Six years ago my daughter started a new school. I dropped her off one Wednesday morning and decided to go to my first Moms in Prayer meeting. Listening to the moms pour out their hearts on behalf of their children and the school changed me.
I listened in amazement as women boldly called out to God for things that I had never thought to pray for my own kids.
I learned to pray for my child
- to desire purity over popularity
- that God would place friends around my daughter that would sharpen her like “iron sharpens iron”
- that she would grow in favor with God and man
I was determined to stay with this group and glean what I could from these moms.
At the end of that year, the moms of high school seniors asked me to take over the prayer group. I said, “no.” They asked me again two weeks later. I said “no” again. I thought, “I can’t lead this group. To lead a prayer group you have to be really spiritual and super holy. I totally mess up all the time. I am just ordinary—but God, if you really want me to lead this group, have them ask me again.” I was asked again and took over leading the Moms in Prayer group for my daughter’s school. That was five years ago.
It has been an incredible journey for me. I have grown more than I could have ever imagined. I’ve learned how to fight on my knees not only for my own child, but for the children of moms that hold my heart. I have learned that praying scriptures over your loved ones is praying God’s word back to Him.
Prayer and the Word combine like dynamite. The spiritual explosion impacts the person voicing the prayer as much as the person that the prayer is spoken for.
I have had the opportunity to pray over missionaries at the school, experience joys in the answers to prayer, and even encounter some supernatural miracles along the way. Wow! My faith has grown. I am not who I was a short time ago.
I type these words with tears in my eyes because of what God has done through me—and in spite of me. So often I didn’t have the strength or faith on my own, but God shored me up and He still proved faithful. I am so humbled.
My friends, I could have missed it
- All the moments that I now hold dear
- The growth, the journey, and the blessings along the way
- The moms in my group that make my life a joy; each one is so unique and brings something new and exciting to the group
- God at work because I thought I wasn’t enough
I have come to find that God does his best work in unexpected places. God chooses the weak to do something magnificent so that He gets all the glory.
Philippians 1:6 puts it another way, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
My challenge to you is this. Say, “Yes” to God in starting a Moms in Prayer group or stepping up to lead the group you’ve been praying with. You will be given chances to serve and step out in areas that may seem bold and a bit ambitious for you. Don’t shrink back from where God is leading. Don’t miss the moment. On the other side you will find growth, blessings, and sheer delight because you did what God called you to do.
Pray along with me
Father God, I praise You for who You are. You are a wonder-working God. You are the One who takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary. You bring those whose lives seem like vanilla and through Your power, You make them victorious. God, You are amazing. I ask You to give me the desire to walk in obedience before You. Help me to continually say, “Yes” to what You are calling me to do. Enter my humdrum days and make them holy. May all honor, glory, and worship be ascribed to You. In Jesus’ name I pray. Hallelujah and Amen.
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Debbie Smith is an Area Coordinator for Moms in Prayer in the St. Louis, Missouri area where she resides with her husband, Dan, and their children.
Comments 8
Dear Debbie, Thank you so much for your words of encouragement! Thank God and God bless you abundantly and your family and children! Thank God that you said yes to Moms in prayer and God is using you as a ordinary mom. Many blessings to you and your family! Love and prayers, Diana Osborne
Diana-
I am glad you liked the article. It never ceases to amaze me what Christ will do through everyday ordinary people— if we would just say, “yes”. I think He is looking for those who are not so busy so that they have time in the day to be used for His glory. Thanks for responding! God bless you!
Debbie,
Thank you for sharing the experiences of your Moms in Prayer journey.
Your words of encouragement are for the mom who is just discovering the hope found in praying the promises of God, as well as for the long time praying mom who is facing the challenges of a new season of life and ministry.
Moms in Prayer offers a praying mom the opportunity to trust God as we discover His many names and attributes.
Bold prayers arise from worship and are ushered to the heart of God as we pray through the Moms in Prayer hour.
Agreeing in prayer for the blessing of you and your family Debbie.
Author
Hello Julie, Thank you so much for your comment. I will pass this on to Debbie. God bless you.
Debbie, What a beautiful encouragement and challenge to all of us. Those bullet points are great of what you heard the women praying for their children. It reminds me of Chip Ingram saying: “pray for your children to be holy over happy” which if they are becoming more like Christ, they will have a deep joy that is better than happiness. God gave you boldness to step up to lead that group and now I see you are an Area Coordinator, all in spite of your concern “I am just ordinary.” I truly believe when we say Here I Am, even if we’re inarticulate or “not ready” He is pleased and He glorifies Himself in us. Praise the Lord for His work in you that points us to Jesus. God bless you, your husband, and children!
Carolyn,
Thank you for the kind words. It is amazing what God can do in our lives when we are willing to say, “Yes,” to Him. Moms In Prayer was great training on how to pray. We have even used the “Four Steps of Prayer,” to pray around the dinner table at times. It engages everyone in the prayer time. May God bless your home!
I love this! Debbie, you did a great job ❤️ I appreciate your honest sharing about where you were and where God brought you. I think a lot of moms can relate to feeling not holy enough. None of us are! But that shouldn’t stop us from drawing near to Him. I’m glad you trusted Him with His challenge.
Cindy, I am glad that you enjoyed the devotional. You are right in that I think we all struggle at time with not thinking we are spiritual or holy enough. It gives God all the glory because we are unable— but Christ in us provides the equipping! Thank you for your sweet sentiment. May God draw near to you this week!