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Prayer is one of the strongest methods we can use to gain insights and to request favor for each child...and it's free.  This week we have gathered links and options for a sampling of resources to encourage a conscious plan of action through prayer to grow and protect the children entrusted to each of us.  Many of these will also provide connections to like-minded prayer partners. Certainly this is just the "tip of the iceberg" of available resources to strengthen families and churches.

It is our prayer that each individual coming with a group to a Midwest Christian Retreat property will arrive with anticipation - eager to receive the best and most our Heavenly Father has for them - and leave encouraged, having drawn near to the Master.

Praying Protection and Guidance for Children, Families, Churches and More:

1. While children from your church family are at camp or away on retreat parents can pray specifically for what they know their child most needs.  They can also pray for encouragement and enlightenment for the counselors, speakers and other cabin-mates.  Praying favor for weather conditions, travel safety, making friends and much more will give your children a spiritual covering during the event.  And don't forget to ask others in your church to pray for your children while they are away.
   
2. Tips on praying for your children from Today's Christian Woman magazine
   Some of the tips from Susan Alexander-Yates include:
   1. Tip #1: Get Organized - use a notebook
   2. Tip #2: Ask What Your Child Needs
   3. Tip #3: Use Prayers from Scripture
   4. Tip #4: Expect God to Answer
   5. Tip #5: Remember Who's In Control
      Susan Alexander-Yates explains Tip #5, Remember Who's in Control, as "The task of praying for our kids can often overwhelm us.  But don't forget, your children are God's children first.  He knows them better than you do - and loves them more than you do.  He also knows the plans He has prepared for them (Jeremiah 29:11).  God's your partner in parenting; it's not all up to you.
      
      You can go to God in confidence not because of who you are (sometimes I feel like the worst mom in town!). Go to Him because of who He is - King of Kings, the one for whom nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37), the one who is praying for our kids (Hebrews 7:25).  When you feel overwhelmed, say out loud God's character traits: He's faithful, He's merciful; He's slow to anger; He's mighty, an ever-present help, etc.  Remembering these aspects of God will help your faith grow.
      
      Well-known author Oswald Chambers has said, "We look upon prayer as a means of getting things for ourselves; the Bible's idea of prayer is that we may get to know God himself." That's exactly what happens when you pray for your kids."¹
      
      
3. A great resource for many types of prayer is Praying with Authority and Power by Barbara Potts
   ISBN-13: 9781581580815 and the companion study guide ISBN-13: 9781581580914
   
4. Another book that has become a classic is The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian
   ISBN-10: 0736915982 / 0-7369-1598-2 and ISBN-13: 9780736915984
   
5. You may find encouragement for the power of persistent prayer in the testimony of Fern and Ty Nichols which aired on Focus on the Family.  You can hear the May 8, 2009 broadcast at http://listen.family.org/daily/A000001935.cfm "Tribute to a Praying Mom" is the story of Ty Nichols who was a prodigal that returned through the prayers of Fern Nichols, his mother, who also leads Moms in Touch International.  A copy of the CD from the broadcast is also available for purchase through Focus on the Family.

 Be Encouraged...Your Prayers Are Working...Even If There Is A Delay:

"I think Christians fail so often to get answers to their prayers because they do not wait long enough on God.  They just drop down and say a few words, and then jump up and forget it and expect God to answer them.  Such praying always reminds me of the small boy ringing his neighbor's door-bell, and then running away as fast as he can go".
- E.M. Bounds

"It is hard to wait and press and pray, and hear no voice, but stay till God answers."
- E.M. Bounds

"So don't get tired of doing what is good.  Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time".  Galatians 6:9 NLT

¹Praying for Your Kids, 5 easy ways to get started by Susan Alexander Yates, Today's Christian Woman, May/June 2002, Vol. 24, No. 3, Page 18, http://www.christianitytoday.com/tcw/2002/mayjun/12.18.html