I often find my prayers for my children to be...well...dull. I pray for their safety, their salvation and that they will be used by God to further His kingdom. It's not that I think there is anything wrong with what I am praying about. It's just that expressing these prayers has become routine. I say them and mean them, but there is often not a whole lot of feeling and thought behind them. Does that make sense?
I think part of my problem is I am often uncertain what to pray for. Should I ask for this for my children? Are my motives pure? Are these prayers effective in the way I want them to be?
Several years ago, I came across a book. As soon as I started flipping through the pages, I felt joy and relief. I found a way to pray for my kids. And, what I am about to say is very important to me, it wasn't a person telling me what or how to pray. I was being instructed to pray God's own words- the scriptures.
Praying the Scriptures for Your Children: Discover How to Pray God's Will for Their Lives by Jodie Berndt is the book. Over the years, I have returned to this book over and over again when I feel my prayers are losing their vitality.
The book includes five sections; Praying for Your Child's Faith, Praying for Your Child's Character, Praying for Your Child's Relationships and Praying for Your Child's Future. There are several chapters within each section that target specific topics. There are brief introductions to each chapter that talk about the topic and then, my favorite part, the scriptures are presented (about ten for each chapter).
The author encourages you to insert your child's name into the scriptures presented. For example, under the topic of Praying for Your Child to Love God's Word comes the following scriptures (among others)...
May _____ not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4)
Make your word a lamp to ______'s feet and a light for her path. (Psalm 119:105)
Under the topic of Praying for Your Child's Relationship...With Siblings, are these verses...
Show _______ and her siblings how to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as you have forgave them. (Ephesians 4:32)
Do not permit ______ to be quarrelsome; instead, cause him to be gentle, patient, and humble, especially when his siblings are in the wrong...because then they will be more likely, with God's help, to turn away from their wrong ideas and believe what is true. (2 Timothy 2:24-26)
And what's best about all of this? How can we go wrong praying God's Word back to Him? Praying in this way gives me an air of authority over my prayers that I never had before. And, I can use these prayers for others as well.
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. (1 John 5:14)
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Great idea for getting more focused.
ReplyDeleteKate
Thank you for sharing this...I know exactly waht you mean about saying prayers for our children. I feel like mine are generic at times...general...and I want them to be more than that. I mean, God knows our hearts, there's no doubt He knows what we MEAN. But I think being able to pray specifically gives us an opportunity to actually SEE God working in their lives. I know I see it with my prayers for my husband. Thank you for telling us (ME) about this book...xoxo
ReplyDeleteThanks much!
ReplyDeleteAunt V
I have that book. I love it and use it as a resource all the time. I also love the Power of A Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Virginia
I just found your site. I am looking for something to guide me in my prayers for my daughter and her 2 sons. Right now, they live with my husband and me. It is not easy for any of us. Easier for the boys, I think. I had just found the book by Jodie Berndt that you mention. I am ordering after I finish this. It sounds like it is just what I need. Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteI realize this is an older post, but being I just found your blog - and am loving it - I just have to add that some of my favorite scriptures to pray over my sons (now 22 and 25) are located in Ephesians, such as 1:16-20, 3:16-17, 4:2-3, and so many more. Along with praying scripture over our children, it is also important to speak affirmations and blessings over them. One of my favorite books is "Me and My Big Mouth" by Joyce Meyer because what we speak is so crucial.
ReplyDeleteAbundant blessings!
I have this book and LOVE IT!! It is written very well and has great scriptures for each section.
ReplyDeleteWhen we pray God's Word, we stand in agreement with Him. That is so awesome, to be in agreement with God, that is what faith is, saying what God says. Another factor to consider is how much time do we pray for things He has already provided for and done in His word? Let's acknowledge His goodness and provision and thank Him and praise Him. For example, we often see people asking God to provide this or that....but Jesus said God already knows what we need, and the Bible says "He has given us ALL things that pertain to LIFE and GODLINESS". It is just as important not only to speak out these truths but thank Him for the provision of these things - which according to His Word..He has already given!!
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