a new day

A few nights ago, I started reading a new book book that's been on my shelf a while. One that I've had good intentions of reading, but seem to have always let the business and tiredness or the do something-elseness of they day get the best of me. My friend Sarah gave it to me- The Power of a Praying Parent.

It's a beautiful book. What a responsibilty we have as parents, future parents, Godparents... to pray for our children. I think it's so easy to get into the habit of soley bedtime/mealtime prayer, which is a great habit to establish with them- that's how our little ones learn how to pray. Doesn't that touch your heart in a way like no other when they do? They pray for real. Sometimes I think we could learn a thing or two from the way they pray. Holden doesn't beat around the bush. He prays for what he's really thinking about, not what he thinks God wants to hear. If you grew up without those specific prayer times being apart of your childhood, it's so easy to check them off your list as doing your duty. You know what I mean? The book begins with a verse that, for me, puts the importance of praying, on our own for our children, in perspective-

Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord.

Lift your hands toward Him for the life of your young children.

Lamentations 2:19

The more I read those two verses, the more it sinks in. Isn't that a beautiful verse? I've gotten out of the habit of having a "me time" with the Lord. It was so easy to do when I just had one little one running around. But the more children we add to our family, the more I'm realizing how crucial it is that I have a set aside time, each day, for God to feed me and gear me up for the day. I hear God better in the quiet of the morning. Tim leaves for work at the crack of dawn (bless his heart-really) and usually, I squeeze his hand and tell him that I love him from the bed. But what a great time for me to get up and begin my day on the right note- Praying for my three children, Tim, myself, and allowing God prepare my heart for what's to come in my day. I'm not great at just opening up my Bible and going from there. I need some type of guide/study to help me start the dig in my Bible. So, I'll be using this book as a guide/study. And I'm really excited.