Interceding

"Possibly the hardest part of praying for our children is waiting for our prayers to be answered. Sometimes the answers come quickly, but many times they do not. If your child has made poor choices, don't berate yourself and stop praying. Keep communication lines open with your child, continue interceding for him or her, and declare God's Word." from my devotional today...Love it.

I have prayed for almost as long as I can remember. Once I started having children, I started praying for them, too. "Lord, please keep my child safe and healthy, be with them constantly, help them know how much I love them, how much YOU love them, God, etc, etc, etc". That used to be my typical prayer. Then a few years ago I was introduced to a new concept. Not just praying for my kids future, but really praying for my kids future. Prayer for the present, the future, and for no ill effects from past events. Praying in detail, "Lord, keep my children free from ANY type of abuse every day of their lives, Lord, keep my child free from any addictions or peer pressure, drugs, alcohol, sex, tv, internet, etc, etc,. Help them to be accepted and help them to lovingly accept others. Lord, I pray for their future spouse, that they are Godly and able to follow Your will together in life." Those are just a FEW of the things I am now led to pray for my children for. I feel like I am giving them a head start in the battles they face on this Earth. It doesn't mean they won't face challenges, or make mistakes, or that they will turn out perfect. But, I am specifically using scripture and prayer to get a head start on these battles for them. I feel like it's one of the greatest things I can do for them as a parent. I may loose my patience some days, or not get to brush all the tangles out of Izzy's hair, some days Joseph's energy may spur me on to a mini meltdown, and Andrew's teen attitude may get the best of me, and some days, we may even have (gasp) ramen noodles for dinner. But, in the long run, even though I've got much room to improve as a parent, I know those things won't make or break them. I don't care if my children grow up to be janitors, as long as they delight in the Lord. I don't care if they live in a shack, if they are following the Lord. I don't care if they never get married, or decide to give the Duggars a run for their money, as long as they are living for the Lord. I desire for my children, that they accept the Lord as their Savior, and make good choices and decisions to follow Him, to worship Him. Sure, I will still get caught up in the day to day grades, sports, friends, chores, etc...but when I lay my head down at night on my (really awesome, I might add) pillow, and I pray and pour my heart out to Him on behalf of my babies, I know I'm giving them a better chance in life. I'm so thankful I have a living God, that hears me, that LISTENS to me, and cares for me and my heart, and that answers me and has a perfect will for me, and my children. It's so hard to grasp, but I have to remember these three, beautiful blessings in my life, really, aren't even mine at all, but are being lent to me & David by Him, to raise according to His will. Now, that's something to try and wrap your mind around. It does help me remember, though, that He has His children's best interest at heart...and then I am able to sleep a little better on my really awesome pillow.