10 Ways to Pray for Our Children with FREE DOWNLOAD

From the day I found out I was going to have a baby, I began praying for his salvation and his spouse. If you're like me, there are some days that we just don't pray for our children like we should. When I think about that, it makes me cringe. To know there is something more important than my son to take me away from praying for him like I should is unpleasant. If we don't PRAY for our children, they will fall PREY to the world.

Pray for Our Children

For several weeks, I’ve been busily working on creating a Prayer/Devotional Journal. I want to be able to keep everything together for as long as I can, instead of having 100 books to store when I’m finished using them. While I’ve been working on this journal, I came across many ways to pray for my son. I personally like these 10 ways best of all. These are things that I can pray about each day, instead of breaking them down into a certain day or month.

• Nothing will hinder his salvation and relationship with Christ early in life. (Matthew 19:14) 
• He will know the true God and have a desire to do God’s will all of his life.(Psalm 119:26,33-35) 
• As he hears the Bible, he will develop a love and dependency for God and His Word.(Psalm 71:17) 
• For his growth: an increase in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and others. (Luke 2:52) 
• He will have a thankful heart and positive attitude. (Psalm 126:2-3; Romans 8:31) 
• He will be protected from Satan in every area of life. (Psalm 121) 
• God would reveal the inclination to sin and enable him to overcome them before they become sinful habits. (Psalm 139:23-24; I John 1:8-9) 
• He will be successful in the work God has planned for him. (Ephesians 2:10) 
• He will have a strong sense of belonging to a family that is loving and dwells together in unity. (Psalm 133) 
• He will respect those in authority over him. (Romans 13:1; Ephesians 6:1-4)

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Seek Him with a Whole Heart - Psalm 119:10-11

Recently, I read someone’s comment about reading Psalms 119. It was the chapter she read before bed every night because there is so much wisdom packed into it. She went on to say, something ALWAYS new seemed to show itself to her even after reading it every night for the year. When I read the comment, I loved it. Her words rang true about new things popping up even after reading a certain chapter in the Bible repetitively. Seek Him With a Whole Heart is something she learned again the night before.

Seek Him with a Whole Heart

When we read verses 10 and 11, we know they are the continuation of verse 9. Quite the opening question from the writer. A question that should make the reader pause and think. How can we keep our lives pure?

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?
by taking heed thereto according to thy word. (verse 9)

The answer to that question is blunt and to the point – obeying God’s Word. No questions asked, no excuses to be made.

We need a heart that seeks God. When our heart is seeking God, it makes it more difficult for our feet to stray from Him. (Proverbs 4:23) When we are wholeheartedly seeking God we see Him in everything. We will want to learn more about God and will want to fellowship with Him.

With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. (verse 10)

Webster’s dictionary defines wholehearted as completely and sincerely devoted, determined, or enthusiastic; marked by complete earnest commitment: free from all reserve or hesitation

If we want to truly seek the Lord, we have to do it wholeheartedly. We have to be devoted to Him, determined to seek Him daily. We can’t keep a portion of our heart for ourselves and the things of the world. Our heart should be all of His.

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (verse 11)

We have to seek Him while reading His words. The Bible is a treasure full of riches and to find them, all we have to do is dig for them while reading. If you are having a hard time finding those riches, pray and ask the Lord to show them to you.

Reading and spending time in the Bible is wonderful; it’s necessary for the Christian life. But, we need to be hiding God’s words in our heart. Those little verses while burned into our heart are an encouragement during the gloomy days we face, but they will also keep us from sin.

Seek Him - Devoted, Determined, Committed

Cute scripture images and Bible quotes throughout our homes and workplace are nice to have. But, if they are the only hiding we are doing; they can be taken from us. If we are hiding them in our memory because we learned them while a youngster, our memories fade. But to truly hide God’s words in our hearts mean they are there and can’t be taken away.

Take Time to be Holy

Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.

~ William D Longstaff

You can read more about the Through The Word Challenge for the month of April.

Honoring Our Husband: Rising Early in the Mornings

When I was single and going to college, I worked in a school lunchroom. Yep, I was the lunch lady! It was the perfect job for me to attend classes at night. No matter what, I was always home by 2:30 in the afternoon and had time to study and do whatever before I had to leave for class. I learned some interesting things from some of the ladies I worked with.

I'll never forget a conversation between some of the ladies. Most of the ladies were old enough to be my mother and some were closer to my age and all of them at that time had healthy marriages. One lady told how she got up every morning and fixed coffee and took it in to her husband so he could drink it while he was getting ready. Another, made a snide remark and said something like my husband would want to know what I was up to, bringing a cup of coffee. With that comment came giggles and laughter.

I spoke up and said, my mom does that; she takes my dad coffee every morning so he can drink it while he is getting ready for work. My sweet friend knew my mom and said she could see her doing that.

Honoring Our Husband: Rising Early in the Mornings

The one thing these ladies had in common; they got up with their husbands, cooked breakfast, packed a lunch, and gave them a kiss and told them have a good day. This was something my mom did every morning when my dad worked. When my husband and I got engaged, his mother told me, "Don't start doing something for him, unless you are willing to keep doing it for the rest of your life." I was blown away when she told me that. She was a wife who got up and did little things for her husband every morning and when he returned in the evening. Why would she tell me this? I had no clue!

 After all these years, I still want to scratch my head and wonder what she was talking about. After almost nineteen years of marriage, I still get up with my husband in the mornings. Breakfast is cooked, lunch is packed, a kiss and have a good day is spoken at the door. I can not count on my hands how many days my husband has gone to work with me still laying in the bed because it has never happened.

Why do I get up in the mornings with my husband?

• I had a good example in my mother.
• Proverbs 31:15 talks about the wife getting her day started while it is still dark.
• I enjoy the quite moments I have every morning with my husband before the daily grind weighs on him. I never know when when these moments could end, so I take advantage of them.
• I pray for safety and a peaceful day as soon as the door closes.

 While some would say I'm old fashioned - I look at this as part of my ministry to my husband.

Encourage Your Child's Interests - Three Ways To Help

Children are complete individuals with their own interests and likes. Each one should be encouraged to find their own, don't force a sibling to pursue another's interest if they are not interested in it.

 

Encourage Your Child's Interests

I’m the mom to a boy. The rough and tumble had to get dirty kind when he was little. So dirty, there would be a ring around the tub when the water drained after bath time at night. When asked what he wanted to do when he grew up, his answer was always the same – to be just like my Daddy. My husband drives big trucks and works heavy equipment. At an early age, my son was taught the equipment my husband used and when driving down the road and one was spotted, he’d tell us. I even took him to my husband’s work where he would get to see the big trucks up close and personal. He was encouraged to learn more about what he wanted to be.

Over the years, my son pursued steer wrestling and bull riding because he wanted to be like his father. While there were times this momma’s heart was in her throat, I never tried to discourage his interests. Our move to Montana killed it after one season of youth rodeo. Deep down inside, I wish we never moved there because he truly loved the sport. While I now breathe a sigh of relief, I know when my sweet son is in his 40’s he’ll be glad he stopped. He’ll be too young to deal with all the aches and pains that eventually come by hitting the ground, being stepped on, and being dragged across a ring.

When I started the journey of home education, the one thing I wanted for my son was to be a book lover – a reader who can’t put a book down. I just knew he would love reading since he was read to from the time he was a little tot. But that hasn’t happened. For him to read we have to find books that spark an interest and even then sometimes it is like pulling teeth.

Little did I know my love for history would spark a love in my son. While I love anything history related, he has honed in on his true love – the WWII era.

Children are complete individuals with their own interests and likes.

My parents were of the generation where children didn’t pursue interests. As soon as they were old enough or finished with school – they went to work. Because of this, I was not encouraged to pursue more than one interest. While the ultimate dream for me was being a wife and mother, I had interests I wanted to pursue, but I could only pursue the piano. After all the money dumped into lessons and the many hours of practice, I don't have the playing ability to show for it. While I'd like to blame it on the teachers and my discipline in practicing, I just don't have a natural talent like others do.

Yes, it's hard to watch your children enjoy a sport you know can have a painful future. Yes, it's hard to see a love you want your children to have not grow. No matter the situation if they love it and have an interest in it – encourage them to pursue it. If they don’t have an interest in it, don’t force it.

Three Ways To
Help Encourage Your Child's Interests

Guidance- talk with your children about their interests and dreams. Be encouraging by not shooting down their interests. If a child is interested in sports and dreams of going to the big league – help them be realistic. Children need to learn early on there is always the possibility they won’t make it. If they do, they may never be the one on all the magazine covers. But that doesn’t mean they should not give their all to the sport they love. Remind them “There is always more than one way to be a star”.

Moral Support- providing our children with challenges to help grow their love for an interest is needed to build confidence. These challenges should not be used in a way to kill the spirit they have for the interest. If it so happens, they have no natural talent or a true love in their interest, find a way for them see this for themselves. Don’t plug the holes in a sinking boat if they are second guessing their interest. If they have more than one interest, focus on another for a while.

Financial Support- sometimes our children have a love for something that will cost money. Providing the opportunity for your child to cultivate their love or ability in what they are interested in helps them grow. Two examples: Bull riding equipment, practice pen fees, entry fees, across country bull riding school with a world champion bull rider. Military museums are a perfect place to get up close and personal with WWII aviation and ground forces while learning more about them. Don’t let your children hear the words, “We don’t have the money for that.” Get proactive to provide the opportunity they need to pursue their interest. Again, no matter if there is real natural talent or a true love for the interest, don’t bankrupt yourself trying to feed the dream or interest. Children need to know there are limits to things in life.

Your child's interests - are you encouraging them or discouraging them?

Peaceful Living

Peacefulness brings about a sense of calmness.  Just like in the story of when Jesus calms the storm, a sense of calmness came over the disciples in their time of fear. Peaceful Living was a big study for me this week because I want peacefulness and it will have to start with me, not someone else.

 

Peaceful Living

Hebrews 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

It’s kind of funny how this verse and my study of Peace fell at the same time. While my study focused on peace with God in life, pride, and difficult people, this verse is talking about having peace and holiness for others to see the Lord.

Peaceful living is hard sometimes. Many of us have bothersome neighbors or obnoxious co-workers that seem to cause problems every time we turn a corner and of course, there’s always that one family member who loves to stir the pot of trouble.

 As Christians, we are not to be the contentious person who is stirring the pot, but rather the one who is trying to keep peace in the situation. This does not mean we are a doormat for people to wipe their feet on but rather, we are to let our voice be heard, but in a way that will bring glory to the Lord. 

When people see us or hear us, they should see and hear Christ. The holiness of God should be pouring out of us in such a way others will know there is definitely something different about us. 

While many times, trouble makers are not Christians, we are to keep holiness about us when dealing with these people. I would hate to know because of the way I act, people could not see that I am a Christian. This is something that happens all the time for people. My husband was shocked to find out one of his bosses is a Sunday school teacher. He was really floored when he found this out because his actions do not show any sign of being a Christian. What really scares me is the fact people are entering eternity without the gift of salvation all because a Christian would not live their life as one.

Living the life of a Christian in nothing to be ashamed of, but we need to remember how we live is either going to point someone to the Lord or away from Him. We are to be peacefully living among others.

You may also like these posts about peace:

Having Peace Within Ourselves
Rest in Peace
Peace of Mind
In Me Ye Might Have Peace

I Am a Chosen Generation

When I was in college I took two Bible classes on the Epistles; I loved both classes. I just wish I would have kept all my college notes because now that I'm older, I would love to look back on what I wrote down regarding a book. But I do have my Bible that went to these classes with me and I have all the highlighted, underlined, circled/marked verses there for me to read. Some of them I wonder why I marked them while others are obvious as to why.

As I began reading through the Epistles again, I made sure that I wrote my notes in a journal that I will keep. It's kinda funny, I'm not a journal kind of person. I've tried writing about my life, throughout my life and it didn't work. I even tried writing a journal about books that I've read, no trying to fool you on that one, it just didn't stick.

I tried writing about our deputation trail, well, let's just say that there were more discouraging moments than I care to remember. So I only wrote about the good things that happened. Some of the good came out of bad things and I definitely could not write about the good without including the bad.  The journal has been put away. While I don't want to be reminded of some the situations we went through, I want to have it  for when I need to be reminded of how God worked in our lives during some of those moments.

I Am A Chosen Generation

This morning, I was reading in I Peter and when I looked across the notes and markings, my heart was thrilled because I found things like:

•  Disallowed~ to examine then say I don't want it.
•  Holy~ set apart
•  Gracious~ excellent
•  Confounded~ not to put to shame
•  Thankworthy ~ beyond what is expected
•  Froward~ can't reason with
•  Glory~ pleasure.

The one thing that really brings back a memory is I Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

I remember my professor standing there and repeating YE ARE A CHOSEN GENERATION, YOU ARE A CHOSEN GENERATION, WE ARE THE CHOSEN GENERATION.

When I look at the markings in this Bible, I compare my new Bible and see if there are verses that I've marked in it that was marked in the older one. I found ten verses in chapters one and two that are marked in both Bibles.  I guess, I need to realize that they are doubly important for my life.

Two weeks ago, I started the I John Bible study with a group of ladies on Facebook.  I am so loving it! Today, I got excited when I was reading I John 2:1-2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 

I don't live a perfect life, no one does. But I try to do all that I can to live as perfectly as I can. When I came across those verses this morning. Knowing no matter how big a goof up I make, I have an advocate. He is at the throne of God pleading my case. I would really hate to know, that I had to face God without Jesus. Can you imagine? My heart is pounding in my chest, just trying to imagine it. I'm thankful, that I am not the only one who has Jesus as their advocate.

I am a chosen generation.

Leaving A Legacy That Will Impact Others

Any time I work on my family’s genealogy, I get swept up into an amazing history learning session. It’s one of those moments when everything else is set aside so I can dig a little deeper and learn a little more about the life of an ancestor. Researching is not an easy thing to do sometimes, but other times you’ll find a lead that opens the door to a goldmine of information just waiting to be found.

Over the years I have found an ancestor who came to America as an indentured servant who ended up owning a very large farm. I’ve found several men and a husband and wife who are listed together as patriots during the American Revolution. There was even a man who went AWOL during the War Between The States. Of course, there is the great uncle who was killed during World War II. When I look at what has been recorded for the ancestors in my family I can’t help but wonder if they left a legacy that would have impacted (for the good) others.

Leave a Legacy That Will Impact Others

When you think about people who have gone on before us, what kind of legacy did they leave? Something good to impact many generations that follow, or did they leave a legacy their future generations will want to hide?

Finding American Patriots in your family tree is amazing. It makes your heart swell with pride and want to learn all you can about them so you can share their history. But when you find someone with a negative mark about them it makes you wonder and want to hide that part of your history.

While God doesn’t call everyone to do big things in life, we can still do mighty things for Him. For the momma who is raising children and feel there is nothing else for you. Just remember, you may be touching the lives of hundreds or more through your children. Children who have been prayed over grow up and become pastors, missionaries, doctors, and even presidents. Raising children to live for the Lord is a mighty thing.

Leave a Legacy

While we may never do something big in life, those “little” mighty things we do for the Lord is what we want to be remembered about us. My future generations will know I was a wife, mom, and a teacher, but those are not what I want remembered.

There are many things I want to be remembered for but there are three legacies I want to pass down.

Strong faith in the Lord – without faith in the Lord, living life would be hard. He is the only One who can lead and guide while loving and giving me the protection I need. He is the only One who can give true peace. (I Corinthians 16:13)

Contentment – without contentment, one cannot be truly thankful.(Matthew 6:33, Philippians 4:11, Hebrews 13:5 )

Forgiving – it’s not always easy to forgive. But we must break the chains of not forgiving others. When we forgive others as Christ forgives us, we model His life. (Ephesians 4:32)

 WHAT KIND OF LEGACY ARE YOU LIVING NOW AND WILL BE LEAVING ONE DAY?

 

Your Faith - Where Does It Stand? I Corinthians 2:5

I joined the Through the Word Memory Verse Challenge at the Christian Ladies Network again for March. This month’s verse was an eye opener for me. Of all the times I’ve read through I Corinthians, I never saw it before. While verse five is more about what we put our faith in for salvation; man’s wisdom vs God’s power, the verse hit me in a different area. There is only one place my faith should be. Many times it is found bouncing up and down on the sea of life instead of on the ROCK that is sure, steady, and unmovable. Where does my faith stand?

You Faith: Where Does It Stand? In Others or In God?

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. I Corinthians 2:5

While verse five can bring a lot on its own, let’s go back up and look at verses 1-4 first.

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

We see Paul coming across in honesty. He was not trying to be a popular, motivational speaker full of wisdom for everyone to put on a pedestal. Paul was stating his weakness, his fear, and his trembling just like the people of Corinth. He was not trying to make a name for himself like so many are doing today. Paul was speaking simply in truth and love while showing the power of God. It was not about him, but God.

Paul knew where the Corinthians needed to place their faith – in God.

This verse goes right along with my FAITHFUL building. When I ask myself where exactly my faith stands, it makes me stop and think. Am I trusting man’s words and wisdom or am I trusting in the power of God to do as He has promised?

We (I) need to be careful of the words others speak. These very people fail in their daily lives just like you and me. I believe God allows us to have wise people in our lives to give sound wisdom. But before we go to another for wisdom, don’t bypass the One who gives a true wisdom that is personalized just for our individual needs. The Lord is the One we can put our faith in no matter the situation.

The Bible is the perfect tool to gain wisdom. Before we pick up a how-to book written by man, pick up the Bible and pray for wisdom while reading.
Where does your faith stand?

You can read more about this month's Through the Word challenge at The Christian Ladies Network.