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Will You Pray With Me?


My kids are all teenagers now, but I can still recall the bedtime routines we had when they were younger. It was pretty much the same routines you have likely had. Brushing of the teeth, reading of books, last hugs and kisses, and mooing like cattle from the living room to the bedroom.

What, you never did that last one? Hmmm, ok. I guess that’s a story for another post. 

Now that my kids are 18, 16, and 13, the routines have changed. For instance, on nights without school, I’m the first to go to bed. But I digress. One routine has remained. And it happens because of my youngest child asking for it every night before she goes to bed. 

Will You Pray With Me?

It’s prayer. Every night she asks us to pray with her. Now I’m not saying she’s more spiritual than her siblings. She would say that, but I’m not saying that. 

In fact, the manner in which she sometimes asks us to pray reveals it. Feels more like her ticket to sleep than an actual desire to approach her Heavenly Father with any thoughts of gratitude. I get that. Sometimes you have nothing left at the end of the day. 

But even so...

She asks us to pray with her. I think I too often forget what a privilege it is to enter the Throne Room and bring my thanks and requests to an All-Knowing God who cares to listen to the sound of my voice. 

I forget the initial miracle that is God willing to bend His ear to hear my ramblings. I forget the sacrifice of Jesus that enables me to bring my broken words, my sin-stained hands, and my wayward-heart to God and be seen as worthy because of Jesus who intercedes. 

I let it slip my mind too easily that when someone asks for prayer, they are reflecting a trust in God, but also a closeness with you. After all, there is no relationship more real and more intimate than the one we should have with God. 

Why Keep This Up?

Aside from the routine we’ve established since they were born, why continue to pray, especially if they don’t always seem eager to do so? I think the answer lies with our need.

I’ve been reading Quiet Talks On Prayer by S.D. Gordon. He makes many great arguments for why and how we should pray. I’ll just share one overarching thought here. 

Throughout Scripture, there are two threads that are unmistakable. 

These two threads everywhere. The one is this - there is an enemy. The second thread is this: the leaders for God have always been men of prayer above everything else.*
So, will you pray with me?



*Quiet Talks on Prayer by S.D. Gordon, p.88

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