No Pain...No Gain: Persevering in prayer

Prayer is hard work... it is like a muscle that needs to be developed.. no pain, no gain.

This has become so evident to me over this past week.  I have joined the prayer challenge to pray intentionally for my sons in several areas for 21 days ( all the weekdays in April).  This is based on the book Warrior Prayers.

I would like to say that this has been a smooth process... it should be easy to pray for our kids right?  There have been mornings that I have not wanted to get out of bed but this type of intentional praying needs time.  So many times in the past, I have been satisfied with uttering rushed, hurried and often unfocused prayer before I begin my day.   Oh but God desires and deserves so much more from us.

Using God's word to pray for my boys has also highlighted areas in my life that God is still working on.  As I prayed through topics like obedience, purity, and pride, I was praying these things for my life as well.  The will learn so much by watching my life... I don't want to lead them astray because my actions are not lined up with the things they are learning in God's word.

One verse that stood out to me so significantly over these first 6 days of the challenge is Hebrews 13:17a

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. 




                            keeping watch over your souls





These are the words that jumped off the page at me.  I am keeping watch over their precious souls.  What a huge responsibility!

What also struck me from this verse is that as parents we should be mindful of who else is leading our children, and to pray for them to also lead lives pleasing to God as they too are keeping watch over my kids' souls.

I look forward to the next 15 days of the challenge and pray that it will continue to transform my prayer life to be more intentional.  I pray that I will learn to persevere in prayer even when it is hard work!


See what others are learning through this challenge.

Warrior Prayers

God is so on time isn't he?

At the beginning of the year, I purposed not to set any resolutions but asked God to guide and direct my steps this year. As I said in my last post, God has been speaking to me about being intentional in all that I do. I met the first goal that He set for me.. intentionally reading his word by reading through the Bible cover to cover. As I was nearing the end I started thinking about the next journey God would take me on. The night before I finished the bible reading I stumbled upon this website and prayer challenge.   A  prayer challenge for mothers of boys based on the eBook  Warrior Prayers: Praying the Word for Boys in the Areas They Need it Most. Twenty one days of focused prayers for our sons.   God has been speaking to me about being intentional in my parenting. And this is where he led me.

Parenting is hard work.  It is humbling to know that I have four precious ones that I am helping to mold.  I often feel overwhelmed.  Sometimes... lots of times I mess up.  I am constantly evaluating my parenting or lack of parenting skills...

I can't do it on my own strength. I will not get it right every time...  BUT GOD is faithful.   I can read every parenting book (there are many great ones out there) and attend every parenting course but the most important thing I can do for my kids is to pray for them...

I need to spend more time on my knees...  I won't grow Godly men (and a Godly woman... yes I will be praying for Eden too!!) through haphazard prayers for them...instead Warrior Prayers... praying the scriptures intentionally and fervently for these precious little ones God has given me.

Are you a  mom (or dad) of boys?  Will you consider joining this challenge?

We can change a nation by praying for our sons... we can raise up the next generation of spiritual leaders.. men who love Jesus... who know how to love their wives... who know how to work as unto the Lord...who are unashamed and  sold out for the sake of the gospel!!

Let's get on out knees!