God made our bodies with intention. For the rest of creation, God simply spoke (albeit there is power in the spoken Word of God because it created such an intricate and vast universe beyond human comprehension) but when it was time to create human beings, God used much more than words. It was a deliberate and intentional formation of the human body from the dust of the earth for man and from the bone of man for woman. To show how special and set apart human beings are to God, God took it a divine step further during our creation and breathed His very life into human beings.
Genesis 2:7 Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
Male and female, He made them. No other creature was created in such an elaborate, intentional and specific way. Indeed, like the Psalmist says, what is man that you are mindful of him. God loves us so much and has loved us from the beginning.
Ephesians 1:4 Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes
So, since God took the time, effort, wisdom and creativity to form and fashion our bodies in such a unique way, it is only right for us to take the time to pray over our bodies and our children’s bodies with intention and consistency.
Psalm 139:13-14, “For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful”.
One way to ensure that as a parent you are praying over your child’s body consistently is to make it part of your daily routine. For littles it could be as you scrub each body part at bath time and for older children it could be as you tuck them into bed each night.
The prayer will go something like this:
Dear Lord Jesus, I Praise You because this child is wonderfully made in the image of God. (Psalm 139:14)
In the Name of Jesus, I declare that this child’s head is anointed with the oil of joy. This child loves righteousness and hates evil and therefore is set above their companions. (Hebrews 1:9)
Bless this child’s mind, may they grow in wisdom and the knowledge of God. (James 1:5, Luke 2:52)
Bless this child’s ears to hear truth, their eyes to see beauty, and mouth to speak life, healing and encouragement (Proverbs 18:21, Proverbs 12:18, Ephesians 4:29).
Bless this child’s neck, may they turn their head toward the poor. (Proverbs 19:17)
Bless and strengthen this child’s arms to do Your will, and their hands to never grow weary of doing good. (Psalm 18:32, Galatians 6:9-10)
Bless this child’s belly that out of it will flow rivers of living water because they believe in Jesus. (John 7:38)
Bless this child’s back, may they never turn their back to the Lord their God. (Jeremiah 32:33)
Bless this child’s knees. May they be strengthened and be quick to kneel in prayer to God. (Hebrews 12:12, Daniel 6:10)
Bless this child’s feet, may they carry good news and proclaim peace. (Isaiah 52:7)
Above all, Jesus, please bless this child’s heart, may they love you—and all that you have made—in the right order. (Matthew 22:37-39)
In Jesus’ Name Amen.
Using the Bible while we pray ensures that we are praying according to God’s will. And God tells us that we will have whatever we ask of Him if it is according to His will.
1 John 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us- whatever we ask- we know that we have what we asked of Him.
Amen to this!
If you would like to go deeper (and I hope you do) here are the Bible verses that are referenced in the prayer above:
Wonderfully made in the image of God:
- Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well.
Head is anointed with the oil of joy:
- Hebrews 1:9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.
Blessed mind, growing in wisdom and the knowledge of God:
- James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
- Luke 2:52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
Ears to hear truth, eyes to see beauty, and mouth to speak life, healing and encouragement:
- Proverbs 18:21. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.
- Proverbs 12:18. The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
- Ephesians 4:29. Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
Neck, to turn towards the poor:
- Proverbs 19:17. If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD— and He will repay you!
Strong arms to do God’s will, and hands that never grow weary of doing good:
- Psalm 18:32. God arms me with strength, and he makes my way perfect.
- Galatians 6:9-10 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
Belly that out of which will flow rivers of living water
- John 7:38. The one believing in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Out of his belly will flow rivers of living water.'”
Never turn their back to the Lord their God.
- Jeremiah 32:33. They turned their backs to me and not their faces; though I taught them again and again, they would not listen or respond to discipline.
Strengthened knees that are quick to kneel in prayer to God.
- Hebrews 12:12. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.
- Daniel 6:10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.
Feet that carry good news and proclaim peace.
- Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
A heart to love God and all He has made.
- Matthew 22:37-39. Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.
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Read more of Rachel’s contributions to AllMomDoes here.
