Praying for Your Family - 14. Floors

Whether you vacuum, sweep, mop, or swiffer - this is about when you have to clean your floors.  This is one of my most neglected chores, until I have a crawling or newly toddling baby who tries to eat everything he/she can see.  Those are the months I have the cleanest floors, because out of necessity, I get tired of swiping the baby's mouth for mystery items I should have vacuumed/swept up.

If the floor is clean, then our feet are walking on a clean path.  When our heart and soul is made new through Jesus Christ - we are also walking on a clean path, because he has made us a new creation! However, we often forget that, and live like we are still in bondage to sin, guilt, our past, or someone else.  I love these verses on freedom in Christ:

Let's pray then for Freedom in Christ for our families, when we clean the floors.

Floors - Freedom in Christ

Lord Jesus,

Thank you for giving us freedom! Thank you for paying the price so we could be free.  Please help my family to live like those set free.  Help my children to come to know you and your truth quickly, so they can walk in your ways and know you have set them free.  Help my husband to experience true freedom in Christ.  Father God, show him that he is your child, and all of his sin is washed clean so he can live in freedom.  Help me to remember that I am not a slave to anyone else's expectations of me, my kids, my house, or my family, but I am only a slave to Christ, and have freedom from all that weight of guilt and shame.  Help me to live as one set free, so that I can love and teach and offer grace like one who knows it. Lord, let my family find and keep walking your path of freedom.  In the name of Jesus I pray,

Amen. 

This is post fourteen in a series on Praying for Your Family: a 31 Day Challenge.  You can go to the main 'landing page' and scroll to the bottom, for a list of all the days by clicking here:

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Praying for Your Family - 13. Garbage/Trash

Most households I am familiar with classify taking the trash or garbage out with a man's duty.  However, whether you take out the trash or not, you certainly add to it, and see it in your home on a regular basis.  I use the words trash and garbage interchangeably, so this post is aimed at calling it both.

Every now and then, someone in my house will throw something away that another person deems not trash - they find it to be a sort of treasure, or perhaps it was a gift that meant more to them than the rest of the household. Usually I have thrown away something that I did not think my wild, but extremely precocious, three year old would even notice missing.  Later that day or the next he may ask, "Where did my Noah's ark picture go?" (For the record- he has never seemed proud of papers he brought home, and as yet he still scribbles wildly following no real plan for staying within lines or coloring pictures with appropriate or even varying colors.  So, a Noah's ark picture that an experienced adult had modeled coloring for him by coloring in two clouds purple, and then the rest of the picture was a giant purple scribble - I did not deem that important to him.  It was on the fridge for a few days, as we referenced the Bible story, but once the one year old began pulling it off repeatedly, I had no desire to attempt keeping it.)

This is how the conversation went:
"I'm sorry, I didn't think that picture was special to you. I threw it away because Karis kept pulling it off the fridge, and it was getting dirty on the floor."
"NOOOOOOO!!!! It was SPECIAL!!!! WHERE IS IT?"
"Oh, buddy, it's way at the bottom of the trash now with yucky stuff all over it. We cannot get it out. I'm sorry. That one is gone."
"But MOOOOMMMMMYYYYY! I want my Noah's Ark picture!"
"Well, Jonah, I threw it away and it's gone now.  Do you want to color something else?"
"Noooooooo" and he walked away whining, shoulders slumped, like I had killed a beloved pet.
"Do you want a hug?"
"NO!" and he ran away to find something else to distract him.

It occurred to me then, that what he valued as a treasure, I valued as trash.
We do this to God, too.

He gives us wonderful gifts, just for our benefit, treasures to enjoy about ourselves, the people and world around us, and we often value them as trash or garbage.

So, when you notice the trash/garbage getting full, needing to be taken out, or if you throw something away you think may be a questionable treasure later on, pray for God to reveal to your family the gifts he has given each of them, and to treasure their worth.

If you need help discovering your own gifts, and that of older children, check out this website:
http://www.spiritualgiftstest.com/introduction-to-spiritual-gifts It provides free spiritual gift tests and will give you the score, your top 3 gifts, and a detailed description of what that means, so you can start using them immediately!

Garbage/Trash - Gifts/Treasures

Dear Lord,

Thank you for giving my family so many gifts we do not deserve.  Help me to call out the gifts you have given my children.  I know Jonah loves other people and is extremely social now, so we would love to see this develop into a gift later where he can serve and work with other people well. Karis is very affectionate, and likes to help pick up toys, so I would love to see that develop in her as a gift to serve others.  I know you have given John the gift of leadership and teaching so he can be an effective pastor, and I pray you would continue to reveal those gifts and help him to develop them well to glorify you and shepherd our people well. Help me to encourage and mold my children to accept and appreciate the gifts you have given them.  Help me not to desire gifts in them or my husband, or myself that you simply did not choose to give us.  Rather, lead me to treasure all the unique gifts you gave my family.  Help my kids to treasure the way you have created them to serve within the Body of Christ, and not to think of their gifts as garbage.  Help my husband to see that he is a treasure in your eyes, and helps many, and not to think of his worth as trash.  Show me how to use the gifts you have given me to be a better wife, mother, friend, and servant to others.  God give us your eyes to see the gifts you have given us as treasures, not trash.  In Jesus' name I pray,

Amen. 

This is post thirteen in a series on Praying for Your Family: a 31 Day Challenge.  You can go to the main 'landing page' and scroll to the bottom, for a list of all the days by clicking here:

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Praying for Your Family - 12. Laundry

Laundry is the next worst chore after dishes, that also requires almost constant attention.  I have read so many cleaning blogs about how you need to do just ONE load every single day and make sure it goes straight from the dryer to being folded, to being put away, and how that is the magic secret to not having a couch pile full of clean clothes.  Discipline seems to be lacking in my life to accomplish this task.

Whether you are gathering the laundry up, sorting it into piles, loading the washer or switching wet clothes to the dryer or hanging them out on the line, or folding and putting them away - ANY of the laundry steps can be used to focus on the particular owner of the clothing - so I fold Jonah's shirt and pray for Jonah. OR, what I'd like to throw out here, is how we can also use that time to pray for our entire family and protecting and arming them against the growing cultural shift toward hyper-sexualism.

Laundry time is for praying about issues with lust.

Laundry - Lust

Lord,

Please guard my children's hearts against lusting for the bodies of other people.  It is so difficult to guard our eyes in a media filled and modesty-lacking world.  Help my husband to keep his desire only for me.  Help my children to stay innocent as long as possible.  Show me when to shelter them and when to let them go.  Protect my family from the evil that is pornography.  Help me to be wise and kind and take my thoughts captive so that I may lead my children better.  As a family, help us to fight against lust with your grace and power.  Lead us to pursue grace, love, and peace instead of any physical or sexual satisfaction. In Jesus Name,
Amen.


This is post twelve in a series on Praying for Your Family: a 31 Day Challenge.  You can go to the main 'landing page' for a list of all the days by clicking here:

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Praying for Your Family - 11. Dishes

The next week will hinge on our prayers being directed by a variety of common household chores.  Every home has certain things that require being done on a regular basis, so why not let those things motivate and remind us to pray?  This week the prayers will be focused on when you are doing or just recognizing the need for doing household chores (you know the "I really should ____, but I just don't feel like it" moments can be used to remind you to pray as well!).

Dishes are a pretty regular, mundane chore, that I honestly despise.  I mean, I will be training my kids to do this and passing it on ASAP! If you like doing the dishes, please come do ours anytime! I often feel discouraged when washing dishes, so that is the topic of prayer for this particular chore - praying that our family would not be easily discouraged.  I like how in these three different verses, the Lord puts fear and discouragement together - because when we are afraid it is all the more easy to give up and also be discouraged. 

Doing Dishes - Discouraged

Big Daddy God,

Please help my kids and my husband to not be easily discouraged. Remind them to look to you for strength and hope, even when life and people bring bitter disappointments.  Help them to trust you and remember the hope that we all have through your promises.  Please remind me to always be an encourager in my home, to never be the voice of discouragement to my family.   Help me to have a song ready before a complaint.  I battle discouragement, too, so please be with me and remind me to look always at you and all the deep ways you love and bless us, instead of focusing on myself or circumstances and ways my flighty flesh is so easily disappointed and discouraged.  Remind us of your presence - that you are with us and for us, and we need not be discouraged, because there is hope ahead.  In Jesus Name,

Amen.

This is the eleventh post in a series on Praying for Your Family: a 31 Day Challenge.  You can go to the main 'landing page' for a list of all the days by clicking here:

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Praying for Your Family - 10. Saturday

I know Saturdays are no-school, a lot people have no-work, so it can be a fun day! Don't forget to use these "fun days" to continue to pray for your family - especially for them to conquer sin and to have servant hearts!  Maybe you're like me - Saturday is not a day off from parenting, which is a full-time job, and if you're in ministry or married to someone who is - Saturdays are the last-minute prep days, full of added stress. So you, too, don't forget to pray if Saturday is a tough day for you! 

Sin is most easily defined as ANYTHING that separates you/me/us from God.  Sin is everything that is wrong in the world, and everything we do that is just selfish, mean, or wrong.  Some people view the 10 Commandments as a good sin-measuring stick, however, Jesus pointed out that even when we think about doing those things, we are in sin - lust in the mind, anger that makes you wish you could kill someone - those are wrong too - sin.  The problem with sin is just that - it separates - and we can't come back into our relationship with God of honesty and respect, until we truly admit it, desire change, and turn in a new direction away from that sin - or to repent.

The Bible uses a few different terms for sin - and I was fascinated as my husband explained this to me when he was in seminary.  Look at how the words get longer as the sin grows:

Sin = One error/mistake/problem that separates you from the Lord

Iniquity = When you realize that one sin, and you do it again, on purpose, even though you know it's wrong

Transgression = When you make a persistent habit out of repeating a sin problem you know you should stop

I like how this one scripture combines two of them in reference to how Jesus completely removed ALL 3 types:

WOW! Thank you Jesus!

It is also important to remember that sometimes sin is not an action - but in choosing NOT to take action when you know you should.

Sin is a strong, sad thing - but the blood of Jesus is so much stronger!

Servant-hearts is something else I feel is important.  In a society that is increasingly self-centered, we must teach our kids how to choose to put others first, and desire to serve like Christ. He calls us to be the 'servant of all.'  He equips us with the exact talents and gifts we need in order to serve others! 

This is the last day in the 'week at a glance' prayers - so we will be diving into a new family prayer topic tomorrow! 

Saturday- Servant Hearts/Sin:

Jesus, 

I want my kids to follow your example of serving others. Please help them to look for ways to serve others. Let them see a need and desire to help. God, please let them put others before themselves. Help them to be happy about serving you, each other, their friends, and anyone you bring across their paths. Help my husband to serve our church and our family well, to set an example for our kids. Please help me remember that you call us to be last, to be a servant of all, whether that means laundry, dishes, and diapers, or singing for you even when I'm nervous, help me to be your servant. Lord, help my children to understand and recognize their own sin. Help them to always see the planks in their own eyes. Let them recognize and repent quickly. Heal their little hearts when they feel the guilt of their actions. Help them to learn and grow from their sin, not to make it a habit, but to be aware enough of their sin to keep their pride in check. Let them recognize the difference between Holy Spirit conviction and satan dredging back up what you've already forgiven. Reveal my sin to me so I am quick to repent, turn away, and follow you. Lord, I ask you to show us where we stumble, so that we can restore right relationship with you, and walk in freedom as quickly as possible. Help me to fight my own sin before I ever think I can call it out in others.  Show my husband where he needs to repent, and help him to let go of old guilt. In Jesus' Name, 

Amen.

This is the tenth post in a series on Praying for Your Family: a 31 Day Challenge.  You can go to the main 'landing page' for a list of all the days by clicking here:

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Praying for Your Family - 9. Friday

Being a military kid gave me the opportunity to meet many 'friends.'  Some were the good kind, the ones you want to keep in touch with and social media helps, and some were the kind who made you cry because of their meanness, and wish you never met them.  Friends have a huge impact on our lives.  I think it is important to get to know the people my kids consider to be their friends, and to be praying for them now and in the future.  Friends have a big impact on us because they also teach us the value of forgiveness.  Some friendships can be broken and mended with a good dose of forgiveness.  Forgiveness in general though, is a really tough concept to embrace.  Jesus is a big fan of forgiveness, so it's something we should attempt to learn and live out in our lives. 

Friday- Friendships/Forgiveness:

Dear God, 

I pray my kids would be friends to each other. More than that though, help them desire to be friends with the friend-less. I don't want just the cool kids, I want the kind ones. Please help my children to look for the lonely, the outcast, the forgotten, and want to befriend them.  Lord, send them friends who will also be Godly examples, spiritually encouraging playmates who will help my kids learn the value of community. Let me model for them what real friends do.  Help their friends to forgive them even when they do not make wise choices or when they do hurtful things.  Help my children forgive their friends. Lord, please continue to send strong Godly, male friendships for my husband. Strengthen the relationships he has with men that draw him closer to you. Help me to be his best friend, his biggest cheerleader.  Help our marriage continue to have a strong foundation of friendship and enjoyment in one another's company. Help us to remember that we can be loving friends to others, because you no longer call us servant, but friend. I am a friend of God, so my friendships should glorify you. Help my husband and children be quick to forgive. 70x7 is a lot, so help us to all stop counting and start loving like you do. Help me model quick forgiveness and fresh starts. Help me to remember to ask my children for forgiveness when I am wrong. Forgive me when I fail at all of this, and help me to live as one forgiven. In Jesus' Name, 

Amen.

This is the ninth post in a series on Praying for Your Family: a 31 Day Challenge.  You can go to the main 'landing page' for a list of all the days by clicking here:

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Praying for Your Family - 8. Thursday

I love being around thankful people!  They express appreciation for people and circumstances, they dwell on positive things, and they inspire me to do the same.  There are literally hundreds of books and articles from Christian and non-Christian perspectives on the value and life improving qualities of being a person of gratitude.  It is no wonder that God's word tells us repeatedly to give thanks!  

Being thankful starts in our thoughts.  Everything starts in our thoughts, actually.  The David Platt "Follow Me" series really cemented for me this idea of our thoughts controlling our lives with this effective diagram/explanation: 

Mr. Platt is saying that once you accept the gift of grace that Jesus offers, His Holy Spirit is inside of us - inner circle.  From having Christ IN us, the first thing that we must allow Him to change is our mind - our thoughts, to become more like His. When our thoughts change, so will our desires and emotions, then when we have more pure and Godly desires, our actions and decisions will align with God.  When our own actions begin to be obedient to Christ - we then have an effect on others through every relationship in our lives.  Once we have an effect on others that shows the love of Christ - our life has a greater purpose and far more is accomplished.  I know that's heavy - but it's rich truth.  If it starts with our thought life - then let's pray for that thought life to be in line with Jesus!

And when I think about it - every action, decision, choice I've ever made has begun in my mind and my thought life. There are things we should obviously be thinking about, and then those places our minds dwell that serve no good purpose.  

Thursday- Thankfulness/Thought Life:

Father God, 

Thank you for my husband and children! Please help me teach my kids to be thankful and appreciate all the little things and the big ones. Help me model a grateful heart for every act of kindness shown to us. Plant gratitude in their minds for the things money can't buy. Help them to be thankful for people and fun memories more than toys or movies. Jesus help them to see and appreciate the beauty of creation, in the sunrise, autumn leaves, falling snow. God, help my husband to look for reasons to thank You.  Help them to be overwhelmed with gratitude for the plethora of blessings you pour out on us daily.  Help them to be thankful for people in their lives and to tell those people.  Help them to be aware of the ways you give so much more than we deserve, and to thank you for them. Lord, I pray their thoughts are focused on the things above. Help my husband and children to think about whatever is noble, true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. When their minds wander into selfish and dangerous territory, I pray you draw them back. Help them to fight against focusing on negative thoughts. Remind them to take every thought captive for your glory. Help me to plant seeds of faith and Biblical examples for them to think about. Keep my mind focused on you and praise and thanks coming out of my mouth, more than negativity or complaints. In Jesus' Name, 

Amen.

This is the eighth post in a series on Praying for Your Family: a 31 Day Challenge.  You can go to the main 'landing page' for a list of all the days by clicking here:

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