Lovebug,
I know I have already told you this, but the verse I have selected to pray over your life is Ephesians 1:18-19a. It is a verse that God absolutely placed in my lap with such perfect timing. When I read it, I knew that it was for you…that I wanted it to be yours. I want this verse to be reality for you. I want it so embedded in the marrow of your bones that you live it every day almost effortlessly.
This is the version in my Bible:
“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”
Here is The Message translation, which I also really like:
“I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!”
I pray it out loud to you every night when you are having your bath. In the middle of our other regular prayers, I say the following:
“And Mama prays Ephesians 1:18 for you every night praying that the eyes of your heart would be enlightened, that you would know the hope to which God has called you, your glorious inheritance in the saints, and the incomparable power He has promised to those who believe…because if you have those 3 things…if you have hope in God, you know who you are as a child of God, and you have God’s power, there is nothing in the world that can take you down!”
It’s typically background noise for you as you splash and play in the water, but it’s no matter. I’m praying those words so that you will hear them, but I am praying those words more importantly so God will hear them. I cannot tell you how desperate I am for you to know the freedom, peace, and utter joy I have found through faith in God and a relationship with Christ. It has, without question, radically transformed my life…and I don’t ever want you to know life without it.
Several times recently you have stopped playing and looked into my eyes with great intensity as I recited the words that you hear every single night. You looked like you were really trying to soak in what I was saying and it brought such delight to my heart!! While I know you were more likely noticing my hair looking affright or taking in the sing-song rhythm in my voice, it got me thinking. Oh how I hope and pray that you will have an interest in and a passion for God’s Word. It is such an incredible gift. One that can bring comfort to your grief, wisdom to your uncertainty, and hope to your despair. It will guide you, it will encourage you, it will transform you.
Oh my precious boy, I love you so. There aren’t enough hours in the day for me to show you just how much. I’m grateful for every moment I have the privilege of spending with you. Every. Single. One.
All my love,
Mama