Prayin Mama

I read somewhere once about a mother who had an eerie feeling before her kids went off to school. She couldn’t shake it all morning, but she went about the mundane routine and sent them on their way. She learned later that day that her children died in a bus accident. She believed that she would always wonder what would have happened if she would have prayed with them, for them, before they left. I will never forget this story and I feel like it is a pivotal moment (one of many) for me to pledge to always pray for and with my own children.

Now, you can think what you want about me or think you know me, but I want you to hear me when I tell you this: I am a God-fearin, non-stop prayin mama. I really don’t care what other titles or reputations you want to give me, but I want you to know this intimate detail about myself because I wish I had some mom along the way telling me this is what I did that made all the difference. Prayer is a game changer, folks, and I don’t have all the answers and I am certainly NOT perfect, but these are things I believe to be true based off of God’s word, based off the Jesus books I can’t put down, based off of personal experience. Here’s just a glimpse of some things Blake and I do that might help you if you struggle…if you just don’t know what else to do or you just don’t know how to not worry about something. Practical, every day, biblically based parenting praying stuff.

I pray with my boys every day before they leave the house. Sometimes I ask them to pray. I love starting our day off this way. This isn’t always pretty because sometimes I am praying over them while they scarf down their cereal, or sometimes it is while I am undoing a knot in someone’s shoe; however, sometimes it is peaceful and we get to hold hands and close our eyes and take a deep breath together. It isn’t a “complicated” prayer, but if you don’t know how or what to say, it goes something like this… Heavenly Father, keep my boys safe. Help them honor you in all they do and say today. Help them make wise choices and good friends. Help them stand alone if no one stands with them for You. Help them find their identity in You Father. Thank you for another day. Love you, Amen.

I leave prayers on notes in their lunch boxes.

I write down prayers I pray for them and leave them in their bathroom drawer.

I write down the lengthy prayers in my prayer journal and tear it out and stick it in their baby book.

Seem too simple, too practical? Well, it probably is, but I want my boys to know that I am always praying for them. They don’t always know what they need to pray for (and I don’t know what all I need to pray for either) but I think that by them knowing I do this will make all the difference…knowing that God is FOR them and that I am FOR that is just a game changer. The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson is one of those Jesus books I was talking about. I love this: “And one way or another, your small timid prayers or big audacious prayers will change the trajectory of your life…Prayers are prophesies. They are the best predictors of your spiritual future. Who you become is determined by how you pray. Ultimately, the transcript of your prayers becomes the script of your life.” And that’s what I’m talking about! My biggest role as a mother is to raise godly men and if I’m not constantly centering my prayers on that, then how do I expect that to happen?

“The greatest tragedy in life is the prayers that go unanswered because they go unasked” (Batterson). This is great because literally it is just freeing to me. The Bible says in Matthew to “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” When I get upset because my child doesn’t act a certain way, have I prayed for wisdom on how to parent that? Have I prayed for the Holy Spirit to convict my child so they won’t sin? Have I gotten on my knees and just cried out to God instead of worrying, instead of making some facebook status, instead of texting my mom tribe? Pray, friends, pray! I promise you, if you lean on God’s promises and pray scripture then God will ultimately deliver.

The laying on of hands: my favorite. Often, when my kids sleep—they look like angels then and I don’t want to strangle them usually—when they sleep I sneak into their rooms and I lay my hands on their tiny, warm bodies and I pray for them. I pray health, healing, wisdom; I pray praises to God for these precious gifts; I pray prayers of gratitude for that day; I pray prayers of confession and begging for forgiveness where I fall short. I pray instead of worry. I pray for peace and strength and rest. Mamas, if you don’t do this…DO IT!

Blaze struggles with anger…Kaden struggles with anxiety…anytime that arises I pray, pray, pray and I speak truth and I recite scripture or have them recite scripture. There’s a difference in punishment and discipline and when I focus on instructing and correcting the behavior and why we don’t act that way, they learn more. It is exhausting-way more tiring than just spanking and moving on-but I know it will be way more worth it.

I pray in the car with them-anytime we don’t have a wreck when we should, for safety, for an ambulance or police officer that may pass…

We pray with them at dinner—and those prayers always get interesting to me because I’ve heard some pretty entertaining prayers from my boys—usually we have to remind them to bless the food because they pray about random things like toilets and such. Yes, true story.

We pray with them every night before bed and oh, to hear their childlike faith is a breath of fresh air and a gut check. To have them witness the healing of Uncle D and Jordan from cancer. To have them pray for rain and it rain. To have them have so much hope and faith that their grandpa and great-grandma will stop smoking. To have them pray for each other and us…oh how I love it so.

Family prayer nights…if you don’t have one then make one. Tuesdays are usually ours. Model for them what it looks like to really pray. Don’t be embarrassed or ashamed. You will be great. (and don’t expect everyone to be quiet or to not laugh because it happens and God understands your chaotic life)

When Blake and I pray together in bed, one of the things we pray for is their future spouses: that they know Him and that our boys will be spiritual leaders of their wives and children. I have to pray for the strength to one day let them go (that’s unfortunately biblical, people)

One of the things I pray is Luke 2:52 as a prayer blessing, “Lord, let them grow in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”

Parents, we are prophets to our children. We need to know scripture, we need to know the promises of God and we need to teach both to them. 

Prayer is everything. I truly believe that with all of my being. Please feel free to share anything you do on a continual basis that I could implement. Know that I commit to keep praying. My prayer for all of you reading this is that you just commit in some way to do a better job at praying with and for your kids-or commit to pray for someone else’s kids (my kids), and I know that will make all the difference.