Sunday, May 2, 2010

Praying for Your Kids Monday
Welcome Back PYKM; I've Missed You!

Sitting down to write PYKM tonight (Sunday) is like sitting down to write an email to an old friend. I'm so excited to be doing it again and excited to share what God has put on my heart to write about over the coming weeks.

A while back my church did a sermon series and Bible study on the names of God. It was one of my favorite series we've done and I bought a companion book, "Praying the Names of God" by Ann Spangler but haven't had the chance to go through it yet as I have about 86,000 other books I'm reading right now. (And it is YOUR LUCKY DAY because you can buy the book through bookschristian.com; a fine online establishment who just so happens to have great taste and has chosen to advertise on this blog! Click here to buy the book and go deeper in our study and prayers for our kids.)

Ok, so shameless promotion aside, we are going to be praying the names of God for our kids for several months. Not only do I believe these prayers will have meaning and power but I hope we will gain a deeper understanding of who God is, how He loves us and our kids and how praying His name releases power from heaven. I trust that as we learn new things about the names and character of God He will show you, on a very personal level, how to pray His name over your children.

May He be glorified.

Elohim (e-lo-HEEM), God Mighty Creator

Elohim is the Hebrew word for God that appears in the very first sentence of the Bible and more than 2500 times throughout. It is the plural form of El and emphasizes the majesty of the One, true God. Spangler writes, "When we pray to Elohim, we remember that He is the One who began it all, creating heavens and earth and separating light from darkness, water from dry land, night from day...this ancient name for God contains [His] authority and sovereignty".

When I think of Elohim in relation to our children I think of what my friend Deb has reminded me on various occasions when I am whining desperately that my kids are trying to kill me or that I'm not "a good mom" or blah, blah, blah. Deb gently reminds me that God is sovereign and gave me my children at this exact time in history because I am exactly what they need and they are exactly what I need. No one can be a better mother to Samuel or Emily than I can, if they could, He would have given them to that person. God, Elohim, loves Samuel and Emily even more than I do and has a perfect plan for their lives. I am included in that plan, with all my quirks and craziness. He is sovereign. He created the heavens and the earth, created man in His image and ordained me as the mother of these two precious children. It is my job to submit to His plan, seek His guidance and humbly be used to raise my kids to love and serve the Mighty Creator.

Because God made humans in his image reflecting God's very nature. You're here to bear fruit, reproduce, lavish life on the Earth, live bountifully!" Genesis 9:6, The Message

Elohim, Mighty Creator...today You have gently reminded me that You are sovereign. You have made everything out of nothing, light out of darkness, life out of breath. You have called it good. Elohim, You have made the life of _______ sacred; he is created in Your image. I pray that You would teach ______ that he is has one purpose and that is to glorify You and I pray that as he grows he will have a deep love, respect and gratitude for Your authority and Supreme power. Amen.

2 comments:

:)Rhonda said...

I have truly missed PYKM. Thank you for the return of it. I look forward to praying all of the names of God with you each week. :)

Rochelle said...

So good to have PYKM back Jen! I love the new "series" you are going into! I needed it this morning as Nathan was being very difficult...screaming in the other room..."Mom you are not nice!I don't want a time out!!!" And of course it was more than that...but I won't go there. I don't have tons of days like this...but today I was questioning (like we all do at times)...what God was doing when he made me a mom to my little spit fire! God is sovereign! I love HIM for knowing me so well...and knowing my kids and their needs too. THANKS for the reminder...just when I needed it!