Spiritual Disciplines for ParentsSýnishorn

Day 3

Spoiler alert: There’s no such thing as the perfect parent. We could devote 40 hours a week to studying God’s Word and become the most disciplined person on the planet, and we still wouldn’t be a perfect parent.

Thankfully, God’s heart isn’t that we would become perfect parents, but praying parents. Prayer is the spiritual discipline that allows us to partner with God in everything we do. Perhaps this is why we see Jesus practicing this discipline time and time again throughout His earthly ministry.

Jesus was always going away to pray (examples of this can be found in Matthew 14:22-23, Luke 5:16, and Luke 6:12). We even see Him sacrifice sleep to pray, because He craved His Father’s presence more than a pillow. If the goal of every spiritual discipline is to become more like Jesus, then prayer must be a pillar in our lives.

It’s the place where we distinguish between our will and God’s will. Jesus modeled this for us before He went to the cross in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:42). He poured His heart out to the Father in prayer, but ended with, “Not My will, but Yours, be done.” Jesus was able to lay down His personal preference and walk in God’s perfect plan through the power of prayer.

Parents, we need that same power today to raise the next generation. We get the privilege of praying on behalf of our children, but it’s a privilege that requires discipline. Today is one of the most difficult times in human history to pray because we’re surrounded by constant distractions. Notifications and noise keep us from the silence and solitude we need with our Father.

Prayer is a discipline worth fighting for though, because our prayers have the power to change our lives and the lives of our children (read that one more time slowly and let it sink in). It’s actually the one discipline that doesn’t die with us. Our prayers live on long after we’re gone because our God is eternal and He never stops working.

Prayer shouldn’t be reserved for emergencies and big decisions. It should be part of our daily training to get before God and ask, “What would You like to do through me today?”

If praying sounds daunting, consider using the ACTS method to help guide you through your conversations with the Father. It goes like this: Adoration → Confession → Thanksgiving → Supplication.

• Adoration: Start by acknowledging God’s power, faithfulness, and goodness.
• Confession: Admit your sin, and be open about your struggles.
• Thanksgiving: Celebrate God’s unending love, and take time to reflect on the things you’re grateful for.
• Supplication: Bring your desires to the Father, and then trust Him to do what He knows is best.

Tap into power this week by talking to God in prayer.