Turning Our Mama Worries Into Powerful Prayers

Turning Our Mama Worries Into Powerful Prayers

I almost cried this morning over all the dirty fingerprints that covered the window of my front door, but not for the reason you might think. I had just arrived back home from putting my kids on three different buses for their first day of school. So for me, the fingerprints represented sweet memories from the summer that had just ended.  It’s a little sappy even for me, I know. Don’t judge me. But if you’re like me, sending your kids back to school can be like throwing confetti on a rainy day. Excitement explodes into the air with the frenzy of gathering new outfits, school supplies, and friends at the bus stop. We share small talk and ask why summer always seems to go by so quickly.  We take pictures and gleefully post them on social media. Some of us moms may even do a cart wheel. But if we’re not careful, our care-free thoughts can become raindrops of worry or sadness, causing our confetti to quickly fall to the ground.

Will my daughter be okay even though her best friend is in the other homeroom? Will she get caught in the middle of girl drama? Will my son struggle in his studies? Will he be strong enough to stand against middle school temptations? Will they get made fun of at lunch? And what about school shootings? Is my child safe? 

There is no shortage of things for us moms to worry about, that’s for sure. But did you ever think about the fact that worrying is a choice we make? And the great thing about choices is that we have power over them! So what if, every time a worrisome thought entered our heads, we chose instead to pray? The Bible instructs us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6).

When raindrops of worry threaten to fall on your confetti, put up your umbrella of prayer and pray for your kids! Your prayers for your kids are more powerful and effective than you realize. A good place to start is by praying that God would guard their hearts. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Your child’s heart needs your prayers, not your worries. Your worries have zero power to help them, but your prayers have unlimited potential to benefit them in every way – in their friendships, their strength to resist temptation, their character, their choices, their responses, their health and safety, their eternal security.

Everything they do flows from their heart. Everything.

Your child’s heart is so precious to God. He cares deeply about every detail of your child’s life. So as you pray, don’t forget to thank God for his goodness and faithfulness to your children. And then get ready! Because the peace of God which surpasses our human understanding will flood your heart, washing away your worries, and giving you reason once again to throw your confetti!

Here is a sample scripture prayer that you can pray over your child and yourself today. Simply insert your child’s name as you read through it:

God, thank you that you are with ______ every minute of every day, and because of that, both _______ and I have no need to fear or be discouraged (Is. 41:10). I ask that you be a shield around ______ and lift his head high (Ps. 3:3.) Protect him; guide him, strengthen him; help him.

Your Word says that no one can come to you unless you draw them (Jn. 6:44). So today, draw ______’s heart to yourself as he wakes from his sleep, as he goes about his school day and activities, and as he sleeps again tonight. Give him eyes to see you and ears to hear you. Keep working and fertilizing the soil of his heart with your Word, so he will bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control (Matt. 13:16-23, Gal. 5:22-23).

God, you are the Creator of _______’s heart and I hold onto the promise that you will fulfill your purpose for _______, that your love endures forever, and that you will never abandon the works of your hands (Ps. 138:8). Fill _______ with the knowledge of your will and let him grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ (Eph. 3:18). I pray that _______ will put his trust in you and never be shaken (Ps. 125:1).

And God, help me to be the mom you called me to be. Give me the wisdom, knowledge and understanding I need to train up this precious child in the way he should go so that when he is old, he will not turn away from it (Prov. 22:6). Thank you that you are with me, helping me every step of the way. Pour out your grace on me today for your grace is sufficient for me. Your power is made perfect through my weakness (2 Corin. 12:9). Be glorified in me today. In Jesus’ powerful name I pray. Amen. 

Anna Frye is a speaker, author, television host and founder of the Chosen and Crowned tribe. She invites moms and wives to celebrate imperfect progress fueled by the grace of a perfect God. She helps women bravely talk about the messy places of life, instead of hiding shamefully under them. She believes that lasting beauty comes when women courageously surrender their ashes to God and allow him to do something mind-blowingly amazing with them. If this resonates with you, then you belong with the Chosen and Crowned tribe. Connect at www.ChosenAndCrowned.com/blog