6 Prayers For Mothers to Pray Based on the Word of God

James says we have not because we ask not, so praying is fundamental (James 4:2).There is power in asking! There is less of God’s power when we do not ask.

We receive less when we are remiss in asking.

But because we ask does not mean we always receive.

Jesus prayed three times for the cup of suffering to pass (Matthew 26:44). The apostle Paul thrice prayed for the thorn in the flesh to be removed (2 Corinthians 12:8).

God did not answer their specific prayers.

Jesus deferred by saying, “Your will be done.”

Paul heard that God’s grace was sufficient in his weakness.

In light of the examples in Scripture, Sarah and I decided to pray for our children based on the Word of God as best we understood it for them at their ages and stages. We did not approach that time with the idea that God was obligated to answer our prayers.

Instead, we prayed in response to Jesus’ command to pray (Luke 18:1) and in imitation of Jesus who prayed. We accepted the mystery of more prayers going unanswered (in appearance) than prayers being answered (in appearance). But we have continued in obedience to the word of Jesus and His example.

In Mother & Son, I recommend praying based on G.U.I.D.E.S. and C.H.A.I.R.S. Pray that you’d be a mother who Gives, Understands, Instructs, Disciplines, Encourages, and Supplicates. Pray for your son’s Conquests, Hierarchy, Authority, Insight, Relationships, and Sexuality. Thumb back through the book and highlight in yellow the ideas that speak to your heart in these acronyms, and turn them into a prayer.

For your own encouragement with your heavenly Father, I have found something interesting. As God calls you to apply G.U.I.D.E.S. as a mother and parent, so God as our Father applies G.U.I.D.E.S. to us. Thus, you can pray that your boy (and you) respond to...

Our Giving God: that he receive with gratefulness what God gives to him. Every good gift comes down from above (James 1:17).

Our Understanding God: that he bring his concerns to God for His understanding and empathy. We do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15).

Our Instructing God: that he be teachable in order to receive the wisdom of God. God promises to give wisdom when asked (James 1:5).

Our Disciplining God: that he sees the love of God when the Lord corrects him. Those whom the Lord loves, He disciplines (Hebrews 12:6).

Our Encouraging God: that when discouraged he would look to God to strengthen him. Hebrews 13:6 says, “we confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?’”

Our Supplicating God: that he would trust that Christ and the Holy Spirit are interceding for him because of God’s immeasurable love. That he’d have confidence of what is going on in the heavenlies for him. Jesus intercedes as does the Spirit (Romans 8:26, 27, 34).

Concerning the application of this respect message, consider this prayer:

Lord, You know my comfort with loving my son. I love to love him. Nonetheless, You know how foreign this Respect-Talk sounds to me. Though I cannot wrap my mind around all that I am learning, I can see that my son needs respect. There really is a man in my boy. Honor and respect energize and motivate him. Though I wish he could remain my precious, sweet baby, You have designed him as a male to need respect like women need love. Teach me what respect looks like to the boy You have gifted to me. I need You to help me do what is best for my son. I offer myself to You with the request that You guide me in meeting my son’s need for respect. As I read Mother & Son, direct me to examples that fit my son. He and I both need your encouragement in this. Forgive me for those times of disrespect. I am sorry. Grant to me the power to change. I thank You that you always forgive. I reverence and honor Your Son. In His name I ask these things, amen.

TODAY’S ACTION ITEM: I will pray.