Every Monday I have been trying to post some of the prayers I pray for my children. I do it for you, but I also do it for me. You see, praying for my children is an area that I have been weak in. I have wanted to do well at this, but have never been able to be consistent about it, nor did I ever know what to say. I have always wanted to be that mom that stands in the doorway of her children while they sleep and prays over them or the one that lays her hands on them and prays for them while they’re sleeping–and her children wake up and feel comforted by that. The reality is that that is not me.
I have read a good many books about praying for your children over the years in an effort to succeed in this area, but none have really helped until this summer. A friend of mine was reading “Praying the Scriptures for Your Children” by J*die Berndt and it drew me in and it has made a difference. I’m not really sure the reason why this one has impacted me, but here’s a few guesses.
First, its message is simple. Pray for your children and use scripture to do it. It has 20 different areas to pray for.
Second, it has scriptures laid out in which you can insert your children’s names. Just what I need since I tend to be at a loss for words when it comes to praying for my children. I just can’t seem to conjur up what to say beyond, “Dear God, I pray that _____ does well today, is nice to their friends and ummm…I pray for their future. Amen.”
Lastly, the prayers are short. I don’t know about you, but the books I have read in the past, usually had long prayers so in an effort to save time I would insert the phrase, “my children” instead of their individual names. My children each have their own personalities so it makes sense to me that I would pray for them each differently.
Maybe because of its simplicity, it inspired me to dig out a blank journal I had laying around. I divided it into 6 sections (because I also created a section for The Driver) and began to write out a prayer for each person in my family as I read through each section. It probably helps that I have forced myself to relax as I’ve done this and not insert my perfectionist self into the mix. I have set no agenda for time to complete it. I try to open up the book and journal a prayer each week and then pray that over the next week, but if I don’t, I don’t beat myself up like usual. I just pick up where I left off and continue in my pursuit to fill the journal with prayers of love.
I’m not a big journal writer for fear of someone finding my real thoughts and reading it, but this is a journal that I do not have to fear what someone thinks. If someone in my family ever reads it, I think they will see right into the heart of their praying mom and feel the love I have for them. What do I have to lose by customizing and writing out the prayers I have for my children?
So I hope that as I work to improve in this area of my life and I share it with you, it will encourage you to do the same…pray for your children. I believe it will make all the difference for your children and draw you in closer to the heart of their Father.
