Always keep on Praying!

Prayer doesn't need proof, it needs PRACTICE!


"...be alert and always keep on praying." Ephesians 6:18


What a great subject to give attention to today~ praying! As I grow closer to God, He has taught me that prayer should be a top priorty in our daily lives. My eyes have opened: pray first, worry less. Pray first, do not try to fix a problem alone. Pray for everything GOOD in your life instead of only what is wrong in your life. Pray for the Lord to change you to be who He wants you to be rather then trying to get the Lord to grant a wish that will somehow in your mind make life better.


It would be perfect everyday if we could wake before your family, find a nice spot and have that time alone with God. If your like me, struggling each day to be that morning person, then it makes that time you need difficult. Although this goal of mine is something I will keep praying about it hasnt completely happened yet! Maybe theres a reason? Do not be discouraged, look for other ways to get that precious time in!


First, I have a prayer list.. its a guideline for things I want to pray about each day, prayers I want to say for others, my husband, my children, worries, goals, myself to grow in faith, homeschooling..our health, ect. Also blessings I want to praise God for! When my day gets busy, I often forget! what did i really want to pray about today? Prayer journals are a great guide. I love to look back and see all of the different ways God has answered!

Next, it may not be the quiet prayer time you desire..its serving and prayer time all at once! I pray when I am vacuuming.. as I clean my home, watch all the things on the carpet dissapear so does the worries I may have while I am praying.. I pray when I am loading the dishwasher..shampooing my hair, taking a walk, setting the plates for dinner or lunch, sweeping, mopping..always praying! Instead of viewing cleaning as such an annoying chore or never ending chore...it can become a very important part of your day. The time flies by too! My home is clean and so is my soul, amen!

I want my children to learn the importance of prayer! Having my kiddos create their own prayer list is a great guide for them as well. I helped my children create their prayer list and also had them cut out pictures from magazines. Works as a great lesson with learning to cut with scissors and being creative! They found pictures of plants to thank God for his creation..pictures of family, pets and even a picture of traveling, since one important prayer of theirs was to see family more. It was a really fun activity!

We set a timer for an alarm to ring on every hour so that we could stop what we are doing and pray! This creates the passion and excitement for prayer! I also explained to my children the different things I pray about, what daddy prays about and how I pray even while cleaning~ which they thought was super funny! Try to have stop, drop and pray day atleast once a week.


There is so many different prayers that can happen in one day that goes beyond just meal time prayer! Here is one for morning that I love~~ 

(author is unknown)
A Child's Prayer for Morning
Now, before I run to play,
Let me not forget to pray
To God who kept me through the night
And waked me with the morning light.
Help me, Lord, to love thee more
Than I ever loved before,
In my work and in my play
Be thou with me through the day. Amen.


Other ideas with your children is when daddy goes to work- pray he arrives safely to all his destinations. We like to pray when we are all buckled in the truck for a safe drive. If we hear someone is sick, I tell the children and ask them to pray. Its amazing how these things can give your children a passion for praying. Since we starting making prayer a big part of our lives my children have come up with their own prayers! Even when they see I am not my best, feeling down or impatient..they come up to me and say, I prayed for you momma. How that melted my heart, words cannot say!!!


As you start to add praying more to your childrens lives and your own, pray that He helps you with this new wonderful goal!


Bless Our Family
All praise to You, Lord Jesus,
Lover of children:
Bless our family,
And help us to lead our children to You.
Give us light and strength,
And courage when our task is difficult.
Let Your Spirit fill us with love and peace,
So that we may help our children to love You.


All glory and praise are Yours, Lord Jesus,
For ever and ever.
Amen.

Blessings, Sarah Beth

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