When the girls were planning Katie’s bridal shower, Anna asked me if I wanted to do a devotion of some kind. It didn’t take long before I knew exactly what I wanted to share with Katie and all the friends and loved ones who gathered to celebrate her that day, May 22, 2022.
To my sweet-sunshine Katie-girl:
There’s probably a ton of marriage advice and relationship dos and don’ts we could all share today, but I want to encourage you using God’s Word for my greatest hopes for you.
It was about 2012 when we were regional representatives for the IAHE (Indiana Association of Home Educators) and in charge of hosting some of the speakers for the annual convention. I was assigned to host Marylin Boyer who founded Character Concepts with her husband, Rick. She taught me something I’ve tried to carry on each day from then until now — she taught me that no matter what kind of day you have with your kids, when you tuck them in at night, pray out loud with them.
Praise God for something they did well from the day.
Let your kids hear you thank God for them no matter how good or hard a day you’ve had together.
And ask God for some way they can grow closer to Him.
Let your kids know that you pray for them daily and that they can find help and hope for any situation in Christ.
I have 62 more nights to tuck Katie in and pray over her in person. And since I love to use Scripture to pray over others, I’ve been thinking about the verses I want to pray over Katie these next 62 nights. Of course, I had a big goal to illustrate all of these for her and for you before today…but I’ve had a few things going on that have kept me from doing that just yet! Maybe by the wedding! Or first anniversary! (Or maybe shortly after your three month anniversary we will start a business and have digital illustrations and print illustrations for sale in our online store!)
So today, I want to share some of those verses with all of you as a kind of prayer. And you’re welcome to join me in praying for Katie and your own children!
It was probably 2014 or 2015 after I set up my first prayer studio closet that I started praying Luke 2:52 over the girls — that they would grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.
In 2018, when we decided to flip our lives and get our finances in order, we prayed Romans 12:2 as a family — that we would not conform to the pattern of this world, but that we would be transformed by the renewing of our minds so we would know the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
In 2020, as we did the Arrowlight Off On Retreat — which is where Katie and Nathan first spent the largest amount of time together and I noticed him hanging around her at the campfire — I began praying Colossians 3 over them — put off things of your earthly nature and put on your new self — clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with on another, forgiving whatever, and putting on love over all.
Shortly after that — as it became obvious there was something beginning to happen between Katie and Nathan, I started praying Colossians 1 over them and several of their friends: asking God to fill them with the knowledge of His will, to live a life worthy, pleasing Him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power so that you will have great endurance and patience, joyfully giving thanks to the Father.
At Valentine’s Day this year, I began praying the character qualities in 1 Corinthians 13 over you and Nathan — that you would always
- be patient — never self-seeking
- be kind — never rude
- be generous — never envious
- be humble — never boasting
- have delight — never anger
- Forgive whatever — never keeping records of wrong
- be truthful — never lying
- always protect — never harm
- be full of hope — never doubt
- always preserve — never giving up in your pursuit of each other
As you’ve gotten closer to your wedding day, I’ve prayed Philippians 4:11-12 over you, over Nathan, and even over myself as you are straining toward what’s ahead and I’m holding on to these last sweet days with you at home — that we all may learn to be content whatever the circumstances, the secret of being content in any and every situation.
Over the years, I’ve prayed from Galatians 5 that the Holy Spirit will produce His fruit in you — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self control.
I’ve prayed from Hebrews 12:2 that you will keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of faith.
I’ve begun to pray from Matthew 28 that you and Nathan will make disciples wherever you go as you live for Christ in your daily lives.
And just Friday night, you read one of your favorite verses in the choral reading at graduation — Ephesians 4:1. So I’ve added that to some from chapter 5 — praying that you will walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, that you will use your gifts, be imitators of God, and walk as children of light.
Above all, I pray Matthew 6:33 — that you will always seek first the kingdom of God, and from John 15— that you will remain in Him as He remains in you and that you will bear much fruit…fruit that lasts!
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We had a great day of fellowship at her shower with friends and family, and I did my best to soak up every moment of those last 62 nights I had to pray over Katie in person. Some of those nights were rather bittersweet for me, but I couldn’t deny the anticipation and joy she had as her time at home drew to a close. On their wedding day, I passed the mantle of praying with her every night to her husband. And while I miss the closeness of those bedtime talks and prayers, what a gift to still be able to pray these same Scriptures over them both now that they are married!
Katie and I worked together to design all of these scriptures into beautiful Digital and Print Scripture Cards: Prayers for Others that are now available to everyone!
