A Parent’s Prayer Program ...........
Submitted by Joyce Lehman(Taken from Focus on the Family Magazine, Feb. 2000, and written by Bob Hostetler)
For years like any responsible Christian parent, I prayed daily for my children for God’s blessing and protection throughout their days. I prayed for them to be happy. I asked God to help them through difficult times and to help them make wise choices. My prayers were regular, heartfelt and, for the most part, pedestrian and repetitive.
I wanted more than that, however. I wanted so much for my children, but when I knelt in prayer, I invariably found the same tired words rolling from my lips.
Then one day our pastor’s wife spoke during a morning worship service. Her words changed my prayer life. She said her concern that her children develop strong Christian morals and the fruits of the Spirit had prompted her to develop a unique prayer list that included reminders to pray for her children’s salvation and growth in grace, as well as specific concerns.
That day I decided to follow Nancy’s example and develop a "parent’s prayer program" of my own, a simple practice that has revolutionized the way I pray for my children. Each day of the month, in addition to my prayers for their safety and for the concerns of that day, I also pray for a specific character trait, virtue or fruit of the Spirit to be planted and nurtured in my children.
Below is a copy of the monthly program as suggested by Mr. Hostetler. Maybe as a church we could use this the month of August and who knows..... maybe for the next year.
