Parent Archives - Page 5 of 17

A Letter to My Teenage Daughter: God Made You Special

January 12, 2017 by Tracey 17 Comments

Dear Daughter,

To quote a famous novel, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” (You know I’m a Dickens fan, though I’ve never made it all the way through A Tale of Two Cities. 😉

I think that captures what it’s like to be a teenage girl sometimes.

On a good day, life is, like, ultimately good, like, happiness unbounded, like, dancing around the house and hugging your sister. Yes, that marks the best of times indeed.

Then there are the worst of times. The tears for no reason…though those are better than the tears flowing because of a friend’s betrayal, or a classroom humiliation, or rejection from some group to which you so desperately wanted to belong. The worst of times brings self-doubt, and a critical eye turned inward, and sometimes, a broken spirit.

On those days in particular, I want you to remember that God made you special.

I know you think I’m just saying that because I’m your mom…and I am. But I’m also saying it because it’s true.

In these teen years, while you’re growing and changing and learning who you really are, it’s easy to want to be someone else. You see what makes a certain girl popular, why that girl has so many friends, how she seems to know just what to say or do to attract boys. Perhaps it’s that other girl’s confidence when she gets up in speech class or another friend’s ability to excel in every sport that you want for yourself. And maybe you feel less than, inadequate, because you don’t have those same skills.

It’s so easy to say “be comfortable in your own skin.” Yet sometimes you can feel like your skin doesn’t fit, that it doesn’t look right to other people, that it’s not who you want to be.

But who you are is special. God created you. He tells us in Psalm 139 that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Yes, you know that phrase, “fearfully and wonderfully made.” But that’s certainly not always the first thought you have about yourself. Let’s dig into it for a minute and see what it means.

In the original Hebrew text of the Bible, the word fearfully means with great reverence, heart-felt interest, and with respect. The word wonderfully means unique, set apart, marvelous [Darling Magazine, May 2012]

You were created with great reverence and heart-felt interest, The very God of the universe is interested in you and in how your life plays out every day. You are unique and marvelous, a one-of-a-kind creation. Every personality trait, every quirk, the activities you enjoy, the pursuits you’re really good at ~ they’re all gifts from a Creator who makes no mistakes.

Introverted or extroverted, musical or artistic, a watcher or a doer, detail-oriented or a free spirit, you are the way you are for a reason. God has a plan for your life, a purpose for you to fulfill, a life to live that no one else can live in the same way. You’re not exactly like anyone else, and that’s just how it should be.

Remember these three important things.

You are made in the image of God. Cultivate that part of you that longs for a relationship with Him. Let His love, peace, and grace seep into your soul.

Be authentic. Like what you like, be who you are, don’t conform to fit someone else’s standard for you. Be gracious, kind, and thoughtful, but be you.

Give grace to all those girls around you. In spite of what it may look like from your vantage point, they have doubts and insecurities just like you do. You might never know how an encouraging word helps them through their own difficult day.

So, on those worst of days, my dearest daughter, take heart. God has a plan for you, a plan to bring you a future full of hope and promise. (Jeremiah 29:11) He will never leave you or fail you. (Deuteronomy 31:8)

And your dad and I? We’re your biggest fans, your loudest cheerleaders, your prayer warriors.

We love you, just the way you are.

Love,

Mom

Check out my printable prayer guide 10 Weeks of Praying for Your Teenage Daughter.

10 Special Gifts from Jesus to Unwrap This Christmas: An Object Lesson for Kids

December 15, 2016 by Tracey 10 Comments

Let’s face it. Gifts are usually the reason our children get so excited about Christmas. How much fun is it to unwrap a package or pull the tissue paper out of a gift bag? There’s anticipation, suspense, and excitement, especially if the present is something they’ve been waiting to receive!

Today I’m sharing a fun way to channel some of that gift-opening enthusiasm into illustrating the true meaning of Christmas. It originated with my aunt. She discussed it with my mom, who shared the thought with me. It’s a perfect teaching opportunity for your own family during this season – or it could even be used as a Sunday School or children’s church lesson.

Most of our kids are familiar with John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God sending Jesus, His Son, at Christmas time, was the greatest gift that’s ever been given. It was the earthly beginning of the fulfillment of God’s plan for our salvation.

That Bible verse is a great starting point for this lesson. A simple explanation of the plan of salvation can be followed by a discussion of the blessings we receive when we accept Jesus as our Savior.

To bring this thought to life, take a box and fill it with some of the items listed below – physical things that represent those blessings. Then wrap the box and put it under the Christmas tree. Or you could wrap each item individually and have a different child open each package. You can use all ten, or just pick and choose the ones you want, based on the ages of the children.

If you’re doing this at home, set aside time on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to open these presents with your family. Discuss how each item depicts a gift we receive at salvation.

1. Eraser (our sins taken away).

“I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” ~Isaiah 43:25

All of our sins are forgiven when we ask Jesus to be our Savior.

2. Picture of a Mansion (a home in heaven).

“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” ~John 14:2

Jesus is preparing a place for us to live with Him in Heaven! You could also read Revelation 21:10-27, which describes the new Jerusalem and all the beautiful things that will be there.

3. Life Insurance Papers (eternal life).

“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life...” ~I John 5:13

We will get to live with God forever!

4. Pen and Notebook (our name written in the Book of Life).

“…rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” ~Luke 10:20

“And there shall in no wise enter into it [the new Jerusalem] any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination…but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” ~Revelation 21:27

When we know Christ as Savior, our names are written in the Book of Life.

5. Adoption Certificate (adopted into God’s family).

“According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world…Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” ~Ephesians 1:4-5

What a blessing to be adopted into the family of God, joint heirs with Christ!

6. Receipt, stamped or written on “Paid in Full” (our sin debt paid).

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” ~Romans 6:23

Because of our sin, we deserved death, to be separated from God forever. But Jesus paid that debt when He died on the cross. He took all of our sins on Himself so that we wouldn’t have to suffer the punishment we earned.

7. White Paper Heart (a new heart for God).

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” ~Psalm 51:10

We have a clean heart because our sins are forgiven. God also makes us new creatures at salvation, with a heart that desires a relationship with Him.

8. Picture of a family (brothers and sisters in Christ).

“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” ~Ephesians 2:19

We can treasure a church family and other fellow believers who encourage us in our walk with Christ.

9. White piece of cloth (a robe of righteousness).

“And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” ~Revelation 19:8

We will one day stand before Christ “clean and white,” not because of our good works, but because Jesus shed His blood to cover our sins.

10. A Monogrammed Item (sealed by the Holy Spirit).

“…in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.” ~Ephesians 1:13-14

Once we’re saved, we’re sealed, or marked, as Christ’s forever.

You could go another direction with this verse by using a box of money or a check. Explain that the Holy Spirit is a down payment or deposit (“earnest”) towards our inheritance in Christ, which we will receive in full when we get to Heaven.

I hope that this demonstration will remind all of us of the amazing gift we’ve been given in the person of Jesus, who came to earth to die for us, to rise from the grave, and to bring us into fellowship with God when we accept Him as our Savior.

Can you think of other gifts that we could add to this list? Please share them in the comments!

Related posts:

5 Simple Christmas Bible Verses to Teach Your Kids

December 1, 2016 by Tracey 3 Comments

I don’t remember why I memorized Luke 2:1-20 as a child. It may have been for a church Christmas play or a school program.

Whatever the occasion, I committed that passage to memory many years ago. I can still recall most of it today – if you’re not grading me on it! 🙂 It’s also the Scripture we read together as a family each Christmas Eve before our kids go to bed.

If your children are very young, however, that’s a lot of verses to learn! Instead, here’s a list of five short verses that you can use to introduce them to the whole Christmas story.

Here you'll find five simple Bible verses that will help your children understand the Christmas story. And they're easy to memorize!

1. “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” ~Isaiah 7:14b

Talk to your children about God’s promise from way back in the Old Testament. He said that He would send His Son to save us from our sins.

2. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…” ~John 1:14a

I like to use this verse to teach that Jesus was God, made in the likeness of man. He left Heaven’s glories to come down and live among the people that He had created.

3. “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.” ~Matthew 1:21

Introduce the characters in the Christmas story. God chose Mary to be the mother of the Messiah, and Joseph to be His earthly father. I marvel at the faith these two had!

4. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” ~Luke 2:11

The heart of the Christmas story is in this verse. Angels announce to shepherds on a hillside that the Savior has been born. That good news has been shared countless times in the thousands of years since then!

5. “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him…” ~Matthew 2:11a

Here we have the addition of the wise men to the Christmas story. These men traveled a long distance just to worship the one whose star they had seen back in their homeland.

Have you ever memorized part of the Christmas story from Luke 2? As a mom, I especially love verse 19, which tells us that Mary pondered in her heart all that had happened around the birth of Jesus. I think it will be neat to hear her relate the story when we get to heaven!

Parenting My Child’s Heart

October 20, 2016 by Tracey 3 Comments

“We often aim our disciplinary efforts at the wrong target. We set our sights on stopping and changing a child’s wrong behavior, and we miss the real target of shaping and influencing their heart, which is the source of the wrong behavior.” ~Clay Clarkson in Heartfelt Discipline

Guilty as charged! I know there’ve been times I’ve disciplined my children for behavior that I felt made me look bad as a parent or for behavior that made me angry because I had to stop whatever I was doing and deal with them. My goal was not to reach their heart, but to stop the wrong behavior as quickly as possible.

So I wondered, how can I know if I’m parenting my child’s heart? I think if I ask myself the following questions, I might be able to tell.

Am I doing what is best for my child in the long run? I don’t want to just solve a misbehavior for the moment, but rather focus on the issue that will matter when she’s an adult. I want to be building her character, not just modifying her behavior so that she will look good on the outside and impress other people.

Am I taking the time needed to communicate the lesson that needs to be learned? This one is hard. Sometimes we have to correct on the fly, but if the child is old enough to remember the correction a few hours later, we can go back and talk through the situation. Discuss what happened and how it could be handled better in the future. TIME – that’s what we usually have to be willing to give to reach our child’s heart.

Am I showing her how the Bible addresses her behavior? The Bible is the basis for how we live as Christians. Can I take her to God’s Word and show her what’s wrong with what she did or said? This isn’t something you’ll necessarily do every time you correct your child, but I do think it’s often a good place to start. Whether it’s being mean to a sibling or disobeying a teacher, basing our response to the negative behavior on the Bible gives us a firm foundation. (This is definitely an area in which I could improve! Now that my girls are teenagers, I should find myself asking them, “What does the Bible say about what you did/said?”)

Am I willing to deal with my own sin? It’s difficult to correct my child’s behavior when I know I’m in sin myself. Now don’t wait to be perfect before you parent your child! But if it’s obvious that I’ve just dealt with my child in anger, I need to ask forgiveness for my own sin – and ask for her forgiveness – before I attempt to deal with her. Especially as they get older, our children will appreciate our humility and will be more likely to respond to us when they know we still struggle ourselves.

Am I building a relationship with my child outside of correcting her behavior? If all I ever do is discipline and punish, my child isn’t going to be interested in listening to me. Spending time with her doing activities she enjoys, talking to her about her day, and just generally showing her that I enjoy being with her will connect us at a deeper level. I want to build a close relationship during the good times so that she will be more inclined to hear my correction when an issue arises.

Just writing this post has convicted me about how much I still tend to focus solely on changing outward behavior, even with my teenagers! As we do life with our children today, let’s set our sights on shaping and influencing their heart as we seek to help them live for Christ.

7 Ways to Show Love to Your Teenage Daughter

October 3, 2016 by Tracey 6 Comments

When you first cuddle your newborn baby, you know the powerful feeling of a parent’s love. That curious toddler who climbs into your lap for a story and spontaneously hugs your neck so tightly or a school-aged child who sits close to you in church and still wants to hold your hand walking through the store make it easy to continue showing love through your words and actions.

But it sometimes takes a little more effort to show love to that child who’s now as tall as you are, who acts so independent, and stays up later at night than you do!

Yet through these teen years, I think our kids desperately need to know that our love is still there. When so much about themselves and their world is changing, mom’s and dad’s love can be a constant, positive force in their lives.

Since I have girls, it was easy for me to come up with this list of ways I try to show love to my teen daughters. I’m thinking that with slight variations, these would work for boys, too!

1. Listen to her. As in really listen. Make eye contact. Ask follow-up questions that are thoughtful, but not probing. Unless she asks for a solution to a problem, just empathize with her view of the situation and allow her to pour out her feelings.

2. Pray aloud for her. My dad still does this for me sometimes, just when we’re on the phone together. There is something powerful about hearing your name brought to God in prayer. I used to make our bedtime prayer ritual about general topics – health of family and friends, safety and blessing for our missionaries, etc. – but lately I’ve purposely made that prayer time about my daughters and what each of them are facing in the next several days.

3. Communicate her way. How does she like to communicate? Does she like to sit and talk over coffee drinks or does texting back and forth work for her? Maybe she really appreciates you writing her notes or trading a journal back and forth. I actually try to do some of each of these with my girls, but I would say one speaks a texting love language and the other one appreciates handwritten notes.

4. Celebrate her. Yes, this includes her accomplishments in school, sports, fine arts, or other activities. But sometimes just find a silly holiday so you have an excuse to celebrate! For example, Friday, October 7 is Frappe Day; Tuesday, October 18th is Chocolate Cupcake Day; and Friday, October 28th is Plush Animal Lover’s Day. There really is a day for everything!

5. Do something to make her life easier. Do a chore for your daughter. Make her bed, pack her lunch, clean up her room while she’s out of the house, or pick up a book or movie at the library for her to enjoy over the weekend. Think of what she would be relieved to have taken off her plate and do that for her.

6. Give her space. This one is hard for me. I want to charge in and know all about everything that’s going on in her life. Yet I’ve come to understand that sometimes she needs time to digest things herself before she talks about them. There are certainly times a parent needs to step in, but, if possible, allow her some time to process her own thoughts before you initiate the conversation.

7. Extend grace. Some days I just need to sit back and remember what it was like to be a teenager myself. Would I want to go back there? No thank you. Emotions are going to run high, disappointments are going to sting a bit more, self confidence is going to ebb and flow. And while there are some lines you don’t cross in our home (defiance, disrespect, etc.), there are still ample opportunities for me to give grace in some of the little things. My daughters are a work in progress, just like their parents.

In what other ways do you show love to your teenager?

A Letter to My Teenage Daughter: Hold Onto Your Heart

September 12, 2016 by Tracey 6 Comments

Dear Daughter,

You have been given a very precious gift.

In the beginning, it belonged exclusively to your dad and I. Your world was totally intertwined with ours; you needed nearly nothing we couldn’t provide. Your heart rested safely in our hands.

As the years passed, your world expanded. You now have sweet relationships with peers and other adults, people who have earned your friendship and your trust.

Yet your heart and the special love inside it – that love for another that will bring you one day, if it’s God’s will, to a marriage altar – remains your own.

This love we talk of, this forever love, is a unique treasure. Don’t give it away lightly.

It’s tempting to want to loan your heart out on a regular basis. It’s often the way of the teenage culture – a relationship with this one and then that one, a few dates followed by a cheap “I love you.”

And while I know it’s not easy to see other friends pairing up and coupling off, remember to take a long-term view, recognize what a gift it will be to save your whole heart for the one God has for you forever.

I know you’ll notice guys…actually, I’m sure you already do. By all means, be friends with them. Get to know them in group settings. Figure out what’s important to you in a future husband.

You’ll want to know more about those who cross your path who are kind and good and trustworthy. Study a young man’s character rather than just listen to his words.

And just like teenage girls, teenage boys still have a lot of growing up to do. So don’t look for perfection, but for a heart that sincerely seeks to do right. And while you’re looking, remember to be developing into that Godly young woman that a worthy man would desire.

In the midst of all this growing and changing, hold onto your heart. I don’t want you to look back one day and remember all those guys in whom you invested time and emotional energy, only to yield hurt feelings and lost friendships.

Keep your heart whole for him, the one who will be your life partner. Let it not be divided or left behind you in little pieces along the way. Save him all your love for a lifetime and, when the time comes, give it all wholeheartedly

But for now, keep it close. Learn what marks true love. Observe those older couples who still hold hands, still sit close in church, and find out what they know. Understand that love is not about you, it’s about unselfishly loving another person.

One day, in God’s will and in His time, that young man will come along who will see the treasure that you are and you’ll want to have a whole heart to give him, one that can love him fully and fiercely. So until that day, when love comes for a lifetime, hold onto your heart.

Love,

Mom

When the House Is Quiet

August 29, 2016 by Tracey 3 Comments

This past weekend, our older daughter was away at a volleyball tournament. (She doesn’t play, but is the manager for the JV and Varsity girls’ teams.) Things are a lot different around the house when one of the girls isn’t at home…

When the house is quiet, I can actually hear myself think and can write a complete sentence…but instead of working on a blog post, I sit and wonder what you’re doing.

When the house is quiet, I can straighten up your room and it stays that way all day…but then it looks way too neat and un-lived-in and I don’t know that I like it that way.

When the house is quiet, I can listen to whatever podcast or music I want to without earbuds…but I don’t get to hear you playing away on the piano.

When the house is quiet, I can sit down and eat my lunch in peace…but I can’t laugh with you over a story from your school day.

When the house is quiet, I can bake cookies and eat them warm out of the oven…but then I end up eating too many because you’re not here to share them with me.

When the house is quiet, I can take time to exercise…but I can’t get an unexpected hug from you when you pass through the kitchen.

When the house is quiet, I can actually lay down and take an afternoon nap…but I don’t rest for long, because I need to make sure I haven’t missed your text or call.

When the house is quiet, I can choose what to watch on television…but I can’t hear you laughing along with me at Barney Fife’s antics.

When the house is quiet, I can go to bed on time…but I can’t turn my phone off in case you need me in the middle of the night.

When the house is quiet, I have lots of time to think about how happy I’ll be to have you home again.

So mamas of littles, those brief moments of peace you have from time to time – savor them! Embrace them because they rest your soul for when all the noise and chaos descend on the house again.

But remember that those moments of peace get more and more frequent the older your kids get. And while both a noisy house and a quiet one are good and right in their season, I think it’s the noisy moments we’ll remember most.

How to Make a Monthly Prayer List for Your Family

August 25, 2016 by Tracey 9 Comments

About eighteen months ago, I began creating monthly prayer lists for my family. It has been such a blessing to go to God with specific requests for my husband and daughters and then see how He has worked in all of our lives. Today I wanted to share with you how I generate this prayer list each month.

While there are certain things I want to pray about every day – physical safety, spiritual growth, protection from temptation, future plans/spouses for our daughters – I realized that I was sometimes missing the basic, day-to-day issues they were facing. To remedy that, I decided to make a monthly prayer list for each family member.

On the first day of each month, usually during my morning devotional time, I sit down and write out my list. I limit it to five items per person – otherwise it could get very long! If I can’t think of five requests on that first day, I may leave one or two spots empty, but I make sure they’re all filled in within the first three to four days of the month.

I write the list in my basic notebook, which is also where I keep my gratitude list and jot down any Bible verses I want to meditate on. However, my current notebook is almost full, so I’ve thought of ordering something like this pretty journal to use next. I think it would make me happy to open that every morning!

As I sit down to make my prayer list, I go through the following steps. I try to be very specific when I come up with each request.

1. Break the prayer requests down into categories. Most months I try to balance my list with one request in each of the following areas: spiritual, mental, physical, emotional, and social. This allows me to cover almost every aspect of their life in prayer. However, some months I may know of more needs in one particular area than another, so I don’t stress about having to include all of the areas every month.

2. Look at the calendar. I keep my calendar on my phone, so I quickly scroll through the month to see what’s scheduled. I’ll notice if my husband has a business trip, if one of the girls is traveling for a ballgame or a fine arts performance, if we have a doctor’s appointment or family event planned, etc.

3. Think about issues your family may be facing in the next thirty days. There may be things that aren’t on my calendar, but that I know we have coming up in the month ahead. Maybe someone in the family needs wisdom for a decision, or perhaps a transition is coming up in a particular area, or a relationship needs some help, or discernment is required in a certain situation.

4. Focus on goals a family member wants to achieve. Whether it’s making it onto a sports team or auditioning for a choir or choosing healthier foods to eat, I consider what each person hopes to accomplish. I also may choose to pray for opportunities for them to serve (i.e. playing the piano or helping in a children’s ministry) or for them to be able to use their gifts and talents to bless others.

5. Include a character trait or habit that your spouse or children need to develop. From reading their Bible to being patient with a sibling to exercising self-discipline, contentment, or gratitude, I can usually think of a quality that would be helpful for them to continue to grow in on a daily basis.

Without sharing too much personal info, here’s an example of what a typical list might look like for one of my daughters.

– Safe bus travel to ballgames this month
– A clear mind so she can retain the material she’s studying for her exams
– An opportunity to use her piano playing in ministry at church or school
– A sweet relationship with her sister
– Faithfulness in her Bible reading

I’ve created a printable PDF called My Family Prayer Journal which is a guided monthly prayer journal for your family. You can check that out here!

One of the many blessings about making these monthly prayer lists has been seeing direct answers to prayer. This monthly prayer list is just one way we can continue to pray for our families. If you have another method that you use, I’d enjoy hearing about it. You never know when I might want to switch things up!

7 Bible Verses to Remember When You Feel Discouraged as a Parent

August 22, 2016 by Tracey 3 Comments

If I ever thought I had this parenting thing down, having two teenagers in the house would have burst that bubble!

Don’t get me wrong – we have good girls. I believe they want to make right choices and please God and their parents.

But they’re human, like the rest of us. Some days are harder than others.

As a mom, I know that there’s so much to teach them, especially in these years – so many discussions I want to have, so many lessons for them to learn, so many practical aspects of life for them to master.

Let’s just say that I often feel very inadequate.

Whether your kids are toddlers or teens, we can all feel inadequate as parents. Even with wonderful parents of my own as role models, there’s no way I feel equipped to handle every situation that comes along. We have to say “I’m sorry,” too often, or we don’t know how to respond to the questions they ask, or how to discipline when they’ve disobeyed for the 112th time in a day, or even how to get them to sleep through the night or stop fighting with their sister!

When I recently needed encouragement in this very important role of mothering, I looked to the Bible for verses that could help me. While these Scriptures may not be directly related to parenting, they all certainly apply and I know I’ll be referring back to them often!

1. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” ~James 1:5 There’s a reason this verse is first on the list! In every stage and season of parenting, we need to recognize how much we need God’s wisdom. This verse is a promise – “it shall be given him” – so we know that if we ask for wisdom, we will get it. Godly wisdom will always be consistent with what He tells us in His Word and will give us insight into how best to guide our children.

2. “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” ~Isaiah 41:10 It can feel lonely, this parenting thing. We don’t always want to share our current struggle with other people. Maybe we’re afraid of being judged for not “having it all together” like a “good” parent should. What a comfort to know that I don’t have to do my parenting alone. Even through the parts of parenting that might seem fearful or difficult, God is always with us.

3. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” ~2 Corinthians 12:9 His grace is sufficient for all my inadequacies. When I make a poor decision or fail in following through with discipline or miss a teaching opportunity, God’s grace is sufficient to fill in my shortcomings as a mom. When He works in my child’s life in spite of me, He gets the glory. Any good that I or our children do and any things we accomplish for God are only by His grace. I need this reminder daily!

4. “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” ~Psalm 127:3 These children are a gift from God. He owns them. They are a blessing and God chose me to be their parent. Whatever He may be preparing them for, He wanted me to have a hand in it. Not only that, but He wants me to learn from them and to grow in my own walk with Him as I parent.

5. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” ~Philippians 4:6-7 No matter what time of year it is, I can find something to worry about when it relates to my children! Yet God says to be careful (or anxious) for nothing. I like this quote from June Hunt, ““Worry is most often a prideful way of thinking that you have more control over life and its circumstances than you actually do.” Let’s leave all of our worries in God’s hands. After all, He is much better equipped to handle things than we are!

6. “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” ~Lamentations 3:22-23 Every day I get a fresh start. While yesterday I may have failed as a mom in every way imaginable, His mercy is still there for today and He is faithful to help me be the best mom for my children.

7. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” ~Hebrews 4:26 Am I taking my needs to the Lord in prayer? Do I struggle through each parenting challenge on my own or do I go to God and ask for His help and direction? God has mercy and grace available to me if I will just come to Him and ask.

We all have days as parents when we’re discouraged. I hope that these verses will give each of us a fresh perspective and renewed hope when it comes to reaching the hearts of our children and training them to love God!

10 Prayers to Pray for Your Daughter

July 11, 2016 by Tracey 18 Comments

What’s one of the most important things you can do for your daughter, no matter how old she is or what stage of life she’s in?

If you’ve been reading here long, I think you’ll know that my answer to that question would be to pray for her.

I write about prayer often here on the blog, even sharing written prayers, like my prayer for wisdom in my parenting, and how I pray God’s blessings on my family. (When I searched the word “pray” in my parenting blog posts, it brought up 400 posts that include that word!)

That doesn’t mean that I’m always as faithful in praying for our children as I should be. All too often, I skim though my prayer time quickly, ready to move on to the next thing. Yet I know there is so much I want to seek God for when it comes to my daughters. I have seen prayer at work in their lives – and when I look back over my own life, I know that much of what has come to pass has been because of parents who consistently pray for me.

I’ve created this list of ten areas in which I want to pray for our girls. I’m hoping that this list will be a reminder to me of requests to bring before God. I’ve included the Bible passages from which I gleaned these prayers, as I love the idea of praying God’s Word back to Him. You may also want to frame your own prayers from these verses, or add/substitute new categories that fit what you would like to see God do in and through your daughter.

1. Her purity. Ask that God will keep our daughters pure in thought and in action. Just living in our culture will expose her to wickedness and could tempt her to lower her standards of what is right and wrong.

Lord, help my daughter to keep her heart clean before you, to recognize temptation and to run from it, recognizing that God’s will for her life is for her to be pure. [Psalm 51:10; I Corinthians 6:18; I Thessalonians 4:3]

2. Her faith. This covers her walk with God, the state of her soul. First of all, has she accepted Jesus as her Savior? That is the first step she needs to take. If she has, I can pray for her spiritual growth. Is she spending time with God on a regular basis? Is she maturing in her Christian faith?

May my daughter walk in truth, resting in Jesus as the author and finisher of her faith, and growing daily in her relationship with Him. [3 John 4; Hebrews 12:2; Colossians 1:10]

3. Her attitude. Pray for her to have a sweet spirit. Many verses in Proverbs emphasize the importance of accepting correction and instruction, so we want our girls to have a teachable spirit as well.

Help her to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. May love, joy, peace, patience, humility, and self-control mark her attitudes and her actions. Let her be willing to listen to those who have her best interest at heart. [Galatians 5:22-23; Proverbs 19:20]

4. Her friends. As women, we know the important role that friends play in our lives. In every stage, the people that our daughters choose to be around can either build them up and encourage them, or lead them away from what they should be.

May she have loving and faithful friends that build her up and encourage her in her Christian walk. [Proverbs 17:17; Proverbs 27:6, 17]

5. Her influences. While friends are a significant influence, there are other things impacting her life. Teachers, coaches, books she reads, music she listens to, movies she watches – all of these are speaking into her life.

Help her to seek wise influences, to discern when evil is involved, and hold on tightly to things that are good. [Proverbs 13:20; I Corinthians 15:33; I Thessalonians 5:21]

6. Her thought life. What our daughter thinks about will eventually come out in her actions. How we want to cover her thought life in prayer! What she thinks about God, about herself, and about others will cause her to make daily choices that can be either helpful or harmful.

Draw her to think on things that are good and praiseworthy. [Philippians 4:8]

7. Her focus. What is important to our daughter? What is she working towards? How does she use her time? We want our daughter to focus on building into her life things that will last forever.

Let her lay up treasures that are eternal, recognizing that we are only pilgrims here, and setting her affections on things above. [Matthew 6:19-20; Hebrews 11:13; Colossians 3:2]

8. Her priorities. We all know that our lives can get out of balance when we don’t put “first things first.” Focusing on knowing God, building relationships, setting good goals, having healthy habits, and developing her God-given talents are all things we want to encourage her in. Let’s pray that she will know how to keep her priorities in order.

Help her to seek first to know God, to serve God and not wealth, to value relationships, and to live out God’s calling for her life. [Matthew 6:33, 24; I Thessalonians 5:11; Ephesians 4:1]

9. Her service. I have prayed specifically for God to open doors of opportunity for our girls to serve in different ways. Then, as they get those opportunities, I pray that they will do it with right motives and for God’s glory.

May my daughter use the gifts you’ve given her to serve others, doing her service from a heart of love with pure motives, as if she were serving Christ Himself. [I Peter 4:10; Matthew 25:40]

10. Her future. No matter what stage our daughter is in, she has a future. Right now, my daughters’ futures include, among other things, a week of teen camp and a new school year as 10th and 8th graders. There is so much to pray for just right there!! Yet their future also may include college, a husband, a career, etc. Not a day goes by that I don’t want to pray for all that my girls have ahead of them. How thankful I am for a God Who holds all of their days in His hands!

Direct her steps, giving her confidence to know that your plans for her are full of goodness and peace, and beyond anything she can imagine for herself. [Proverbs 16:9; Jeremiah 29:11; I Corinthians 2:9]

I’ve created a free printable list of these ten items that you can use as you pray for your daughter. Click here to get a printable PDF.

Let’s ask God to burden our hearts to pray for these precious souls He’s entrusted to us!