I’ve always wanted our kids to feel the most comfortable, the most celebrated and the most accepted in our home. My friend Kat takes it a step further and says she wants her children to feel God’s presence–his peace, love and goodness when they climb into the minivan after school and practices. I love the idea of our car, our house and anywhere our family is together, as a comforting little bubble.
This morning, I felt tension in the car. Maybe it was the half-eaten apple in the back seat, the fact we didn’t finish our homework from the day before or the argument-about-nothing as we walked down the stairs. I could have given the kids a talking to, or sat in silence on the way to school. Instead, I fished out Yancy’s Roots for the Journey CD and sang over my kids.
Yup. Sang over them. I cranked up the volume enough so no one could talk and I sang. I’m not a singer, y’all. But I sang every word of those Scripture-based songs as a loud prayer over my kids.
I sang and prayed they would know God’s new mercies this morning and that they would rely on God’s joy for their strength. I sang and prayed they would remember God as their strong tower, the One who keeps them safe–“safe in His arms, safe in His hands, safe in His love that is never going to end, safe when they wake up, safe when they sleep.” I sang and prayed they would recognize God as their perfect Creator, the one who knows them and loves them just as they are.
In that short drive, on the way to school, I felt God’s presence in our car. God’s Word, put to music, was living and active in our car. I believe it was a prophetic, powerful prayer–not because I prayed it, or because Yancy recorded it. But because GOD’S WORD IS LIVING AND ACTIVE, sharper than any double-edged sword! And when we speak God’s Word (YES, SPEAK IT! OUT LOUD!) over our children, over our lives, over our husbands, our friends and family–we will see God move. We will see God’s Word for what it is–alive!
Maybe you wouldn’t belt out a song in the car, but you can walk through your kids’ rooms while they are at school and pray God’s Word over their beds and their desks. You can lay hands on their heads while they sleep and pray God’s peace, provision and power in their lives. God’s already laid out so many promises and directions in His Word. Use His words to pray for your children. Create a place of peace and comfort in your car, in your home–not just by having freshly-baked cookies when they come home, or hugs when they walk through the door–but by surrounding your children with God’s powerful, living Word!
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Also, Yancy’s Roots for the Journey is free on Amazon Prime! Or you can snag your own CD for the car on her website.
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This is such an inspirational post! I scroll through my news feed several times a day and see parents stressing about waiting in car lines to pick up or drop off their children, and this post has perfect timing. I handle social media communication for my church, and I shared this post as an admin. I also shared it to serve as a way for parents to create a sanctuary for their kids as they get in the cars from a hectic day at school. Thanks for writing this!
Thank you, Tina! I’m honored you shared it w/your church. 🙂
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in tears… beautiful my friend.
Oh my….this post was the hug I needed. Thank you.
I LOVE this post, what you did and who you are as a Mom to your kids.
Thanks for sharing!
xoxo
Y
Yes! We almost always listen to KLOVE in the car, and we all sing. It definitely keeps any issues at bay, it gives a different atmosphere in the car, and if anyone starts to tune out what they are listening to in favor of say, arguing with a sibling, I turn it up and we all end up singing again. And I really love hearing my kids singing praise songs while playing, when there is no music on and we aren’t in the car 🙂