Back to School, Back to Prayer

School is back in session for my kids, which means our three-month break is over. Gone are the lazy days of summer, when life is all about sleeping in late and vacationing long. Now, it’s time to resume my work schedule.

For the past week or so, I’ve been thinking about where God wants me to devote my time. Of course, there are the obvious responsibilities – cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, and keeping our house somewhat organized. I also volunteer each week with a ministry at my church called Sisterhood Cares, lead a prayer group at our school, and write blog posts occasionally. But I’ve been wondering, Where does my focus need to be?

Just last night I shared these thoughts with my husband, Justin. He’s always a good sounding board when I need to process my emotions. Justin said, “Maybe you need to focus on the girls right now.” He was referring to our daughters, Isabelle who is in ninth grade, and Jocelyn, who’s in seventh. “Yes,” I replied, “but they’re gone most of the day.” Even as the words came out of my mouth, I sensed the Lord speaking to my heart, “You can pray.”

Ah, yes. Prayer. How easy it is to forget the importance of this much-needed spiritual discipline and let other things get in the way!

The Lord commands us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17), which is a tall order. Frankly, the verse can be intimidating and make us feel like we’re immediately set up for failure. You may be wondering as I have in the past, How can I possibly obey that commandment? Well, rest assured, God doesn’t expect us to be on our knees 24/7. He understands that we’re all pulled in 20 different directions on most days. But, the Lord does want us to make prayer a priority in our lives.

The Greek definition for without ceasing is “adiáleipta” which means “with continuous action.” That means we keep praying, keep believing, and keep trusting in God even when life gets hard. We continue to pursue God through prayer, knowing that He hears us and is responding to our cries.

One of my goals this fall is to intercede for my two teenage daughters by praying God’s Word over their lives. Specifically, I plan to use a helpful tool called, “Promises to Claim for Your Children” to guide my prayer time.  If you have children, I encourage you to use these verses as you pray for them.

Here’s an example of how that might work: 

• Verse: “You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy” (Ps. 45:7).
• Prayer: “Lord God, I thank you that (child’s name) loves righteousness. Give him/her an increasing desire to know you and Your Word. May he/she hate wickedness and avoid any evil path. Show favor to (child’s name) and fill his/her heart with joy.”

As you pray God’s Word over your children, your faith will be strengthened, and their lives will be impacted in a powerful way. You can also use the verses to pray over a spouse, family member, friend, or even yourself. God’s promises are for everyone! Tell God your desire to grow in prayer, ask Him to help, and watch the Lord do what He does best – astound you with His love, faithfulness, and power!