Praying Together with Other Parents

There was a time when I wouldn't share anything going on in my life or my children's life, God and I had it handled.

Today, I know I wasn't meant to walk through this world alone, Jesus had 12 friends but 3 were let in more than the others, read , Matthew 17:1 NIV

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

We need 2 or 3 friends we can trust to walk this life in prayer with us.

Matthew 18:20 NIV

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Hopefully one of those friends is your husband, the others need to be women who are mature in their faith and have same beliefs as you, if you're unsure of who will walk this journey with you holding confidences and praying God's will, ask Him and He will provide them.

OK, so here is the end of the chapter but let's not let it be the end of praying for our children.... Stand firm in your faith and pray daily, seek out those who will walk with you. Journal your prayers, this is one of the biggest faith strengthening  tools I know of. Looking back over the years to see how far you've grown or how God answered your prayers.

I'm always available to pray with you specifically.

Don't forget June, I invite you to go through The Power of a Praying Wife, one chapter a day, I also highly recommend you do the study guide as well.

July, we will go through the book again a chapter a day as we plan to send our kids off to another school year.

Growing in Faith

When I was 5 years old I experienced a terror, that gives me nightmares still at times, especially when I'm stressed, scared or have an argument with someone. However, the good about that night was my granny coming to hold me and tell me about a friend who stuck closer than a brother. She also told me we could talk to Him even though we couldn't see Him and He would send us help. Well that night He answered our prayer and sent my uncle to rescue my mom from the abuse that was happening. It was one of my faith growing experiences. I never wish for anyone to live through things I lived through.  I can however attest to the strength that I gained in those times and my faith grew.

My children have gone through some rough times too and I hope their faith is strengthen without having to ever experience some of the things I did.

My youngest son, has already been through so much and he's only 10. I pray his faith is strengthen daily but at the same time sometimes it takes a lot to grow someone's faith. That is why it is so important to start while our children are young and anytime something good happens let them know it was from God. An example of this in my...I remember mom not knowing where our food would come from at times or the clothes we had but she always said God would provide, so when we had something to wear, or eat, I knew God provided, no matter how poor we were , we were very rich in love and faith. At 16 I got married and took that faith with me, all though things didn't magically appear as they seemed to as when I was a kid, there was always plenty and when I didn't know how to meet a need, I got on my knees.

I could share story after story of how God showed up and did far greater than I could on my own.

If your faith needs strengthening, look back over all your years especially the rough years and see the good that was there.... That's just a glimpse of His hand in your life.

Hang in there and pray daily maybe even second by second.
Faith is more than believing in Jesus.

I love the verse, Hebrews 11:1 NIV

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Hebrews 10:22 NIV

let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

Do a study on faith, this week.

Seeking Wisdom and Discernment

I didn't hear the word discernment until 2005, I had moved to Kentucky and was looking for a new church, I had went to one and something didn't seem right so I talked to my old pastor about it and he said that was great discernment and I needed to keep asking God to help me discern as we searched for a church home, we never found one but my children's dad didn't earnestly seek to find one, I later learned why but that isn't for this.

I know the bible tells us to ask for wisdom(James 1:5) and I'm embracing that, I will begin to pray for my children to have wisdom and seek it along with discernment.

There will be many things in our children's lives they'll have to face and it is our responsibility to teach them that they don't have to go at it alone. I pray often they will not walk away from God and if they do I ask that they not walk so far away that they can't find their way back to Him.

I also pray that I will be discerning, and I ask for wisdom today, I don't feel I'm no longer unworthy to ask God for anything but I know who I am in Christ that I can boldly and confidently come to Jesus and ask and have faith He will give me what I ask according to His perfect will. You too can have this confidence and pass it on to  our children.

When you have that feeling to do something, do it and remember that God is directing your path.

Breaking Down Ungodly Strongholds

Reading this chapter I tried to think back on any experiences where this showed up in my life, my children's lives etc to share.

I couldn't think of any until this moment, I myself had the stronghold of being perfect, of staying out of trouble of following rules, if I messed up I'd feel hopeless and give up.

I didn't want this for my children but I did just that to my children, I made them feel that they needed to be a certain way and if they weren't they didn't measure up, so they went through life not knowing how to talk to me. The same life I went through I passed down to my children.

I am not Jesus but I love my children so much that I can forgive them for mistakes and pray they learn from them and move forward.

I see sadness over take my baby boy sometimes and I wonder why its there and never have I thought to pray for God to show me what it could be. I've asked my son and of course its always nothing.

Today, I'm adopting this prayer and praying to have these strongholds known so they can be addressed before they become life long strongholds.

I know when my son has gotten in trouble for its written all over his face but I nay not know the offense or details but God does and He will show us if we ask.

I have began praying that if my son is going down a path that will take him away from God or lead him into trouble they he gets caught so he can learn now while he is young and the consequences aren't as stern as they will be if the lesson isn't learned now.

What strongholds do you see in your life, what strongholds are you passing on to your children? What strongholds are you seeing in your children?

Walking in Repentance

Psalm 44:21 says "for He knows the secrets of the heart", knowing this can give us confidence in asking God to reveal, expose, bring to light any hidden sin that has taken root in our children's hearts so it can be dealt with NOW rather than later when the consequences are far more serious.  We need to remember no child is perfect, therefore we must pray this prayer starting now, the earlier we start this in our child's lives the easier it will be for them to learn to walk in repentance.

All my life I got in trouble for what others did, I was the oldest and I should've stopped them was said to me often. This has caused me to struggle with taking blame/fault, it has caused me to always want to stop someone, way before they mess up. It has caused me to not let kids be kids to the point of making sure every little rule is followed and gaining the nickname fun patrol. However, I learned to be a rule follower and that's what I expect of others, it doesn't work this way I've learned but I don't have to take it personally. I can look at the sin that I feel has been committed and accept it as it is, I can leave it to God for it may not be a sin after all... I love this God knows the secrets of the heart, sin is a heart matter... It is a great relief I can put it into God's hands and trust that He will bring to light the matters at hand. The hidden sin can be brought out before our children display it in an undesirable way.

We need to do as Stormie says and pray that any hidden sin in us or our children be brought to light so there won't be a physical and emotional price to pay for it(the hidden sin). Sin leads to death. Repentance leads to life. Choose life!

We don't confess so that God finds out something. He already knows! Confession is a chance for us to clear the slate. Repentance is an opportunity for us to start over. Our children, as do we, need both.

Sin separates us from God, not because He leaves us but because of our shame and guilt. So let's join together and pray for ourselves, our children and our spouses to walk in repentance. Let us also go a step forward and pray this for our children's friends, future spouse, children, and our friends as well.

Sin is toxic, unconfessed sin weighs us down, so let's choose to confess our sin and have a repentant heart as it beings light, life, confidence, and freedom.

Pray Psalm 51: 2, 10-12 often....

Living Free of Unforgiveness

Unforgiveness, is so destructive in so many ways, I never was taught about forgiveness as a child as I have embraced it within the last few years.

Yes, I was told about forgiveness, in fact it seemed I was forced to forgive because I wasn't allowed to look at the wrong being done but had to stay strong and not feel self pity.

So when I became a mother, I failed at teaching my kids to forgive and I never thought to pray about this or teach them to forgive. I have prayed for others to forgive especially when they shared their hurts with me but actually teach or pray for living free of unforgiveness before an offense occurred or teach as they're small and a little offense  has just occurred to say I forgive you with the I'm sorry....
Wow, what an eye opener!!!

Starting this today!

Finding the Perfect Mate

I always prayed for my children's future spouses, but I didn't think to pray for a perfect mate(is there any perfect mate?), after all, I didn't have a perfect mate, I don't even know if anyone prayed for my future spouse. I know I prayed for my future spouse after my first marriage ended. Now I think I get it his not perfect but he is my perfect mate.

My son got married March, 27,2010, to a girl he met in 4th grade. They struggle just like all married couples do, but she has become his perfect mate. I pray for them to have a strong commitment to God and each other, I pray they have a biblical perspective on marriage.

My daughter got married September 27, 2014, to a guy who lives in Canada, she met him online. I have prayed for them from the moment I knew of their relationship. I pray the same prayer over them but I also pray for God to bless them with children as I was told I wouldn't be able to have children, my daughter has been told it may be hard for her to have children. I also pray for God to take care of my baby girl because she isn't anywhere close to me and I can't just pack up and get to her in an hour anymore.

Now for my ten year old I can pray this prayer frequently as he still has time before he chooses his life partner.

As I've mentioned before our family history is full of divorce, domestic violence, pregnancy outside of marriage and so much more .... So I pray the cycles are broken, I pray for a brighter future for my children and grandchildren......