
What are some scriptures you pray over your children? Share them below, I’d love to hear from you!
I’ve turned these prayer declarations into 4×6 cards just for you! You can download them here for free.
These are so helpful and so timely. I’m so glad you linked this to Open Mic Monday for the soul at Cisneros Cafe. I’m going to use them today. My son is with his father every other week and I find these incredible to even pray while he is with his dad. Thank you for your heart and your spirit. I want to say that I LOVE the new look. The watercolor flower is a beautiful touch. I love seeing your blog evolve; thank you for allowing me on that journey, Compel sister. Have a blessed rest of your week. I can’t wait to share these with friends.
Thanks, Carolina! I don’t know about you, but when I struggle with letting them go! If they are staying with friends or are not under my direct care, my tendency is to worry. But God is teaching me that they are ultimately under His care. Confessing these scriptures over them redirects my focus back to God and His ability to watch over them. Thank you so much for the feedback! I’m loving the fresh new look- just in time for spring! Thank you for faithfully reading, I enjoy connecting with you each week!
I love the scripture meditations!! Great job Alisa
Thanks Jen!
Thank you for these powerful, Scripture-based prayers. I’ll be saving them to my prayer app. So true that we have a powerful weapon through God’s Word. My children are still little (3 and 5), but already struggle with a lot (as do I). Sharing the gospel with them is harder for me with an unbelieving husband who isn’t haplu with me sharing freely…but I can pray over them!
Anna, I use these for my little ones too! I feel like it’s never too early to teach them to battle in the spirit! Praying that God would supernaturally touch your husband and surround him with godly men. Declaring today, that this is the day of salvation for him! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
The scripture and prayer shared here is really powerful. Thank you so much for sharing this. I’m so glad I visited your blog today. I had my first child at the ripe old age of 19 and in some ways I feel that we have grown up together. He is almost 19 now. I also have 3 other children (one other teen). I hurt when I see them hurting 🙁 but I trust God to orchestrate their lives and pray to the Holy Spirit to lead them. These scriptures and prayers are powerful weapons to keep in our arsenal.
Thanks Renee! It really is our most powerful weapon! Teaching our kids to do it is preparing them for all that God has for them!
Alisa, such heartfelt prayers that reflect your love. Prayers that remind us of our Father’s love for us. Sweet blessings to you, friend. : )
Thanks Crystal!
Thanks for sharing this powerful blog post about prayer.
Praying in the manner outlined in those three ways will reap such blessings; not only strengthening our children’s faith, but strengthening our own as we see God working in and through His Word.
Prayer indeed is our most powerful tool in protecting our children.
Thanks for stopping by today Karen!
Neat post, Alisa. Love prayers and scriptures. I pray over our kids from the scriptures I read daily, which often includes a Proverbs, sometimes a Psalm, and whatever other book I’m reading from the Bible. May I have your permission to print these for my kids?
Absolutely, Kristi! Feel free to print them. I’m thinking about taking the prayer declarations that I write and turning them into cards people can download. Stay tuned…
Great idea!
Just added the prayer declaration cards to my website if you want to download & print them!
Looking forward to this…
I was working on this today! Hopefully soon!
Just added it to my website! Feel free to download and print!
Thanks for sharing these powerful prayers. Sometimes we try in our own strength to “fix” things all the while forgetting where the real battle is won… and that’s on our knees.
So true Karen!! I think it’s natural for us to want to fix things. But if we want to get supernatural results we have to battle in the spirit, not the flesh! Thanks for stopping by today!
Such strong words, I hope that when my daughter is going through her struggles I can be there to show her the way. Thanks for your encouragement Alisa!
Thanks Kate! I’m so glad you stopped in today!
Amen! The most effective tool we have as moms is prayer. It takes responsibility for the impossible off our shoulders and places it in God’s capable hands.
Yes, Cheri! It definitely takes the pressure off of us to have to come up with a solution when we don’t feel there is one. Thanks for visiting today!
Such helpful scriptures and strong prayers. We’ve been through a number of disappointments and stresses with our boys, and have always tried to steer their eyes toward our sovereign God who knows what’s best — even when we don’t understand His ways.
Thanks Michele! Oh yes, the teenage years have definitely given me the opportunity to point my kids to Jesus!
Hey fellow Compel sister, This is such a beautiful reminder that prayer changes things. Covering our children in prayer creates a sense of peace because we know that God’s love is shielding them. He is there even in the times when we cannot be. He will draw their hearts towards Him.
Yes! Thank you, Denise! And thank you for stopping by today!
Alisa,
These are beautiful and powerful prayers. Thank you for your heart to see children whole and free. I am going to be sharing this post everywhere today!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
Thanks so much, Lori!! Free children become free adults who then raise free children! Generational impact for the kingdom!
Beautiful and Powerful, Alisa!
Thank you for these prayers!
Sweetest blessings to you!
Thanks, Leigh Ellen!
Thank you for your post and your encouragement and prayer and sharing God’s word so applicably.
This helped to renew my mind and encourage my heart instead of allowing fear, dread and worry to grip me. Thank you.
I am here visiting from Faith Barrista.
Bless you,
Susan
Susan, I’m so glad these prayer declarations encouraged you! There were many years when fear gripped my heart and mind, pulling me away from the abundant life God had for me. In the next few weeks I will be offering a very special gift to my subscribers. It is 5 prayer declarations, just like the ones you read here, but focused specifically on fear, anxiety & worry. Feel free to email me directly if you have any specific prayer requests. I would love to pray and believe with you! Have a wonderful weekend!
Great thoughts Alisa! I’ve got two teen girls myself. It’s so hard to watch them get hurt. Thank you so much for the reminder of these scriptures! I needed them for myself too, as I have to watch myself when my girls are hurt by others- as a mom I want to protect them- and sometimes “mama bear” can rear her ugly head!
I know that feeling, Shannon! I think the things they go through bother me more than it bothers them! Thanks so much for visiting today!
Great words to share with and pray over our kids. You are so right, navigating the world is not always easy and as a teenager is even more crazy hard. The longer I am a mom, the more I realize I need to spend more time on my knees for them.
Thanks for linking up at #GraceMoments this week.
Blessings,
Dawn
So true, Dawn! Thank you for stopping by!
I love how you gave three great words of wisdom, and verses along with the scriptures. I will have to check out the printable cards you added. Thank you so much for this week at Sitting Among Friends on Wednesdays. I look forward to seeing you again next week.
Thanks Jaime! I look forward to connecting with you every week!