Pray for Your Kids
Try This:
Start a prayer journal to help you intentionally pray for your kids.
Making the Connection:
A few years ago, Amanda was engaged to someone who wasn’t right for her. It was obvious to Roger and me, and everything in me wanted to open my mouth and talk some sense into her. I wanted to explain what I thought. I wanted to beg and plead. I wanted to write out a list of all the godly characteristics that I envisioned for her future spouse. But I didn’t. Instead, we shut up and prayed.
- And we prayed.
- And we prayed.
- And we prayed some more.
It took almost a year (yes, an entire year!), but they broke off the engagement. We now joke that if your kid is dating someone who isn’t right for them, call us. We have a ministry of praying the wrong guys out.All joking aside, praying for your kids is powerful. I can say without hesitation that it is the number one most valuable thing I have done for my children. And that’s why I want to encourage you to start a prayer journal that will help you intentionally pray for your kids every day.
Make Connecting Fun:
Starting a prayer journal is actually really easy.
Step 1: Pick up a journal. I like mine to be small enough to fit into my purse so I can bring it with me when I’m traveling and pretty enough to display on a bookshelf. But really, anything—from a 99-cent spiral notebook from the dollar store to an iPad with a stylus—will work.
Step 2: Pick a time to journal. If you’re anything like me, you probably start every day with the best intentions. But by the time you’ve managed to feed the kids, walk the dog, make the coffee, do carpool, clean the dishes, sweep the floor, and switch the laundry (all before 9:00 a.m.) even your best laid plans get derailed. So set aside time every day — set a daily reminder on your iPhone if you have to — so that praying for your kids becomes a daily priority.
Step 3: Talk to God on paper. Your prayers don’t have to be eloquent or full of poetic language. Just talk to God about your kids. One thing I’ve found to be really helpful is to use a verse from the Bible to pray for my kids. Here are a few of the verses I’ve prayed over my kids over the years:
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2).
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen (2 Peter 3:18).
May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, LORD, is in you. (Psalm 25:21)
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. (Proverbs 3:3)
I cling to you; your right hand upholds me. (Psalm 63:8)
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:21)
I think it’s interesting that sometimes, when we pray for something that’s in God’s will, He answers immediately, but other times He encourages us to keep praying because NOT YET. It makes me wonder about everything going on inside us and above us during that waiting time.
Shameless plug – I recently released a Scripture card organizer iPhone/iPad app called Lamplight that can help keep your prayer life organized. It’s helped me tremendously. You can find it in the Apple app store if interested.
We prayed a young lady out of my son’s life too. The funny thing was, after he broke up with her (YAY), he came back to us and asked, “Mom, do you know what she did? She did xyz or abc!!” And we got to nod, knowingly. Awesome power He has! (if only we could realize it and trust Him more!)