The Blessings of Being a Mother of Prayer

Lord, please use my body this day to bear a child for your kingdom~this I pray in Jesus’ name. ~Amen~

I wrote this prayer down on June 14, 2001. On June 14, 2002, I gave birth to my first child. I bore a child for his kingdom. God used me as a vessel, on that day. That day that I prayed, “use my body this day“, was June 14. When I prayed “this day”, I wasn’t thinking God would literally use “that day”, June 14, to specifically answer my prayer; that I would literally bear a child. Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of getting pregnant that day.

I found that journal entry many years after I gave birth to my first child, and when I read the prayer and saw the date I had written it, I almost fell off my chair. I don’t believe that was an accident or coincidence. I believe that God truly answered that prayer the way it was specifically prayed. I didn’t put much thought into the exact words as I wrote them. I didn’t expect God to give me that child exactly on the date I prayed for her. He exceeded my expectations. He went over and above what I imagined He would do.

Fast forward to today. I now have seven children; 4 girls and 3 boys. They each have very different needs. At times, I don’t even know them all. My daughters are 14, 13, 11, and 8. My sons are 11, 10, and 6. My children are coming into a time in their lives when their needs are becoming greater and different. In fact, I struggle to keep up with them all. I am not speaking of so much of physical needs, but of spiritual, emotional, and relational needs. I can only help meet these needs head on, by being a mother of fervent prayer.

Prayer is such an important and powerful element in raising our children. We, as mothers, need help with direction, guidance, wisdom, patience, love, and the list goes on. Our children need answers to tough life questions; understanding of the world they are growing up in. They need to know God loves them, even when they mess up. Being in prayer for all of these things is so foundational to guiding them in the right direction. There is nothing too specific to pray for. In fact, the more specific you get, the better.

Our children are in need of our prayers, every-single-day. So, what can we pray for?

Here is a short list of ideas. It is by no means exhaustive:

• struggles they may be facing
• fruit of the spirit to manifest in their lives
• the future–tomorrow, Jr. High, High School, future husband/wife, marriage, and children
• a love and passion for serving Jesus Christ
• God’s strength to resist temptations
• God would direct their steps
• their hearts would be open to Him
• ways they need you to love them (ask God for direction)

The reason I shared my above story with you was to show you how God answered a prayer, very specifically. Do not be afraid to pray for specific areas or needs. Each child is unique and their needs will be as well. Prayers don’t need to be long, repetitive, and drug out. But they should be often.

I want to challenge you today: Become a mother of prayer; a mother who spends significant time pleading and fighting for her children, because let’s face it, we can’t do this on our own–and neither can they. Prayer is a powerful weapon against the enemy.

For His Glory,
Christin Slade