All your children shall be taught by the Lord,
    and great shall be the peace of your children.

Isaiah 54:13

I bless you mamas today, all who are raising up the next generation, whether they are yours by birth or whether they are your spiritual children! Let’s celebrate our mothering today by this. Let’s count it our privilege to say a prayer for all those we are raising today. Let’s not wait to be celebrated. I know some of us are single moms or our husbands are deployed or we just generally feel under appreciated. But here’s a beautiful thing… We can celebrate all on our own, in the quiet of our closet or over the dish pan… because God is near you! And He celebrates with you!! And He is so happy to bless you and entrust you with children to raise, in the flesh and in the spirit. 

A huge reason I’m passionate about prayer is because it’s the one thing that took me from being a super-anxious, insecure, worry-filled mom to a confident mom. Why? It’s because prayer transferred all that weight of their outcomes, their hearts, and souls from my weak and wobbly shoulders on to the shoulder of the Most High God, the One who is Able! 

My Mom, Dan’s Mom, Grandma Reva, Grandma Jane Ann, Ms. Jane, Ms. Joyce, and Ms. Quin have all been beautiful examples of how to do that. One of the tools I learned from them is to keep a Prayer Board.

This week, I want to challenge you to start a Prayer Board of your own. (Whether you are a mom or not!) We’ll have a guest post from Ms. Quin Sherrer this coming Wednesday on asking God who you are to pray for and how to set up a Prayer Board. Later in the week, I’ll add some power-house verses I love to keep on my board.

But for today, try to just take some time to reflect on those you are raising and begin to ask God what their prayer needs might be. Maybe a verse or even one word will come to mind. Write it down and take to prayer whatever comes to mind. Don’t doubt that it’s God. If you ask Him a question, He will respond. Especially a question like, “How do you want me to pray for my children?” He will answer! : )

My prayer for you:

Dear Lord, bless my mama today. Heal her, free her, love her well. Lord, thank you for all she has taught me. Show her your goodness and mercy this week! Father, I also want to lift up my children and spiritual children to you. I commit them to your care. Forgive me for all the times I’ve tried to raise them in my own strength. I need you, Lord! Please cover them in the Blood of the Lamb and protect them, fill them up with hope, peace, and joy as they learn to trust in you. Please lead me in how to pray for them. Thank you for this precious chance to pray for them today. And thank you for your promises, that “all my children will be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of my children” (Isaiah 54:13).  In Jesus’ Mighty Name, amen! Amen!

Want to treat yourself to THE best Mother’s Day gift EH-VER?

Then click here: A Mother’s Guide To Praying for Your Children by Quin Sherrer

Isaiah 54  (ESV)

The Eternal Covenant of Peace

54 “Sing, O barren one, who did not bear;
    break forth into singing and cry aloud,
    you who have not been in labor!
For the children of the desolate one will be more
    than the children of her who is married,” says the Lord.
2 “Enlarge the place of your tent,
    and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out;
do not hold back; lengthen your cords
    and strengthen your stakes.
3 For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left,
    and your offspring will possess the nations
    and will people the desolate cities.

4 “Fear not, for you will not be ashamed;
    be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced;
for you will forget the shame of your youth,
    and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.
5 For your Maker is your husband,
    the Lord of hosts is his name;
and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,
    the God of the whole earth he is called.
6 For the Lord has called you
    like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit,
like a wife of youth when she is cast off,
    says your God.
7 For a brief moment I deserted you,
    but with great compassion I will gather you.
8 In overflowing anger for a moment
    I hid my face from you,
but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,”
    says the Lord, your Redeemer.

9 “This is like the days of Noah to me:
    as I swore that the waters of Noah
    should no more go over the earth,
so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you,
    and will not rebuke you.
10 For the mountains may depart
    and the hills be removed,
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
    and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,”
    says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

11 “O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted,
    behold, I will set your stones in antimony,
    and lay your foundations with sapphires.
12 I will make your pinnacles of agate,
    your gates of carbuncles,
    and all your wall of precious stones.
13 All your children shall be taught by the Lord,
    and great shall be the peace of your children.
14 In righteousness you shall be established;
    you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear;
    and from terror, for it shall not come near you.
15 If anyone stirs up strife,
    it is not from me;
whoever stirs up strife with you
    shall fall because of you.
16 Behold, I have created the smith
    who blows the fire of coals
    and produces a weapon for its purpose.
I have also created the ravager to destroy;
17     no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed,
    and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord
    and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”