Last Friday I printed my copy of Warrior Prayers and bound it at an office supply store. I have ran my hand down the bound pages, through ten prayers, three times each, every single day.
I have prayed ten different prayers for six days for each of my three little boys. I have prayed 180 different prayers. I have inserted their three names, for my three babies I cradled in three hospitals in three states. A week ago, before we began, I thought I could measure my love for them. I thought I knew how much I loved them, how much I want them to be spiritual leaders of their homes, of how I have dreamed for their future wives and their children, and how much I hoped for their future education and leadership. And then I started this prayer challenge.
Everything I have intentionally, and so carefully planned for nearly seven years, diminishes in the shadows of this week of prayer. All of the ways I researched baby products, interviewed pediatricians, and toured schools, in the name of giving the very best to my sons, cannot begin to measure how much I care for them when I am in prayer for them. I have sat and taken notes from mentor mothers on effective behavior, established routines, and well mannered children. I have read specific books on parenting boys. I have prayed very specific, yet very predictable prayers, over them. Dr. Romance and I have intentionally shared teachable moments with our sons. And still, I realize we only scratched the surface.
This week I am changing. I am listening more.
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matt 12:34)
I am listening to what they are saying, what they are speaking, what they are thinking out loud.
I am slower to speak, slower to discipline, and more rapid to pray. I am still processing that I have prayed for them, each one, 60 different ways.
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That truly is the power of prayer, I think, the way it changes the pray-er rather than the way it may change the one or thing prayed for. Not many of us, I suspect, are aware or even willing to think that we are usually, maybe always, the one who needs changing. This is beautiful to me.
ReplyDeletegiiiirllll!
ReplyDeletethis post gets me. Prayer is the Truest weapon we have.
love you,
rach
Thank you for sharing about your prayer journey this week. You are so right, all of our careful planning for our children pales in comparison to our prayers for them (especially when we are praying the Word of God for them).
ReplyDeleteLove this. It's so beautifully said. When we pray for our children, it's one of the best ways we can show our love for them. Thank you for sharing your heart!
ReplyDeleteAmen, sister! Love the thoughts you shared, and relate very much. Thanks so much for stopping by my post...came to yours via 21 Days for Sons (and via your comment on my post).
ReplyDeleteI so would like to participate in that 21 Days of Prayer for sons. Thank you so much for sharing what you've experienced.
ReplyDeleteSo great to meet you through this journey. I love this post. I need to constantly remind myself to plan less and pray more. Awesome!
ReplyDeleteI love this - I can relate to it so much (I have 4 boys). I haven't heard of 21 Days of Prayer for Sons - but I'm off to check it out.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
~Lisa
http://www.neebeep.com/itsownsweetwillneebeepc/
great perspective! Stopping by via 21 Days of Prayer for sons. Glad to be on this journey as well.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right! Well, I never imagined life as the mother of a boy, but I feel so privileged that God is the One who helps me in raising this boy to be a man of God.
ReplyDeleteYour love for your boys definitely shines through in this post! You are so true about nothing shows love more than praying.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your encouragement! You are the best. I love this post, and especially this part, "more rapid to pray." That is what I need! Thank you :)
ReplyDeleteI started it a day late, this past Monday. It's changing my world, quite simply. This posts reflects my own experience closely --thanks for putting your week to words.
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