Prayer Prompt #48: The Face of Childlike Faith

How kind the Lord is! How good he is!

So merciful, this God of ours!

The Lord protects those of childlike faith;

I was facing death, and he saved me.

Let my soul be at rest again,

for the Lord has been good to me.

Psalm 116:5-7 (NLT)

Newborn babies naturally prefer to sleep in mommy’s arms.  When baby is asleep in my arms, I can pass through all sorts of terrain, activities and noise levels and he will barely stir.  Just last night I carried him close to me through torrential rain, deep puddles and traffic jams -- he was not even aware. He just snuggled in and slept peacefully.

What a beautiful thing that baby considers mommy’s arms the safest place for him!  This is where he feels secure. He is not concerned about the storm raging around him because he has thrown all of his trust upon the one upholding him.

When the Bible speaks of childlike faith, I consider how my babies have slept in my arms -- fully at peace and fully trusting that they are safe being held by their parent.

Dear LORD, thank you that there is a place of total rest and security for me in Your arms.  I want to go back to that childlike faith, where I don’t worry about the storms of life because I know that you are upholding me. I praise You because You are the perfect parent that will carry me through all of life’s seasons with loving protection.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Prayer Prompt #47: Is He a Good Sleeper?

One of the most common questions you get when you’re the mother of a newborn.  And for good reason, since when you become a mom you get to play Baby Sleeping Roulette! Because some babies are the poster children for “sleeps like a baby” and others inspire bizarre decision-making like, “Baby’s finally asleep! Should I sleep while he sleeps, or shower for the first time in four days?”  Not that I’ve been there or anything.

But you know all of this because you are moms too.  So you also know that going without decent sleep makes you a crazy person.  And makes you forget the names of your other children, your age, where you live and many other random things.

And - bonus! - if you’re not on your guard, it will also make you cranky, short-tempered and irritable.  

So, as a mother of a newborn again, this verse really struck me:

We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure . . . sleepless nights . . .

2 Corinthians 6:3-5 (NLT)

People are watching us, Christian moms - both the people outside our homes and the little ones inside our homes.  So let us pray that no matter the physical, mental or emotional strain, we will continue to show that we belong to Christ and He is sufficient for whatever we must endure.

Dear LORD, when I’m worn out it’s too easy to become impatient and grumpy even with the people I love most. In those times of exhaustion or stress, remind me to continue to look to You and receive the strength to patiently endure.  Help me come through these hard moments as a true minister of God. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Prayer Prompt #46: Is "Brotherly Love" an Oxymoron?

Now the works of the flesh are evident:  . . . strife . . . rivalries . . .

Galatians 5:19-20 (ESV)

Everyone told me that siblings would fight.  And I know - I had siblings too, and there may or may not have been at least one sibling argument that ended with one of us throwing a hot dog at the other . . .

So yes, I’ve experienced it, and I see it with my own children too.  

I see it, but I do not accept it.  No matter how common, strife has no welcome in our household.  I reject it in every form, even so-called normal sibling rivalry.  There is a better heritage for households of faith - a heritage of love and peace.  I’m laying hold of that one instead.

After all, what in the world is “brotherly love” if it can’t be found among brothers?

Dear LORD, I reject a heritage of arguing and strife within my family and among my children.  Remove all discord and strife from among my children and replace it with peace and that “phileo” brotherly love.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Prayer Prompt #45: Silencing Your Enemies

Through the praise of children and infants

you have established a stronghold against your enemies,

to silence the foe and the avenger.

Psalm 8:2 (NIV)

Praise is a strong weapon against the enemy because it silences his lying tongue. Matthew 21:14-17 (NIV) illustrates this:

The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.

“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.

“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”

And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

It was the children that were shouting praise in the temple courts. The chief priests and teachers of the law (the enemies) wanted them to stop proclaiming who Jesus was - the Son of David, the Messiah. But when Jesus affirmed the children’s praise (by quoting Psalm 8:2), they had nothing more to say! The enemy was silenced.

Dear LORD, You are worthy of all glory and honor and power; thank you for filling my children with praise from their youth.  Teach them to continue praising as they grow up and life gets harder - teach them to continue praising no matter what circumstances they face.  Let them see that their praise puts the enemy to flight and silences their foes; may they wield praise as a mighty weapon against the powers of darkness. In Jesus’ name, amen.