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how do you pray? - 10/1/2009 5:45:14 PM
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redsgrl
Posts: 14
Joined: 4/25/2005
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I'm struggling with finding time to pray. I have 3 kids (5, 2 and 1 month). I'm hearing SO much on how important it is to get private time and pray (yes, I agree with the importance of prayer). How do you find time to pray? On a more elementary level, in order to make the most of your prayer time, do you go in with a list of things to cover with prayer?
I feel like a dork for even asking, but I know I need to get some quality prayer time in. I find myself just randomly sending prayers up during the day and it feels quite cheap sometimes...
So, how do you pray?
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RE: how do you pray? - 10/1/2009 9:05:43 PM
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bolt.
Posts: 1766
Joined: 4/29/2005
From: Canada
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Life has seasons, and parenting preschoolers is not really the season for expecting one's self to be a prayer warrior. Privacy and focus simply are in short supply, and your wits are not particularly sharp. That comes with the season. God knows you.
If the orientation of your heart and life is God-ward, then you have a solid foundation for your random more specific prayers through the day. That's important, and it's not cheap. You can enhance this by 'planting' reminders in your mind, such as, my Pastor's last name was "Pense" which reminded one lady of pennies, and so, whenever she saw or handled a penny, it reminded her to pray for our pastor and his family. These can be anything, from colours to objects to daily actions. This is capitalizing on the strength of your random call-outs, rather than writing it off.
Not everything needs to be prayed about continually. Often one prayer per situation will do, and you can do that right when you first encounter the situation -- out loud just standing there: say, "I'm going to pray about that for you." in your normal tone, then say, "Ready? Dear God..." Not only is it an excellent compassionate response, a ministry in the moment, but it's great modeling, especially for young kids.
When you do find privacy, the most important thing to use your focus to pray about is yourself, specifically to pray a prayer of submission to Lordship and to express the intensity of your gratitude for the love of God in Christ. That you need some focus to compose... the rest of the 'list' is just fine as popcorn, and probably more productive that way.
Other tips: Pray the Lord's prayer and really mean it. Teach your kids a really good simple prayer, and use it yourself when you lay down for sleep. There's nothing silly about sound theology for children.
_____________________________
Are you having trouble getting your daily dose of the life changing Word of God?
Let my friend Brian at Daily Audio Bible help you too.
>>audio link<<
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RE: how do you pray? - 10/1/2009 9:17:55 PM
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garsyt
Posts: 1750
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: the bottom of the laundry basket
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When mine were younger - I'd pray whenever I had a moment. It could be standing at the sink doing dishes. It could have been while I was sitting and nursing my babies. Often times I would pray while sitting at the school in car pool line to pick up a kindergartener while the others were safely strapped into their carseats.
I believe that God understands. I believe that he understands that motherhood with itty-bitties is NOT easy, and a round the clock job. So it seems as though your sending up prayers haphazardly throughout your day. At least your keeping your focus ALL day long and not just at a time when you are alone with and extend amount of time.
My suggestion - get a small notebook or journal. Keep it on your kitchen counter or someplace where you'll see it throughout your day. When you think -"I need to pray about this." Immediately grab the notebook and write and pray while you are writing. Prayers don't have to be something fancy - just talk to God like you would talk to someone you love dearly. I often think we get bogged down in our prayer lives when we think that our prayers HAVE to be done a certain way for God to accept them. I choose now not to see my relationship with God in that way. After all he's not impressed with flowery language and insincerity. He already KNOWS the desires of our heart and he he understands the simplest of requests - even those of a tiny child if they are one of his children.
One of my MOST productive prayer times when my kids were little - was when they were nursing. I remember praying, "thank you Lord, thank you Lord, thank you Lord," over and over again through tears while nursing my 3rd infant one very early quiet Spring morning while the rest of my home was quiet and sleeping. I was feeling extremely blessed, and had to praise and thank HIM.
Blessings,
Garsy
_____________________________
My Blog: www.moredayslikethisplease.wordpress.com
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RE: how do you pray? - 10/2/2009 4:05:54 PM
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W.O.F.
Posts: 1653
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: an ignoble beginning
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I agree with garsy...
my best prayer times have been while folding socks....
I had an older woman when I had my first born give me this advice...and I have tried to follow it every since because it is practical...and it makes time for me and God....
When you are folding laundry...pray for the person whose piece of clothing you have in their hand...as you come across each piece of laundry for that person....thank God for something about them, pray your hearts desire over them, pray for their future careers, or spouses, etc. as you "run out of " things to pray for that person..pray for their friends, or for someone connected to them (your children's teachers, your husband's boss, your mother in law, etc). 30 minutes of folding laundry just became 30 minutes of intercession for those you love!
She also told me...that the Bible talks about praying without ceasing....that doesn't mean kneeling down in prayer all day long...but having an ongoing time of prayer all day long....and remembering to just listen too.
Basically each day is a long letter to God...starts with Dear God in the morning and ends with Thank you for this day AMEN at night.
_____________________________
Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, Satan shudders and says, "Oh no, she's awake."
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RE: how do you pray? - 10/2/2009 6:29:34 PM
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CMT8808
Posts: 248
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I agree with the other poster, but also why not pray with your children. This way they learn that you also rely on God for your needs.
It teaches them that when they have a need or concern they can take it to God.
CMT
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formerly Delete 123
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RE: how do you pray? - 10/6/2009 2:49:04 PM
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redsgrl
Posts: 14
Joined: 4/25/2005
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Thanks so much. You all have no idea how much better that makes me feel... it is soooo easy to get caught up in he "do's and don'ts" of Christianity and to loose the intimate personal relationship we're called to have with our Heavenly Father. I'm sure much of how I'm feeling is also a bit influenced by preggo hormones and just the business of life these days. It reconfirms to me, through you kind folks, that it's the little moments that I do take advantage of, that can make a big difference.
I especially love the folding laundry and prayers idea!
THANKS!
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RE: how do you pray? - 10/6/2009 4:16:24 PM
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cynthia
Posts: 7015
Joined: 3/31/2005
From: Beautiful Puget Sound Region
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Great ideas.
I have kept a prayer box for years. It's a recipe file box with 3x5 cards. I list specific items to pray for. It helps me keep on track.
My children are older now, but when they were little sometimes I have all the kids in a bedroom and sit with my back to the closed door. They could play and I could pray or read. Children can play without Mother's constant attention. I used to tell my children, "I am not the entertainment committee."
I also agree that praying with one's children is good. Monday through Friday I meet in the living room with my children for a time of prayer. We homeschool and this is how we begin our school day. We have lists of who to pray for. We pray over the Supreme Court Justices individually several times per month, we pray for leaders by name, we pray for persecuted Christians, peace in Jerusalem, etc. It is easy to do this if there is a list handy. The children also pray and participate in deciding what we will pray for. I know that we need personal prayer time too, but when we are praying as a family it also teaches the children how to pray. For very little children, of course, you won't be praying for the Supreme Court, but you can pray for the Sunday school teacher, Daddy's boss, Grandma, etc.
_____________________________
My husband and I have a motto:
We are the leader. We are one.
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