PrincipledMom™

As parents we are to lift our children up in prayer daily. (Sometimes hourly!) But in the business at times I found myself struggling to focus my mind, so I kept praying the same basic things every day. Then someone gave me a new tool to make my prayer time more effective.

I have had this prayer calendar for a long time and thought I'd pass it along.  It will help you pray for your children about something different each day.

Praying for Our Children Calendar

If you would like to, please leave a note about how you pray for your children. Also see my previous posts on prayer. I did a series a while back on family prayer.

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Be Intercessory

This one can be a challenge for children, who (hopefully unlike their parents) are pretty ego-centric. It is nice to form habits early that include prayer for others.  It is scriptural and also practical.

We should always be mindful of the lost around us. We should also be quick to pray for anyone at any time, even in the store or in our neighborhood. If you encounter someone with urgent needs, I encourage you to stop and pray right then. It is very rare that someone will not accept an offer for prayer.

You can encourage your children to intercede on behalf of others by offering them opportunities. Things like prayer lists and bulletin boards can keep children mindful of the needs of others. And it helps even more when your first answer to a need they bring to you is to pray about it. Even a simple two sentence prayer can move mountains. Putting the needs of others before your own will develop children who are giving and loving. They will also see the scripture in Matthew played out in their lives, when Jesus said not to take care for your own needs, but to seek His kingdom first. They will see God's blessing on their lives and it will increase their faith all the more.

Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Jam 5:16  Confess yourfaults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Mar 13:33  Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

Luk 10:2  Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers arefew: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

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Be Effective

This may seem like a no-brainer to you, but there really is a strategy to effective prayer, according to God's Word.

1) Pray God's will. What is His will? His Word. Praying scriptures is a sure-fire way to get your prayers answered.

2) Get along. Especially live in peace as husband and wife. (1 Peter 3:7)

3) Live a forgiving lifestyle. James 5:16 mentions forgiveness and effectual prayer in the same verse. Knowing God like I do, I don't think this is a coincidence.

4) Seek out peace in your home. 1 Peter 3:8-11 It is difficult to pray with and for people you are striving against. Live together as allies, as a team, as fellow soldiers in God's army. Make sure you have one another's backs and your prayers will become more meaningful, sincere and effective.

5) Pray with faith. James 1:5-8, Mark 11:24, Daniel 10:9-13. When you pray according to God's will, you can rest assured He will answer.

6) Know what it is you are praying for. It is hard to pray with faith when you aren't exactly sure what it is you are praying about. You don't necessarily need all the details in every situation, but a general idea is very helpful in applying your faith and praying effectively.

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Be Authentic

The Bible is full of honest prayers. See Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane. Or Moses at the burning bush. Or Paul in prison. Or Job in his struggles. God is not bothered by honesty. I believe He is bothered when we do not bring ALL to Him in prayer. It's okay to question but don't get stuck there. Allow God to do what He does best---work things for your good, if you belong to Him.

Be honest about your needs in your prayer time with your family. Don't hesitate to ask  your children to pray about certain issues. Of course, you don't discuss anything they don't need to know about. When they see you have prayer needs as well they will be more willing to open up in your prayer time. (Heb 13:18 )

No need to be stuffy or formal in your prayers. Kids might question your authenticity if you don't pray to God like you speak in your everyday life. Remember, it's a conversation, not a speech. If you are willing to pray instantly, your prayers will be authentic and come from the heart. Get in the habit of praying without ceasing.

Be quick to show answers to prayer too. And keep record of them. It will build your faith and bring more authenticity to your prayer time because you have specific praise to bring to Him and not vague "Thanks for this day" prayers.

You are an example. Model prayers that will last. Jesus did just that with the Lord's Prayer (Matt 6:9-13) Allow the Holy Spirit to help you pray God's will (Rom 8 ) and you will most definitely be authentic.

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Be inclusive

Family prayer, in its highest form, involves the whole family. Does God only speak to adults? Do children, even young ones, not need to bring adoration and supplication to their Heavenly Father? We must be careful to include even the youngest of our clan to talk to the Lord, and to hear from Him.

Let everyone express the Lord in their own ways. (1 Cor. 12:4-12) We all have unique ideas and vocabulary (especially children!) and prayer is not the time to be restrictive. Be careful correcting grammar or topics of prayer. When I pray with my children I take care that they are praying according to Scriptural guidelines, but aside from that I let them talk. I would not police their conversations with friends or grandparents, so why would I with God? Maybe they would rather draw a picture of their prayer, sing it aloud or write it in a poem. These are all wonderful ways to express prayer that everyone can join in on.

There are several examples in the Bible of the Children of Israel coming together for prayer and fasting, from the oldest to the youngest. They all called upon the Lord together. Parents are admonished to teach God's ways to their children at all times. And make a study of the different types of prayer and how people expressed their individuality. Even a two-year old can pray simple prayers, even if they are repeated, until they can express their own thoughts.

Expect everyone to participate. Give opportunities to all. Anticipate what God will do in the hearts of your children as you encourage their prayers. If you expect more, they will rise to it. 

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