31 Ways to Pray for your Children: A Heart for Evangelism

Well we made it! Somehow! 31 days straight of blogging. This will most likely NEVER happen again! I would however challenge everyone to go back and pray these prayers each day of the month for your children. I know I am going to try!

Today's prayer of the day is for A Heart for Evangelism. Such a big prayer that we should all be praying for ourselves as well as our families! Psalm 96:3 says, "Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!"

Heavenly Father, please help Bekham to develop a heart for the spread of Your gospel. Give him a desire to see your glory declared among the nations and your marvelous works declared among all peoples. Give him opportunities around him to share Your gospel, and if it's in your will, give him opportunities to go out to other countries that need to hear it as well.

31 Ways to Pray for your Children: Gratitude

Oh another Monday. At least we have the Olympics to make it go by just slightly quicker than normal! I watched the women's volleyball team dominate Brazil today and just finished watching Misty May and Kari dominate beach volleyball. Gosh I love volleyball and truly miss playing! Bekham was a blast today. He is officially contained in his playroom with baby gates. This afternoon we went to the pool and he went all the way under water. He couldn't have cared less! He is such a water bug.

Today's prayer of the day is for Gratitude. Colossians 2:7 says, "Rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." Ephesians 5:20 says "Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

God I pray that Bekham would always be filled with gratitude. Give Nick and I the wisdom to raise and parent his heart to be thankful for everything rather than entitled like the rest of his generation. Let him always see blessings, both small and big. May he never take one day for granted, but be filled with thankfulness and gratitude that You've given him another day to live for Your glory.

31 Ways to Pray for Your Children: Prayerfulness

Whew. What a day. From restocking the house with groceries after being gone a week to child proofing parts of our house ... yesterday was a productive day! I even made dinner at 2pm and my own batch of hummus. Rocked it out yesterday. If only I was always that good at being a home maker. Unfortunately, our day ended with projectile vomiting, yet again. I blame myself this time. Bekham didn't like the taste of my hummus so I gave him some store bought hummus, which he DOWNS. However, it was roasted red pepper and I'm guessing his little belly didn't agree with that choice! So, I held my sick little boy while watching USA gymnasts kick butt! Gosh I love them. Slightly bummed that we only took silver in men's swimming relay, but, better than not medaling at all I suppose!

Today's prayer of the day is for Prayerfulness. Say that 5 times fast :) "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." Ephesians 6:18.

God, I pray that Bekham would understand the power of prayer from a young age. Keep his childhood prayers active as he grows. Let his faith in answered prayer never cease or waiver. Let his first reaction, in all circumstances, be prayer. Whether it be a prayer of thanksgiving or a prayer for help- let him always go to You first and foremost. 

31 Ways to Pray for Your Children: Self-Discipline

Well, we made it home! We took off early this morning and arrived in around 3pm! SO nice to have most of the day left to unpack, start laundry, and get back in the swing of things. Bek did OK in the car! Not great, not terrible! So glad to be home. First chore on the TO DO list. CHILD PROOFING. I'll let you know how that goes.

Today's prayer of the day is for Self-Discipline. Proverbs 1:3 says "for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair." 1 Corinthians 9:27 says, "No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

God, I pray that you would give Bekham self-discipline. I pray he would have this in SO many aspects of his life. From what he eats, to what he lets his eyes see, to what comes out of his mouth. There are so many arenas in life that require self-discipline, but there are so many temptations for men in these arenas. I do pray that Bekham would make his body a slave as Paul says in order to run the race you've chosen for him. I pray that he would not do anything that would disqualify him for the prize of following You and Your instruction.

I'm sorry, but this picture had to be posted due to Bekham's hair :)

31 Ways to Pray for Your Children: Passion for God

Happy 8 months old Bekham Nicholas Sharp!! I cannot believe we are 4 months away from having a 1 year old. C-R-A-Z-Y. Crazier that we've had 0 decent night sleeps the past 8 months. Ah well- its all worth it! Today concluded our week at Holden Beach. Although vacation was extremely different this year than in year pasts, it was still good to be with family that we don't see but once or twice a year. Bekham's cousins LOVE him. He is a little unsure of so many little hands and faces around him all the time, but for the most part- he would smile or give kisses to all of them. They will be buddies soon enough. Bek just has to warm up to NOT being the only child in the room :) Unfortunately, our dessert was beat out this year by my mother-in-law. Time to start brainstorming for next year!! You'd think a year of preparation would achieve a winning dessert but who knows!

Today's prayer of the day for my 8 month old baby is to have Passion for God. Could there BE a better prayer for the 27th of each month?! I think not! Psalm 63:8 says "My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me."

God, I desire nothing more than for Bekham to have a heart and a passion for You and Your kingdom. I want him to love you first and foremost all the days of his life. I want others to see his passion and be attracted to You because of it.

(This photo is not from the beach, but its too cute NOT to post!)

31 Ways to Pray for Your Children: Willingness and Ability to Work Hard

Well today is Thursday and the week is drawing to a rapid close. Today two of my nieces and I entered the dessert challenge with a Walking on Sunshine themed cupcake and presentation (music included!) They had a ball! We all wore yellow dresses and Hawaiian leis. We will see if we win- its a tough competition here at Holden Beach!

Today's prayer of the day is for Willingness and Ability to Work Hard. The verse that goes with this prayers is a familiar one from Colossians 3:23- "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as if working for the Lord and not for men."


God, I pray that you would give Bekham the willingness and ability to do his work with all his heart. Teach him to do everything, big or small, to the best of his ability. Give him the desire to work hard. Give him a healthy body to work hard. Give him motivation and drive to work hard. But most of all, give him the willingness to do it all for You.

31 Ways to Pray for Your Children: Hope

This post will be short and maybe not so sweet. I'm exhausted and should be sleeping along with my child. My child, who by the way, is logging awesome naps every day, but yet always tired and cranky in between naps and night time. Just cannot figure him out!

Today's prayer of the day is for Hope. Lord knows we need hope! Romans 15:13 says "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." The most wonderful thing I've learned about Biblical hope is that it is an indication of certainty- a confident expectation. Often times we use the word hope as a "wish" or expectation without certainty. The scriptural meaning is strong. It is not static or passive. It's dynamic, and its active. As one author puts it, "A Biblical hope is not an escape from reality or from problems. It doesn't leave us idle, drifting, or just rocking on the front porch. If our hope is biblical and based on God's promises, it will put is in gear." Biblical hope changes how we see ourselves, what we value, it affects what we do with our lives. Biblical hope gives us joy and peace (hence Romans 15:13). It gives us protection. It gives us strength, courage, and boldness. It gives us endurance, comfort, and confidence in the face of death. 


Jesus, I thank you that we do have hope in You, even in the face of death. I thank you that our salvation is our hope in you. I pray that Bekham would understand this hope the moment he accepts you as his Lord and Savior. I pray that he would truly live a Spirit filled life so that he may overflow with hope. Help him understand that his hope in you is confident and strong. Its certain. It is not merely a wish or a desire.