This Parent's Prayer

Dear Lord, Please make this child sleep.
Dear Lord, Please keep him healthy at daycare.
Dear God in Heaven, PLEASE make this child stop screaming at me.
Dear Lord, Please give me patience to deal with him today.
Dear God, WHY will he not eat well today.


Sound familiar? Yeah, me too. I think as parents of children, particularly toddlers (and I'm guessing teens), we find ourselves at breaking points. Daily. I have spent months and months praying these very things. I've bargained and begged with God to grant these requests and while we know the LORD loves persistent prayer, I think He finally came back and said "You're doing it all wrong." I have felt God telling me, in an ever so gentle way of course, that my prayers have been purely selfish and worldly. I mean, not that God doesn't care that I haven't had good rest or that I have contemplated pulling my hair out one strand at a time because I know that He cares about all things HOWEVER, my prayers have not been Kingdom building.


Anyone who has talked to me in the last few months knows I have recently read Bringing Up Boys by Dr. James Dobson (go buy it and read it NOW) and my heart has been so convicted. My parenting decisions should be based solely on ONE goal: Pointing Harris in the direction of GOD and his saving grace. Not only should my decision be based on that but also my prayers. I should be praying, 

Dear Lord, 

I pray that you would give Harris a heart to love you and desire your truths of love and grace. I pray that you would give him a heart to love others the way you do and give him a heart of service. I pray that you would let him be a shining light for your Word and that his actions would lead others to your Kingdom. Lord, I pray my child loves you and always craves your word. Lastly Lord, I pray that as the parent that you've entrusted this child to, you would enable me through your Holy Spirit to point Harris toward you. I pray that my actions always show Harris who you are and who you desire all of us to be. Lord, I know that without your Spirit I am helpless to do this so I pray that you grant me the gift that you have promised us all. I submit my own will to yours. 

Its in YOUR Son's name that I pray for MY son,

Amen