(last year at Seattle)
i haven't always prayed over my kids.
there was a time not so long ago when my relationship with the Lord was iffy and well of course the relationship that my kids had with Him was iffy too.
it's so crazy that as a mother, thinking that when they were little it didn't matter all that much. that when they got older, they would understand and would seek it for themselves.
but it matters. it matters even when they're in the womb. every prayer is not in vain.
as a parent we pray for our babies' health, that runny noses, ear aches and serious illness would be kept away. we pray for protection as they walk the school hallways from danger. we pray that they would meet friends that would encourage them and bless them.
but how often do we pray for their spiritual lives?
in the old testament, i love how abraham, isaac and jacob would place their hands over their children and declare blessings over them, that the Lord would uphold.
and what makes it different now? if we serve the same God.
it doesn't.
we as parents, mothers, have the same right to place our hands on our babies and declare not only protection and good health, but that the Lord would pursue their heart relentlessly so that they would know His love from early on. that He would bring them up to be warriors of the faith, that they would stand strong in the midst of trial and would be a bright light in the darkness.
in the same way as we wouldn't hesitate to cover them up in the face of a blistering wind with a warm blanket and wrap them up tight in it. do not hesitate to lift them up in prayer and declare great things over them. wrap them up in prayer every day. even if you're exhausted, even if there are still crumbs to be swept up from the day, let's not skimp on prayer over them. craft time and play time can be skimped on. but prayer cannot.
in this world fallen short of God's glory, they deserve to be lifted up. so let's make a revolution shall we? declare victory and great blessings over your children, that nothing could steal that away.
2 comments:
Such a beautiful post today leah....and gives me so much food for thought. Thank you!
confession: I was a terrible prayer before I had kids...when it came to praying out loud...I always felt it was something intimate between God and I ... but know I know the power of prayer...and your right even in the womb it makes a difference. I pray every night with my kiddos and I ask them is there anything I can pray for you about?
love this and your heart.!
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