A Mother's Prayer

Mother’s Day is upon us. Florists are making arrangements. Restaurants are preparing for their brunch crowds on Sunday. Children are making rice necklaces and handprints cards to give to their mothers. A friend of mine is launching a business dedicated to reminding mothers everywhere that self-care is the best care, and more importantly…Mommie needs a Moment.

It’s true mommie does need a moment. She needs a moment to breathe. She needs a moment to herself. She needs a moment to rest. She needs a moment to cry. She needs a moment to do nothing. She needs a moment to pray.

Praying for our kids is probably more beneficial than any of the other things we can do for our children. It is recognizing that our children are a gift from God, and we need God’s help to raise them. We can’t be with them 24 hours each day. We can’t protect them. We can’t be all things despite the cape we wear. We can’t make them make good decisions. We have to trust that we are being the best stewards of this divine gift. So, we pray for kids.

We pray that they be safe from harm. We pray that God will keep and cover them. We pray that they are healthy. We pray that they be healed. We pray that they become wise, productive, God’-fearing people. We pray without ceasing. It is a whisper at breakfast and a kiss goodnight. It is a fleeting thought throughout the day. A Mother’s prayer never ends.

Profess

I want to tell you a story about a tin can. My husband and I had a friend of ours make us two custom cans with the names of our future kids on them. At the time, we were just dating. We knew we wanted to get married and have kids, but we just weren’t there yet. This can sat along side 4 other tin cans with our names on them. We celebrated anniversaries and other milestones and still the cans sat. We moved and packed the cans away without a second thought. The cans sat for years. Three to be exact. Then, on resurrection Sunday we pulled out one of those cans and stuffed it into an egg for a gender reveal.

Sometimes, we pray. We decree. We declare. We profess and nothing materializes. Our hopes and dreams sit on a shelf. We pack them away without of a second thought, because they just haven’t come to pass. Well, I’m here to tell you that one day you will unpack that dream. You will pull your “hope” off the shelf, and it will be relevant in due season. Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it’s never going to happen. Just because you don’t feel it doesn’t mean that God didn’t hear you. Profess your heart’s desire. God is always listening.

God is Able

Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV) Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

I'm at the place in my life where I have experienced "above all I can think or ask." I have learned to pray big prayers. I have an expectation built on big faith. I have experienced God's love in the valley. I have felt his comfort in seasons of loneliness, and I've learned that God is still in control and more importantly, God is able. My life, my dreams, my aspirations are nothing without God's ability. It is not through my strength, but His. It is not through my power, but His. Trust that God can do the exceedingly abundant in your life. God is able.

Reflection

My friends and I call it mirror work. It's when you take a good hard look at you. It's when you take the time to try to see yourself the way others see you. Are you as kind as you think you are? Are you as helpful as you think you are? Are you really a good person? What do you need to work on? What areas of your life need improvement? Who is the person staring back at you? Do you recognize your own reflection? Don't be scared. Do the work.

Jabez

Prayer did not come easy to me. I grew up in a church where the elders could pray down heaven. I was often intimidated by the way the Mothers and Elders prayed. As I grew in God, I began to understand that people pray to God based upon their understanding of God or based on who God has been in their lives. God may be a “Genie” God to you. You know….the God “pay my rent, pay my bills, bless me God.” God may be a “make this happen, open this door” God to you. Your personal experiences with God tend to make all the difference.

The prayer of Jabez helped me understand the simplicity of prayer. Prayer is my way of talking to God. I can express my fears, my regrets, my hopes and dreams. I can reverence God for who he is in my life. I can express my disappointment and confusion. I can express my gratitude, and I can share my concerns.

Ask yourself the following questions?

Who are you praying to?

• Jabez knew God as his Lord and the God of Israel.

What are you praying for?

• Jabez asked God to bless me him and enlarge his territory.

Why are you praying?

• Jabez knew that he needed God’s help to accomplish what he asked.

How do you want God to help?

• Jabez wanted God to keep him from evil.

Trust that God hears your prayers

• God answered Jabez’s prayer.

1 Chronicles 4:10 (KJV) And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

Power

A friend of mine asked me, what's your superpower? I'm a Marvel fan. So, my mind immediately started thinking of all my favorite superheroes. I'm not an Inhuman. I am not genetically engineered. I didn't have any freak accident that bestowed me with any superhuman abilities. I'm not a billionaire with an iron suit. I'm just me, and you are just you, but we do have power. Power by definition is the ability to do something in a particular way. It is the capacity to direct or influence the behavior of others. Power is a ripple in a pond. Power is a kind word. Power is a hug. Power is a word of encouragement. Power is a prayer. Power is a gesture. Power is an action. You have superpowers. Are you using them for good? 

Below is a link to custom superpower tees: 

https://squareup.com/store/totally-unique-tees

Mercy

mer·cy (ˈmərsē) noun- compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.

We will never do enough good deeds. We will never show enough kindness. We will never give enough love to deserve God's mercy. It is new every morning. No matter what we did the day before if we wake up, we have a second chance to get it right. We can repent. We can make an about-face. We can try again, every day. Amen to that. Great is thy faithfulness. 

Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.