“Motherhood is an opportunity to bless, protect, enable and provide”

Yesterday, I shared about the ‘bless‘ today, protect…

 

The term ‘mama bear’ is well-known to us isn’t it. Protect your kids at all costs! Yes, of course we want to protect our kids from harm, danger, trials, sickness and pain. That is how I feel, it’s normal. When my boys broke multiple bones and required surgery (hmm like me recently!) I felt helpless as I watched them navigate the pain and trial of recovery along with the loss of playing their favourite sport. Bones heal in time but, months of hockey can’t be replaced. It was amazing to see how resilient they both were, capable on crutches and willing to watch games from the stands cheering on the team.

As parents, we could have said no to contact sports or kept them from doing anything that potentially lead them into harms way. But we didn’t. We signed them up and walked them through the hills and valleys of team sports. We knew the risk, but we also knew that their dad would walk them into the changeroom, tie their skates, cheer (or coach) from the stands, drive to tournaments, book hotels, hold back frustrations when refs made crazy calls and often, pray with them before games and after despite the outcome. During those younger years praying with the kids was an important way to encourage a natural conversation with God. This was not a formula or guarantee for salvation. We were acting intentionally as God has called us to, ” Rejoice always,  pray without ceasing,  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). One of my favourite verses in Isaiah provides a hope that the foundation we build will not return empty, 

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.
 As the rain and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55:8-11

Raised in a home where prayer was taught and modeled, it came naturally to me to include the same in my home. I think of those that have gone before me with pages of the Bible full of names prayed over and hours of folded hands and knees worn from the routine of powerful prayer. 

 

When we pray, we offer all we can’t and admit our need for God.

 

There are many books out there on prayer. It can be a challenge to select just one. Nancy Guthrie provides a wonderful book on prayer I would encourage you to read first and then with your children. She eloquently and precisely shares the powerful purpose in prayer and examples from the Bible. A tool for families to encourage a life of fervent and intentional prayer, no matter what age. I did not have this book when my kids were younger, but I did read it with my girls more recently even though it may target a younger audience. It was worth reading it out loud, discussing together and learning more about the power in prayer!

You can listen to her introduce the book here.

Below are some helpful links:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1349490531920165 What Every Child Needs To Know About Prayer

Nancy Guthrie’s site

The Gospel Coalition

Worship with this music today!

Riley Clemmons – Broken Prayers

Chris Tomlin – I Lift My Hands

The Worship Initiative and Shane and Shane – Sovereign Over Us

 

“Prayer is the way to communicate with God and have abundant confidence that he hears, see and knows all our needs.”

 

 

May God bless you as you pray with and for your children.