The Morning the Memo Arrived

On Saturday, December 8, while waiting for my breakfast to cook, something impressed me to pray a strange prayer. I wanted to thank the Lord because he had given me books and the knowledge they contain.

As an avid reader, I have hundreds of books, many at my elbow. A third of my library is reference material I’ve gathered from many sources and used for years. They cover history, archeology, anthropology, geology, mathematics, science, and numerous other things. Then I have fiction covering several genres. Some I used for assignments but others for my enlightenment and entertainment.

That morning I felt an overwhelming gratitude and desire to thank God for giving me a mind to learn and access to the materials to fulfill my craving for knowledge and understanding.
While I ate my breakfast, I got ready to do my morning Bible study. I’ve mentioned here before that I use an app called YouVersion. Since the same app is on all my electronic devices, I can pick up where I left off at anytime.

This morning I opened the app and was trying to find out where I stopped but before I did, I noticed behind the window was a highlighted verse. I flipped back to that window and saw Isaiah 50:4.

The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. Isa. 50:4

As far as I could remember, I have never read this verse, but it’s highlighted so at some point I’ve read it. I can’t tell you when, and it doesn’t stick out at me from the last several weeks. So, I do not understand why it popped up. Verses don’t just pop up at random in the app. I checked one of the other devices to see if the same verse appeared on them but it did not.

The verse was so connected to what I had just been praying and thanking the Lord for it astounded me. It took time for me to understand it and even now I don’t.

I’m trying so hard to make my life count. If I touch people’s lives, I’m not aware of it. If my words influences anyone, I never know it. I’m so thankful for all I’ve received. Isaiah 50:4 tells me the Lord has provided me the means, and he hears me. It amazes me that when I need a word of encouragement, the Lord can pick up a simple thing and show me he’s there and he’s listening.

Set A Watch Over Your Children

http://www.tommynelson.com/school-day-prayers/

I really love this little chart I found on Pinterest!  I often pray with Sarah before she leaves the house for school, particularly on days when she seems to be having a bad morning. I'm sorry I didn't do that with my boys. I've learned a lot since then but I did pray for them. In hindsight, maybe not enough. I've made a point to pray with Sarah before she leaves for school.

Why pray for your children before they leave for school? School, particularly in the 21st century is a hard place for children and they need a lot of help to get through it. If you are too old to remember how hard it was for you, something is wrong.  It is also no longer a place where wholesome and ethical values are likely to be taught. Rather the reverse is more likely. In fact, it is a place that your child could die.

Certainly, today our children need a prayer covering more than any generation ever has before. The spiritual attack on them is designed to corrupt every area of their lives: mental, emotional, spiritual. They face stress, anger, low self-esteem, resentment, jealousy, hatred, malice, and even sexual attacks both physical and mental. Bullying is clearly spiritual in nature for both the bully and the person bullied. Every area of their life is under attack in a school environment, particularly if they are attempting to live as a Christian. They are a target.

It is your responsibility to protect your children from any attack on them from any source. So, if you aren't praying for your children before they walk out that door, remember you are sending them into the lion's den. You are leaving them defenseless against attacks from all areas of their life. The stress will affect performance. Sometimes, the stress kills them.

The above chart is a really good guide to what kind of things to pray about and really, you don't have to have an hour-long prayer to cover these things. Read it with your child, let them know why you're going to pray about these things for them and follow the KISS method. Keep it simple, silly. Every point can be prayed for in a few words before they go out the door. You can add any points that you think need to be added.

Also, let them know that you will be praying for them during the day. Later, when you have prayer time you can expand on it but the important thing at this point is to let your children know that you are sending them out with a prayer covering and that you will continue to pray for them while they are at school. I promise you, the benefits to your children are enormous. The faith of children is legendary and if you've raised them to believe in prayer, the comfort they get from knowing you've prayed for them is huge.

Here is the link to School Day Prayer  blog where you can print this chart off for yourself and read the blog post about it. The site has other great items you might be interested in.