Do you find that you’re compelled to pray for your children a lot? I know I am always praying for my kids’ safety and well-being, among other “parent worries.” After attending a lovely baby shower for a friend recently, I realized I have been lacking in the focused prayer department…
As is often done at baby showers, the guests were asked to write a note of wisdom for the expectant mama. In all honesty, nothing I could have written would ever be as valuable as the golden nugget of wisdom given in a short devotional by the expectant grandma! 🙂 I don’t remember everything she said, but I heard one part loud and clear!
She spoke of a parenting trial she had experienced when one of her children was young. She talked about how all the obvious methods just weren’t working! “I can so relate!” I thought to myself. After all, my daughter just turned four and refuses to consistently use the toilet! (You could probably see the mom guilt boiling up inside of me until my face turned pink.) She went on to explain how she had confided her parenting woe in a friend. Her friend simply said, “When I don’t know what to do as a parent, I just ask God.” She encouraged us to look for answers in the Bible, too, because the Lord will give the ideas we need!
“Well,” I thought to myself, “I don’t remember any Bible stories on potty training, but it’s definitely worth a try!” (I’ll admit to feeling a little embarrassed that I hadn’t thought of it already.) I prayed that the Lord would show me what to do, and -what do you know- the next day, my little girl was sitting on my lap, and He prompted me to pray with her about her potty training problems! So that’s what we did! We prayed together that God would give her a desire to use the potty and the courage to be a big girl! We continue to pray every day for this, and even though we still have an accident here and there, overall she is doing SOOOO much better and has a much more positive attitude about the whole thing!
Time To Pray.
This experience has reminded me so much about the importance of praying for my children! I have decided to start by praying through Proverbs for them! I like to read a group of verses, grab my trusty markers, and highlight the truths I want to go back and pray over their lives. After that, I go back through and pray for each of them! It’s amazing how much it applies to their lives and mine! Journaling your prayers is a great way stay focused and to be able to look back on all you have received. Proverbs 3:1- 2 says, “My child, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in mind. Then you will live a long time, and your life will be successful. “
Lord, I pray that you would grant each of us the wisdom we need in raising our children and that we would always remember to look to you for help.
James 1: 17-19 (NIV) says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.”
Lord, help us to lead by example and live in Your Truth! Amen!
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