Prayers for Our Children

"Lord show me how to pray for my children. Help me to raise them Your way. And may Your will be done in their lives." Last year I read the book "The Power of a Praying Parent" by Stormie Omartian. A great book and wonderful tool to use to help in the area of covering our kids in prayer. Before reading the book, I found myself frustrated about this topic...feeling guilty for not taking the time and not knowing what to pray. I got a piece of advice from another mom with five kids. She assigns a day of the week for each child and prays throughout the day for that child. I tried that and it didn't work so well for me, with all the distractions of the day.

Stormie suggested making a list for each child. I did that last year and again at the beginning of this year. It was pretty cool to read last years list again and see how God answered.

I had forgotten how many times we were at the Dr. last year for Caedmon's chronic ear infections...every month it seemed and nothing helped. Now this past winter, neither of them has been to the Doctor for sickness. PTL! And Kaiya was also going through a phase where she didn't want to be left at a babysitter...especially overnight. At the time, it was so frustrating but now she does so well.

Here are the lists for this year:

Caedmon

- for a healthy understanding & acceptance of being adopted

- quick obedience to mom & dad and others in authority

- wisdom & patience for us as parents in the area of discipline

- that he would use his high-energy in a positive way

- purity in all areas -- what he sees, hears & does -- that we would provide a home that encourages purity

- protection from sickness, disease, injury, harm, kidnapping

- against past generational sins & bondage's carried down from birth parents and ourselves

- future & present friendships

-only positive influences, healthy relationships, that he would know how to work through conflicts, that he would be a faithful friend to others and have the blessing of many friendships

- As he starts school this Fall - a caring & loving teacher, his attention span & ability to focus & learn

- Temper tantrums - learning control when things don't go his way

- That we could encourage his gifts & talents

- Showing respect for elders - looking at and answering them when they talk to him

- His future spouse

- His relationship with the Lord and acceptance of Him into his life

- His relationship with family members - parents & siblings

Kaiya

- protection over her from danger, harm, sickness, disease, kidnapping

- past generational sins carried down from birth parents & ourselves

- Her future spouse

- Future friendships - only positive influences - that she could be a good role model to others as well - know how to handle conflicts in a positive way and have many friendships

- Potty training to the completion

- Quick obedience to mom & dad and others in authority over her

- Showing respect to elders and answering them when they talk to her

- Purity - what she sees, hears & does

- That she would have a healthy self-esteem and not feel like looks are the most important

- Healthy relationships with parents & siblings

- Healthy understanding and acceptance of her adoption

- A likable personality - gentle & loving spirit for others - compassion

- Future salvation

- Wisdom & patience for us as we discipline

Here's an excerpt from the book that I thought was good:

When things go wrong in our children's lives, we blame ourselves. We beat ourselves up for not being perfect parents. But it's not being a perfect parent that makes the difference in a child's life, because there are no perfect parents. None of us are perfect, so how can we be perfect parents? It's being a praying parent that makes the difference. And that's something we all can be.

Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift your hands toward Him for the life of your young children. Lamentations 2:19

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. John 15:7

Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. John 14:13-14

Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. Ephesians 6:17-18

Happy Easter!