A Prayer for My Trick-or-Treaters
By Meg Bucher
“The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.” Psalm 121:7-8 NLT
Trick-or-treat is a tradition many have come to embrace annually. Though some of it’s silly, there’s a lot of scary stuff out there, and we live in a society that sadly isn’t always safe to let our children run around in … especially in the dark. Whether concerned for the safety and protection of their souls or their physical safety, it’s important to remember and surrender our hearts to the verses above. God is in control. We do what we can, but it’s impossible to shelter our trick-or-treaters from all the harmful things in this world. Some of these harmful experiences may come from pastors, mentors, leaders, and parents -the very people whom God charges to protect them.
How do we know who to trust and ensure our kids are safe? Especially as they take to the neighborhood streets to trick or treat? We defer the Author of all of us and choose to place our trust in His sovereignty. We know faith isn’t blind trust but a choice to put our lives in the capable hands of our all-knowing God. When we seek Him for ourselves, we can trust He will provide the wisdom we need as we raise our children and look out for the youth in our communities.
Trick-or-treat can be full of fun memories, a chance to connect face to face with neighbors and share the love of Jesus on a day that centers around the scary stuff. Jesus wants us to live our lives fully, which means having fun in life. Scripture reminds us to be joyful, always! In every situation, there is a lot of joy to be had. And sometimes happiness follows, too. As Christ's followers, we are called to lead with love … and not situationally. All the time, we are to love God and love people. Let’s keep these truths close as we pray for our trick-or-treaters.
Let’s pray:
Father,
Thank you for bringing these verses to the top of our minds and hearts today. Thank you for reminding us. You keep us from all harm and watch over our lives. You watch over us as we come and go, now and forever. God, you are watching over all the trick-or-treaters, too. Some who know You, and others who don’t.
Father, You call us to live fully, be joyful, and love You and others. Help us to see everyone through Your eyes, God. Help us to live fully, embrace joy, and love others. God, we want to have fun in this life, yet sometimes our seriousness gets in the way. Help us to jump over hurdles that keep us from enjoying the life You gave us to live and the gift of laughter. Help us to love you obediently and joyfully, marking our lives in such a way people around us feel Your love.
Oh, God, would You please use us to share the love of Jesus with our neighborhoods and communities? Be in the gatherings as we set up fire pits in our driveways and grill hot dogs to share. Layer our actions in love as we place treats in pillowcases, light-up buckets, and tiny costumed feet shuffle by. May we surrender to the truth that Your Word is more powerful than anything scary and that You are with us always?
Father, bless our trick-or-treaters this year. Keep them safe, healthy, pure, and guarded in You, Jesus, today and always. Let everyone who walks up to our door feel the love of Jesus. There are so many people who feel alone, God. Many of our neighbors may not know who You are. Help us to treat everyone the same, regardless, with the same warmth and love, whether they show up in an inflatable chicken costume or with fake blood squirting out of the eyeballs of their masks. Use our lives, silly traditions, and all, to spread the love of Jesus into the cracks and crevices of our neighborhoods and communities as only You can. We love You, Lord.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/kali9
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