Friday, November 7, 2008

7 Prayers A Day

I know it's 1 am and we are leaving in a couple hours but I guess I can sleep the whole way there right? haha....Anyways, Bring the Rain, one of my favorite blogs is doing something really cool. I thought I'd share her last post. I am going to join in on praying for my kids 7 times a day. I also am going to make little cards to put in each of their rooms (thanks Kristina) http://kristinabailey.blogspot.com/
(I still don't know how to set up the link.) duh! Someone explain that to me! I think it's time I buy the book, Blogging for Dummies.
Anyways, check out her blog if you haven't already!
http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/


I love what she says in this post:

I don't really care that much about whether or not my kids are book smart.


Let me explain.


I do care, I just don't care as much as I care about other things. I don't sit around and pray that my girls will learn to read today, or that they will understand a foreign language by the time they are 6, or that they will know their times table by next week. I do spend a lot of time asking God to give them "undivided hearts (Psalm 86:11), " and praying "that they will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel when they open their mouths (Ephesians 6:19)." I pray that God will help them to be good stewards of their time, their money, their words. I pray for their character, their faith, their decisions, their husbands. I want them to be wise, Godly women who chase after the Lord.


I'm thinking that instead of getting a "My kid is on the honor roll" bumper sticker, I may create a "My kid has an undivided heart" one. And then people will make ones that say "My kid kicked your 'undivided heart' kid's butt" stickers.


Maybe not.


But, the point is that one of the most important things I am privileged to do as a mother is to pray for my children every day.


The other day I came across a verse that God used to prompt me to write this post. If you are a mom (or have someone else you want to pray for specifically), I hope you will join me as I do this for the next 7 days. It struck me that I need reminders during the day to be praying over my girls, and I decided to choose 7 events in a day that would remind me to do so. Then, I chose verses that had to do with that time of the day (for example: as my kids are getting dressed in the morning) and then I put them on notecards.


Here are the events and verses I chose:


1. When they wake up: "Let the morning bring (child's name) word of your unfailing love, for she has put her trust in You. Show (her/him) the way (she/he) should go, for to you (he/she) lifts up her soul." (Adapted from Psalm 143:8)


2. When they are getting dressed: "Therefore, as God's chosen child, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Lord, help (him/her) bear with others and forgive whatever grievances (he/she) has against others. Help (him/her) forgive as the Lord forgave (him/her). And over all these virtues, help (him/her) put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." (Adapted from Colossians 3:12-14)


3. While they are eating: "Teach (child's name) the secret of being content in any and every situation whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Teach (him/her) that (he/she) can do everything through him who gives (him/her) strength." (Adapted from Philippians 4:12-13)


4. When they go out of the house: "(Name of child), do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will." (Adapted from Romans 12:2)


5. While they are taking a bath: Lord, give (name of child) clean hands and a pure heart, and let (him/her) not lift (his/her) soul to an idol or swear by what is false. Let (him/her) receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God (his/her) Savior. Let (him/her) be part of the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. (Adapted from Psalm 24:4-6)


6. When they are going to bed: "The Lord Your God is with you; he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, be will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17)


7. While they are sleeping: "I pray that (name of child) will do everything without complaining or arguing, so that he/she may become blameless and pure, a child of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which he/she shines like a star in the universe as he/she holds out the word of life-in order that he/she may boast on the day of Christ that he/she did not run or labor for nothing." (Adapted from Philippians 2:14-16)

4 comments:

kristina16marie said...

Hi Girl! Thanks for the shoutout! When you're writing a new post & want a word or set of words to be a link, highlight the words & then click the button on the post toolbar that looks like an earth with a chain link over it. That will bring up a window where you enter what you want to link to. =D Now I gotta go dig up an old pic so I can join you in "Flashback Friday"!

Marie Lanathoua said...

Thank you Bridget, I am a follower of your blog I have occasionally commented, but I want to tell you I needed this today. Your are so blessed that you get to do what you do. I wish I was more patient with my children, more loving, I'm a single parent of four, one in college, but it's hard working all day and come home and deal with homework. I remember the days that I was home, to be in PTA, to be there for my kids, and now I can't and they have lost so much cause of that....I needed this prayer...I need peace....Thank you!

Marie
(we share a friend..Kadi)

Andrea said...

Thanks for this insight. Honestly, in the morning (we are talking the wee hours), I am hurrying them through the a.m. routine so we can get out the door. I may have to adapt it, but I would feel more at peace if I took just a few seconds to change my thinking and say a quick prayer for them.

I can't tell you how many times a day I am muttering "Lord, just give me patience....NOW! ;)".

Enjoy your weekend trip!

Cassidy said...

I really enjoy your blog so much. Thanks for posting this. It is great. I am going to make it part of my routine.Thanks!