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Written by Jocelynn Goff, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas, and mother of Michelle J. Goff 
As a mom, there are scriptures that I can quote quite easily. One of those is our key verse for this blog, Luke 22:31-32. “Simon, Simon, satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon that your faith may not fail. And when you return strengthen your brothers.”
Three others are:
“Being confident of this that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 1:6)
“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. For He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.” (Ps. 24:1-2)
“so is My Word that goes out from My Mouth; It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Is. 55:11a)
You may ask why these scriptures in particular? During various seasons of their lives, these scriptures were my lifeline to the throne of our Father on behalf of my children.
I learned the pattern from Jesus in John 17 as He prayed for Himself, His disciples, and all believers. Jesus was showing how to appeal to His Father what was on His Heart and what was important. His prayer in John 17:3 was for them to know God and Jesus, “that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, who You have sent.” In verse 11b, the prayer is for protection, “Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your Name.” In verse 21, a prayer for unity, “that all of them may be one, Father just as You are in Me and I am in You.”
I have felt a desperation at times to know how to guide, correct, encourage, or warn my children. Often, I felt my words were communicated in a way that wasn’t heard with the heart and spirit that I intended it, or I feared I would communicate too harshly, abruptly, or angrily, and mess the whole thing up. Afterwards, I would apologize and then fall on my knees and beg our Father to bring about His Glory in spite of what mistakes I’d made. I’d cry out to Him and remind Him that He is good at that, like we see in scripture over and over again—such as in the stories of Abraham, Jacob, Rahab, Naomi, the Israelite people, Peter, and Paul. All of scripture is full of imperfect people for whom God turned their actions into good and for His Glory.
After my appeal to God’s goodness, then my prayers are intercessory prayers of claiming scripture over the situation and over my child. Over the next days, weeks, or years, until there was an answer to my prayers, I’d repeat the scripture to myself every time I’d feel fear. It calmed my anxious spirit and kept my prayers before the One who had the power to change the situation or the child, or show me where I needed to change.
Specifically, in Luke 22:31, Jesus is warning Peter that satan is going to test him. However, there is a blessing as Jesus says in verse 32, “But I have prayed for you, Simon that your faith may not fail.” Wow! Jesus prayed for Peter!
This is a specific mention of Peter by name brought before our Father by Jesus Himself. Then, there is also a promise in this verse. The promise is when Jesus says, “And when you have returned...” This says to me that even though there is a failed test, there is a return. We know that Peter was tested and failed the test when he denied Jesus three times. We know this from reading further in Luke 22:54-62. In verses 61 and 62, “The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will disown Me Three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly.” This was the beginning of Peter making a choice to return or not.
However, Jesus’ specific prayer mentions “when you return.” Oh, this is such a promise and why I claimed this scripture at a particular season of life for my child. Every time I felt fear, I would pray this scripture. Over time, there were other occasions and seasons of life when other scriptures were prayed. Along the way, God has given me blessings of hearing these scriptures in a sermon, a Facebook message from an old friend who just had to share that scripture with me, a song on the radio, or a devotional that focused on that exact verse. These messages of hope from my LORD were divine touches from Him, assuring me He is hearing my prayers on behalf of my child.
I encourage, no, I urge you to claim scripture in prayer for any person or situation in your life. It can bring hope to your soul and refresh your spirit as you wait for that person to come back or situation to change.
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Written by Michelle J. Goff, Founder and Director of Iron Rose Sister Ministries
Daily, for about seven years, before, during, and after high school, I faithfully wrote in a prayer journal. I noted which chapters I read from the Old Testament, New Testament, and Proverbs. Since writing is one of the ways in which I process the world, it seemed appropriate that I would spend an allotted time each evening discussing my day with God, my thoughts, my fears, and my questions, in written form.
Most of the time, if I specifically addressed God by name, I would simply say, “Dear God.” I later learned to call on Him as the Great Physician, Comforter, Prince of Peace, Yahweh, Savior, etc. However, during those earlier years of prayer, if I had to pick one primary title that came to mind when I would address God, it was one of Heavenly Father.
“Heavenly” because I saw Him as other-worldly. He was seated up on His throne and would listen to us, inserting an occasional intervention on behalf of a truly worthy request. I would thank Him for His wisdom through the Proverbs and lament the many who did not heed His wisdom.
“Father” was because I emphasized a greater distinction between our Father in Heaven, His Son, Jesus, who came to earth to die on the cross to save us from our sins, and in whose name we pray. Finally, the Holy Spirit was the third title and one to whom I never prayed.
I now thank the Holy Spirit for interpreting my groans (Rom. 8:26) and ask Him to be my Guide, Comforter, and Reminder of Truth (John 14, 16). He is a seal guaranteeing my inheritance!
I have learned to thank Jesus for modeling obedience, for His selfless and sacrificial love, and for choosing what the world would deem unworthy followers to be His initial disciples. He is my Redeemer who ever lives and intercedes for me!
As I continued to address the Father in prayer, the meaning behind that title has evolved. My
relationship and communication with the Father have grown along with my intimacy with Him.
After returning to live in the U.S. after my years in Venezuela, I suffered extreme reverse culture shock. It was not a term that was commonly used at that time, nor was it a phenomenon I was warned about.
Walking through the aisles of the grocery store, I was overwhelmed by the hundreds of choices. I had come from a time and place in which you planned your menu based on whatever you found on the shelf that week, or what you had waited in a long line to obtain.
Navigating new relationships in a culture that felt long-forgotten, I had to explain why I knew nothing of TV shows, movies, commercials, or other “small talk” connection points. I counted down the days to my first visit back to Venezuela and the opportunity to introduce others to the reasons I might’ve been louder or culturally awkward.
A month or two after that return visit to Venezuela, life took another turn and my responsibilities doubled. Still disoriented and uncertain, I clearly remember an opportunity that was granted me to step away for a couple of days. That intentional time of prayer, reflection, Bible reading, and rest was desperately needed.
The most memorable moment from those days was when I pictured myself curled up on God’s lap, crying out my pain to Him. He was a welcoming Father who held my right hand, gently stroking my hair, as He comforted me. I was warmed by His embrace and drawn into a deeper level of trust. He could handle my grief. He could reorient my cross-cultural awkwardness. He could shoulder the weight of my added responsibilities. He would remain faithful and present. Always.
Beautifully, I knew that I could crawl back up into His lap at any time, which I did.
As my Father who loved me deeply, I could go to Him unencumbered by my hesitancy. As my Father who delighted in me, I could bound into His lap to prattle on about my greatest joys. As my Father who called me His daughter, I could hear Him whisper my name as the One who has always known me.
After that first time of picturing myself sitting in God’s lap and sloppily blubbering my heart’s deepest hurts, He truly became my Father.
If you have not been able to communicate with our Father to that level of intimacy, I invite you to start with simply entering His throne room and accepting His invitation to that depth of relationship with Him. It all starts with communication. You don’t have to know what to say. God knows your heart and doesn’t need you to speak a word.