Pray Like This (again and again...)

A few months ago (3/11/13), I wrote a post entitled Pray Like This which accumulated much feedback. In this particular post, I confessed that I so often struggle with wishing/praying/pleading to the Lord for the immediate and temporal things of this world on behalf of my kids; consequently, this wrestling causes me to take my eyes off of God's better plan for each of them. (I must remember and trust, He is the author and finisher of their life story, not me!). In this Spirit-flesh struggle, however, God has brouhgt good... He is teaching me how to pray by using His prayer,the Lord's Prayer, as my guideline.

Jesus teaches us and then urges us to pray in this way--not using His prayer in vain repition, but in meaningful and continual conversation with our Heavenly Father. So, I will make a conscious decision topray like this...same song, different verse:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name:
God, You are FAITHFUL.

Your kingdom come, Your will be done:
Please come into each of my children's hearts as the FAITHFUL ONE today. Assure them of Your loving and living presence right now wherever they are, whatever they're doing.

Give us this day our daily bread:
Remind my children of Your words of truth each day, each moment. You promise... to never leave or forsake them (Duet. 31:6)... and that Your steadfast love never ceases, Your mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your FAITHFULNESS (Lam. 3:22-23)!

Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors:
God forgive each of my kids when they don't believe in or have a desire for Your CONSTANT COMPANIONSHIP. Forgive them when they shun You, thinking they can do this life without You.

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
Help them when their thoughts are misguided. Do not allow the enemy near my kids, I pray...mentally, physically, and spiritually. FAITHFULLY pull them back into Your loving arms. Remind them and help them to put their shield up in order to... extinguish all the fiery darts of the evil one (Eph 6:16).

God, I pray these things because Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. AMEN.

I challenge you to pick another Name, and pray like this...again and again. And then, watch joyfully and expectantly for His answers. God's story for my children is, indeed, much better than mine.