Pray for Your Children-Pt. 1

1. Ask God to protect your children with His loving care, so that no evil can reach them and lead them into temptation. Pray that they will be safe from harm (Psalm 33:20).

2.Pray that your children would use Godly wisdom. Ask God to give each child a discernment about people, as well as knowing the difference between right and wrong in the actions of their friends.(Proverbs 18:24; Deuteronomy 13:6,8).

3.Pray that your children would stay pure in their thoughts and deeds, striving for God’s way of holiness for their lives (Psalm 24:4-5;Ephesians 1:4)

4.Pray that your children will accept responsibility quickly and with humility when they fall into sin. (Matthew 5: 23-24).

5. Pray that your children will be alert and thinking clearly as they study their schoolwork and in their extra curricular activities. Ask God to help them to be motivated to do the best they are capable of doing (Colossians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 10:31).

6. Pray that your children will have an appetite to live the spiritual truths they have learned at home. Pray also that they will set goals and a purpose for their lives in accordance with God’s design for them. (Deuteronomy 5:29).

7. Ask God to help your children live their lives for Him, and that He will use them as a testimony and witness for His glory. Pray that they will grow to full spiritual maturity (Psalms 78:1-8, 103:17-18; Isaiah 54:13; Ephesians 3:20-21).

Protestant Prayer Beads

REPOST::

Did you even know these existed? We have had some for a while but I have not as of yet put them to personal use, but I love the idea. For Protestants who do not have a fear of looking too much like a Catholic they can be really a great tool! These prayer beads serve basically the same purpose the Five Finger Prayer lesson did when I was little only with more depth. Another well known method for focusing prayers is with the A.C.T.S. method; Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication.  Just as the Five Finger Prayer was a tangible way of focusing a child’s prayer time and the A.C.T.S. method is a way of focusing an adult’s prayer time, prayer beads can serve the same purpose.

There is much symbolism in the beads themselves. They tell the story of the Gospel.

Christian Prayer Beads begin with the cross, the ultimate Christian symbol, and thirty-three beads (representing the numbers of years Christ lived on earth) in four groups of seven called weeks. Among other things, these groups of seven represent the days of Creation and the Biblical number for perfection. These are separated by four (usually larger) beads which are called the “Cruciform” beads because they form the points of a cross when the loop of beads is opened into a circle or diamond shape. The fours represent the Four Gospels; Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John.
The Cruciform beads with the additional bead directly above the cross (making 5 in all) stand for the wounds of Christ. (Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 2:24) The circle represents eternity.

You can assign different elements of prayer to each section of the beads, such as; praise and thanksgiving, confession, intercessory, petitions. For the beads within that section, break your prayers down more specifically. For example, intercessory, think of the individuals you need to be interceding for and pray for them. Work your way through your beads. If you continue to pray through three times around this is symbolic of the Trinity.

So what is the benefit?

• Focus
• To make sure our prayer life is balanced so we do not merely pray for our petitions and forget to confess, etc.
• Symbolism can be a way of enriching our faith as long as it does not become an idol.
• Can be a visible testimony to others.

Though there are prayers that are already crafted for use, there is no set formula for how to use the Christian Prayer Beads and your prayers should be addressed to God directly! This is not for a rote prayer time it is simply a tool to use in drawing closer to the Lord and to keep one focused on their prayer time. They are not for everyone. As with any resource is not necessary and does not replace a intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

The man who introduced us to these is a very respected minister friend of ours who loves the Lord Jesus Christ. As my husband is, he is also a military chaplain. I quote here his testimony concerning the use of Christian Prayer Beads….

How do they help me focus? Carrying them is a reminder that God carries me! I would carry them in my hand when I walked the compound in Iraq – mindful of God’s presence. I also used them to lay upon the body of a casualty as I prayed for him and the family. When used as suggested in the literature they can be a real aid to ordered prayer, i.e. discipline of prayer can keep us focused through the prayers.

Worship (and prayer) is an act, not a feeling. The beads can serve as a visible reminder and a disciplined aid to prayer.

For More information visit HERE and HERE.