*** PARENTS N-MOTION ***
><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
As we begin 2009 I wanted to share with you something I tried for the last 3 months of 2008. I had prayed for my children before, but found that I was constantly asking God for the same things: a heart that belonged to Him, a good day, and health. Then a friend gave me this list of 31 prayers to pray for your children. I cannot tell you how much this revolutionized my prayer life. I pray the assigned dates prayer for each child, then at the end of each day I reflect on God's answer to each prayer. Time and again I could see small, sometimes BIG glimpses of how God was working in their lives. I challenge you to try it for 3 months and see what God does in your life and the life of your child or grandchild.
PARENT PRAYER CALENDAR
31 Ways to Pray for Your Children
By: Bob Hostetler
DAY 1 - SALVATION:
"Lord, let salvation spring up within my children, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory" (Isaiah 45:8, 2 Timothy 2:10).
DAY 2 - GROWTH IN GRACE:
"I pray that they may 'grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ'" (2 Peter 3:18).
DAY 3 - LOVE:
"Grant, Lord, that my children may learn to 'live a life of love,' through the Spirit who dwells in them" (Ephesians 5:2, Galatians 5:22).
DAY 4 - HONESTY AND INTEGRITY:
"May integrity and honesty be their virtue and their protection" (Psalm 25:21, NLT).
DAY 5 - SELF CONTROL:
"Father, help my children not to be like many others around them, but let them be 'alert and self-controlled' in all they do" (1 Thessalonians 5:6)
DAY 6 - A LOVE FOR GOD'S WORD:
"May my children grow to find your Word 'more precious than gold, than much pure gold; [and] sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb'" (Psalm 19:10).
DAY 7 - JUSTICE:
"God, help my children to love justice as you do and to 'act justly' in all they do" (Psalm 11:7, Micah 6:8).
DAY 8 - MERCY:
"May my children always 'be merciful, as [their] Father is merciful'" (Luke 6:36).
DAY 9 - RESPECT (FOR SELF, OTHERS, AUTHORITY):
"Father, grant that my children may 'show proper respect to everyone,' as your Word commands" (1 Peter 2:17a).
DAY 10 - STRONG, BIBLICAL SELF-ESTEEM:
"Help my children develop a strong self-esteem that is rooted in the realization that they are 'God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus'" (Ephesians 2:10).
DAY 11 - FAITHFULNESS:
"'Let love and faithfulness never leave [my children],' but bind these twin virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts" (Proverbs 3:3).
DAY 12 - COURAGE:
"May my children always 'Be strong and courageous' in their character and in their actions" (Deuteronomy 31:6).
DAY 13 - PURITY:
"'Create in [them] a pure heart, O God,' and let their purity of heart be shown in their actions" (Psalm 51:10).
DAY 14 - KINDNESS:
"Lord, may my children 'always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else'" (1 Thessalonians 5:15).
DAY 15 - GENEROSITY:
"Grant that my children may 'be generous and willing to share [and so] lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age'" (1 Timothy 6:18-19).
DAY 16 - PEACE, PEACEABILITY:
"Father, let my children 'make every effort to do what leads to peace'" (Romans 14:19).
DAY 17 - JOY:
"May my children be filled 'with the joy given by the Holy Spirit'" (1 Thessalonians 1:6).
DAY 18 - PERSEVERANCE:
"Lord, teach my children perseverance in all they do, and help them especially to 'run with perseverance the race marked out for [them]'" (Hebrews 12:1).
DAY 19 - HUMILITY:
"God, please cultivate in my children the ability to 'show true humility toward all'" (Titus 3:2).
DAY 20 - COMPASSION:
"Lord, please clothe my children with the virtue of compassion" (Colossians 3:12).
DAY 21 - RESPONSIBILITY:
"Grant that my children may learn responsibility, 'for each one should carry his own load'" (Galatians 6:5).
DAY 22 - CONTENTMENT:
"Father, teach my children 'the secret of being content in any and every situation. . . . through him who gives [them] strength'" (Philippians 4:12-13).
DAY 23 - FAITH:
"I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children's hearts, that by faith they may gain what has been promised to them" (Luke 17:5-6, Hebrews 11:1-40).
DAY 24 - A SERVANT HEART:
"God, please help my children develop servant hearts, that they may serve wholeheartedly, 'as to the Lord, and not to men'" (Ephesians 6:7, KJV).
DAY 25 - HOPE:
"May the God of hope grant that my children may overflow with hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13).
DAY 26 - THE WILLINGNESS AND ABILITY TO WORK HARD:
"Teach my children, Lord, to value work and to work hard at everything they do, 'as working for the Lord, not for men'" (Colossians 3:23).
DAY 27 - A PASSION FOR GOD:
"Lord, please instill in my children a soul that "followeth hard after thee," a heart that clings passionately to you (Psalm 63:8, KJV).
DAY 28 - SELF-DISCIPLINE:
"Father, I pray that my children may develop self-discipline, that they may acquire 'a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair'" (Proverbs 1:3).
DAY 29 - PRAYFULNESS:
"Grant, Lord, that my children's lives may be marked by prayerfulness, that they may learn to 'pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests" (Ephesians 6:18).
DAY 30 - GRATITUDE:
"Help my children to live lives that are always 'overflowing with thankfulness,' 'always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ'" (Colossians 2:7, Ephesians 5:20).
DAY 31 - A HEART FOR MISSIONS:
"Lord, please help my children to develop a heart for missions, a desire to see your glory declared among the nations, your marvelous deeds among all peoples" (Psalm 96:3).
><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
Helpful Resources for the parents and the family:
