Three ways to blanket your kids in God’s love

Note from Jodie:  It’s been a minute, I know. And I want to say thank you to everyone who has reached out to ask if I am okay (or if maybe their email isn’t working right?), since I haven’t posted anything since mid-August. Yes, I’m okay. Better than okay, actually. I’ve been teaching Bible Study to an amazing group of about 150 women in my home church, walking all over my little corner of the world to prepare for the Love-Paced Race (click here to join me), and spending a lot of time with my grandchildren. It’s been a beautiful, “unseen” season. But I’ve missed this space – this online friend group – and when a post I’d written years ago for Devotions Daily showed up in my inbox, I knew I wanted to share it with you. Maybe it’s all the grandbaby time, but the idea of “blanketing” our kids in God’s love was a good reminder for me…


Blanket Your Kids in God’s Love

I don’t know who coined the term “prayer covering,” or who it was that first offered to “cover” someone in prayer. (Maybe it comes from verses like Psalm 5:12, which talks about God covering us with his favor?)

Again, I don’t know.

But one of the reasons I like praying the Scriptures so much is that when we pray God’s Word over our kids, we literally cover them with the presence of Christ.

Baby swaddled in blanket

John 1:1 tells us that Jesus is the Word, and that he always has been. So when we use the Bible to shape our prayers for our kids – when we “cover” them with God’s promises – what we are really doing is blanketing them with his love.

With his protection.

With his very person. His presence.

Several years ago, I was a guest on Focus on the Family’s daily radio broadcast, and I talked about this idea of covering our kids with God’s presence. I mentioned a line from a poem I’d once heard – something about how when our children are young, we tuck them into bed and cover them with a blanket, but that when they are older and out of our reach, we cover them with our prayers. I didn’t remember the poem or its author, but the crack team of Focus on the Family researchers looked it up.

And sent it to me.

The poem, called Mother’s Cover, was written by Dona Maddux Cooper. Here it is:

When you were small and just a touch away,

I covered you with blankets against the cold night air.

But now that you are tall and out of reach,

I fold my hands and cover you with prayer.”

Isn’t that a good one?

I don’t know where your children are today (and to be honest, I’m not entirely sure where my beloveds are, either!), but I do know that our kids are never out of God’s reach, and that He invites us to join Him in the work that He wants to do in their lives.

He invites us to pray.

And if you like the idea of blanketing your loved ones with God’s presence, here are three ways you can pray:

Heavenly Father,

Cover ______ with your feathers. May they find refuge under your wings. Let your faithfulness be their shield. (Psalm 91:4)

Go before ______ and follow them. Place your hand of blessing on ______’s head. (Psalm 139:5)

Let _____ take refuge in you and be glad, ever singing for joy. Spread your protection over _____, surround them with your favor as with a shield.  (Psalm 5:11-12)

Amen

❤️

P.S. If you’re looking for a place to record your prayers, the Praying the Scriptures Journal, regularly $24.99, is on sale for $11.49. It’s an interactive journal, with prompts to help you cover all sorts of needs and concerns…and with its beautiful linen cover and gold embossing, it might make a good Christmas gift for a mom on your list! 😉

Journal cover

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