The Power of a Praying Parent

Any normal parent would want the best for their kids.  But let's face it, there are a lot of things we can't control.  And even if we drive ourselves mad, throw in all the money in the world, reality is, we can't predict their future.  We can plan all we want, or prepare everything we can but bottom line is, our children will eventually live their own lives. (Like we did.) And while I sit on the sidelines watching all of these happen, I'll do what I need to do, I'll try to be the best mom that I can be, and yes, pray.

Paranoia is my enemy.  When it's about my children, I get paranoid with the simplest of things.  When I hear about crimes against children, I see a lot of what-if-that-happened-to-my-kid scenarios. If they get sick, worry-freak me would be, right, worried.  I don't mean to sound like these feelings are not normal. Of course they are.  But it's very consoling to know that you have God on your side.  You've got Him on your team.  And he's you're most powerful weapon.  When a friend gave me this book - The Power of the Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian, I was very thankful.  I pray for my kids everyday, but I don't know if I articulate my heart clearly enough.  So when I read the book, 2 prayers caught my attention.  It was like, bam! This is exactly what my heart is yearning for. Everyday, I start with these prayers.  And as I utter the words, somehow my worries, my paranoia, my issues are suddenly washed by faith, by reassurance, by peace.

I would like to share these two prayers to all parents.  I'm one with you in prayer for our children's best, and for our best, as their God-chosen parents.

BECOMING A PRAYING PARENT 

Lord,
I submit myself to You.  I realize that parenting a child in the way You would have me to is beyond my human abilities.  I know I need You to help me.  I want to partner with You and partake of Your gifts of wisdom, discernment, revelation and guidance.  I also need Your strength and patience, along with a generous portion of Your love flowing through me.  Teach me how to love the way You love.  Where I need to be healed, delivered, changed, matured, or made whole, I invite You to do that in me.  Help me walk in righteousness and integrity before You.  Teach me Your ways, enable me to obey Your commandments and do only what is pleasing in Your sight.  May the beauty of your spirit be so evident in me that I will be a godly role model.  Give me the communication, teaching and nurturing skills that I must have.  Make me the parent You want me to be and teach me how to pray and truly intercede for the life of this child.  Lord, You said in Your Word, "Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive" (Matthew 21:22).  In Jesus' name I ask that you will increase my faith to believe for all the things You've put on my heart to pray for concerning this child.

RELEASING OUR CHILD INTO GOD'S HANDS

Lord,
I come to You in Jesus' name and give (name of child) to You.  I'm convinced that You alone know what is best for him (her).  You alone know what he (she) needs.  I release him (her) to You to care for and protect, and I commit myself to pray for everything concerning him (her) that I can think of or that you put upon my heart.  Teach me how to pray and guide me in what to pray about.  Help me not to impose my own will when I'm praying for him (her), but rather enable me to pray that Your will be done in his (her) life.

Thank You that I can partner with You in raising him (her) and that I don't have to do it alone.  I'm grateful that I don't have to rely on the world's unreliable and ever-changing methods for child-rearing, but that I can have clear directions from Your Word and wisdom as I pray to You for answers.

Thank you, Lord, for the precious gift of this child.  Because your Word says that every good gift comes from You, I know that You have given him (her) to me to care for and raise.  Help me to do that.  Show me places where I continue to hang on to him (her) and enable me to release him (her) to Your protection, guidance and counsel.  Help me not to live in fear of possible dangers, but in the joy and peace of knowing that You are in control.  I rely on You for everything, and this day I trust my child to You and release him (her) into your hands.

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There are other prayers in the book, fit for the different stages of our children (e.g. honoring parents and resisting rebellion, instilling desire to learn, rejecting sexual immorality, attracting Godly friends and role models, etc.).

I would like to pay it forward.  Since my friend gave this to me, I would like to give this book to another parent for free.  And I'll even mail this to you.  Just leave your name, name of your children, email address and address on the comment box. You can also use the Rafflecopter to join. (And I hope you'll like Superwomom's page on FB too, although this is not a requirement). Deadline to submit names is on July 21 (R's birthday).

May our children grow up under God's protective and loving wings.  God bless you and your family.

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