Something New for Praying Moms

On any given day, there’s a lot we can worry about as moms.  My boys do some crazy things: They surf powerful waves, jump off big rocks, and dive deep caves.  Of even more concern to me though is the heart issues that all kids must go through to grow up:  Identity issues, relationships, academic stress, questions about their own faith, and so much more.

As moms, we carry a heavy burden, don’t we?

Like many of you, I am a total believer in the power of prayer.  Prayer is my greatest resource for raising my boys.  I am convinced that God loves our kids even more than we do, and He’s available 24/7.  Nothing is too big or small for Him, and nothing surprises Him, scares Him, or throws Him off in any way.  (I’m so thankful.)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. –Matthew 11:28 says:  

But here’s the thing: Even though I pray for my boys every day…if I’m honest, my prayers can get a little…Dull.  Routine.  Repetitive.  I tend to pray for my hopes and dreams for my boys more than God’s will.  Sometimes I don’t even know what to pray.  I can always use some fresh inspiration.

This is why I am so excited to tell you about this new (and inspiration-packed) resource which is available for pre-order now!  My Book of Prayer comes from the MOB (Mother of Boys) Society, where I have been a team writer for, like – ever! (or at least five years.)  It is a book of prayer.  But it is so much more.

CHECK OUT ALL THAT IS INSIDE:

-Daily scripture and prayer prompts

– Space to define your Prayer Verse for the Year

-Devotions written by our MOB Society Writers to begin each new week

-Active, guided prayer journaling space with our tried and tested Think – Pray – Do Method

– Weekend space for sermon notes

– To-do lists to help you brain dump distractions before you start praying

– Monthly prayer overview layout

– The Spring Edition includes prayer themes that are vital for this season
– New Life
– New Beginnings
– Growing in the Lord

That’s a lot, right?  I can’t wait to get started!

As you see, in addition to the daily Scripture and prayer prompts, there is a weekly devotional, just for moms.  And…for the spring edition of My Book of Prayer, I am one of the contributing writers!

I love the Scripture that I was assigned to write about so much, and I thought my message might be a good one to share here.  So below is the opening of my devotional, which you’ll find in Week 3 of the Spring Book of prayer.

WEEK 3:  SEEK HIS FACE:

Psalm 27:8:  “My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.”

Sometimes it seems I spend half of my life looking for things:  My iPhone, my glasses, my (husband’s) wallet, my new puppy (last found under my bed destroying a roll of toilet paper, thankyouverymuch.)  I’m one of those people who’s always putting things in a “special place” just so I won’t forget where I put it…which usually means I will absolutely forget where I put it.

Yes, I have issues, but I know I’m not alone.

Even if you don’t lose things, I think we are all perpetually looking for things.

We might try to find our identity through work, or status,  or….through our kids.  We might seek comfort through Netflix binges, substances, or one more piece of chocolate.  We might look for meaning in relationships, or success, or our horoscope reading. 

We are seekers indeed.  Maybe that is the reason the Bible reminds us so many times to seek the Lord.  

Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually.  (1 Chronicles 16:11)
Seek the LORD while He may be found (Isaiah 55:6)
Seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness. (Matthew 6:33)
He rewards those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11;6)

Is it just me, or does it sound like we were made to seek God?

Perhaps this also explains why the enemy of our souls tries so hard to distract us with counterfeits.  He’s happy to get us to seek just about anything, but God.  He beckons us to seek identity, comfort, significance, and everything else —  anywhere else –– but in the Lord.  And those of us who have bought into his tactics in the past will agree: the end result is not good.  Sure, these things may satisfy for a moment, but they will never fulfill us.

Yet:  What happens when we finally get our eyes off of the temporal, and onto the eternal?  When we take God at His Word, and truly seek His face?

Psalm 34:5 tells us:  “Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”

Indeed, when we lift our eyes off of ourselves, off of our circumstances and our idols and all of the temporal things, and we genuinely seek God, we find exactly what we were created for.  God’s Word says His goodness actually shines on our faces!  How awesome is that!?

Find the rest of this devotional with all the rest in the My Book of Prayer, Spring Edition.

Click on the link above to read more about the prayer book, and to find the 2 ways you can order.  I hope you love it!

Comment!?  Would you share how you pray for your kids?  Do you gather with friends to pray?  Do you use a journal or other helpful resource?  Want to share a favorite verse that you pray for your kids?  (I’d love that!)  I hope to hear from you in comments below!

With Aloha,
Monica

PS  Do you enjoy devotionals?  You can find a monthly devotional that I write (“The Word”) over at the Walking on Water Newsletter and website, aaaaand….I am considering adding a page on my blog where I might begin to share some of my personal devotional writings… Let me know what you think!