Moms At Prayer

"Listen, Lord! Thy servant speaketh.

I don't have a minute, so I will have to pray fast. I have a meeting at 10:00, and I promised the kids we could go to the library today. I have to put a roast on for supper, and fix something for dessert. The living room looks like a whirlwind got loose in it - and my ironing basket runneth over. I will have to pray fast, so I can get on with things. So listen, Lord...

All without stopping for breath! Some prayer! I get carried away, Lord. I would like to be good wife and mother, and I forget that there is more to it than just checkig off a list of things to be done. If I mullygrub at the kids all the way to the library, it would be better not to go. Roast served with cold shoulder or hot tongue is poor nourishment indeed. And it just might be that my moment with thee is more importatn than the ironing pile.

Forgive my dither, Lord. in quietness and confidnece shall be my strength.

In quietness,

A moment with thee.

Our Father, who is in heaven,

Holy is thy name.

Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth.

Amen"

Dear Mom,

I share these thoughts this morning written by Jo Carr and Imogene Sorley in 1966. I ran across their book, Too Busy Not To Pray several weeks ago and this little section seemed appropriate for you and I today. I pray that you will begin this week with a special time with the Lord. Let's join our hearts as we pray for our husbands, our children and one another. We are entering a couple of whirlwind months. They can be precious for our families if you and I can keep our spirits quiet and in tune with the Lord.

Love,

Joy

Challenges to Moms From Moms on Prayer

FOR THE WORD OF GOD IS QUICK AND POWERFUL AND SHARPER THAN ANY TWOEDGED SWORD, PIERCING EVEN TO THE DIVIDING ASUNDER OF SOUL AND SPIRIT AND OF THE JOINTS AND MARROW AND IS A DISCERNER OF THE THOUGHTS AND INTENTS OF THE HEART.

NIETHER IS THERE ANY CREATURE THAT IS NOT MANIFEST IN HIS SIGHT, BUT ALL THINGS ARE NAKED AND OPENED UNTO THE EYES OF HIM WITH WHOM WE HAVE TO DO.

SEEING THEN THAT WE HAVE A GREAT HIGH PRIEST, THAT IS PASSED INTO THE HEAVENS, JESUS THE SON OF GOD, LET US HOLD FAST OUR PROFESSION.

FOR WE HAVE NOT AN HIGH PRIEST WHICH CANNOT BE TOUCHED WITH THE FEELING OF OUR INFIRMITIES; BUT WAS IN ALL POINTS TEMPTED LIKE AS WE ARE, YET WITHOUT SIN.

LET US THEREFORE COME BOLDLY UNTO THE THRONE OF GRACE, THAT WE MAY OBTAIN MERCY, AND FIND GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED.

Wow! This morning the Lord has brought these verses to mind and I've read and re-read them - soaking in the truths here. Today, I simply challenge you to do the same.

Most of us are well into at least a month of this year's school, though some are on a different schedule, which is fine! It is about this time each year that I am ready to take a break, evaluate how it is going and where I may be getting off track. The Lord allowed me a time to do just that this weekend at an overnight retreat. Seeking the Lord's direction for my thoughts and focus I was drawn to a specific area.

How easy it is for us to take Christ and His work at the cross out of the center of our lives. Gradually we are drawn to focus on what we do, or don't do, or can't do and we become either discouraged or filled with pride. This will always be the end result of focusing on ourselves. No, usually we don't do this on purpose! We just start looking at our goals, our lists, our children and all around us. We start determining what we must do, what we must not do, what our children must do, and what our children must not do. We begin working feverishly to accomplish what we believe is important. We work feverishly to get it all right. We become driven by guilt when we look around and it appears someone else is doing it better!

How do we prevent this? FOCUS ON CHRIST, HIS WORK AT THE CROSS, AND WHAT THAT MEANS TO US! I stand righteous before God because of Christ. That means my good or bad works have nothing to do with it! I am afforded a personal relationship with Almighty God because I have accepted the finished work of Christ for my salvation and in my place. WOW!

Now, when I come to Him in prayer, I come as his child. I come with an open heart, open hands and clear conscience. His Holy Spirit has the responsibility to convict and point out sin - and my love for my Savior and desire to please Him makes me sensitive to that Holy Spirit. Guilt from outside, from my own expectations, or the pressure from people is not real guilt from sin. It is man-made and has no place in my life. How can I tell the difference? KNOW GOD'S WORD! MEET WITH HIM, AND KEEP THE FLOW OF COMMUNICATION OPEN CONTINUALLY.

"PRAY WITHOUT CEASING." We speak often about setting aside a time without distractions to focus on our prayer time with the Lord. This is imnportant because our lives are filled with distractions. But... our prayer must be continual in order to be able to discern what is of the Lord and what is of man. What is that still small voice, and what is my own idea. Today's challenge: Put and keep Christ's gospel, His finished work at the center. Let's not allow the enemy to draw our attention away to our own works and efforts.

By the way, do you know what the center verse of the Bible is? The focal point? Psalm 118: 8. Check it out!

Good Monday to All! For those who are new to our MAP forum and wonder what we are all about; this is simply a call to moms to set aside a special prayer time on Mondays. We focus on prayer together and commit to lifting our families to the Lord together. The forum itself is simply a reminder of our commitment to do this. Some moms will respond with comments of their own and others will just agree and pray. Either is great! Prayer is a great source available to all who know the Lord and while there is great comfort in knowing that our God hears and answers our prayers (according to His will which we know is best) there is also the great truth that prayer also changes the pray-er!

So, what is a mom to do when she is at the end of her rope during a school day. She's dealt with the same issues with the same child time after time all day long until her patience and energy are both spent? PRAY
What is a mom to do when she sees new triats in her teen that scare the life out of her? She is training her daily and doing all she knows to do practically. PRAY
What is a mom to do when the doctor has just diagnosed her child with a disability? PRAY
What is a mom to do when the doctor has just diagnosed her child with a medical problem that will change the routine of life at home? PRAY
What is a mom to do when her children are young adults and making decisions on their own? PRAY
What is a mom to do when Dad doesn't help much with the practical every day issues of life and she is trying not to nag? PRAY
We've all heard the statement: Work like everything depends on you and pray like everything depends on God.
Whether this is good advice or not, we won't debate. The truth is that there are times in our lives when there is absolutely nothing we are able to do! We, as human parents have our very clear limitations. Aren't you so glad that our Heavenly Father has no such limitations?! Pray, Mom, Pray! We may not see God at work, but He is! Just as you and I cannot see the actual growth progress in our children from day to day - even if we stare and try to watch. When we look back to the growth chart, or the clothes that they used to wear, we know that they are in fact growing! Such is the truth many times when it comes to the changes the Lord is making in our lives and in the lives of our children. We cannot see it happening before our eyes, but it is happening!
Remember today that there is no greater ministry that you can have in the lives of your loved ones than to pray for them. God can do what we cannot.

But it's so hard to focus!

During a discussion last week in our Mom's Bible Study we were talking about how easy it is to get distracted and think of other things while we are trying to pray. There were ideas given at that time but it really started my wheels turning and gave me some extra food for thought over the weekend.

One of the things that keeps coming to mind is that somehow in our minds we have a wrong idea about prayer. It conjures up the idea of "difficult' or "performance" or "something that has to be done one way." Another idea that really has been impressed on my heart is that we go to prayer with a list and basically quote our list of people or things that we need to pray about.

These are wrong ideas of prayer! Prayer is just communication with our Heavenly Father. (very simply put) Try to liken it to your relationship with a best friend. When I am talking with one of my best friends I have no trouble focusing on the topic of discussion. Even if I am interrupted by children or others I am able to return to what we were talking about. If I am truly communicating with my Heavenly Father and not just reciting a list then I will be able to stay focused. When I consider the fact that I have the opportunity to speak with the Creator of the universe, that He loves me as an individual, that He sent His Son to die for my sins and that He is always available... WOW! How can I NOT bow my head and heart in awe and love and speak?

The idea of performance in prayer comes when we are involved in public prayer or are praying with someone. If I am concerned about how others view me while praying then obviously I am not focused on my communication with the Lord. Prayer is a very intimate, personal thing! There are conversations that I have with my husband, children, and close friends that I have no intention of having in front of anyone. My daily, intimate prayer time with the Lord is like that. My deepest heart issues are for His ears alone. It doesn't matter what anyone else may think about what I am saying - it's between us! It is this type of prayer that I am encouraging us to be involved in.

Practical ideas: Set an alarm and wake up before the house becomes so active. Choose a quiet, alone place. Begin talking with your Heavenly Father. Pause often and thank Him for Who He is and for listening! Allow the Holy Spirit to speak quietly to your heart and direct your prayers.

Remember, if you have never come to the point of acknowledging your own sin and need of a Savior, then you don't have access to this Heavenly Father. He promises this priviledge to His children. But, also remember, He rejects no one who comes to Him receiving this gift of salvation.

PRAY today! Don't miss out on the blessings of communion with our God!

Our Example in Sarah

I was greatly encouraged this weekend as I looked into the life of Sarah, Abraham's wife. Have you ever, as I have, wondered how long you would pray over one issue, for one individual, for victory over one sin, and not see God's answer? A look into Sarah's life reminds me that God gave a promise to Abraham and Sarah concerning a promised son. Between the time of God's promise and His fulfillment of that promise there was a gap of 25 years!!! WOW! Did Sarah trust Him that entire time? No, she didn't. She took matters into her own hands and tried to fulfill God's promise her way. OOPS. The history and lessons of that story carry all the way to today - what a mess she made! But you know what the beautiful thing is? God fulfilled His promise in His time - His way - and Sarah eventually learned to trust Him. A look at Hebrews has her in the list among those of great faith! She isn't listed there because she lived a perfect life of trusing her Lord. She is listed there because she learned from her mistakes and eventually learned to place her confidence and trust in Him. When my circumstances look hopeless is when I must live more completely by faith trusting my Heavenly Father's promises! As you pray with me today, pray for the Lord to increase your faith - use scripture and claim God's promises for his children. Take your hands off and allow Him to work everything out in His way and His time!

Who needs our prayers today? Our husbands, our children, our extended family, our friends, those who hurt us, our nation's leaders and decision makers, our Pastors, our community leaders and decision makers, our sick and those we know who are grieving. Please take the time to focus - Pray - and watch our God work!