I love my sons, but there’s just something about daddy’s little girl. The first time you hold her and imagine swinging her in a playground and walking her down the wedding aisle. You wonder if she’ll be as inspiring as her mother.

Three decades later, I no longer have to imagine. I’ve seen the power of our three godly daughters – one biological daughter and two “bonus” daughters who married our sons – especially through their prayers.

The prayers of godly daughters

It was August 23, 2019, eight years removed from my corporate career. As Executive Pastor, I was entrusted to help lead huge changes to reach more people for Christ. Other than a new health issue, I should have been flying high. But God was stirring my heart. And it made no sense.

A few days before, God had woken me with an eerily clear word to resign, but that couldn’t be. This wasn’t just my job; it was my church. My people. My calling. I loved them and they loved me. No bad story. No “time to move on.” I was unwilling to accept God’s prompting and unable to see how God could do it without me. (Wrong, but just being real here.)

To make things worse, it was my birthday. My kids were coming over, but I was in no mood to celebrate. So I did something I had never done. I wrestled all day with God on a couch, desperately praying, pondering, begging for an answer . . . a sign . . . anything to make sense of this.

Of all the unexpected ways God could have confirmed the unthinkable, He used some of His very best – my daughters. Then again, God often speaks through His daughters.

My kids didn’t come over to celebrate. They came to bless. Putting Anna and me in the middle of the den, they surrounded our chairs, laid hands on us, and prayed. Really prayed. I teared up as my sons poured out their hearts. My daughters’ prayers, though, changed everything . . .

  • Emily had no idea that earlier that day I felt led to study Jehovah Jireh – “God will provide” – where God told Abraham to do an unthinkable act, yet provided an unexpected answer. For an hour that morning, I begged God to reveal why He led me to unpack a fresh meaning in this familiar passage . . . And what did Emily pray over me that night? Jehovah Jireh.
  • Robyn knew neither my weeks of dark despair nor God’s word of light to resign . . . She simply obeyed the Lord’s prompting and spoke these words: “Tim, don’t doubt in the dark, what God has revealed in the light.”
  • Leslie too was unaware that hours earlier I had told God if He really wanted me to resign, I’d do it, but He would have to be my lamp and my light. After all, I’m a planner who never steps out with no plan . . . So what did Leslie pray over me? She prayed Psalm 119:105 – that God’s Word would be a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Wow! Just wow! All three daughters unknowingly prayed powerfully to exactly what I had just experienced with God.

The power of godly daughters

Whether it’s through a biological daughter, bonus daughter, or any of His countless godly daughters, God can confirm His will for you too. And He does. Every day. Here are three of the special ways in which God empowers His daughters.

  1. Grasping

Godly daughters have a special way of grasping. By intently listening and engaging with God and people, they discern. With a gentle nudge, warm hug, or stern retort, godly daughters care and correct like no one else. When they speak, listen . . . because they can see what you don’t.

  1. Complementing

Godly daughters come alongside and complement. They complete without controlling, harmonize without haggling, and balance without bossing. These true servant leaders support and supplement when possible, and solve when required.

  1. Loving

Selfless and sacrificial, godly daughters love in ways that few others can, and even fewer try. Their special love may look natural, but it’s actually a supernatural gift empowered by their daily choice. They love to love, and we’re all the beneficiaries.

P.S. Turns out, God had it all worked out, although I had no idea at the time. Before I announced my resignation, God had already prepared the hearts of my church replacement and a godly businessman who wanted me to be his CFO. None of us knew each other’s thoughts, but God did, because He causes “all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom 8:28, NASB).

And to my Emily, Robyn, and Leslie, I say thank you. Thank you for letting God use you to change my life and, quite possibly, someone else reading this who needs a little reminder of the power within us all as daughters or sons of our Heavenly Father.

Questions: Who has been a powerful godly daughter in your life? How could you express your appreciation to her? What can you do today to grasp, complement, and love someone in need?