Raising teenagers is work…a lot of work that takes love, dedication and prayer. Teenagers are at a critical time in their lives when they are making more and more decisions about how they will live and what they will believe. As they maneuver through these important years toward adulthood, they need us to pray protection over them—spirit, mind and body. Here are five scriptures to get you started:
1. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7, NLT).
In addition to speaking and praying this scripture yourself, it is a great verse to teach to your teenagers, so they can learn to stand against fear and timidity. Then, you can trust that God has provided the power, love and self-discipline they need to make good choices.
2. For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory (Psalm 32:7, NLT)
As you speak this over your teenagers, you can remember that even if trouble rises all around them, they can rest in the presence and safety of God. This is a great verse to teach your teenagers, too, so they can learn to call on His Name in times of trouble, knowing that He will respond.
3. No weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken (Isaiah 54:17, NLT)!
No matter where your teenagers go or who they meet, they can know that God is on their side. He protects them physically, emotionally and relationally. You can stand in faith on this verse knowing that He will protect them even when you can’t.
4. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe (Psalm 4:8, NLT).
No matter where your teenagers are—spending the night with friends or sleeping away at camp—you can pray this verse over them and trust that they are safe.
5. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11, NLT).
As your teenagers prepare to leave home, you can remind them that God has a plan for them and that those plans are good and not evil. Regardless of what the news media or political forecasters proclaim, they can know with certainty that God has a good future planned for them.
Even now, begin meditating on these scriptures—pray them, think about them, speak them. Let the truth that they contain bring you peace and remind you that God cares for your teenagers completely—spirit, mind and body!