And This is My Prayer …

The longer I’m a mother and the older my children become, the more I realize how little control I actually have.

When they were toddlers, I made nearly every decision for them, including the rooms they played in, the toys they played with, the food they ate for dinner, and what time they went to bed. When elementary school came around, I still decided which friends they could play with, the activities they could participate in after school and how much television they could watch after they completed their homework. They had more freedom, choosing baseball over soccer, or Scooby Doo over Sponge Bob. But I held veto power at all times.

I now have a child that’s nearly 19. Crazy to think about, but it’s true. And although I have some control over what happens inside the walls of my home, there is little I can do when he walks out the front door. He’s an adult. And more than any time before now, I’m a mother on her knees.

As Paul wrote to his spiritual children in the Philippian church, I wonder if he felt the same kind of urgency I feel as I watch my own children pave their way through life. Just like me, Paul had taught them, encouraged them, and corrected them. He’d done everything he could to point them to the Savior and teach them how to live as God’s children. But when the time came for them to life out their faith on their own, Paul knew the first and best thing he could do for them was to pray.

“And this is my prayer…” ~ Philippians 1:9

So what did this man of God and spiritual father pray for? That they would:

* Abound in love and knowledge
* Show discernment in their decisions
* Remain pure and holy before God
* Bear righteous fruit based on their relationship with Christ
* Give glory to God through their lives

I have a single handwritten note next to Philippians 1 in my Bible, dated November 22, 2004:

“Pray this for Tyler, Ryan, Jacob and Troy.”

My three boys and husband. I’d forgotten. Now is the perfect time to remember.

Whether you’re a parent, a spouse or not, God has brought people into your life who need someone committed enough to pray this kind of prayer. It’s one thing to have great intentions, but it’s another thing to actually do it. This week I’m writing Philippians 1:9-11 on an index card and slipping it into my back pocket every morning. I’m committing to praying this verse for those I love for the next seven days.

Will you join me?