The Power of A Praying Parent

Prayer is the foundation of all other parenting skills. The power of a praying parent is unfathomable.  As a mother of 6 children, I know that this daily practice in my life has been the most important thing I have done to ensure successful parenting and children.  I would even venture to say that it is impossible to be a good parent without prayer.

PRAYER transforms us.  It does not even matter what we are praying about.  When we approach the throne of grace with our questions, petitions, and thoughts we are transformed.  We can not help but be changed by time with God.

As parents, we are BUSY, so busy in fact that we find it hard to find time to go to the bathroom or sleep.  Both of which I consider a necessity.

Prayer is just as much a necessity as sleep and going to the bathroom.  It is even as important as eating.  We must have it to stay alive.  Our marriage, our children, and our communities are counting on our prayers to bring all things under the authority of Christ.  God cannot be glorified without prayer and we certainly can not make it in this world without it!  If we want to be successful parents we MUST PRAY!

Why do we skip it then?

We are tricked into believing that it really won’t make a difference.  We must fight the lie and pursue time with God.  Our kids are counting on us.

Ok, I have made my point on the importance of prayer but you might be saying that is all well and good but how in the world am I going to fit it in?  Ideally, your time with God could be the first thing in the morning.  I will not deny that that is the most effective time to read your Bible and pray.  However, your quiet time with God will look different in every stage of parenting.  It may be a perfect time to make some lifestyle changes and focus on Christ-Centered Slow Living.

The Power of A Praying Parent

1. Pray and read your Bible while nursing your baby.

2. Pray for your child while you are changing his or her diaper.

3. Set your alarm 15 or 30 minutes before the kids get up and pray then.

4. On days when your kids get up early.  Have them sit on the bed with you until you are done praying and reading the Word.

5. Pray with your kids.

6.  Read your Bible to them, have your quiet time together with the children.

7. Start them on their way to forming the habit of prayer.  Get them their own age-appropriate Bible and sit all the kids down around you, teach them to do their own prayer time while you do yours.

8. Pray in the shower and every time you go to the bathroom.  Keep a Bible in the bathroom.

9. Listen to the Bible in the car and have a copy of your prayer list there too.

10. Pray with your children on the way to everything.  Soccer practice, church, grocery store, EVERYWHERE.

11.  Pray and read the Word while the children are having nap time.

12. Bring your Bible outside to pray while the kids are having playtime.

13. Keep a Bible in your purse or diaper bag and have your quiet time during “waiting time” in the car.

14. Read your Bible and pray before you go to bed.

15.  Have a family quiet time at the lunch table or breakfast table each person reading their own Bible and praying.  Pair older siblings with younger siblings and have them do their prayer time together.

16. Make a prayer card ring and read the Bible corporately.  Pray together for everyone’s prayer requests.

17. Make your own prayer basket with the Bible and prayer requests in it, so you can transport the basket to any room in the house and pray.

18. Pray while rocking your child to sleep.  Read your Bible out loud to your infant or toddler before they nap or go to bed in the evening.

19. Have Bible reading and prayer time together with your husband before he goes to work or at night before bed.

20. Family worship time is a great way to pray and read the Bible together! Try to schedule it first thing in the morning or at family mealtime.

Now,  WHAT TO PRAY for your Children…

One of our responsibility as parents is to teach our children to pray. The best way to do that is by modeling that behavior to our kids.  When they see us praying on a daily basis, that gives us an opportunity to show and tell our children how to pray.  When you are praying and reading your Bible, you can ask your child to join you.  No matter what their age, they can run and get their Bible and sit next to you and pray.

I would like to offer you a FREE COPY of my very own prayer list for my children.  It has evolved over the years, as I would read Scripture I would add qualities that I wanted my children to display.  I also have added many things as a result of reading books and going to conferences.  I wish I could give credit to everyone who contributed to this list!  I pray it will be a starting point for you as you petition the Lord on your children’s behalf.

YOUR TURN…

What are some things you are praying for your children?

Blessings,

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