Stand in the gap and pray! (Cont.)

Continued from February 26, 2013 I've often used written prayers to give me ideas on what to pray for my children.  Stormie Omartian has some good books on praying for your children.  The chapters deal with different character traits and issues and it gives great insights on what and how to pray effective prayers.  I've prayed with a group of moms for years and we've used a prayer book to help us focus on an attribute to pray for our kids.  There is a so much power in praying with other parents who can support you and give you insights that you overlooked.  I would encourage you to find some parents from church or school to meet with weekly to lift your children before the Lord and stand as a strong, united front against the enemy.

There may come a time in your child’s life when they choose not to follow the Lord.  God has given everyone the free will to choose Him or not.  You can’t force your child to follow the Lord, but no one can stop you from praying for them to have their hearts turned toward the Lord and open to receiving true life from Him. By praying you can help them to hear from God so He can lead them to do what He wants.  Pray like the life of your child depends on it, but then also rest in knowing that the God who loves them most already has the victory.  Worry and fear only discourage you and waste precious time that would be more effectively spent in prayer.

I love the verse, “the prayer of a righteous man (or woman) is powerful and effective” (James 5:16) and I've found this to be true so many times in the lives of my kids.  I may not say the most elegant words, but God knows the intentions of my heart and delights in answering my prayers.   I can take heart that with God, the victory is certain and my prayers made a difference in the lives of my kids.

Article by Dawn Belknap

Resources:

• The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian
• Biblical Virtues to pray for your kids bookmark by Bob Hostetler

Praying for your kids

1. Find one or more people to pray weekly with you for your children.
2. Pray as a couple
3. Turn off the radio in your car and use the time to connect to God in prayer
4. Fast from something and use the time spent on that activity to pray.
5. Use bedtime as a time to pray your desires for your children in their presence.