Praying God’s Word for Your Family

Reminder: TODAY is the last day to enter the contest for the Greek Key bracelets! I’ll announce the winner on Monday!

A few years ago, I completed the Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed Bible study by Priscilla Shirer, Beth Moore and Kay Arthur. These women proclaimed the truth with conviction, transparency and an engaging sense of humor. The study was encouraging in many ways, but there was one take-away that really stuck with me. Beth Moore is a firm believer and avid proponent of praying God’s word. In the study, she encouraged participants to pray God’s specific word for each of their family members simply by choosing a verse and reformatting it into a personal prayer.

There was such power in her simple suggestion, so this was something I tried to practice. Recently though, with the demands of three kids and the must-do tasks of a full home, I have admittedly let my prayer life grow stale. My prayers now are arrow prayers, cast toward the heavens with a heaving exhale of breath in just a few seconds when the baby is one one hip, the other two are bickering and the dogs are barking to go out. My prayers are not focused; they are prayers of survival.

And yet, I crave that focused time with the Lord; my spirit needs it, longs for it. So I’m going to try to begin to reincorporate this practice of praying God’s word for my family. The beauty in praying scripture is found in both its simplicity and its rich depth. 

Would you like to join me? If so, simply select a few verses and reformat them into a personal prayer. Then try to commit the verses/prayers to memory. That way while those quick arrow prayers may still be prayers of survival, they will be specific, focused prayers of survival. Here are a few verses and sample prayers that Beth Moore suggests. These are just a jumping-off point to get us stated. Won’t you join me?

“He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.”
– Proverbs 2:7-8, NIV

PRAYER: Dear Father in Heaven, in accordance with your powerful, life-giving Word, I ask you to keep us upright so that you might be our victory and our shield. Guard the course of (insert each family member’s name), and protect our way.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.”
– Proverbs 4:23-27, NIV

PRAYER: Dear Father in Heaven, in accordance with your powerful, life-giving Word, I ask you to protect the hearts of (insert each family member’s name). Keep them unto you, and keep our hearts trained on you. Keep perversity and filthy talk far from our mouths, and let us fix our gaze on you. Give us a level path where we may follow you and not be tempted by evil.

Have a fantastic weekend! I’ll be back on Monday to announce the winners of the Greek Key bracelet giveaway, so be sure to check back to see if you won! Next week will also be the start of a new series that shares the details of our unprocessed, whole-foods diet. I have some great posts planned for you, including a host of informative resources, an entertaining whole-foods book review and some of our favorite quick, frugal, whole-food recipes. See you Monday!