I Don’t Pray My Kids Will Do Great Things for God Anymore
I used to pray my kids would grow up to do great things for God. I grew up and didn’t do anything great for God, but maybe my role was to be the MOTHER of people who did great things for God. So I prayed for that.
What my kids do for God isn’t what burns in my belly anymore. What occupies my thoughts and populates my most fervent prayers is that my children would know, really know, how much they are loved and known by their Creator.
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19
I pray they would find their significance in Him. Not in themselves and what they do for Him.
Our family is your average, broken, fallen, sinful, scary, chaotic mess. We are not the smiling, stand-in-a-row-and-look-perfect bunch of people. And I used to think that was the pathway to love and significance.
But now I know that path looks more like this picture. A baby being loved by her father just because she belongs to him. She bawls, poops, is inconvenient, costs money and time, and she is precious and priceless to that father not having done one stinking thing for him.
So that’s what I pray now for my kids in the early morning hours while they sleep. I ask God to be their Shepherd. I ask that they would rest in being His lambs. For all the days of their lives on earth, and for all eternity. Because that is really what they were made for. That is their purpose, meaning, significance, and destiny.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Fly Free,
Natalie Hoffman
Pssst…I LOVE reading books to my kids. And we have bazillions of them. But I went through our stash and found some of my very favorite books for teaching kids emotional resiliency skills. Would you like to have an inside look? Check out these incredibly helpful resources HERE!
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Excellent post, Natalie.
Have you ever heard of the book “The God of the Mundane”, by Matt B. Redmond? Ironically, I just finished it this morning, I can’t recommend it enough. Matt’s message is simple, but powerful. He asks, “Is there a God for those who simply love their spouse and pour out rarely-appreciated affection on their children day after day? Is there a God for the mom who spends what feels like God-forsaken days changing diapers and slicing up hot dogs? Is there a God for the men who hammer out a day’s work in obscurity for the love of his wife and kids? Is there a God for just and kind employers?” The answer, of course, is an emphatic, Yes.
Based on your posts, I think his message would resonate with you and your readers.
God bless.
I have not heard of that book. Thank you for the recommendation!
I pray that they will know God loves them and has them in His hands. I pray that they will turn to Jesus in every circumstance. What is great in our eyes is not necessarily great in His eyes. 😉 I love Mother Teresa’s quote “I’m a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world.”
So true!
I love this and I love the verse you had to go with it… This really nails it. THANK YOU so much for sharing this. I am the mom of an adhd teen, all the way down to a newborn…. Lots to think about as we pass through the different stages and pray for them to know God in adulthood.
You are a very wise woman, Natalie! Excellent post
Yes, Natalie. I have never prayed that my children would “do great things for God” as many professing Christians claim to be “great works for God”. I have just wanted them “to love the Lord with all their heart, soul and might”.
They will still sin but their heart’s desire is to be pleasing to Him in “all” that they do. (sadly – all have turned away from Him … I continue to pray)
Beautiful post, Natalie. Blessings to you and your loved ones.
Thank you!
I love this. I really, really love this. You nailed it. How did I miss this “works” related praying before? But that’s exactly what I have prayed for my children. A new season of praying for my children begins today. Thank you for sharing this.
“Works related.” That’s a great way of looking at it. Thank you for commenting, Brandi.