A Prayer for My Teenage daughter, Jocelyn, on Her 16th Birthday

Father God,

You are good and loving and awe-inspiring! You created the world and pronounced it as good. Your beauty fills the whole earth! Your creation is magnificent!

Father, You created people to be in communion with You and with one another! You bless us with family and friends. And You allow us to know what it’s like to parent and mentor those younger than us…thank You for entrusting us with Your children.

Thank You for the challenges and blessings of parenthood! Thank You for the unique lessons we receive as we parent teenagers!

Thank You for my sixteen-year old daughter, Jocelyn!

Jocelyn is a blessing to our family! Thank You for her love for You and for her love for others, here and abroad! You have created her with a huge capacity to give and receive love! You have blessed her with a servant’s heart and a love for children! You have given her the understanding of Your Word and a spirit of discernment! You have made her aware of Your presence.

Lord, give her courageous faith to stand up for what is right! Give her the desire to follow and obey You above all else! Lord, make her a woman after Your own heart. Father, make her a mighty prayer warrior and awaken her to the mighty purpose You have for her!

Lord, this is an awkward and often funny season of parenthood! Our daughter doesn’t always know who she is, and neither do we. Sometimes, she wants to be a kid and have fun playing games or shooting basketball with us. But, other times she thinks she’s an adult, albeit an adult with little self-control. Lord, help us remember that You have planned this season to be just so. You have determined that as childhood begins to come to a close, her wings should begin spreading a little wider and with more confidence. Lord, draw her to Yourself during this time of transition. Be a shield around her.

Father, You have fearfully and wonderfully made my teenage daughter (Psa. 119:14) and You delight in her. Remind her that she is beautiful and special and that she doesn’t have to follow the world to be unique. You have already created her unlike any other! Let he know she’s precious! Father, keep her pure in heart, mind and body. Protect her from the evil one and give her a sound mind.

My daughter was created in Your image (Gen1:17) to do good works that You have planned specifically for her (Eph. 2:10).

You have given Jocelyn unique gifts and talents. Help her to use them for Your glory and help me to encourage her seek to please You in all she does. Continue to develop her heart to serve and love others. Give her a courageous faith and opportunities to share Your truth with others. Lord, develop her character and make her a woman of integrity!

Lord, encourage Jocelyn to walk in a manner worthy of her call (Eph. 4:1). Never let my daughter forget whose she is. Reveal Yourself to her, Lord. And teach her Your ways. Guide her in all that she does and let her be a light in this world!

Remind my teenager that she’s redeemed and forgiven (Eph. 1:7). Lord, draw her near to You and keep her heart pure and clean. Don’t let her believe Satan’s lies, but help her to know and believe the truth about herself, You and Your Word.

Father, remind my daughter her that she’s a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17) and the old is gone. Keep her from turning back to sins of the past. Help her to move away from temptation.

Lord, thank You for the blessing of my daughter. Teach her how to honor and love our family. Help her to be the best big sister she could be and prepare her to have a family of her own someday. Open her eyes to the love her extended family has for her. Let her know that she is special to each one. Help her to honor her dad and myself. Lord, let her know that we lover her and have her best interests in mind.

Bless her with friends who will love her and care for her as well as encourage her to walk close to You. Give her wisdom and discernment concerning all of her relationships and make her a godly example to those she comes in contact with. Father, give her favor with those in authority over her and bless her with lasting friendships.

Thank You for the woman she’s becoming!

Father, Your gifts are good!

In the Name of Jesus, I pray,

Amen.