A Mother’s Prayer

PHOTO CAPTION: Proud Grandma.



Growing up I had a great grandmother and a mom who knew how to pray. They prayed faithfully for their family by name. I think my great grandmother prayed daily for her family which must have taken her awhile because she had quite a few great grandchildren and a few great, great grandchildren before she died. I wish I could say I am as faithful as my mom and great grandmother were in prayer. My mom still prays faithfully for her family even though she has had some health challenges recently. 



Thinking about my mom’s and grandmother’s prayers, I have been inspired to ask God to help me make prayer more of a priority. I also have found myself questioning my prayers recently. Perhaps, you too have questioned your prayers. In the past, I have experienced many answers to prayer, yet lately, I feel like some of my prayers have hit a brick wall. I know that God is still in the business of answering prayers, yet some prayers have not been answered quite the way I had hoped and others I have not yet seen any answers to. I guess you could say I have become weary in my praying and weary in sharing my faith with others. Yet I know God is not weary. He is still the God of the impossible. He does hear and answer our prayers. 



How do I know that God hears and answers our prayers? I know because my mom and grandma experienced answers to their prayers. I know because God says that He hears us in the pages of the Bible. I know because I can look back and see His faithfulness in my life. He has answered many prayers in my life, everything from financial provision to healing my kids when they were sick and giving my hubby and I wisdom to know what to do when we didn’t have a clue. 

Since I know and have experienced God’s answers to prayer in the past, why have I lately become weary in my prayer life? Is it because I have been so busy and distracted by the things around me? Whatever the reason, I need to get back to looking to God in prayer because I simply can’t navigate life on my own. 



If, like me, you have found yourself feeling weary in your prayers and weary in sharing your faith, take a deep breath, ask God to rejuvenate you and keep praying. He has not forgotten you or your family. Keep praying and keep sharing with grace every time God gives you an opportunity. You will see answers. We will see answers as we persevere.



My great grandmother saw answers to her prayers in that almost every one of her children and grandchildren are following Jesus today. Some of those answers to prayer didn’t come until after her death, but she didn’t stop praying. She prayed with great boldness and she believed with all her heart. I want to take my cue from her and dare to pray bold prayers knowing that God does hear and He will answer in His time.

Hannah prayed a bold prayer too. She prayed for a son. She prayed until she received her answer. Are you praying for your kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews or others in your family? Don’t give up! You may be on the brink of a miracle. Pray until God answers. And if like me, you are feeling a little slump in your prayer life, take a moment to remember what God has done in the past and then ask others to join you in prayer. There is power in uniting with other believers in prayer. There is power in praying for your family. A mother’s prayers reach far and touch God’s heart. Never stop praying!

PARENT PRAYER: 

Father God,

I’m sorry that I have become weary in my prayers. Please forgive me. I know that you do hear and answer prayer, so I’m asking you to rejuvenate my prayer life. Help me to make prayer a priority, especially for my family. I pray that my family knows and loves you with all their hearts. I pray that you would rejuvenate our faith and trust in you. I pray that we will walk with integrity and truth. I pray that you will help us to discern your truth and live in it amidst all the other things that are touted as truth today. May we learn to seek you daily in all that we do, even if that seeking is found in snatches here and there. Renew and refresh our love for each other and especially our love for you. May we be filled with grace in what we say and do. Use me Lord, and grow me to share the voice you’ve given me with my family and others. May my words and my actions glorify your name. Teach me to pray boldly and share my faith lovingly not judgmentally. Amen


PRAYING FOR YOUR CHILD
* Pray for your child to know and discern what is truth and what is not truth. There are so many things touted as truth today – everything from scams to radical social media postings. It’s easy to get caught up in something that sounds good, but really isn’t. We all need wisdom to discern truth.

* Pray that your child understands who Jesus is and embraces Jesus as their Savior and friend. John 3:16

* Pray that your child has a love for the Bible and provide them with ways to relate to the Bible – there are excellent child-friendly versions of the Bible in book form and online.

* Pray that your child grows like Jesus did, in “wisdom, 
stature and favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52

* Pray that your child chooses friends wisely and encourage good friendships by inviting their friends over to play.

* Pray that your child “loves God with all their hearts and loves others” Luke 10:27 – the two greatest commandments. There is a lot included in these two commandments. If we truly love God and others, we will honor God and treat others with kindness and grace. We will value all regardless of their status in life or the color of their skin.

* Pray that your child knows what their values are and lives with integrity. That they live true to themselves – true to who God created them to be, “fearfully and wonderfully made.” 
Ps. 139:14

* Pray for your child’s future – their career, their spouse, their family.

* Pray that your child’s faith remains strong and vibrant. That they are able to share their faith with love and compassion.

* Pray that your child remains humble and uses their talents and abilities to serve God and others.

* Pray that your child is strong and courageous and takes refuge in Lord. “Be strong and courageous … the Lord your God will be with you…” Joshua 1:9

Kid’s Section

STORY: Hannah Prays – 1 Samuel 1

Once there was a woman named Hannah. Hannah wanted a baby to love, (Pretend to hold a baby.) but she didn’t have a baby. Year after year went by and still Hannah didn’t have any children. Hannah was so sad. (Make a sad face.) She really wanted a baby to love. (Pretend to hold baby.)

One year when Hannah went to the temple church to worship, she cried (Say, ‘Boo hoo!’) and she prayed. (Fold hands as though praying.) She promised that if God gave her a baby boy, she would give him back to God to serve and worship Him all his life. Hannah prayed (Fold hands as though praying.) and God heard her prayer. (Fold hands as though praying.)

Hannah had a son. She named him Samuel. When Samuel was a young boy, Hannah took him to the temple church to serve God there. Each year Hannah made Samuel a new coat. (Pretend to sew.) Hannah was happy! (Smile!) She prayed and (Fold hands as though praying.) God answered her prayer. He gave her a baby boy just like she asked for. She thanked God for baby Samuel. (Pretend to hold a baby.) God gave Hannah other children to love too. (Place hands on heart.)

God made you and God loves you. (Place hands on heart.) He gave you a family to love you, just like He gave Hannah a family, a baby (Pretend to hold a baby.) to love. (Place hands on heart.) God answered Hannah’s prayer (Fold hands as though praying.) and He will answer your prayers. (Fold hands as though praying.) He will help you show love to your family and others. God loves you. God loves your mom and dad and God loves your whole family. When we show love to our family, we are shining with God’s light and love.



MEMORIZE: 2 Corinthians 4:6 – (Hands like holding a book.)

God said – (Point up and then cup hands by mouth.) 

Let light shine … – (Hold up finger like a candle.)

He made His light shine – (Close and open hands quickly – twinkling.)

In our hearts – (Hands on heart.)


KNOW: God gave me a family.


TALK ABOUT: Who is in your family?


ASK: Who made you? God made me. Who made your family? God made my family.


AND DO: I will pray and thank God for my family.



FUN IDEAS FOR THIS WEEK:


• Pick someone from your family to pray for at dinnertime or bedtime – could be dad, grandma or Uncle Bob. Let your child pick.
  
• Share a story of a time that God answered your prayer with your child – maybe, like Hannah, you prayed for your child before he or she was born. 

  
  PRAYER:

  Dear God,

  Thank you for making me and giving me a family to love and care for me. Please take care of my family. Help me to love my family and remember to pray for them too. Amen