• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

March 5, 2012

Praying for your kids…a Simply Sunday Series

MP900438625 (2)-1

My kids have been playing together a lot more lately.
Not in a begrudging, “Mom is making us do this” kind of way.
But in a, “Hey, I’ve finally realized just how much fun we could have together” kind of way.
Now, you may be wondering why that would be such a big deal.
Well, I’ll tell you.
I have been praying for this.
Praying that they would discover the joy of having a sibling.
Praying that their relationship would grow and flourish.
Praying that they would just have fun together!

So, for me this is a BIG deal.
It is an answer to our prayers.
And it has served as a reminder of just how very important it is to be praying for our kids.
Not only for their safety, health, happiness and well-being.
But for so much more!
You see, I truly believe that a big part of the reason why my children have been playing so well together and growing in their relationship is because not only have we prayed for that specific area, we have also been praying for very specific character traits to be developed in them.
Some might even call them “Virtues“.
In the Fall of 2010, we found ourselves squished into those teeny tiny classroom chairs when we attended parent orientation at my son’s school. He was going into the first grade and we knew this was the beginning of a big change since he would be away from home all day long. My heart almost couldn’t bear it!
But knowing the love that his teachers (they job-shared) had for those kids was a huge comfort.
And then one of them handed all the parents a pamphlet entitled:
31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids

She said that she firmly believed in the power of praying for our children and that she hoped this would be a tool for us to use as we prayed for our kiddos.
She also said that she would be praying daily for each and every one of them.
Oh, how I love this school!

We took that little pamphlet and put it in our bathroom where we would see it every morning and say a quick prayer for our kids in one of the areas listed.

As part of the Praying for your Kids series, every Sunday in the month of March we will be providing you a week’s worth of Virtues to pray for your kids with accompanying scripture.

And, we are so thrilled to have some fantastic guests lined up who will share how the power of prayer has impacted their own families.

We hope and pray that this will be an encouragement to you as you navigate the challenging waters of parenting. Isn’t it so wonderful to know that we can look to God’s word for guidance and wisdom?
We are so grateful to not have to go it alone!

So, now let me share with you this week’s Virtues to be praying for your kids.


Week One
Sunday~Salvation: “Lord, let salvation spring up within my children, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory” (Is. 45:8, 2 Tim. 2:10)
Monday~Growth in grace: “I pray that my children may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18)
Tuesday~Love: “Grant, Lord, that my children may learn to live a life of love, through the Spirit who dwells in them” (Gal 5:25, Eph. 5:2)
Wednesday~Honesty and Integrity: “May integrity and honesty by their virtue and their protection” 
(Ps. 25:21)
Thursday~Self-Control: “Father, help my children not to be like many others around them, but let them be alert and self-controlled in all they do” (1 Thess. 5:6)
Friday~Love for God’s Word: “May my children grow to find Your Word more precious than much pure gold and sweeter than honey from the comb” (Ps. 19:10)
Saturday~Justice: “God, help my children to love justice as You do and act justly in all they do” (Ps. 11:7, Mic. 6:8)

Be sure to come back next week when we will have the next set of Virtues AND a special guest sharing from their own experience in praying for their kids!
Thanks so much for joining me for this Simply Sunday at the Fence,

1553F4F30A9801A6AFB3E9C624118E7B

Join us by clicking on the “Follow Me” on our sidebar! Visit our Linky Followers introduction post and our Linky Followers Tutorial for more information!
Email Updates
Facebook Page
Pinterest

18 Comments Filed Under: Devotionals, Praying for your Kids, Simply Sundays

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « Welcome to Inspiration Friday No. 54!
Next Post: DIY Trumeau Mirror »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says

    March 4, 2012 at 3:09 PM

    Oh this is so important and it never ends. It is so special that you are raising your children to love the Lord and showing them by your example. Hugs, Marty

    Reply
  2. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    March 4, 2012 at 3:23 PM

    What a beautiful way to start the day Vanessa. Thank you for sharing this with us, I look forward to the next set of Virtues!

    Reply
  3. Tanya@takesix says

    March 4, 2012 at 3:25 PM

    Amen Vanessa!!! Thank you for this important reminder!

    Reply
  4. NanaDiana says

    March 4, 2012 at 4:35 PM

    Vanessa- I agree with this so fully. There is nothing more important for a parent to do than to pray over/for their children. When my kids got older and were going out with friends/dating I would always pray that they would be hedged by angels and I always felt some comfort in that act. They all endured the teenage years without a lot of distress. (well, except for having a crazy Mom that insisted their room be clean before they did anything with friends!;>) xo Diana

    Reply
  5. Susan (My Place to Yours) says

    March 4, 2012 at 7:29 PM

    What a wonderful series, ladies! There is no greater gift we can give our children and grandchildren (or the neighbor’s children) than to pray for them, asking God to draw them to Him. How perfect that Day One is salvation.

    Reply
  6. Caneel says

    March 4, 2012 at 9:17 PM

    Beautiful post – thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  7. Ramblings of a Southern Girl ~ Rhonda G says

    March 4, 2012 at 9:55 PM

    Great post! I believe in the power of praying for our children! I truly believe it was the founding and foremost reason my daughter got into the college she has, and that we are provided the funds to pay for it! Giving Him all the glory! I can’t wait to read the rest of this series and the scriptures accompanying! Thanks so much for sharing this series! 🙂

    Reply
  8. Good Time Charlie says

    March 4, 2012 at 11:01 PM

    So beautiful. I have a firm faith in the importance of praying for our children. I pray for each of my children for different things, but your prayer was so important, and was heard because it brought more love and more harmony to your home. The relationship we forge in our homes and with our siblings shapes us to how we will be as adults. You are doing a great job of making some future amazing adults!

    Reply
  9. Kim | At Home With Kim says

    March 4, 2012 at 3:48 PM

    LOVE this idea! And will be praying these virtues over my children. I will look so forward to all the future posts.

    Reply
  10. Becca says

    March 4, 2012 at 11:56 PM

    Thank you. I am sharing this with a couple of my good girlfriends so we can pray for our grandchildren.

    Reply
  11. Dayle Allen Shockley says

    March 5, 2012 at 12:59 AM

    There’s nothing more important we can do for our children than to pray for them, even when they’re grown, as mine is. I’m so thankful to have praying parents who still pray for me every day.

    Reply
  12. All Things Chic 2 says

    March 5, 2012 at 1:30 AM

    Hi , what an answer to prayer finding your blog has been…Praying for my children is something I do not do enough of…Thanks…I invite you to visit my blog as well…Blessings Lori…Your newest follower!!!

    Reply
  13. Eilis says

    March 5, 2012 at 1:49 AM

    One of the amazing things about watching my “kids” (22,22, and 17)get older has been seeing them really become friends. Now that they have their own lives, they appreciate each other so much more. They actually see the wonderful people that their siblings are growing into. I love that. (It was almost worth all the years of sibling rivalry….)
    Eilis
    my-heart-lives-here

    Reply
  14. Kristin says

    March 5, 2012 at 2:29 AM

    So good.
    So true.
    The power of prayer IS amazing!
    Can’t wait until next week!
    XO

    Reply
  15. Janet says

    March 5, 2012 at 3:42 AM

    Sounds like an awesome private Christian school. If a teacher in a public school did that (at least here in CT) she’d be fired! My son has autism and was in therapeutic day schools that helped tremendously (as did my church family prayers), my daughter went to public until high school. She was so abused, not just bullied, by peers, she was severely depressed. Private Christian high school that was only affordable by God’s grace (we sweated paying pre-school!)was SO different. If you’d like a guest post for a Sunday, email me? SO happy for you all. Janet craftythriftydecoratingwifemom.wordpress.com

    Reply
  16. Christy says

    March 5, 2012 at 5:32 AM

    Oh how I love this!! This came and the right time for our household. Thank you!!

    Reply
  17. Mr. Smith@TheSmithGarage says

    March 4, 2012 at 11:55 PM

    Great post – thanks for inspiring on Sunday.

    Reply
  18. melissa@joyineveryseason says

    March 8, 2012 at 6:15 AM

    I’m praying for my four children from a prayer notebook I made ten years ago … it’s beyond wonderful to see how God has answered so many of the prayers I prayed for them when they were just little guys. I love these virtues & their corresponding Bible verses … I’ll be adding them to my prayer book. Thank you so much!

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Good Time Charlie Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Stay updated!

Must Reads

Recent Posts

  • Why We’ve Chosen Vacations Over Projects April 26, 2022
  • A New Look for the Family Room March 1, 2022
  • Christmas Kitchen and Family Room December 19, 2021
  • Christmas Home Tour Part One December 10, 2021
  • Easy Hot Cocoa Station November 21, 2021

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

I’m slightly obsessed with lavender and have pla I’m slightly obsessed with lavender and have planted it all around our home. Seeing it waving in the breeze, using it to make simple syrup and just breathing it in as I walk past fills my soul!
Matthew 7:13-14 says, “Enter through the narrow Matthew 7:13-14 says, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.”.
.
When I was a little girl we took a trip to Silver Dollar City theme park in Branson, MO. One of the attractions there is the Marvel Cave. The whole theme park was actually built right around the cave! I will never forget the feeling of descending into the darkness. We had to walk down a steep, narrow path and I could feel the rocky walls beginning to close in on me. From time to time, our guide would even have to call out for us to duck our heads so as not to whack them on rocks that were jutting out. And just when it felt like we had been walking forever; just when it felt the most narrow and the most dark; just when we were starting to get really weary from navigating this path, we turned the corner and found ourselves awestruck as we gazed at this enormous room. Everywhere we looked there were stalactites and stalagmites. Lights had been installed and they reflected off of these formations creating the most beautiful colors on the walls. There were pools of water in a shade of aquamarine I had never seen before and waterfalls flowing from upper levels. That long, winding, damp trek had been so very worth it. The descent into darkness had revealed light…and life!

My prayer for you friends, is that you will look at that narrow path with the small gate as an opportunity. It’s an opportunity to experience the kind of freedom that our souls are longing for. The wide and broad path of the world promises us a freedom that is fleeting and temporary. But at the end of the narrow path, there is hope and peace and life everlasting.

I’m choosing the narrow path. And in spite of the hardships, in spite of the challenges and the fears and the times that can feel as dark as the journey down into a cave, I wouldn’t trade a single minute of it.
Happy weekend!! My limelight’s are finally bloom Happy weekend!! My limelight’s are finally blooming and I try really hard to not play favorites among the flowers in my garden but these beauties have my heart and bring me so much joy.

What’s bringing you joy today dear friends?
I can’t properly express how much joy it gives m I can’t properly express how much joy it gives me to know that my family loves being home. After a weeklong vacation, we all feel so happy to be back in our haven. As a homemaker in the truest sense of the word (the maker of a home), knowing my husband and children consider this the place where they feel the most relaxed and at peace means all of my intentions and efforts in this area are worthwhile. It’s not perfect and WE are not perfect by a long stretch. But, it’s where we feel the most free to be imperfect. And that makes it pretty wonderful! 🌱
Looking for a super simple summer meal? I made the Looking for a super simple summer meal? I made these last night and they were a big hit! I’ve seen variations of these online but this is my version. So yummy and ready in no time! 
#summerdinner #summerrecipes #grillingseason #grilling #easydinner #easydinnerideas
It’s been the weirdest summer so far here in the It’s been the weirdest summer so far here in the Willamette Valley! Extreme rain and cooler temperatures followed by extreme heat then back to cloudy and rainy. But the silver lining is that when the sun finally does reappear we definitely don’t take it for granted. My mood is lifting along with the clouds and I’m here for it! ☀️
Happy Independence Day!! 🇺🇸❤️🤍💙 M Happy Independence Day!! 🇺🇸❤️🤍💙

May we never take for granted the freedom given to us not by earthly authorities but by the ONE true authority. And may we live in such a way as to honor those who fought for and protect freedom and liberty. 

“Independence Day, freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed – else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.” Dwight D. Eisenhower
Happy Friday!! I’m working on a blog post to sha Happy Friday!! I’m working on a blog post to share all of the details of our family room shelving makeover but I’m super impatient and just had to give you all a sneak peek!! We are SO happy with how they turned out and it finally looks like I’ve always envisioned. Our quick fix years ago (scroll to see the before photo) never felt quite right but now? Soooo much better!! 🙌🏻 Big shoutout to our amazingly talented friend Matt @redemptive_woodworx for bringing our vision to life and doing such impeccable work.

I hope you all have a great start to the 4th of July weekend and make sure to check my stories later for Friday Funnies!
“Summer breeze, makes me feel fine. Blowing thro “Summer breeze, makes me feel fine. Blowing through the jasmine in my mind.” Nothing captures the aroma of summer for me quite like jasmine. With my windows open, the whole house is naturally scented and it’s one of my favorite parts of the season.
The month of June is coming to a close and it has The month of June is coming to a close and it has been JAM packed! The highlight by far though was my son's graduation from high school. When I started blogging, he was only 6 years old and some of you have been apart of my community here for that entire time. Now, he's 19 and there is a reason parents are told not to blink because the years truly do go faster than I ever could have imagined. He has become such an incredible young man we are so excited to see how God is going to unfold the next chapter of his life. We celebrated with parties galore (SO many open houses to attend!) and made memories we'll forever cherish. My mama heart was filled to bursting with the joy of it all! Now we're taking some time to just enjoy these warm, summer days making even more memories because, when you’re at this stage of parenting, you know all too well how much you need to grasp every opportunity to spend time together.

I hope your summer is off to a great start too dear friends! 🪴
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2022 At The Picket Fence