Proverbs 31 Wife – 31 Days of Praying for our Children

20 coMpAssIon:

“Lord, please clothe my
children with the virtue of compassion” (Colossians 3:12)

I really long for Evylee, Kenzlee and Nate to realize that they have been chosen by God to serve as His ambassadors on this earth, and as His ambassadors, it is our role to be compassionate with every person that God has created. This is another day that I pray this prayer for my life, as well. Lord, remind me to be compassionate even when I don’t understand situations before me.

Proverbs 31 Wife – 31 Days of Praying for our Children

19 HuMIlIty:

“God, please cultivate in my children
the ability to show true humility toward all” (Titus 3:2)

Cultivate. I know this word well. My full-time paying job (that I am so thankful to have) is all about cultivation, and cultivation takes a lot of effort, a lot of investment, a lot of thought, a lot of time, a lot of taking notes, a lot of paying attention. That is my prayer to God, and we serve a faithful God who does all of these things for His children. Let us give our children to God in faith that they will show humility to ALL of those that surround them. 

Proverbs 31 Wife – 31 Days of Praying for our Children

18 perseverAnce:

“Lord, teach my children perseverance in all they do, and help them
especially to run their race with
perseverance” (Hebrews 12:1)

Let us pray specifically that our children will run the race without allowing obstructions in their paths, without giving up or giving in to sin and the ways of the world. Let us pray that our children will be surrounded with people that will run the race with them . . . boldly. 

God HAS Equipped Us

Last weekend, I enjoyed an overnight getaway with girls from my Sunday School class. I am so thankful for this group of ladies. The last time I enjoyed true fellowship with a group of girls was during college (thanks Cathy, Joy & Angela). Through spending time in God’s Word, praying for one another, shopping, eating and laughing together, those girls became some of my greatest friends. As we all went our separate ways, I never found a group of girls that I could get together with in such a way as that. (I’m taking my lifelong girlfriends out of this mix because we have a unique relationship in itself.) So, all of that to say, I’m really thankful for a group of gals – some old friends, some recent friends and some brand new – to be able to grow with as I walk this journey.

After spending an evening eating, acting like teenagers on a scavenger hunt and creating our own Pinterest Prayer Journals, we took a few moments for a devotion to end the evening.

As you all know, God has been teaching me a lot about being a Proverbs 31 Wife, and my husband would quickly tell you that I still have A LOT to learn! This may be my lifelong journey.

I hope that God used me that night to share with the other gals their value. Perhaps, you are searching for your value, as well. In case, let me share what we shared that night.

As a wife and mom, what is your biggest struggle? What are your anxieties? What are your insecurities? What are your frustrations?

For me, my biggest struggle is taking care of my home. I’m terrible at managing the laundry (just committed my teenage cousin to helping me with it weekly) and keeping a tidy house.

As women, we sure do beat ourselves up a lot! We question and second-guess ourselves all the time. We compare ourselves to other moms and other families.

Psalm 86:15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, 
   slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

• If we want to follow God’s example, and He is slow to anger and rich in faithful love, why are we not compassionate with ourselves? Why do we get angry with ourselves? Why do we give up on ourselves?

Moms, we need to take time to focus on what we do right. God has blessed us with great skills and talents and qualities as wives and moms. God chose us to be the moms of our children!

So, what are 3 qualities or talents you have as a wife or mom? Share these by commenting below. 

For me, I am a planner. I am easy going. I am frugal. And, as my best friend talked about her strength, I must steal it for me, as well – I always think of Nathan and the kids before I make any decision. In my planning, I think of them from the moment I wake up until the moment I lay down at night. And, I would imagine that most of us moms share this strength.

As you share these qualities, do not feel as if you are boasting. This is a tangible way, to say out loud, how God has equipped us.

I challenged myself and the girls that evening to jot their strengths down in their prayer journals and to make notes during the week of times that they used their strengths. I challenge each of you to do the same.

Breezy Acres Farm: 2011 Goals {Prayer Journal}

Breezy Acres Farm: 2011 Goals {Prayer Journal}.

I made a Prayer Journal recently, and then I happened upon this blog tonight. Love this mom and her dedication to praying for her children!!

Proverbs 31 Wife – 31 Days of Praying for our Children

17 Joy:

“May my children be filled with the joy
given by the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians
1:6)

Doesn’t it just melt your heart when your children are happy? And, doesn’t it bless your heart to know that their happiness comes from their joy in the Lord?

Proverbs 31 Wife – 31 Days of Praying for our Children

16peAce:

“Father, let my children make every effort
to do what leads to peace’” (Romans
14:19)

As I pray for Evylee, Kenzlee and Nate this morning, I must also pray for myself, that I be willing to deny myself to serve God and others because truly serving God and others leads to peace. 

Some versions say “let us pursue” in place of “make every effort”. “Let us pursue” means to constantly go after something. So, this is going to be a daily decision, a daily effort, a daily act to seek peace in our actions and our interactions with others.

And in some versions, in place of “peace”, Paul wrote “edify” which means to constantly build up. That is my desire, the prayer of heart for my children and myself to be those lights that are constantly building up one another. I am surrounded by so many amazing people who constantly do this for me, and I want to be that blessing, as well.

As we walk into the weekend, let’s have a moment of application:

We see that a close walk with our God is largely a matter of where our focus is. If we are focused on ourselves and seeking to satisfy our own desires, we will stray from God because we aren’t watching where we’re going. But if our focus is on Him, then we will be following in His footsteps, and serving God and fellow Christians becomes our constant objective. Is it time for another focus check?

As I pray for my children to grow in peace, to be encouragers in their spheres of influence . . . DAILY, I also pray that they will stay focused on their Father all the days of their lives.

Proverbs 31 Wife – 31 Days of Praying for our Children

15 GenerosIty:

“Grant that my children
may be generous and willing to share, laying up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for eternity”
(1 Timothy 6:18-19)

My husband really has a gift of generosity. I am so thankful that he has taught me over the years how to be more generous with a willing spirit. There were times in my life that I would be generous because that was the Christ-like thing to do, but it wasn’t Christ-like when my heart wasn’t being generous. Since we have been married, though, I have learned from him to have a heart for generosity. I am so thankful that our children have an amazing Daddy to teach them about generosity daily.

Proverbs 31 Wife – 31 Days of Praying for our Children

14 KIndness:

“Lord, may my children
‘always try to be kind to each other and to everyone
else’” (Ephesians 4:32).

It is truly the prayer of my heart daily for Evylee, Kenzlee and Nate to be kind to ALL children no matter their color, their size, their home, their family, their clothes, their hair, their abilities!

And this is another one of those days that I need this prayer for myself just as much as I need to pray in faith for them.

This is me . . .

Love this quote from Steven Wright:

I’m writing a book. I’ve got the page numbers done.