Prayer Prompt #13: Hannah's Heart: Motherhood as Stewardship

In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”

1 Samuel 1:10-11 NIV

“Who made you?” is a common question in our household.  By now, our children know that the right answer is not mommy or daddy -- it’s God.

God made each of them.  He gave them to mommy and daddy as gifts, and we treasure them dearly.  God has placed them in our care, but they are more His children than they are ours since He is their Maker.  As such, we are joyful, blessed stewards of God’s precious children. We agree with Hannah that we will give them back to the Lord -- after all, they were His precious creation first.

Dear LORD, thank you for entrusting me with Your own dear child, Your own precious creation that you knit together in my womb (Psalm 139:13).  Give me Hannah’s heart to appreciate and treasure the gift that You gave our family when you gave us this child. Give me Hannah’s heart of stewardship to raise this child for You alone, and to give him/her back to You to love and serve You all of his/her life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Prayer Prompt #12: Their Children Will Be Mighty in the Land

Praise the Lord.

Blessed are those who fear the Lord,

who find great delight in his commands.

Their children will be mighty in the land;

the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Psalm 112:1‭-‬2 NIV

Time and again, the Bible tells us that a godly lineage begins with godly parents. And there is a double blessing that hinges on whether I - the parent - fear the Lord and delight in His commands. If I do, the blessing lands on me and passes to the upright generation that follows. Praise God!

Dear Jesus, give me a heart that fears You and cause me to delight in Your commands. I receive by faith the blessing that follows for me and my children. Thank You for Your promise to make them mighty in the land and bless them. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Prayer Prompt #11: Praying 1 Timothy 4:12 for Your Children

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

1 Timothy 4:12

Several people in the Bible were called to or began their ministry in their youth - for example: Daniel (Daniel 1:17), David (1 Samuel 16:1-13), and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:4-7). Why not my child?

Dear LORD, I pray that no matter how old my children are, their age would always be an asset. From their youth, sow the character of Christ into them so that they may be Your faithful witnesses at every age.  Give them childlike faith in their youth and increase their wisdom as they grow. May they use every day to give you glory and honor through their speech, conduct, love, faith and purity. In Jesus' name, amen.

Prayer Prompt #10: Praying Your Children Will Love God's Word

One of my sons was not an early speaker, so when one of his first words was “BI - BUL!”, I was delighted.  What a good choice! He was delighted at his progress too, declaring “BI - BUL!” whenever he saw a children’s Bible around our house. I was so proud!

But I also knew that identifying the Book that articulates the Word of God is only (and in this case, literally!) a baby step in the lifelong process of eating, digesting and living this Book.

One of my prayers for my children from the womb has been that they would stand on the Word of God as their only truth and reality.  No matter what ideas they are exposed to, what feelings they have, what twists and turns society takes - no matter what, that the Bible would be the final, authoritative Word that they embrace as truth.

Dear LORD, Your Word is a lamp to the feet and a light to the path of my child.  Cause my child to fall in love with Your Word, to delight in Your law, and to meditate on it day and night. Then s/he will be like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither - whatever they do will prosper.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

*praying Psalm 119:105 and Psalm 1:2-3