I don’t think anyone would argue that, as moms, our goal is to point our children toward the Lord.
When they are little, we sing “Jesus Loves Me.” We read Bible stories. We go to Vacation Bible Schools. We take them to church. We teach them to pray. We show them how to memorize Bible verses.
We do all the things.
We have three children. All three of them asked Jesus into their hearts when they were young. They have been baptized. They literally grew up in the church, going to camp and on mission trips.
They did all the things.
Sometimes it has been easy to disciple them because their hearts were tender and open. Other times, it has not been quite as easy—that’s okay too. It is hard on this momma’s heart.
But it is okay.
And, it’s part of the faith journey that will become their testimony.
“Monday from Mom”
You reach a parenting point that you are no longer teaching as much as you are watching them apply what you have tried to teach. The rest is between them and the Lord.
At this point, trusting the Lord with your children becomes the kind of a faith exercise that puts you on your face before the throne, saying, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief,” just like the father in Mark 9 said when he brought his son to Jesus.
It was in such a season that I began something I call “Monday from Mom.”
It started just over three years ago, when my oldest was a freshman at Texas Tech University. I wanted to find a way I could still encourage my kids through Scripture that would keep us all together while we lived miles apart.
One of the things I tried to teach my children was the power of praying Scripture because it is a discipline that has revolutionized my own walk with the Lord. So, each Monday, I sent them a group text of a Scripture that I was praying for them for the week.
But, there was no real structure to it, and I felt like I was just picking something out of the air to send to them. Then, as I was reading a book about the different names of God, I sent them one of the names of God each week and a Scripture about the name. I finished that study, and then it was back to the random “let’s pick a Scripture to send to the kids” approach.
Using the Christian Parenting Prayer Journal
As I was trying to figure out how I could “organize” my Monday text messages, the Christian Parenting Prayer Journal came out. It was exactly what I needed to give me a plan.
Every Monday, I send them the Word of the Week that I am praying for them and a verse I am praying for them.
Instead of just telling you about it, let me just show you. This is what my “Monday from Mom” text looked like when I was praying PRAYERFULNESS:
Praying PRAYERFULNESS for you this week.
“Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do now know.” Jeremiah 33:3
I have claimed this verse over and over and over as I have called out to God and waiting for His answer. Sometimes the answer comes quickly. Sometimes I have to wait. Always He is faithful. My desire for you is that you learn to all out to Jesus and let Him show you great thing about who He is and who you are in Him. I love you, Mom.
I do this every week—even if “Monday from Mom” doesn’t actually get to them until Wednesday!
When I first started this, I was dreaming of some back-and-forth conversation. I had to give up that dream and accept the fact that I am not in control about what they do with what I send. (Remember, it’s their faith journey.)
I am only responsible for sending it and doing the best I can to be consistent and faithful.
Of my three, one always either likes/loves the text within hours. Sometimes, she will even make a comment about it, either in the group message or to me in person!
My middle child usually likes the text, eventually, but never makes any comment.
My oldest rarely, if ever, acknowledges the text.
I don’t let that bother me because Isaiah 55:11 says, “My Word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
That means I don’t have to see the impact to know that there is an impact. Why?
The Bible tells me so.
