source: frog throat
When Lydia started Kindgergarten, her school gave me a little booklet with tips for homeschooling, organizational ideas and Scripture prayer prompts. The prayer prompts were taken from Moms in Prayer and our school even had a Moms in Prayer Group that met each Friday morning. Well, Friday is our homeschool day, so I wasn’t going to bring both kids back to school an additional day for a prayer group!
Last year, I started thinking, “Maybe I should start a prayer group for the families that go to school our session.” (Our school is essentially two schools–one going 2 days a week, the other session goes 2 different days) But if I started the prayer group then, I WOULD HAVE TO BE IN CHARGE. I did not want to do that.
In these last two years I’ve read so many prayer books and even had this great idea to start an email chain with all the moms from Lydia’s class so we could pray for each kid in the class every week. (Which I didn’t do. See all-caps above.) So, I was overjoyed to see on the first day of school someone started a prayer group for our session!
I emailed the leader to make sure I could bring a full-of-energy 4 year old named Asa. Then I hemmed and hawed and didn’t go last week.
Well, today, after Asa sat in the kids’ room coloring and eating lunch at the gym, I said, “I can’t go the gym five days a week and then not make time to go to a prayer group once a week.” I felt like Asa was seeing me work out my body more than my spirit. So, right before carpool, we ran to the chapel for the Moms in Prayer Group.
There were only 6 mamas in attendance with kids ranging from preschool to 10th grade. After they introduced themselves they asked me what grade my daughter was in.
“Second.”, I answered.
“Second? Last week prayed that God would send us a second grade mom!”
Seriously.
Is that the craziest thing you’ve ever heard?
Then, right in the middle of asking for prayer requests I got a text from Jen about her friend who’s 2 month old daughter died today. (Ugh. Can you even believe it?) So, I said, “I know this is a friend-of-a-friend thing, but can we pray for her?” I’d say every single person in the room had tears in their eyes. Six mamas in another state were lifting up that grieving mom today. Because a second grade mom they prayed into the group decided to show up.
Isn’t that crazy?
I don’t consider myself spiritually gifted in prayer. I’m not a prayer warrior by nature. But in the past few years, I’ve discovered something—God is moved by our prayers. Our little words and flitting thoughts that spill out of our mouths–be they eloquent or not, partner with God. I don’t understand it. I don’t get why God would care what I say, or encourage me to pray to Him. It almost doesn’t make sense.
But it’s how God works. He allows us to be a conduit of His power and love.
From what I can tell, the group follows a schedule laid out by Moms in Prayer International. It was really organized, simple and not overwhelming if you’re not a big pray-out-loud person. It’s not just for homeschoolers or Christian school kids. They have groups for every type of family and school out there! You can search for a group here and maybe if you don’t mind being the one in charge, start one yourself.
I’m excited to see where this weekly prayer goes: what relationships are built and prayers answered. I’m also excited for Asa to see me put a priority on prayer. Plus, I can pick Lydia up an extra 10 minutes early and miss carpool. *grin*
Do you have a Moms In Prayer group at your school? Would you consider starting one? Has God ever answered one of your simple little prayers?
So interesting that you posted this… I went to my first MIP meeting yesterday:) My son in in first grade in a new school this year, and I just really felt led to pray over him and the school. I love the organized “agenda”. I found it to be very helpful.
Cool! I’m w/you–I liked the agenda. It was cool to imagine other moms doing this all over the world! 🙂
a
For two years I met with a wonderful group of women (was called “Moms In Touch” back then) to pray over the needs of our Christian school. It was an incredible healing time for me, as I had been allowed by our Heavenly Father to be broken by a “sister” Christian school.
Today your blog has caused me to seek out a similar group in my younger sons’ charter school. Thank you for the nudge!
Thank you for sharing your story, Melody. Excited you’re going to find one for your son’s school. 🙂
a
LOVE stories like these. Proves things do not happen simply by “chance”. God is in all the details!
I had lead MIP group at my school where I am both teacher and parent for a year now. I love it, and even with low or no attendance, I still pray for our school. This post was my reminder to keep going and not give up!
Oh I LOVE stuff like that. God is so cool!
Starting my 3rd year of Moms In Prayer! I cannot say enough about it!
Last year we put our son in a mom’s morning out class through our church’s preschool. I thought I would take some ‘me’ time but ended up finding so many ways to serve at the church while he was there and it was ‘me’ time. One morning there was a Moms In Prayer time and my heart swelled knowing I could gather with other moms and a few of the staff to pray for my little man, other children and the staff. At the end of the school year, the leader announced that she would be stepping down since her children were graduating to kindergarten and a new leader would be needed. Over the summer, I felt God calling me to lead the group but I did not want to seem like an over-enthusiastic mom but that was Satan trying to make me not do what God wanted. At orientation the other week, I asked one of the staff if anyone had come forward to lead the group yet. Of course no one had because God had that spot open for me. I said I would pray about it and the next day called them to say I would lead a group. Another mom had also come forward to lead a group so she will do one for the Monday/Wednesday/Friday moms and I will lead the Tuesday/Thursday moms! I feel so privileged to have this opportunity to come before my Holy Father in prayer with other moms and staff members.
Oooh! I JUST found your blog tonight and I am so comforted and encouraged by this post. Thank you for writing!
I’ve never heard of it, but prayer groups are so powerful.
Will you pray for my friend’s husband? His name is Glenn and he desperately needs to find a new job with insurance to provide for their family. I am praying fervently this will happen SOON. I would love it if your group would life this situation up. My friend is very discouraged and has a lot of health issues but feels like she can’t get them taken care of because the bills are so high.
I am trying to get ideas to start a moms group at my church. trying to figure out topics and kids pages and what we should do and when we should meet?? My brain is flooding with thoughts but don’t know what to do? I will start this but don’t know all the details and its driving me crazy. thanks for the suggestions
April-you can go to the Moms in Prayer website to get started. The topics are already listed for you on the website (search for partially filled in prayer sheets). I also bought a kit to get started at as leader at Christian Book Distributors. It included brochures to hand out and booklets about how to organize a group and get started. Hope this helps!