…not lagging in diligence…continuing steadfastly in prayer.
Romans 12:11-12 NKJV
Do your busy days with kids make it difficult to find time to pray or read your Bible? Do you have good intentions, but continual disruptions thwart your plans? You are not alone. However, with some creativity, I believe this battle can be won.
After all, the verse above tells us to not be lagging in diligence and to be continuous in prayer. This reminds me of Deuteronomy 6:7, which instructs parents to teach our children the ways of God—diligently. The original Hebrew word for teaching diligently is shanan, which means to sharpen or pierce. We can get the picture of continuously carving their hearts and minds with the Word of God, and sharpening them often with prayer. And we are to look for every opportunity—when at home, when out and about, when going to bed, and when rising in the morning.
How?
Especially if the same kids we are supposed to teach often keep us too busy to diligently do so. Well, here are a few proactive strategies to keep pursuing prayer and Bible reading for you and your kids:
1. Kneel before bed first thing in the morning and say a quick prayer with your kids.
What a wonderful way to set them up for a lifetime by beginning the day by depending on God by putting Him first. (You can use a pillow that says PRAY or write it with a fabric marker on a piece of fabric on the floor to remind you.)
2. Turn your shower into a prayer closet/war room.
Purchase a waterproof notepad to write PRAY as a reminder.
3. Say a brief prayer for your kids as you hug them before school.
Have kids pray for each other before school, or in the car on the way to school, homeschool co-ops, games, lessons, etc. After school, instead of asking, “How was your day?” ask specific questions such as:
- “What would you like to thank God for today?”
- “What would you like to ask God’s help for today?”
- “Whom from your day can we pray for?”
Then, pray for/with them and encourage them to pray for those things right then.
4. Involve little ones in your devotion time.
Read to them, or have them read or look at their own Bible books while you read yours. Discuss with them what you’re reading and pray with them, even if they may be too young to understand. Make it their routine as well.
5. Take a picture of your phone’s home/lock screen of your kids praying to remind you.
They can be holding signs or letters with the word PRAY on them! Share your picture on social media to encourage others to join you (Use the hashtag #pursuingprayer to connect with others who are doing the same).
6. Schedule prayer in your planner or bullet journal.
Put it on the top of your to-do list each day.
7. Choose a verse of the week or month.
Post it on index cards around your house for you and your kids to see often. Include it in your kids’ lunches to remind them to pray. Read, recite or talk about your verse at mealtime, in the car, etc.
8. Set alarms on your phone.
Use these to remind you to pray short prayers at various times throughout the day. You may even download a Christian ringtone for this.
9. Choose a partner to pray with.
Appoint a time to pray together over the phone, Facetime, or text.
10. Pray at bedtime.
You don’t have to wait until the kids are under the covers. Bedtime routines can be as stressful as morning ones, so take some time to pray before the routine begins, just as you did in the morning.
Remember:
Don’t beat yourself up or let today’s failures keep you from trying again. Ask for God’s help, wisdom and strength, and try again tomorrow.
& Don’t forget the promise:
Train up a child in the way he should go; Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6 ESV
Which strategy will you begin to implement first? What other ideas do you have? We’d love to hear them. Share them in the comments or at pennycookeauthor.com/contact.
You may download the free adult coloring page and devotion or kids coloring page at pennycookeauthor.com. And for further help, consider Pursuing Prayer – Being Effective in a Busy World, available anywhere books are sold.
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