Praying for Teen Girls: Partnering With God for the Heart of Your DaughterSample

Lord, surround her.

Do you know what it feels like to pray for protection for your teen girl? I’ll tell you what it feels like for me. It feels like when my girls and I are having a lovely day on the beach (my favorite), and a dangerous shark suddenly appears and wreaks havoc in our lives. I want to run. I want to grab my girls and get out of there. But in the teen years, that is, for the most part, impossible. Think about it. Between the ages of twelve and twenty:

• They go to middle school.
• They go to camp.
• They go to high school.
• They learn to drive cars.
• They leave in those same cars.
• They go on dates.
• They graduate from high school.
• They get jobs.
• They go away to college.

And not to be a drama queen, but those waters are teeming with all kinds of sharks. So, what are we to do? How are we going to be okay with all this coming and going? Well, we could worry. We could let fear eat us from the inside out. We could hover like helicopters. We could choose to bubble-wrap them forever and never let them go.

Or we could pray.

We could get on our knees and pray that God will go with them and give them peace that surpasses all understanding. We can pray for our hearts as well, as we smile, hug their necks, and wave from the front door. We could pray, “Lord, surround her.” And we do more than we are likely to admit.

Keep praying. Don’t stop.

A prayer based on Psalm 91:4:

Father, thank you that you protect _____________ completely and that she can find shelter under your wings. I pray that your faithfulness will be the armor she chooses every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A prayer based on Ephesians 6:10-13:

Father, I pray that _____________ will draw her strength from you. May she put on your armor so she can stand safe against the tricks of the devil. Remind her that her enemies are not people but the spiritual forces of darkness. She doesn’t need to be afraid, but she does need to be prepared. Your armor is the perfect covering over her life, and she can choose it every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.