Happy Mother's Day!

On the topic of kids....

About once a month some of my dear friends and I get together to pray for our kids. It's been exceedingly helpful to me because it's often hard for me to devote lots of uninterrupted time praying for my kids and also, I am always reminded of or learn new things to put into practice when I'm around other moms. Last time we decided to pray directly from Scripture and it was awesome! So, I thought I'd post a few of them for you to use if you'd like...

Colossians 1:9-12a, "⁹...since the day we heard about (children’s names) , we have not stopped praying for [them] and asking [You] to fill [them] with the knowledge of [your] will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. ¹⁰And we pray this in order that [they] may live a life worthy of the [you] Lord and may please [you] in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹being strengthened with all power according to [your] glorious might so that [they] may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully ¹²[give] thanks to the [you] Father…”

Philippians 1:9-11, “⁹And this is my prayer: that (children’s names) love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, ¹⁰so that [they] may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, ¹¹filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of [you] God.”

Ephesians 3:14-21, “¹⁴For this reason I kneel before [you] Father, ¹⁵from whom [your] whole family^[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶I pray that out of [your] glorious riches [you] may strengthen (children’s names) with power through [your] Spirit in [their] inner being, ¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in [their] hearts through faith. And I pray that [they would be] rooted and established in love, and ¹⁸may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that [they] may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of [you] God. ²⁰Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

The following I got off of Desiringgod.org.

Taken from 9 Ways to Pray for Your Soul, January 2, 2009, John Piper. Pray for:

For the desire of their heart to be toward God and his Word.

Incline (children’s names) heart to Your testimonies and not to gain. Psalm 119:36

For the eyes of their heart to be opened.

Open (children’s names) eyes, that [they] may behold wonderful things from Your law. Psalm 119:18

For their heart to be enlightened with these “wonders.”

[I pray] that the eyes of (children’s names) heart may be enlightened. Ephesians 1:18

For their heart to be united, not divided, for God.

O Lord, [make] (children’s names) walk in Your truth; unite [their] heart to fear Your name. Psalm 86:11

For their heart to be satisfied with God and not with the world.

O satisfy us in the morning with Your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Psalm 90:14

Text to Pray for Our Children by Jon Bloom April 24, 2007.

That they will experience sanctification through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit and will increasingly desire to fulfill the greatest commandments.

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39

That they will not be unequally yoked in intimate relationships, especially marriage.

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14

That their thoughts will be pure.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8

That their hearts will be stirred to give generously to the Lord's work.

All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord. Exodus 35:29

That when the time is right, they will GO!

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

And to the ladies who have prayed with me for my kids, THANK YOU. I can't thank you enough, actually. You have blessed our families lives in ways we will never know - at least not on this side of eternity. Besides that, I just enjoy being with you :)

Also, mom, THANK YOU for all the prayers you have prayed for me and for my family and for imparting to me the importance of praying with others for our kids and their friends.

And God, THANK YOU for the kids you've given me. They are awesome and certainly have blessed my life! Thank you for the reflection of your goodness they provide!

Editor's Note: No children were harmed in the taking of photos despite the look on one of their faces :)