Prayer

I don’t think that many of us would object if I said our children need our prayers. Nor would we object that praying for them should begin even before they leave the womb. But I think it might be hard to define how much we should pray for them, exactly what we should pray about, and when it is we’re to find time to pray.
I’d like to begin talking about our parental fears. Because fears can stop us from praying, how does God want us to pray through fears? Then, I’d like to address praying over the hopes and dreams we have for our children. I have some tools to help us get started. Next, I’ll discuss the life of a busy mom and how to incorporate prayer into our lives, and also give some solace to the mom whose days are never alike and give her little free time. Finally I’ll end with how we set an example of faithfulness as praying parents. Last time we met, during our discussion time I asked the question, “what is your greatest fear for your children as a mom?” I was really surprised by all the different answers. How I answered the question was completely different than how someone else answered the question. Some of our fears were: that they wouldn’t recognize the love and value of family; that they would turn out to be just like us, inheriting all our junk as their own; that illness, disease or physical problems would disable them; that that they would make poor life choices; and that they would not ever really know who they are.
Fears do several things to us. Fears cripple us making us unable to move forward. We need clear plans to conquer fears and move past them. Fears cause us to retreat down a path of complacency. We may be afraid and choose to stay where it seems safe and free from confrontation. However, doing nothing rarely results in positive results. Fears can also blind us to God’s truth. Many times I’ve just been too afraid to concentrate on God’s promises and seem to get stuck in fear and doubt.
God says he has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind, 2 Timothy 1:7. So what happens when we’re not feeling confident about when, how and what to pray about? How do we get a hold of fears when praying seems difficult?
For some reasons other than my children, I started putting a particular verse to practice. I think it is extremely helpful in aiding us as we pray for anything and delivering us from fear. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Don’t worry or be fearful about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for what he’s done. If you do this you will experience God’s peace, which is far more than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
As practical as it can get, on one side of sheet of paper I write the word fear, and on the other side I write prayer. I make a list of things that I’m really feeling fearful about, when I finish that list, I write a corresponding prayer to cover each fear. As God promises, I find myself receiving the peace that he promises. I continue with a list of needs, although it might seem redundant. Some slightly different things appear when we are vulnerable enough to tell God that we need something. I end with a list of things I’m thankful for; generally surrounding the issues I’ve just feared. It is incredible how this exercise changes the state of your mind… and I believe you will actually experience the spirit of power and sound mind that God says he has given us.
There will be seasons where we fear so much and seasons of little fear. The ebb and flow will have to do with our own spiritual journey, our children’s spiritual journeys, and natural changes that occur as children grow, for example, the 1st day of school, soccer or football practice, 1st school dance, graduation, etc. Remember, we can call upon God when we find ourselves in fear, we can step forward in faith, and we can use Phil 4:6-7 as an aid and pray through these fears for our children.
The last part of vs. 7 says this peace will guard our hearts and minds. I wondered what if our hearts and minds weren’t guarded. I think we’d have broken hearts and crazed minds. You’ve seen the overprotective, suffocating mom who has a broken heart because her children distance themselves from her. The mom, who can’t think or sleep or take care of her family because she is worried all the time about everything, has no peace of mind. These are not pictures of the mom I long to be or even the follow of Christ. God promises peace if we pray to him about our fears.

Prayer Discussion

Discussion

Fears: Philippians 4:6-7

FEARS-----------------------------PRAYER






NEEDS-----------------------------THANKSGIVING






Questions:
Share a creative prayer option:




What is one small step that you can take to begin praying more for you child(ren)?

Love Discussion

Love : Discussion

What is your greatest fear for your children as a mom?

Loving out of a full tank
Do you know what drains your tank? What fills your tank?
- who are you with
- what are you doing
- where are you doing this
- When I do this, I feel most alive

Tank Illustration

If you (we) could accomplish one thing in the next 3 months, what would it be?

Love

LOVE

Does it seem to you as though there is a parenting crisis? I hear it in the news everyday. Headlines are filled with stories about convicted felons, child molesters, killers and gang members. Our entertainment TV news thrives on stories of public figures in sex scandals, as drug addicts, and as teen alcoholics. We almost have to be reminded that these were once innocent children, once kids down our streets riding bikes and catching fireflies. Ok, well some may have been already shopping for Gucci purses! But these once babes, now wildly spinning out of control adults are destroying their lives and the lives of bystanders, friends, family members. We could argue that these people are adults; they have made theses destructive choices. One could claim that its no ones fault but their own. We could blame their schools, their cities, their churches or socioeconomic status. But, I can’t help to wonder who their parents are? Where are they? Did they feel loved as a child? What were they taught by their parents? Could they have help changed the course of destruction?
Is it just that children will turn out one way or another? What about my children? What will they turn out to be? My greatest fear as a mom is that my children will grow up to be Godless, destructive and alone. Is there impact and influence that I as a mom have in their lives that will affect what kind of adults they become? I think that most of us believe the parenting role is an influential relationship in a child’s life. Do we realize it is the most important role? I think we do.
Deep inside I hope that what I do now as a mom will impact them on into adulthood. I have to believe that I can train them, teach them, and model to them. You’ve seen it, I’ve seen it, and the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. If my fear is that my children grow up into Godless, destructive and lonely adults; my hope for who they become as adults seems pretty clear to me. I want them to be God-filled, life-giving, relational adults. I have a strong suspicion that is what you want as well. So here it is, the “future,” our first crisis. Will our children grow up into every mother’s dream, or something else?