Today we are reading Chapter 6 of Praying Circles around Your Children by Mark Batterson.
“Over the years, our family has adopted a handful of mantras from a wide variety or sources.” (p. 66) We have a family motto: You can always turn around. This comes in handy when we are driving, but we have used it when we make mistakes. Whenever we say it, we all start laughing.
“Whenever one of us is in a funk, we’ll pull out this mantra and try to refocus on things that are true, noble, right, and pure a la Philippians 4:8.” (p. 67) We use this verse to determine if we should read a book, or watch a movie or TV show. One day I overheard Kate telling a friend why we didn’t want her reading a book, “It doesn’t pass the Philippians 4:8 test.” My mom heart soared.
“[Mantras] serve as reminders of who we are and what we’re about as a family.” (p. 67)
“There is something powerful about a single God-inspired prayer repeated throughout a child’s lifetime. I like to call it a prayer mantra.” (p. 67) When I was deciding on a name for Kate, I finally landed on Kate because it means pure. My prayer mantra for her has been that as she grows up she would be pure in her thoughts and actions. When I pray it I imagine a wall around her mind keeping evil out of her mind.
“So how do you get started? Here are a few simple ideas…First of all, pray about what to pray about. Second, you need to go back to the Bible…The Bible meant to be read; it was meant to be prayed.” (p. 68-69) Pray about praying, it sounds almost too simple but is true. How do you know God’s Word? Read it. We have to read and meditate on His Word. When we do this we are not rocked when life throws us a curve ball. We will react with scripture and the promises God gives us rather than feeling uncertain about what to do.
“With your physical eyes you see who a person is. With your spiritual eyes you see what that person can be. With your spiritual eyes you see what that person can be. And it’s only when you close your physical eyes in prayer that God will open your spiritual eyes to perceive what is far more real than the reality you can perceive with your five senses.” (p. 70) Ask God to reveal who your child is through spiritual eyes. Once we catch the vision, we will know better how to pray and which scriptures to pray over them.
“As God reveals these life themes, you may want to consider coupling them with a life verse.” (p. 72) I would suggest asking the Lord to guide you to a life verse to pray over your child. He is faithful, He will show you.
“It’s amazing how often these life verses become life themes!” (p. 73)
We’ll continue our study on Thursday. Tomorrow come back for an encouraging word Worship Wednesday.
