Within a week we’ll be sending three of our boys in different directions for the summer. Two will go “woofing” in Wyoming and the other will go to Stellenbosch, South Africa for a sports ministry internship. No, I didn’t misspell roofing, it’s “woofing” – world wide opportunities on organic farms

Our kids have left plenty of times before. They’ve already spent time in Australia, Israel, England, Uganda, Costa Rica, Peru, Kyrgyzstan (I had to find that one on the map) and Missouri (a little closer to home).

Their departure is an opportunity to bless them (4 kids, 4 continents- My favorite part about saying good-bye).

Their experience is an opportunity to pray for them.

Sometimes it’s hard to get past that initial prayer request for safety, so I thought I’d share with you three things that I’ll be praying for my kids while they are gone. While safety is nice, there’s so much more that God can do in their lives than provide a smooth and safe ride. He may even do more when the ride gets bumpy.

So when you’re praying for your kids on summer adventures– a week of camp, a mission trip, an internship across town or around the world—consider praying these three things. And if you don’t have any kids to pray for, then feel free to pray for mine (or someone else’s kids you’re connected to).

Let’s pray that our kids…

1. See themselves more clearly. When anyone steps into a new culture, or a new rhythm surrounded by new people, they will most likely be forced to see themselves in new ways. It’s an opportune season to see strengths and weaknesses that may have been hidden where they’ve settled into a comfortable routine. I pray that the new experience helps them look into the mirror at themselves from a different angle.

2. See God more clearly. A new experience can give them a new perspective of God. Our kids’ regular routine often has God scheduled to show up when and where they expect Him. In a new setting, they may be surprised how they see God working in their own lives or in the lives of people around them. I pray that their new surroundings help them see God more clearly and know his love more fully.

3. See others more clearly. Social boundaries can be pretty rigid. Our kids get comfortable with others who are like them (don’t we all?). A new experience can break down the boundaries and stretch them to see people they normally wouldn’t see. I pray that they see others that would normally go unnoticed in their lives and that they learn to love as God loves.

The next two weekends while two of my kids drive west for 20 hours and the other sits in the airplane for 20 hours, I’ll pray for their safety. But my prayers will continue throughout the summer that they return home seeing more clearly—seeing themselves, God and others from a new perspective.

Leave a comment if you’re sending off kids somewhere for the summer and we can join you in prayer for them.

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of yur 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.”       Ephesians 1:16-19