Are you a worrier? I will confess that that is something that I struggle with. I know it isn’t healthy or productive… so why do I do it? I think it springs from an understanding of the reality of sin and evil in the world, an intense love and desire for blessing for my family and a sense of helplessness– that there are things beyond my power to control.
It is my lack of power to control that reminds me of the antidote for worry…PRAYER. Through prayer I can express my fears and concerns to my heavenly Father who is all-powerful and “able to do immeasurably more that we can ask or imagine” (Eph. 3:20). I can then rest and trust that my loving, all-wise God will “work all things together for good” in my situation (Rom. 8:28).
One of the greatest sources of blessing in my life has been to meet with other moms weekly in a prayer group for our children and their schools. “Moms In Touch International” is an organization that started 25 years ago with one mom who wanted to pray for her children and God gave her the vision to start an organization whose goal and mission is to see every school in the world covered with prayer. As Cyndie de Neve, Director of Communications for MITI, shared with me, “Fern Nichols started Moms In Touch International in 1984 out of a desperate need to pray for her sons and their school as they entered public junior high. Now, we have groups in every state in the USA and in 130+ countries around the globe!”
It is encouraging: to meet other Christian moms and pray together, hearing what God has laid on another mother’s heart to pray for your child. It is powerful: as Martin Luther said, “prayer is not preparation for the battle, prayer is the battle.”It is important: as we are to pray at all times with all perseverance (from Eph. 6:18). Max Lucado says, “Never underestimate the power that comes when a parent pleads with God on behalf of a child… Praying for our children is a noble task. If what we are doing in this fast-paced society, is taking us away from prayer time for our children, we are doing too much.”
Moms In Touch has groups for all ages of children from preschool up to career and even groups for military, prodigal and special needs children. I would encourage you to visit their website (http://www.momsintouch.org/) to find out more about the ministry and to find a group in your area, or to get information about starting a group. One of my favorite verses says “don’t worry about anything instead pray about everything, and the peace of God will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7). Be watching for more articles with ideas for praying for our families.
