God, Loosen My Grip: A Mother’s Daily Prayer of Surrender

Moms are problem-solvers.  It’s in our DNA to nurture, to correct, and to guide our children.  However, sometimes we overstep and try to control or manipulate the outcome, whether it be their behavior or their actions. 

I’m not proud of the times I’ve stepped on God’s toes as He’s teaching my girls through natural consequences.  I swoop in to fix the problem, often robbing them of the struggle.

Intervening, in order to control, can hinder the move of God in our children’s lives.

I want control.

But I’m not in control.

And you know what?

That is best.

I find comfort in remembering that God’s thoughts and ways are higher.  I love this reminder in Isaiah 55:8-9

 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

So if I really trust His ways and thoughts are higher than mine, then how do I begin to surrender my control?

When I came across this prayer written by Jonathan & Wynter Pitts for the ministry For Girls Like You, I just had to share. This prayer is an answer to the daily burden I carry. 

I read this prayer aloud before bed each night in an act of intentional surrender to a God who will grow my kids into who He is calling them to be.

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Dear God,

I release my daughter into Your care.

I surrender my desire to control her.
I surrender my desire to manipulate her future.
I surrender my tendency to overprotect, shelter, and suffocate her.
I surrender my desire to be her best friend, first.
I surrender my own dreams for her.
I surrender my need to be her source.

SHE IS YOURS.

I’m totally open to You, dependent upon You, and desperate for You to be in control as I let go. I’m relying on the fact that You are God and that You have created my daughter for Your purpose and for this time.

I pray that You will draw her to Yourself.
I pray that she will delight in You.
I pray that You will be patient with her.
I pray that You will provide for her.
I pray that You will bless her.
I pray that You will use her to be a blessing to others.
I pray that You will mature her.
And ultimately, I pray that she will show Jesus in her very being.

I trust in Your sovereignty. I wait in expectation for Your providence.
Lord, she is Yours, and I trust You with her. 

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Lord, help me loosen my grip.  You are trustworthy.    

We’re in this together!

 

 

This prayer by Jonathan Pitts can be found here.