Praying Parent Week 1.1

I don't have the date in 2011 that I completed week 1 of O'Martian's Power of a Praying Parent the first time, but I do have my answers written down.  These prayers are personal, because they cover things that I have struggled with, but I am sharing them with you in case you face the same obstacles in your life.

10. Do you feel you have ever made any mistakes as a parent? _______. If so, list what they are and what would you have done differently.  Then write out a prayer asking God to redeem those situations.

• Don't we all?
• yelling, spanking, threatening (I should clarify I do not threaten their lives, I threaten to give spankings, time-outs, or take away toys or priveleges)
• finding a calmer, thought-out approach to discipline and punishment
• letting woman @ MW take daughter
• telling woman they she couldn't hold her, or insisting on going with her to the office
• not spending fun time with just daughter
• making a weekly date with daughter
• God, all these things are in my past.  I ask you to help me set my sight on higher ground from this moment forward.  Help me, Lord, to release my past mistakes and to learn from them so they are not repeated with my children and grandchildren.  In your son's name I pray, Amen.

12. Is there anything you would like to change about yourself or your life that would alleviate the guilt you feel as a parent? _______. Explain your answer.  Write a prayer asking God to help you make the changes.

• Yes.  I would like to be more laid back, easy going, nice, kindhearted, pleasant, helpful, loving, and a better disciplinarian-behavior manager rather than "The Punisher."
• God, please affect a change in my heart.  It has become hard, and I can't do it alone.  I desire to be nice, loving, easy going, unflappable, and pleasant to be around.  I know you said, "provoke not your children to anger," and that is difficult when I feel angry myself.  Help me to release this binding anger that I may be more loving and nurturing.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

14. Read Romans 8:1 and underline it in your Bible.  How are we to walk in order to be free of feeling condemnation? _______.  How are we not to walk? _______.  Write a prayer asking God to help you walk free of condemnation.

• After the spirit.
• After the flesh.
• Lord, it is so hard to put aside the things of the flesh to walk in the Spirit.  I need your help to put my attention on You and what is good.  I want to be free of condemnation - whether from myself or from You.  In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

15. Read Ephesians 6:12-13 and underline it in your Bible.  Whom are we wrestling against when we pray? _______.  What are we supposed to do to withstand them? _______.  Wriet out a prayer asking God to help you do that, especially with regards to your children.

• Principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places.
• Take the whole armour of God.
• Lord, help me to wear Your armor proudly that I may rise against those things I struggle with.  Make me a warrior against evil for my children.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

19. Read 1 Peter 4:8.  What will cover the places where we miss the mark as parents? _______.  Write out a prayer asking God to help you love your child with such unconditional love that it smooths all the rough places, heals all wounds, and covers your weaknesses.

• Charity.
• Lord, I need You to show me how to love in such a way that it won't matter so much if I mess up.  Help me to love my children, and all those around me, more and better.  Help me to cover my multitude of sins with love.  In Christ's name I pray, Amen.