Guest Post: Carla McDougal "Back to School ... Pray!"
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up" (Deuteronomy 6:5, 7).
Excitement’s in the air! Anticipation rises. It’s that time of year when the kids go back to school.
Who can forget watching your child go to "big school" for the first time? I remember those bittersweet moments as each of my four children kissed me good-bye. I always knew that day would arrive, but nothing prepared me for the moment.
Elementary school seemed to fly by and almost overnight they were in junior high and then high school. And in a blink of an eye, they were off to college. Where did the years go?
I learned early on that when my children were away from home, praying for them comforted me. By turning them over to God I experienced a calm peace. Year after year my prayers intensified, yet remained the same…Just as our children face challenges, we as moms face our own set of challenges…• Elementary School – Will he make a friend? Will he eat all his lunch, or just the cookies and chips? God help him to love You with all his heart.
• Junior/Senior High –Will he make the right friends? Is he paying attention to the teacher? God, help him love You with all his soul.• College - Will he make some forever friends? Is he making the right life decisions? God, help him to love You with all his strength.
• To pray over our children no matter where they are in life.•To be on our knees for those God entrusted to us.• To ultimately pray for each child to love Jesus with all his heart, soul, and mind!•Finally, to let them know we are praying for them each day! What a blessing it is to pray for our children.
I ask you to take advantage of this new season too. Do you need a fresh start? Where are you in your relationship with God? In my Bible study, Reflecting Him – Living for Jesus and Loving It, I encourage you to find Jesus in your everyday activities. He is there for us 24 hours a day, and He wants to hear our everyday prayers.
CARLA MCDOUGAL is founder of Reflective Life Ministries headquartered in the Houston, Texas area. Her true passion for her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, shines brightly, whether she is speaking or writing. She shares experiences from her own life to encourage women to live every day for Him. God is sending Carla around the world to speak to women from all walks of life—those living in the best of circumstances to those who have hit rock bottom.
Carla’s book, Reflecting Him: Living for Jesus and Loving It, is a 10-week study that encourages you to open your eyes to God’s daily life lessons. The more you ask God to be in your life, the more you will recognize His hand on everything you do. For more information on a growing number of products from Reflective Life Ministries, and to see about booking Carla for an event or interview, go to www.reflectivelifeministries.org.
Photo1/KarenJordan
Photo2/Carla McDouglal
This article content is provided by the author through Kathy Carlton Willis Communications.
Categories: Blessed, Equipping Disiples, Encouraging Spiritual Stories
Tags: Carla McDougal children encouragement education KCW Communications moms grandchildren father parents prayer teens worry
This is a great post Carla. I love your beginning, it drew me right into your message.
What a great idea to pray for your children every time you think or worry about them. I pray for them regularly but had not thought about thecomfort thatcomes from turning those concerns over to God.
Keep up the good writing and sharing of the good insight and wisdom!
Sharon Gibson
www15minutewritercom
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I agree, Sharon. And thanks for your comment!
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Sharon and Karen,
Thank you so much for the encouraging words. The Lord has taught me so much about prayer through raising children! Wow, now that they are all out of the house I am in need of more "Knee Pads."
From My Heart to Yours,
Carla McDougal
wwwreflectivelifeministries.org
http://carlamcdougal.blogspotcom
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Thanks for sharing your article with us, Carla.
I know what you mean about needing more knee pads! My tribe has increase quite a bit since my kids left the nest.
Keep writing!!!
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