The Question

What does the bible say about parents spiritually protecting their children? Can parents claim healing for young children who do not yet understand the concept of God’s divine healing? Spiritual warfare for children? Etc. We are fighting a battle for our adopted child’s healing who was born to a mother who used illegal drugs and drank alcohol during pregnancy.

— CS from Missouri

Spiritual heritage (Part 1)

Well, you went into this with eyes wide open and yet embraced the challenge and I admire you very much. I think it is a good thing that adoptive parents are now given more family history than they were years ago. It helps to be prepared for any potential problems passed from the biological parents.

I know a pastor and his wife who adopted a seemingly normal, healthy baby girl but as time went along severe behavioral problems manifested. She was nearly a teen-ager before they began an investigation into her past. It appeared that she was modeling her biological mother’s life patterns though they had never met.

You are at an advantage in knowing what you are dealing with right from the start AND having a willingness to do battle up front. Can parents spiritually protect their children? YES. Can parents claim healing for young children? YES. Do spiritual warfare for children? YES.

I like the wonderful example of spiritually covering family members in the book of Acts. Paul and Silas were in prison when a great earthquake occurred, freeing everyone. The jailer was so affected, “trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas and after he brought them out, he said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ And they said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household.’” (Acts 16:30-31) Children are included in your household.

That scripture does not mean that you can effect salvation for your child outside their will but it does mean that your belief in Jesus Christ has an extremely powerful effect on them. You can act as their stand-in until they are ready to stand with maturity on their own.

As you have legally adopted your child in the natural realm you can also proclaim their spiritual adoption. You can declare that they hereby receive your spiritual heritage and not any curses from their biological line. Stand fast in that. Satan will no doubt try to test it but you have the legal authority of the shed blood of Jesus. Draw the bloodline around your child and don’t give up an inch of it.

Standing fast (Part 2)

You have probably already thought of this but a good way to start is with an official baby dedication at your church. By it you are publicly proclaiming a godly spiritual heritage for your child and you are asking your church to partner with you in training “up a child in the way he should go, (so that) even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

Another way to be proactive is to make an extensive list of healing scriptures and speak those out loud over your child everyday. A good time to do so is as they sleep at night. You can also speak directly to your child with such things as “by his scourging you are healed” from Isaiah 53:5 or “the Lord is right now restoring you to health and healing your wounds” from Jeremiah 30:17. When they are old enough, teach them to say those things for themselves.

We know that prayer is effective and that God honors those who stand in the gap for others. Fasting will add punch to your prayer and spiritual warfare. Perhaps you want to add a specific fast time each week such as every Monday or skipping a particular meal on a regular basis.

You asked about claiming healing for someone who does not yet understand the concept of divine healing. I believe that over time, your habit of aggressive prayer and spiritual warfare will not only be understood but be picked up by your child for themselves. What you role model spiritually will bear fruit beyond the specific healing you desire.

One final note: don’t forget to pray for your child’s biological parents and family regularly. If their lives get turned around they will be a released from curses they are under and any residual effect still trying to plague your adopted child.

You have a great and worthy work ahead of you. Years from now I’m sure you’ll look back on all the effort with great satisfaction. God bless you for it!