The Practice of Praying to a God Who Listens

Editor's note: Hey, parents, ready or not, the school year is upon us! It's time to shop for back packs, school supplies, and prepare to pray our way through the school year! Enjoy this excerpt of Bunmi Laditan's Help Me, God, I'm a Parent.

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If you’re reading this, it’s probably because you’re a parent, a grandparent, an uncle, an aunt, a caregiver in these wild and crazy times. And you need a little (or maybe a lot of) extra help.

Raising and pouring love into a child is an amazing calling. But let’s be honest: it’s also incredibly difficult.

Caring for children stretches our patience, fries our brains, and zaps us of our energy, but we wake up and do it over and over again because, well, they’re ours and we love them.

Before I became a believer in Jesus, I dealt with the stress in every possible way except prayer. I’d binge-watch TV series looking for escape, indulge in glass after glass of wine trying to numb my brain, climb to the pinnacle of my career, thinking money and the approval (envy) of others would give me fulfillment. But I found none of what I sought.

Who would have thought that a relationship with God would be the key? And there is no relationship without communication.

Prayer became my lifeline.

I thought prayer was no different from positive affirmations, thoughts we throw into the air and hope stick somewhere.

Now I know different.

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. — Matthew 28:20

When I pray, I know God is by my side. He is there, not passively listening, but hearing me, responding, and sending comfort, help, peace, solutions, and love.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. — Philippians 4:6

As a child to a parent, I pray to a loving, protective, attentive God who is always near. Sometimes I’m asking for help, other times I’m marveling at the hilarity and beauty of parenting, and other times I’m just thanking Him for the many ways He’s shown me signs of His provision and love.

Pray without ceasing. — 1 Thessalonians 5:17

I have a new habit. When I wake up, before the chaos begins, I resist grabbing my phone and instead close my eyes and pray. I thank God for waking us up and keeping us safe in the night, and ask for help, protection, and direction for this day.

Before bed, we pray as a family, again thanking God for being with us during the day—and whatever else we’d like to tell Him.

But the times I pray the most… well, all day — as I’m driving, making my way through traffic, standing at the kitchen sink with rubber-gloved hands in soapy water, or making dinner. Sometimes my prayers are three-word pleas — “Help me, God” — and other times, I just talk to Him.

We don’t have to raise our children alone. In fact, we never will. God has reminded me so many times, especially when I’m afraid or worried, that before they were mine, these children were His. He loves them with a love we can’t even imagine.

I hope that in reading the very real prayers that I prayed as a parent, recorded in Help Me, God, I’m a Parent, you are inspired to approach the throne of God with your own prayers for little or big ones.

• Praying for our children is a powerful act of love.

Prayer changes situations. He’s listening. He loves you and the little hearts in your care.

Adapted from Help Me, God, I’m a Parent: Honest Prayers for Hectic Days and Endless Nights by Bunmi Laditan.

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Your Turn

Let’s pray for our kids! God loves them more than we ever could and more than we can possibly imagine. Prayer changes things. Let’s bring all our concerns, joys, worries, celebrations, and requests before Him and trust God for our children’s futures! ~ Devotionals Daily