A Mother’s Offensive Prayers

Behind many a successful person is a praying mother or father. George Washington stands as one example. When his father died, his mother carried on the task of raising five kids, calling on the Lord’s help regularly. Mary Washington was known to sit on a high-perched rock in her yard when she spent time in prayer.

We don’t have a record of what she said, but it’s a good bet that her example influenced George’s prayers. One characteristic we see in his recorded prayers, as well as in biblical samples, is offensive prayer. No, not prayer that offends, but rather prayer that goes on the offense with bold, passionate strikes against temptation. These requests to the Lord aren’t just for blessings and comfort but also holiness. In fact, we can see reflections of David’s prayers from the Psalms in Washington’s Monday Prayers from his journals: “Suffer me not to be drawn from thee, by the blandishments of the world, carnal desires, the cunning of the devil, or deceitfulness of sin.”

Don't let me want to do evil

or waste my time doing wrong

with wicked people.

Don't let me even taste

the good things they offer.

Psalm 141:1 (CEV)

When we pray for our children’s spiritual health, above all other blessings, we pray for their greatest need. To resist temptation, to zealously follow the Lord, is the highest endeavor; all other things are of little consequence in the grand scheme of eternal life with God.

We can easily get overwhelmed by trying to say the right words and remember the right points. But that’s not what matters to God. Rather, he wants us to surrender all and come to him as we are. Prayer is a powerful weapon in our spiritual armory that we can reach for to fight against temptation. And we can teach our kids to pray offensive prayers, knowing the Lord will honor such requests.

Let’s teach our children to take offense against sin—to cut it out, hate it, and attack it whenever it rears its head. Beyond asking for their protection, let’s pray that our kids will stand firmly in the war on all evil. Bold prayers like this will raise bold spiritual warriors.

PRAY

Lord God, thank you for the privilege of praying for my children. May you use my humble efforts to embolden this next generation. May they join with the many heroes of the faith who have fought the good fight against all evil. Please protect them and use them to bring your kingdom on Earth. Amen.

TIME TO TALK

Conversation starter for kids: Provides you with questions and prompts to facilitate a time of applicable discussion with children to lead them towards knowing God and His Word more deeply.

Question(s): What temptations are you fighting against? Let’s pray together against those temptations!

Apply: An amazing gift you can give your kids is a journal of your written prayers for them. It’s never too late to start writing down your prayers.

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help parents expand their Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Swipe to read the passages today.

1 Timothy 6:12

Matthew 6:13