Today Lori Wildenberg – author of the new book “Messy Journey: How Grace and Truth Offer the Prodigal a Way Home” – offers practical suggestions for energizing our prayers for the children in our lives.
My daily prayers for my kids have become rote.
My consistent plea is, “Lord draw each one of my kids to yourself. Give them a hunger for your Word, a thirst for worship, and a desire to make you smile.”
Not a bad prayer. I just pray it a lot. I’m bored. I wonder if God is a little weary too. My prayer life sounds like blah, blah, blah. Clang, clang, clang. It’s time to change it up. Refresh my requests.
I want to pray bold and effective prayers.
I want to pray war room prayers.
I want to pray mountain moving prayers.
This week my petitions to my great big God will focus on the heart; on character traits to be developed or deepened in my loved ones and in myself. I’m committed to no more clanging.
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love,
I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love,
I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Without love for others or for God, we are only an annoying gong. Clang, Clang, Clang. We are nothing and we gain nothing. No matter our intelligence, natural talents or spiritual gifts, and even self-sacrifice.
7 Scripture-based Prayers to Pray for Your Kids
Here are my short yet big supernatural love prayers for this week inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-8.
Monday
Sovereign Lord, Give _____opportunities to develop patience. Let my child (or me) wrestle with tenacity through life’s challenges in order to learn how to lean on, trust, and hope in you.
Tuesday
Father, Teach _____ how to love and respond in kindness even in the face of disagreement or adversity. Train him or her (or me) how to listen, discuss, and maintain convictions while demonstrating gentleness and respect.
Wednesday
Provider God, Allow ________ to discover a grateful heart leads to contentment in all circumstances. When life isn’t going well, I ask that you show ______ that satisfaction rests not in the external but in the eternal. When life is going well I pray that, with a heart of thankfulness, _______ gives you all honor and praise.
Thursday
Lord Jesus, Give_____ an a ability to accurately assess his or her strengths and weaknesses. Create a generous spirit in _______ that will encourage and raise another up. Move _______to share credit with others and give you glory.
Friday
Heavenly Father, Un-clench my (or fill in the blank) fists of selfishness. Open my (or her or his) hand and heart to those who may need or benefit from ________ time, treasure, or talents.
Saturday
My King, Forgiveness is not beneath you. It is you. Release ______ from any bonds of pride or bitterness so _____ can be fee to love and worship. Replace the unforgiving prideful heart with one that is graced with humility, repentance, and reconciliation.
Sunday
Lord, I pray_______ loves the things you love and hates the things you hate. Open ______ ears to hear that still small voice. Give him or her wisdom to understand truth. Give _______ (or me) the will to live by your words and follow your way. Give _____ the discernment to identify true truth from emotion driven belief.
Love never fails. Amen and Amen.
What’s the most powerful prayer you pray for your kids?
Lori Wildenberg
is passionate about helping families build connections that last a life time. She is a licensed parent-family educator and co-founder of the 1 Corinthians 13 Parenting ministry. Lori is a parent consultant, national speaker, lead Mentor Mom over at the Moms Together Facebook Community Page and blogs every Monday about faith and family. She has written four parenting books including her newest, Messy Journey: How Grace and Truth Offer the Prodigal a Way Home (New Hope Publishers). Messy Journey is for parents walking the difficult road with a wayward child. Lori offers practical grace- and truth-filled ways of navigating your relationship with a detoured child whether they are rejecting faith, dabbling in sin, or wholeheartedly embracing sinful behavior. There is hope. After all, their struggle isn’t really with you, it’s with God.
I love this book: Praying the Scriptures for Your Children. I use it regularly to pray for my kids. Thank you for this. It was timely.
My son is almost 40 but I’m sure this book will help me in praying for him. I’m looking forward to reading it.
Amen Charisse! My precious ones are 32 & 26 and I continue to fervently pray for them! I am sure the book will be a great read!