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......

Rejecting Sexual Immorality

Sexually immortality, wow I wouldn't even think of this in this realm but it is a reality and it is a sin that we commit to our own bodies....

Taking us back to our family bondage is there any generational curses/iniquities that could lead to pregnancy out of wedlock, abortion, sexually transmitted disease? What about same sex relationships??  What about incest... is there a family history of incest?  A lot can happen to our children, but does this mean we must shelter our children and protect them by ourselves... No it doesn't in fact I know a mom that thought she was protecting her children from the things that happened to her, yet because she wasn't willing to talk to her children about these things, the cycle was repeated.

So many things come to mind that could happen to our children if we neglect to pray and instill an importance to them to save themselves for marriage.

I started this prayer(just not in this depth) and talking to my children at a young age, now I wish my son would've waited until marriage but he didn't, I am told my daughter waited, so hopefully the cycle will be broken there. I pray it is...

I am already praying for my ten year old in this area, and have been since the day he came home from school asking about things a kindergarten shouldn't know... Oh the things they hear on the bus and at school... It starts EARLY so don't think you have time.

I guess its time to pray for my grandson and future grandchildren....

Avoiding Alcohol, Drugs, and Other Addictions

Before I even read this chapter, I'm doing a lot of praying and have been for years... Family history shows there is addiction problems among generations through out my family as well as my husband's.

In fact I have struggled with things in my life that are addictive behaviors, even excessive amounts of alcohol beginning at a very young age. I believe prayer and my fear of becoming an alcoholic kept me from loosing it completely yet I know that I may just fall one day, so I must stay diligent in my prayers.

I worry about my children going down the path of addiction but I'm so thankful that I can take this concern to God in prayer.

This is something I feel we need to talk with our children as well...  My first knowledge of drugs came in elementary school, there was a group of boys showing something in a baggie and talking about smoking it on the playground (there was a playhouse that was easy to hide things from teachers), I went to the teacher and told her what I heard.... The boys were caught and taken to the principal. I guess that's why nobody at school trusted me anymore. I was never asked to come party with them again in all of my school years.

Then my next experience was in my neighborhood, a new girl moved in and went roller skating with me one Friday night, she asked me to do a nickel bag with her(didn't and still don't know what this means), but what saved me was another one of my friends was there and she made a statement that has stuck with me all these years she said "I only want to be high on Jesus". The new girl got my number and was going to call me to meet her the next weekend... I spent a lot of time praying because that was a powerful statement... She didn't call, later I asked my she didn't call and her response has stayed with me forever as well.... My number had too many 6's in it and she didn't call numbers with more than 1 six as that was too close to the number of the beast.... So the way I look at it someone was praying for and with me...

Don't take this chapter lightly.

Destroying an Inheritance of Family Bondage

What are some of your families bondage?

Lying, stealing, anger, envy, pride, perfectionism, self pity, divorce, suicide, alcoholism, addiction, infidelity, laziness, idleness, gossiping, unforgiveness, what about murder, incest even.... So many things could be hidden in the closets of our ancestors and we may have even brought those things into our generation or maybe they skipped us but are trying to show up in our children or their children..... Let's take time to go through our family history and start destroying that inheritance of family bondage.

I had a friend tell me once to go through and pray forgiveness over each generation of sin and take it captive, I kind of thought she was some religious freak and went on with my life and didn't give it any more thought but reading this chapter I was reminded of that and now realize this isn't a matter to take lightly....

Inviting the Joy of the Lord

Reading through this chapter many things came to mind one of those thoughts took me to a verse a friend gave me when I was going through my divorce...  The Joy of The Lord is My Strength!

I'm not sure if I felt the joy of the Lord during that time, in fact I probably was down right miserable and unsure of what was happening, after all I had said divorce would never be an option but I never knew where things would go eventually. So after 18 years of marriage things were coming to an end. Even though the Bible gave me grounds for a divorce, I still struggled with wondering if I gave up on God.  I really hope the cycle of divorce is broken for my family, after all God hates divorce  and it is just as bad or maybe as some says worse than death.

So now I have children who are angry because we divorced, I have a step son who is angry his parents divorced and gets really down at times.

Deep down I pray they will find JOY in the lord, I pray that they will reach out and embrace life knowing that all things will work out for The Glory of the Lord.

Now, back to this chapter.... I like how Stormie asks us to not deny our children emotions of negativity or emotional pain but not let them be a way of life... This may look differently for each of us.

I know just based on the story above my children struggle with anger, depression and negative emotions but I know I can encourage them to think on things that are Noble, Pure, Kind, True, Praiseworthy, etc. At the same time I can allow them to express their emotions but not let them get stuck in any negative emotion, depressed, angry, moody, or difficult personality. I will pray them out of it and pray for them to find Joy in the Lord.

Have a great week!

Receiving a sound mind

Reading through this chapter many thoughts came to mind...

What is competing for our children's mind?

I have always tried to watch carefully what I'd allow my kids to watch, listen to or read, I got lax in this as they grew older or maybe it was because their dad and I didn't agree. So reading this chapter and praying through the prayer I took captive the old things that have gotten into my grown children's minds and taken root. Whether it be endless hours of video gaming or movies of evil content or any other forces that would plant anything but what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy in their minds be removed. I pray they weigh carefully what they see and hear. I also pray this over them in their parenting of my grandchildren.

Stormie mentioned a family history of mental illnesses, I'm not sure that a mental illness has been diagnosed in my family but I know they exist.
I know a cousin committed suicide but from what I was told that was drug related but I also know some suffer with depression and I've heard people say this shouldn't be for Christians but after time in the Bible I've learned even Christians suffer depression. What I think we need to do rather than focus on the disease focus on prayer and loving those God placed in our lives.

I remember my mom making a big deal out of what I put in my mind, such as scary movies(they weren't allowed period), I snuck to watch them as most kids do.
I grew up reading books with romance and fantasy as I became older and noticed I was getting depressed because my marriage didn't match those wonderful love stories, I had to stop reading them.
I pray my children will have enough wisdom and understanding to do the same.

Now for my ten year old, I still have some control of what he sees, hears and does but where he's lucky I've already been here once and I won't argue about what I think is wrong but teach him how to hear or see it for himself and PRAY like crazy....

This world is full of thrills pulling us in and finding the balance is the key to learning what will keep me in tune with what God has for me instead of the desires of the flesh, I must read the Bible and pray everyday... Oh wow that just reminded me of an old Sunday school song..... It went something like this

Read your Bible, pray every day,
Pray every day, pray every day.
Read your Bible, pray every day,
And you’ll grow, grow, grow.
And you’ll grow, grow, grow.
And you’ll grow, grow, grow.
Read your Bible, pray everyday,
And you’ll grow, grow, grow.

Don’t read your Bible, forget to pray,
Forget to pray, forget to pray.
Don’t read your Bible, forget to pray,
And you’ll shrink, shrink, shrink.
And you’ll shrink, shrink, shrink.
And you’ll shrink, shrink, shrink.
Don’t read your Bible, forget to pray,
And you’ll shrink, shrink, shrink.

Joel and I have been doing a Bible plan on You Version called Media influences, I highly recommend it.

As always I love to hear your thoughts and stories....
Praying for you and your families

Blessings,
Tracy

Chapter 19... Enjoying Freedom From Fear

Reading chapter 19, Stormie reminded me of the ways my granny helped me when I was afraid. It also reminded me of how afraid I was at things my mother did or said... Then it reminded me of the things I do to help my children through times of fear.

"The fact that she says Fear is something that comes upon us the moment we DON'T believe God is able to keep us, or all we care about, safe." Has me wondering how I can trust God so completely in some ways yet others I question His ability to keep us safe. Have any of you felt this way?
See, my granny helped me get over my fear of storms by praying, she also showed me a newspaper clipping from 1934 or something like that of a lady sitting in a rocking chair, rocking her infant son(my uncle) as a deadly tornado ripped through GA, destroying her house around her but she and the baby were safe because God held them through the storm.
So when my kids were little and a tornado was threatening to come right in our path, my kids and I sat in the living room floor and I prayed (their dad wasn't a believer so he was freaking out, causing fear in my kids), I'll never forget what happened and that was a turning point for my kids fears. We watched the storm take a turn right away from the path of our house and it turned back into a cow pasture.
In future years, I'd get books and we'd sit and read while we waited for the storm to pass, we'd pray and we'd sing songs of praise or whatever the kids wanted to sing.

I have had many reasons to be afraid in my lifetime and I'd like to say I handled them all with prayer trusting God to keep us safe but I haven't, in fact I had thought of storms as being the only thing He could control. -never thought of things in our lives being considered storms.
Today, I know He cares about the things that concerns me.
1 Peter 5:7 and I also know He didn't give me a spirit of fear 2 Timothy 1:7.

So today, I say we ask God what are our children's fears and pray for the fears he shows us to be taken away from them so they can live a life free from fear and that they can live in freedom trusting Jesus to hold them through anything that causes them fear.
From the study guide:
Ask your child what fears he (she) has and list them. If it is not possible to ask your child that question, write a prayer asking the Lord to reveal to you any fears in your child. Be sure and write down whatever He reveals.

Have a great week! Let us know how we can pray for you and your children.

Praying through our children's rooms

Depending on how you were raised affect how you view this chapter and these ideas.

I must admit that I was raised in a Holiness, Church of God, Pentecostal Church yet the church buses that came to take me to church for the times I didn't have any other way were for Baptist Churches. I think my granny prayed continually for each of us to be in church, I remember when I couldn't get enough of church and I would be on the church bus anytime it came, even remember not wanting to miss evening services and adopted a family to come and take me. Anyway, I learned many ways to pray through the years... With oil, in tongues, shouting, at an altar, as a to do and finally as relational and humbly where ever and whenever....

I use to go through my house and pray as I washed down walls, baseboards, doors, scrubbed floors etc... I was the only believer and it was my responsibility to pray but I must admit that I have gotten away from that practice and it isn't a good thing, I have felt that I need to sit and be still in my time of prayer but in that I'm not getting all of my chores done so it is time that I go back to cleansing my house in prayer, not out of religious rituals but as having a pure relationship with Jesus and inviting Him into my home and in my life to work everything out according to His purpose.

So this Chapter of praying through our children's room has brought me to this conclusion, it is important to do this weekly and any time we feel a pull of Satan in our lives.  Where two or three gather in His name He is there in the midst so I want to propose this.... If any of us needs one another to come and pray with us in a hands on method, that the door is open.... Ask and you shall receive, I'm available and anyone else that is available please put this on our Facebook page with your contact information.
Maybe you have another prayer need and its not children related those are just as important. As you've learned I was the only believing member in my household for many years and yes you can pray alone and God hears but it wasn't until I brought in another prayer partner that I saw God show up. Find someone that will pray with you, that will seek God's will and not pray against the Holy Spirit...

Attraction to Holiness and Purity

Is there anyone from your childhood or teenage years that now stands out as being Holy and Pure???

I can think of a few now but back then I was so caught up in wanting to be accepted and liked that I didn't pay attention to how people acted or what stood out about them. A few of the ones that I've been reconnected with that stood out back then are now in ministry.

I must be honest and say that I never thought of purity more than saving oneself for marriage. But, there is so much more to it....

Often, I use the verse from 1 Timothy 4:12 to tell a youth not to worry about what others thinks not to let go of their purity.

Reading this book has brought me so many new ideas and things I need to work on and pray through. I have decided as I go through this book, I will be continuing to go through this book through the years, as I go through The Power of a Praying Wife every June, I am committing to go through a Power of a Praying Parent every July and any chapter I need to focus on at any given time, I hope you too will make a commitment to keep it in your life and stay focused on The Power of Praying.