Mother's Prayers

(This is an excerpt from a previous post, “Mother’s Hats.)

Thank God for Mothers who pray! You might think Mom always knows and always has the answers. But, she knows she doesn’t. That’s why—-late at night or early in the morning, and sometimes in the middle of the night—-if you sneak into the family room or kitchen, you will see Mother in her most glorious hat, the hat of the prayer-warrior.

You see, sometimes Mothers don’t get the answers they want when they ask the questions. They worry about rashes, bumps and scrapes. They may not know what all the medical terms are, but they know when you just aren’t yourself. They worry about the older kids that come around their children, and what happens at school or the playground or the park.

When kids get older, Mothers are troubled by rebellious looks, hateful remarks, shifty eyes, strange words, reluctance to go to church and a resistance to do the right things that had never before arisen.

She knows you’re vulnerable as you enter changes in your life.
She sees the pain on your expression when someone disses you.
She sees signs of spiritual struggle.
She knows when you’re not around the altar.
Sometimes, she doesn’t like the relationships you’re getting into.
She sees the far-off look in your eyes, and it worries her.
Your spiritual well-being is the single most important thing in her life.

And so she prays. Sometimes, she feels like she just can’t get through to you. She can’t watch you all the time. She doesn’t know all of the influences you may be under.

And so she prays. If the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much, you can double that for a mother. The very demons of hell tremble when a mother comes after them with intercessory prayer. The mothers of the Bible say, “Pray on!”

Hannah: 1 Samuel 1:15-17 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

Deborah: Judges 5:1-2 Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying, 2 Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel , when the people willingly offered themselves. The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel , until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel .

I’m confident that behind the successes of Isaac were the prayers of his mother, Sarah. Rebekah must have prayed for Jacob, Jochebed for Moses, Hannah for Samuel, and unnamed mothers for Isaiah, Jeremiah, and the long line of prophets. A grandmother named Lois and a mother named Eunice must have prayed for Timothy. Mighty patriarchs, prophets, priests and kings all must attribute their blessings to mothers who knew how to pray.

Mothers, on this Mother’s Day, you may be weary and distraught. Satan may have told you that you are fighting a losing battle. You may feel inadequate, outsmarted, helpless and hopeless. But, you’re none of these things as long as you can pray!

Pray through the attack of Satan on your home and children.
Pray through the clouds of darkness that try to suffocate you.
Pray through the attempts of evil influence to destroy everything you’ve instilled in your kids.
Pray—-not with resignation, but with resolve!
Pray first, pray last, and fill up the hours in between with whispered prayer.
Find time, make time, take time to pray.
Pray early, pray late, pray often.
Pray softly, pray loudly, pray fervently.
No one can represent your children before the throne of God like you can.
It is time that the mothers in Israel arose. There is a mighty prayer army that moves the very throne of God.