Folks, my husband Andy wrote this guest post for me. Sheesh I got a good one!
“OK guys, we are going to pray now. Let’s get in your beds, close your eyes and fold your hands.”
I watch patiently as my boys try to drag out the last couple seconds before putting that last toy away and obeying those familiar instructions.
Their little hands clasped and their faces scrunched up, making sure their eyes are closed tight; I begin to pray.
It’s not a bad prayer. It’s sincere. I use language that they can all understand. I’m careful to model showing proper respect for God, but this prayer sounds disappointingly similar to the one I said last night.
Now that I think about it, the prayer last night sounded pretty similar to the one I said the night before that.
Well, I know I’m probably not the only one who has ever had this thought.
Has the routine of your day – the one that keeps you sane; that keeps your wife from pulling handfuls of her own hair out; the one that keeps your kids from running through the house in their underwear, screaming at the top of their lungs (Unless that’s part of your routine. Not judging.)- settled into your family prayers?
Well, I hope that your prayers for, and with your kids, are fresh and meaningful, but if you, like me, have a little trouble being purposeful in your prayers, I’ve composed a list of words and phrases to help you to be inspired and thoughtful in your conversations with God.
And because this list is going on a blog, lets go ahead and make it unashamedly Pinterest friendly by giving one word or phrase for ever letter of the alphabet!
A: Attentiveness
I pray that my kid’s are attentive to the people around them and that their focus is more outward than inward.
B: Bravery
I pray my kids would have the moral bravery to make right decisions when it is scary and there are easier options.
C: Compassion
I pray my kids would have compassionate hearts; ready and willing to care for others
D: Discernment
I pray that my kids would have discerning minds; able to tell truth from falsehood and pure motives from impure.
E: Enthusiasm
I pray my kids would have enthusiasm for whatever they put their hands to; be it pleasant or unpleasant; their idea or another’s.
F: Faith
I pray that my kids would be gifted the faith to trust that God knows the best way.
G: Gentleness
I pray that my kids would treat people and situations with gentleness; showing respect for those around them.
H: Humility
I pray that my kids would have a humble heart; regarding themselves through God’s eyes.
I: Intelligence
I pray that my kids would have a great capacity to take in and understand the world around them.
J: Joy
I pray my kids would have contagiously joyful hearts in good times and bad.
K: Kindness
I pray my kids would display God’s heart through their kind actions to others.
L: Long Suffering (What? Not Love?)
I pray that my children’s love would be vastly patient; not holding onto offences or giving up on friends.
M: Memorable
I pray that my children’s character would make them memorable to others.
N: Noble
I pray that my kids would aim for the highest things, but also be willing to sacrifice for others
O: Openness
I pray my kids will live lives that are so consistent with what they present to that world that they are able to be open with everyone they meet.
P: Passion
I pray my kids know what is it to put all of themselves into something that they care about.
Q: Questioning
I pray my kids will never run out of questions about God, individuals, or the world around them.
R: Righteous
I pray my kids will hold themselves to God’s high standards because they have also known his grace.
S: Steadfast
I pray my kids will stand their ground and be people who others can rely on.
T: Trust
I pray my kids will have people in their lives that they can trust explicitly.
U: Unconventional
I pray my kids would not be afraid to do things in a way that has not been tried before.
V: Vulnerability
I pray my kids would be willing to be vulnerable with others, and that others would be comfortable enough to be vulnerable with them.
W: Wonder
I pray that my kids would retain their sense of wonder, and that they would understand that God views them through His own sense of wonder.
X: Xeroseral (def. Able to grow in dry places)
I pray that my kids would be grounded in the Word of God so that they are able to thrive in spiritually harsh conditions.
Y: Young-at-Heart
I pray that my children would never grow apathetic to the world around them.
Z: Zephyr (def. gentle breeze)
I pray that my kids would never forget that this life is short and their real home is still waiting for them beyond the horizon.
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