Praying for my children.....

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints - the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven. . . For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. Col. 1:3-4, 9-10


I have been reading Colossians for a few days now, I am always struck by the strong love Paul feels for his "children". He is always encouraging and praying. I am struck by the first verses, when he thanks God for the good he sees in the church at Colosse. I have strong love and passion for my children, but often when I pray for them it is not to thank God for the good, or the Christ I see in them. I start my laundry list of things I see that need changed, attitudes and behaviors I want God to develop. I worry over them, my thoughts filling my mind and prayers.


I noticed also that Paul prays simply for God to fill them with the knowledge of His will. Actually he says, "I have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will." I have been thinking about this.


The time I spend worrying, thinking and talking about (or to) my children seems to be more than the time I spend praying. Once again I use too many words. I want to start my prayers with gratitude and thanksgiving for the Christ I see in them, the little victories on this journey. I want to ask God to give them the wisdom to discern His will, and then I want to be silent and trust Him. For their Heavenly Father knows what they need. He knows how to grow good fruit more than I ever will. I also want to spend more time praying, not talking. So instead of launching into a lecture, I need to be silent and pray.


These are the goals I am striving for:

Gratitude

Silence

Prayer

Prayer before words

Thanksgiving before supplication.

Silence and trust