Prayers for my kids

Today I was enjoying some quiet time before my children woke up for day #2 of school.  I have this book sitting on the table beside my bed called A Mother's prayers for Her Children by Nancy Ann Yaeger.  I came across this book at a Moms in Touch conference a few years ago.  It was a cute book and I loved the scripture references and how the book was organized and it gave me a bunch of scripture in one place to pray over my children.

I have used it here and there and it's a wonderful tool to use as I prayed scripture for my kids.  Today I decided to pick a verse for each child and pray that for at least the month of September.  Come October, I will choose a different verse or use the same one.  I haven't quite decided.

As I paged through each page and looked at the verses, it would just hit me that that verse is one for that child.  I picked one that reflected what I hoped for them as well as something they can claim for where they are at right now.

For M I chose Proverbs 16:20 nrsv:  Happy are those who trust in the Lord.  I want him to grow knowing that as he puts his trust in God he will find true happiness.  He is already such a happy little guy, but it's not too early for him to learn that happiness comes to those who trust in Him.

K's verse is about guarding the tongue.  Proverbs 21:23 says  He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.   I want K to remember that the words he says cannot be taken back.  I want him to chose words that lift up and encourage rather than hurt and tear down.

Picking T's verse was the hardest.  Once I found out, I just knew that it was the verse to pray for him starting out.

With ADHD, it's very hard for him to fit in.  He finds himself pestering others and sometimes his lack of ability to focus causes others to get easily annoyed with him.  He told us yesterday that he played with an aide on the playground rather than join the other boys who were playing football. Now I'm sure there were other boys running around and playing but the boys he wanted to hang out with were playing football.  It breaks my heart to know he isn't joining in with the other kids.  I want him to feel like he fits in.  I want him to be confident in himself and who God created him to be.  I don't want him going through the school year sitting on the sidelines or playing with a teacher because there's no one else to play with.

I found page 294.  At the top it says Fellow Citizen.  The verse is Ephesians 2:19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household.  The caption in the middle of the page says Children worry about being excluded or not picked for a team.  God has chosen everyone who believes in him as a fellow citizen and member of his household.  So assure your children that they are part of the most important team, God's team.  The prayer at the end said, "Thank you, God, that my children are part of your family and members of your household. Amen."

I can't make other kids want to play with T.  I can't make his ADHD go away so that he will blend in with other boys.  I can't make T like football and I can't be there everyday on the playground to make sure T has someone to play with.  Instead of dwelling on what I can't do, I can choose to focus on what I can do.  I can pray for him.  I can encourage him to reach out of his comfort zone and try something new or talk to a kid he doesn't know.  I can find creative ways to help him deal with the awkwardness of ADHD.  I can lift him up and help build confidence in him that he is a wonderful boy with a big kind heart.  I can remind T that he is loved always by his family and that he is part of the  family of God, which is most important.  If you are reading this please pray for T to make one good and dear friend at school.  Pray that his confidence in himself comes from God and not from what others think of him.

H has struggled with the vastness of God.  Don't we all at some point?  Well, she's so honest with her dad and I about it and I am thankful for the communication that we have together.  I found a verse for her to claim when she doubts and wants to overcome her unbelief.  Mark 9:24 says I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.  I want her to know that unbelief is normal and that when finds herself wondering "is God really real?" or doubting her faith, that she can confess it and God will come to her aid and help her overcome her unbelief.

I then came across a verse that I am going to pray over them as they head out the door for the bus each morning.  It's Proverbs 3:26 and says For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.  I loved the picture this verse gives.  If we let God be our confidence and not look for our confidence in what others think of us, it will keep us out of trouble.  I think we tend to find trouble when we do things for the acceptance of others.  I want my children to know where their confidence comes from.  I want them to know who it is that God created them to be.  I want them to keep their feet on level paths and not wander into trouble because they want someone to like them.

I am so thankful for the word of God.  I am thankful that His word is living and active and that I can claim scripture over my kids and it will not return void.