A Parent’s Prayer

As a parent, these first few weeks of getting in the back to school groove can be challenging. In fact, just this week, I forgot about one of my daughter’s early morning practices at school and ended up waking her up with only five minutes to get there. Needless to say, she was late (and unhappy with me), and I’m completely out of the running for any parent of the year award. Perhaps this is why the Lord has been impressing upon me that the most important thing I can do for my kids (other than waking them up on time) is to pray. And as grateful as I am to be a mother of two great kids (not perfect but great!), there are certainly days that I struggle in so many ways. Struggle to lead them in a Godly manner, struggle with patience and kindness, with discipline and consequences, and with grace and mercy.

The other day my son referred to me as “chaos” and while I think (and hope) his description is attributed to the title of my devotional blog, I do feel the chaos begin to build as I put all the dates in my fall calendar and begin to process how much we have going on. My stress levels start to build as I worry through all the details.

But with the Lord’s guidance, I’m learning to turn my worries over to Him in prayer. Just like you, my heart’s desire is to be a good parent and to lead my kids every day to walk closer to Jesus, so I’m going to pray through some areas of my parenting and let Him take over. Perhaps you’ll join me in this. In fact, I’d love to hear from you about your parenting prayers. Let’s grow together as we turn our parenting chaos to Christ.

My prayer (with scriptural references) is:

Dear Lord,

Thank you for the precious gift of my children and for allowing me to be a parent. Help me to remember in the good times and even in the difficult moments, that they are gifts sent directly from you. (“Behold, children are a gift from the Lord.”)

Create in me a desire to pray for my children each day to help me remember that you hold them in your loving hands. (“The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.”)

Help me to parent with fairness and to show your mercy and grace when needed. Help my words (even my correcting words) to be shared in a loving way. (“Let all that you do be done in love.”)

Continually remind me that I shouldn’t remove every obstacle, cushion every blow, or keep my children from facing consequences from their actions. As you have shown me, it is often times through my struggles in life that you have been able to grow me the most. (“We know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope.”)

Help me each day to recognize opportunities to share your truth with my children. (“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”)

Place the fruits of your spirit in my heart as I walk each day as a parent. Allow me to show your amazing love to my children through the way I lead them each day. (“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”)

In your precious name I pray, Amen.

My hope and prayer for all of us is that we seek Christ’s guidance in our parenting, that we turn our worries and concerns over to Him, and that each day His love is real and evident to our children.

Scripture references:  Psalm 127:3, Psalm 145:18, 1 Corinthians 16:14, Romans 5:3-4, Deuteronomy 6:6, Galatians 5:22-23