Dear Moms and friends,
I would like to start off by telling you a bit about my experience with Moms in Prayer International*. The ability to deeply and regularly pray with other moms for our children is wonderful. I encourage each of you to join these meetings, and invite others as well. It’s such a blessing to encourage and be encouraged by other moms, to intercede in prayer for one another, and to be in prayer for our kids and their schools.
My husband and I have four children, and it’s often hard for me to find the time between 8-9pm, when Moms in Prayer meets. Often, the kids wake up, there’s some kind of chaos to deal with, and there’s usually a lot to clean up, or prepare for the next day. For most moms, it seems almost impossible to take time aside to pray. We are usually quite tired, and feel the constant pressure of having to ‘have it together’ all the time—it feels like our to-do list might never end. But so that I’m able to take part in the prayer meeting, I already start preparing during lunchtime, for the evening routine. As intense as it is to be a mom of four young kids, God has continually put it on my heart, not to miss this amazing time of prayer and connection.
Ezekiel 22:30 (NIV) I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.
The time that we spend with Moms in Prayer is divided into four strategic steps, to make the best use of the power we have in prayer. I’ve learned to love the structured pattern we use during prayer: During worship (step 1), we turn our eyes to God, His character, and His power. Our problems then seem so different, once we look at them through His word. Then, through confession (step 2), I’m aware that I need His grace, and I’m reminded just how needy and grateful I am for the Cross, for both myself, and for my family. Then, through corporate thanksgiving (step 3), we thank God for all the answered prayers and blessings; this gives us so much joy and encouragement to enter into our time of prayer. This dedicated time of thanksgiving is so valuable, because otherwise, I quickly overlook God’s answered prayer, and rush to dwell on another issue I want to raise in prayer to God.
Lamentations 2:19 (NIV) Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children…!
After these steps, we enter into intercession (step 4). We pray intensely and specifically for our children through Scripture. It is a gift that we can stand in the gap for one another: that other moms are stepping in to pray for my kids, and that I can also pray for theirs. We pray for specific requests, and the many facets of our children’s lives.
At the end, we pray for their teachers and schools (be it pre-schools or universities), and declare them to be under God’s protection and guidance. The hour of prayer, on the one hand, costs energy and time, but on the other hand, we are set free from fears, worries, and constantly experience God’s power through answered prayer. I continually see changes in myself, and also in my kids. Through prayer, with help of God’s Word, I see my day-to-day as a privilege, and am filled with purpose and hope. The peace that is put on our hearts during this hour is so cherished.
I’m grateful to God that he has called us to be mothers. And prayer is the most important part of this calling. And for this reason, dear moms, be strong and courageous—you are, in God’s eyes, a pivotal building block in the lives of your kids, family, and also in society.
-Anja
*Moms in Prayer International impacts children and schools worldwide for Christ by gathering mothers to pray. We cover our kids in prayer from preschool to college & young adult. For more information, please see the website under https://momsinprayer.org or http://www.momsinprayer.de/
