Christian bookshelves are filled with great resources on how to pray. Many of these resources are written specifically for moms and are great encouragements to help moms pray regularly for their children, as well as showing them what prayer looks like. The problem is, at my house, these books often sit on the shelf collecting dust. I have great intentions and know that praying for Baby Girl is an important thing to do. But in the midst of getting chores done, cleaning up messes, and being present in Baby Girl's life, prayer often gets left with all the other unchecked items, eagerly waiting to (maybe) make the list of things I want to try and accomplish tomorrow.How do we make praying for our kids a regular part of our lives? Getting up early could be an option...but to be honest I am lucky to be semi-conscious before my wee one wants to start the day, let alone awake enough to string a sentence together for the Almighty. I often send quick ones throughout the day (something resembling a Facebook message hastily posted to a friend) asking for help with my attitude or wisdom for a sticky situation. But the deep, thoughtful desires I have for my daughter too often get left unprayed.
The books on prayer might get read someday, and maybe someday I will have a more defined place and time to pray. Until then, I will continue to be the praying mom by talking to God about my needs, desires, and hopes as they come throughout the day. I will be the praying mom through praying with my little one and teaching her how to talk with God. I will be the praying mom through finding a few moments in the quiet to thank God for each moment with my girl and ask His help me be the mama He's called me to be.
Today I am linking up with Rachel Wojnarowski for Whimsical Wednesdays (check out her blog here) and Beth at Messy Marriage (check out her blog here).
I love your tenacity in keeping prayer a priority, Summer. I think most young moms give up and then find themselves feeling distant and disinterested in God. This solution sounds like the perfect fit for this time in your life. I'm certain God doesn't mind that you stay in a sort of "continual" state of prayer rather than carving out a specific prayer time. I think He extends more grace to us than we often do to ourselves. Thanks so much for swinging by my place. I'd love to have you link this up at Wedded Wed too. Nice to meet ya!
ReplyDeleteBeth~Thanks for stopping by here too! It can be easier said than done to "pray continuously" but I am certainly a better mom when I do! I would love to link up for Wedded Wed...Thanks for the invite! :)
DeletePrayer is such an important thing but is something I so often forget or don't make time for! Thanks for the encouragement to make prayer a priority and a spur of the moment thing!
ReplyDeleteSummer, I love that talking to the Lord is important to you. I think there are times in our lives (like when our children are little) when God is delighted with our 'run-on' prayers. The ones that don't really have a beginning or an end... they're just a continuum of need, praise, and confession in-between diaper changes, clothes folding and baby holding. Good job, mama!
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you ~ Mary
It appears you're learning the lesson that prayer can be much more than bended knee. I've always liked this story:
ReplyDelete“While walking through the woods one day, I was surprised to hear a child’s voice. I followed the sound, trying in vain to understand the child’s words. When I spotted a boy perched on a rock. I realized why his words made no sense: he was repeating the alphabet. ‘Why are you saying your ABC’s so many times?’ I asked him. The child replied, ‘I’m saying my prayers.’ I couldn’t help but laugh. ‘Prayers? All I hear is the alphabet.’ Patiently the child explained, ‘Well, I don’t know all the words, so I give God all the letters. God knows what I’m trying to say.’”
It reminds me that prayer is not so much about the words - it's about the desire of the heart.
When we desire God in our lives and mold our thinking in that direction, we prosper. No matter what words we use...