Confession time:
- I’ve missed days
- I’ve been confused
- I’ve had doubts
- I’ve gotten angry
- I’ve been under spiritual attack
- I’ve wondered if prayer really does any good
- I’ve thought about quitting
All during this 21 Days of Prayer for Sons challenge.
Have you? I know I’m not alone. Some of you are experiencing worse spiritual attack than me and are wondering why you even started this challenge. Some of you are STILL having a hard time connecting with a group. Some of you have considered quitting. Some of you have quit.
And yet your heart longs for communion with God. Your heart longs to connect with God in prayer because you are “keenly aware that you can’t raise your kids. It’s a no-brainer. Even if you are a perfect parent, you still can’t get inside your kids’ hearts. THAT’S why you pray MORE.” (paraphrase from Paul E. Miller’s A Praying Life).
Because prayer is “a moment of incarnation–God with us. God involved in the details of my life” (A Praying Life).
God involved in the details of your life…mine. The thought overwhelms me…that God would be involved in such a way. But He is. Even when we don’t see His hand, don’t feel it the way we might want to or think we need to, His hand is steadied on our future, steadied on our good, steadied on bringing steadiness to us.
Trust Him.
So if you’re a day or two behind…don’t worry about it.
Had some serious spiritual attack? Let it drive you to your knees.
Had doubts about whether or not God really cares about your needs? Remember what He gave you on the cross.
Thought about quitting? Remember that Jesus could have, but didn’t.
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You might’ve noticed that I’m quoting a lot from the book A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World, by Paul E. Miller. I love it.
So much that I’m giving a copy away today.
It’s link-up day for the 21 Days of Prayer for Sons challenge, and every person who links up a blog post sharing their experience thus far will be entered to win a Kindle copy of the book. Don’t have a Kindle? Neither do I! But I do have a computer (and I bet you do too! wink, wink). If so, download the free Kindle App there. If you win, I’m going to buy you the book and send it to your Kindle.
Don’t have a blog? Write a note (on the official notes page) on Facebook and link to it. Not on Facebook? Share in the comments. One official entry per person please.
Giveaway ends 6/21/11.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh Brooke….I have SO much I want to share! I couldn’t decide between two posts to link up and didn’t want to double up on entries for the book! I chose just one for above, and I’ll share them both here! Here’s two of the posts on how God is working through and changing hearts, lives, and this family with this challenge!!!!
http://thismamasjourney.blogspot.com/2011/06/purity-is-more-than-what-it-seems.html
http://thismamasjourney.blogspot.com/2011/06/challenge-blessing-unfolding-of.html
My confessions…..
My challenge didn’t start off smoothly, I think I even started on the wrong day!
It took me several days to ‘catch up’
I’ve struggled with guilt of making sure it’s okay to pray some of this JUST over my oldest son (now what’s THAT all about other than attack?)
I’ve questioned why I’m writing again….then I remember His calling
But I’ve followed. Even when I’ve been tired, unsure if my little prayer is REALLY going to have an impact. And He’s showing me it is. And I question again. He shows Himself again. He is a gracious God, so loving, so kind, and soooooo very patient with me!
Be encouraged Mama’s….He is growing us through this journey. I think the lesson is also in obedience. Pray when we don’t feel like praying. Carry on, keep moving through the foggy and unsure ground the enemy tries to lay before us. God is faithful to His promises. He is faithful to us!
THANK YOU BROOKE! You have an amazing gift and I thank you for letting the Lord use you in this journey!
Brooke, it is until NOW, that I realized what was wrong. I been feeling tired, sick, foggy mind, overwhelmed,stressed,cranky,not loved,even felt that my prayer is not a good one. I thought, well, maybe I´m not a good prayer! Or maybe, I´m not doing it the correct way. Even: well, maybe these kids need a REAL MOM! Ugh!!! I´m under attack. Of course, I´m on my knees every morning and evening. The enemy doesn´t like any of these!!
Thanx for letting me know that I´m not alone!
” If God is for us, who can be against us? Rom 8:31″
Right????
Blessings from Costa Rica!
I feel ya, girl. It’s been a struggle with time management, family junk, and marital gunk. But guess what? God is the Great Redeemer! I am still very excited about this prayer journey/challenge and I’m considering organizing something very similar for daughters as several of my friends only have girls & I have both. Thank you, thank you for your book, biblical prayers, and encouragement.
YES YES YES Dixiemom7….count me in on a daughter prayer challenge when you get one going!!!!!
Just Mama & Dixiemom7, check out http://modsquadblog.com/prayer/
That is a site for Mothers of Daughters (MOD), and that link should take you to a page of prayers for your daughters. And I found out about that page through MOB a couple of weeks ago. I wish I could remember the exact post. Someone here might be able to help me with that
I must say that your post today was great! I always feel like I am the only one that isn’t doing it the “right way”. I am behind…I must confess however, I have continued to pray each day for the boys even if it was what I prayed yesterday. I need to recommit for my boys ake. I really like what I have read so far in Warrior Prayers. With four boys…this is exactly where my heart is and continues to grow. Thanks!
Okay, fire up my kindle for pc and click to open the book, “error, book could not be opened, delete and download again.” WHAT?!?!? Just to test, I click on another fab kindle edition that I purchased and get the same message! Third time is the charm, right? Book number three is one that was on my kindle when i downloaded, it opens! Hmmm, think somebody wants me a little discouraged? Yep! Still trying to download my books, and re work my kindle. Oh yeah, I am praying for my sons! And daughters!
I am new to the blogging world….Only posted 1 or 2 until recently, when I decided to do as God says…and STEP out!! But I REALLY don’t know what I’m doing…lol!
I posted my site (possibly twice on accident)
I DID get / and STILL am behind….I am recommitting and working to catch up..:)
I think that part of my issue is that I’m a tactile person, and might benefit from pages in my hand…? Is there a way to print pages from a Kindle book? (My kindle is ON my phone..?)
Thanks Brooke, for obeying Gods call to share!
<3
i’m so glad i’m not alone =0)
i’ve missed days
felt as though i should just give up
felt guilty about not praying first thing in the morning
But God is good and hasn’t left us! just keep putting one step in front of another. One prayer after another. Remember we can tell how much “damage” we are doing to Satan schemes by how are children are acting!! (or am i wrong) my kids seem to go through stages of fighting MORE then ever since we started praying for this group of boys! if that’s the case remember we win in the end and it’s a battle we don’t fight on our own, we have a WHOLE heavenly realm fighting on our behalf!
So many times I feel alone and feel bad for not praying…I just thank God for his mercy..I know the devil will put lies in our heads…and we need to choose to rebuke them through Christ!