I've been thinking...

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Real MOMent

The other week I mentioned to a friend that I noticed that I prayed a lot in a lot of different places and about many different things. We laughed because that statement has the ability to sound pious or like it's a bad thing (which it isn’t), but I really took an interest to figure out what I was praying for and when I was praying. Building my habit of prayer has been intentional, but sometimes, life gets busy and you don’t always notice what you are working towards is something you are actually doing. My initial reaction was surprise. WOW! I’m praying all the time, but wait! Why? (Again, a silly thought, but it’s real). After running down the list of all of the things that I noticed I was thinking about and praying about, I realized that I pray all the time because I worry all of the time.

As expected, this season of motherhood (6-10 Years) is so different from the season when my children were newborn to 5 Years. There are some similarities. For example, in my current season, I still deal with poop and have sleepless nights, but they look and smell different! 🙂 What is different is how I am constantly thinking about raising two growing daughters, in a world that is both beautiful and scary. I think about what I can do to control situations that they face and how to protect them from the darkness that they encounter.

I think about how going to the wrong house and ringing a doorbell, letting a ball roll into a neighbor’s yard, or turning up the wrong driveway could be fatal… I think about how flaws are magnified in this world and how the beauty standard doesn’t even speak to where true beauty comes from…I think about how people will quickly point out mistakes, judge, and feel qualified to tell you who you are…I think about how often the visible truth is frequently questioned and what it means to have faith…I think about safety at school… I think about the motives of the people they will come in contact with, the friends they will choose and the type of friend they will choose to be… I think about their spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional well-being…I think about how to help them navigate and learn even when they fail…I think I do a lot of thinking.

As it turns out thinking, for me, is a euphemism for worry. These thoughts have the ability to consume my mind, but I realize that in the midst of them I have actually had peace. In this season of my life, I may not know what will be or even what is, but I know that worrying about everything isn’t a solution.

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MOMent of Clarity

There is darkness in this world but “the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it” John 1:5. I used to get upset with myself when I realized that I was worrying, but then I realized that God knows that as a human being, I am prone to worry. He has given me instructions on what to do when I am overcome by it in the Living Word.

Philippians 4:6-7 tells believers “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Even with all of my thinking (anxiousness), I can testify that peace has been present!

I think human beings feel a desire for control, and I don’t dismiss my very human thoughts and concerns. What I do want is to be an example for my children. We can choose to live a life consumed by the worrying and anxiousness in the things we cannot control or to live a life of faith and have confidence in the ONE who controls it all.

This #MOMent has made me think about how I’m training each of my children in the way they should go, specifically when it comes to their prayer life. As their mother, teaching my children what to pray for (everything), how to pray (with fear and reverence) and when to pray (all the time) is a part of the assignment of raising Kingdom Children. In Mark 10:13-16, children were being brought to Jesus to bless them and the disciples rebuked this behavior. In Mark 10:14 Jesus tells the disciples, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Prayer is how my children can come before Him and how they can grow their own personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Right now, I can help to shield my children from some of the scarier aspects of this world, but they still need to know where the power truly resides.

I know I’ll always think about something, and when I do and the thoughts begin to consume my mind, I pray that my focus is not on what I think but in Who I seek because that is where my peace will be.

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The Praise for the post "I've been thinking..." is the song Proverbs 3 (Tablet of Your Heart) by Todd Dulaney. The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17) is a essential to the walk in faith and to the life of the believer. This song reminds me to not only learn the word but to write it on the tablet of my heart where it is accessible each time I start thinking about...

• When I feel worried or anxious, how frequently do I pray and petition the Lord for His help and guidance? What steps can I take to grow in this area of my walk in Christ?

• What do I worry about? How can I invite God to help?

• What example am I living for my child/children as it pertains to prayer and worry/anxiousness?

• How can I help my child/children build their prayer life?
  

Let's live the word! Philippians 4:6-7 tells believers that what our action should be when we are feeling worried or anxious--PRAY! James 2:26 tells believers that "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." Prayerfully ask God with the help of the Holy Spirit to help you build and grow your habit of prayer in moments when worry and anxiousness begin to take hold of your thoughts. When you notice or find yourself thinking about people or things (good or bad) pray! Challenge yourself for ONE day to commitment to building the habit of praying about EVERYTHING!

KINGDOM CREW:

Helping our children develop their habit of prayer and learning how to pray takes practice.

• Please read Mark 10:13-16. Discuss what does Jesus’ response and words reveal about his heart for little children? What comfort can we, as believers, take in knowing this truth?

• Praise and Worship– Morning drives are a great time to play a song and sing along. Take time after the song to highlight words in the songs and what the song is saying. Use these ideas to inspire prayer.

  • Ex: If a song is about having confidence in God during tough times, discuss the topic and incorporate a prayer that asks for God help to remain confident in Him.

• Please Read Philippians 4:6-7. Sometimes it’s hard to know where to start to pray when we are worried because we want to fix the situation. As believers we have power in prayer. Sometimes, it is hard to know where to begin so having structure can be helpful to build habits. This is a great time to share how you pray with your children.

  • A friend recently shared how she helps her children pray and includes something that they are thankful for, something that they are sorry for, and something that they would like to ask for. See below for an example of what this might sound like.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for my family and for helping me get through another week. I am sorry for the attitude that I have given to my parents who are trying to help me. Please help me to honor my parents in a way that is honoring to you. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

• Create a prayer calendar for the week or month. For younger kids, use pictures in place of words. Get creative by creating a digital calendar or old school paper and pencil work just as well. Put your calendar somewhere where everyone can see. Don’t forget to include a place for where God responds!

• Ask your child/children to share things or people that have been on their hearts and minds. Consider adding what is discussed to the prayer calendar.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for your help in my life and for the gift of prayer. You know that living in a fallen world means that I will encounter things in my life that will bring on feelings of worry and anxiousness. I am so grateful that You love me so much that you have given me a way to experience perfect peace in every season of my life. Please forgive me for the times when I have tried to take control and dismissed the gift of prayer and the power that it brings. Help me when I am feeling worried to seek You first, to actively wait with patience on Your response, and to be obedient to Your will for my life. Help me to be a living example of faith and prayer to my child/children and those around me. Amen.