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!

I did it!!!

Last fall a missionary who came to our church for our missions conference really challenged me.  During one of his messsages he held up a Bible and asked 2 questions:

 First question was an easy one...
                           How many of you love this book?
As you might expect almost every hand was up in a flash... of course we are a bible believing church... it is a given we love the Bible!  I grew up singing " The B-I-B-L-E, yes that's the book for me!!

  Then came the second question... a humbling one for me.
                       How many of you have read the Bible cover to cover?

My hand went half way up...
      um... I think I have...
             ah... I remember starting many bible reading plans
                         ... uh I went to a Bible Institute for 2 years so I must have...
                                                                           I shamefully put my hand down...

Around the same time the Lord had been speaking me in other areas of my life about being more intentional about how I live my life.  So I added intentionally reading the bible to my list.  I started a reading plan through Youversion reading key verses of the bible in 100 days.  I had started so many times to read through the Bible in a year and I always failed... before I was out of Leviticus.  So I thought this key passage plan would be great.. and it was... I finished it on December 31st.  But I still couldn't answer affirmatively that I had read the entire Bible cover to cover.  Then I found this website...
a group of women who were planning to read the entire Bible in 90 days?  90DAYS?? Are you kidding me??  I really felt the Lord telling me to sign up.

"Lord, you do remember I am the mom of 4 small kids right?"   
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
"Um, Lord, that is going to take me about 45 mins to an hour a day- I already need more hours in the day!"
 "I created time"
Ah, one more thing.. Marcus is still not sleeping through the night... it's going to be hard to get up every morning...
 " I will sustain you."

After awhile you come to your senses and remember that it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to argue with God!

So I signed up.

And, you know what?

God really did sustain me!

There were mornings that I ( not a morning person) sprung out of bed because I was excited to get on with my reading.

There were weeks that I fell behind by almost a full week but God provided the time for me to catch up.

There were passages of the Bible, some familiar, some challenging, that came alive like never before.

It was within these 3 months that Marcus started sleeping through the night.... God rewards our faithfulness.

Was it easy?  NO.  Was it worth it. ABSOLUTELY!!

Would you like to read through the Bible in 90 days?  Mom's Toolbox will be hosting the challenge again in July.  Check it out here!  Go For It... it will change your life!!

Strength for the Weary

Last night I went to bed really discouraged.  It had been one of those days.  I felt like I had worked hard all day but there was so much to be done.  I started feeling sorry for myself... how in the world am i supposed to do all of the things expected of me... cook, clean, teach, plan lessons, do laundry, grade papers, plan meals and on and on and on... I went to bed sulking.  Oh, and I didn't mention I was a day and a half behind on my Bible in 90 days reading.

Praise God his mercies are new every morning.  I got up this morning feeling less tired... still feeling a little overwhelmed but ready to start the day.  I checked in with my Hello Mornings accountability group on Twitter and then settled down to do my bible reading.  As I reached the end of yesterday's reading I read:

³¹ but those who hope in the LORD 
   will renew their strength. 
They will soar on wings like eagles; 
   they will run and not grow weary, 
   they will walk and not be faint.  Isaiah 40:31



...a verse I had read many times but one I read with fresh eyes this morning.  I went back and reread the whole of chapter 40.

Why is it that we can hope in the Lord and be strengthened?

The vastness of God is woven all through the chapter...

God's word endures forever
           He is a loving and tender shepherd
                               He measures the waters in the hollow of his hand
                                                He holds the dust of the earth in a basket
                                                                    He weighs the mountains on scales
                               Entire nations are like a drop in a bucket to him
             His breath is the wind
                                             He holds the stars in place and calls them each by name
                                                          He does not grow weary or tired.

Wow!  How mighty is He!! This is the God I can put my hope in! He is the one who renews my strength!

No matter what you are facing today put your hope in the one that can make a difference... trust in his strength to renew yours.

Bible in 90 Days-Week 7: #B90Days

It has been a few weeks since I have posted about my progress in the 90 day Bible reading challenge.  I can't believe we are at week 7!  Halfway through :)  It no longer feels like a chore or something to check off my list.

I am currently reading through the Psalms I am reminded of God's power, faithfulness, forgiveness and patience.  His word is both convicting and comforting.  A source of strength that I am growing more and more each day to depend on. 

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Ps 90:14

 Are you along on this journey?  How are you doing?  Don't be discouraged if you are falling behind... just keep going... God will meet you where you are.

An Intentional Year

Reading through several blogs at the beginning of the year, I noticed that instead of making resolutions many bloggers were highlighting a theme for the year... one word  that would guide their year.  I had resolved not to make any resolutions but instead leave it up to God to show me the goals he has for me this year.  I have been giving a lot of thought to what my one word theme would be for 2011 and the word that keeps coming to me in every area of my life is "intentional".  

I want to be intentional as a wife...

I want to be intentional as a mom...

I want to be intentional as a friend...

I want to intentionally study the Word of God...

I want to be intentional in every way I live my life.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord not for men.  Col 3:23

Hide and Seek

If you have been following me on my other blog, you will know that on January 3 I began a plan to read the entire Bible in 90 Days.  I am joining hundreds of women who have linked up through Mom's Toolbox and each week we check in as a form of accountability and encouragement to each other.

Wow, what a journey it has been so far!  I have read though Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deutoronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1&2 Kings, 1& 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job and I am presently reading though Psalms.

All I can say is GOD is so faithful, patient, merciful...

His love for his people is beyond measure!

In order for me to keep up with the reading I found that it is best for me to get up and get it done first thing in the morning.  I am NOT a morning person and since having Marcus I had not gotten back in any sort of routine that involved getting up early on a consistent basis.  Last year I began following Kat's blog, Inspired to Action where she encourages readers to "Maximise Your Mornings"... establish a morning routine and make the most of your day. Three weeks ago I signed up for the "Hello Mornings Challenge" and now have a great accountability group through Twitter.  I am up each morning at 5:30 knowing there are other women who are doing the same thing (many of whom are also doing the Bible in 90 days challenge) and we are praying for and encouraging each other along the way.

The leader of my accountability group is Katie Orr who blogs at Do Not Depart.  She is hosting a challenge to memorize the entire book of Philippians and I feel God leading me to join in.  I will be learning five verses a week and at that pace it should take about 21 weeks. Even if it takes much longer than that I will press on because it has been a while since I have been intentional about memorizing God's word and I really feel him leading me in this way.

So why a new blog?  I had been recording my Bible in 90 Days thoughts on my other blog (here and here and here and here), which started out as a homeschooling blog.  I want to keep the focus of that one more on our family and homeschooling and have this one as more of a personal blog to follow along this journey of HIDING God's word in my heart and earnestly SEEKing him.

I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.  I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.  Psalm 119:10-11

Thanks for joining me!  It is my prayer that as you follow along with me you will be encouraged to Hide and Seek as well.