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How To Fight For Your Child’s Spiritual Survival

Reading Time: 6 min 19 sec

“Mommy!” a yell ripped through a fog of sleep, sending me bolt right up in bed. I scrambled to my feet and raced toward the sound. Throwing open the door, I fell to my knees beside her bed and gathered her up in my arms.

Between gasping sobs, the story of the terrifying nightmare unfolded. She clung to me, refusing to let go.

Fear can be a paralyzing enemy.

We are all in a spiritual battle. Our children are not exempt from the lies, fear, and twisted plans of Satan. All throughout the Bible, there are examples of Satan’s single-minded purpose for our destruction. It began with the lie in the Garden of Eden, and then he wove his way through the lives of men and women throughout history.

We are going to talk about how to use prayer to fight for your child’s spiritual survival.

1. Pray For Your Child: Protection

2. Pray For Your Child: Our Role

3. Pray For Your Child: Warfare Prayers

1. Pray For Your Child: Protection

In our enlightened culture, the concept of demons and angels can feel like something out of a Hollywood movie, right up there with zombies. The whole idea just doesn’t seem real. With our obsession with control, we don’t like to spend much time contemplating that there are forces we can’t see that are fighting for our destruction. It can feel so juvenile.

But Peter the apostle has a different message for us, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 1 Peter 5:8

He says be alert, resist Satan by standing firm in the faith. And know that you are not alone in your sufferings. We need to remember that as we face challenging situations or experiences, they are not always a direct result of a demonic attack, but could also be the result of living in a sinful world where there is pain and suffering.

Jesus himself underwent a severe (and blatant) testing by Satan in Matthew 4:1-11. It says this, “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

–Satan strategically attacks us most often when we are weak. He waited until Jesus was physically and mentally depleted from fasting before he struck. It says, “Jesus was hungry”.

“Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

–Satan strategically attacks our identity. Multiple times he challenges Jesus with these words, “If you are the Son of God”.

“Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

-Satan is a liar. He loves to weave webs of illusion. It says, “He showed Jesus the kingdoms of the world” and then had the gall to tell Jesus that he ruled the world.

“Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.”

-Satan is also persistent. He attacked Jesus three times before he finally left.

We live between the first and second coming. And until Jesus returns, Satan is determined to prevent our children from having a deep relationship with Jesus. Satan doesn’t fight fair. He doesn’t wait until our children are grown up: to start attacking them with fear, lies about their identity, and anything else that would drive a wedge between your child and God.

2. Pray For Your Child: Our Role

Our role as parents is to protect and equip our children from Satan’s webs of deceit. In 1 Peter 5:2-3 it says, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”

We are called to be shepherds for our children. Serving them by guarding and protecting their hearts against the schemes of the enemy.

Here are a couple of ways we can shepherd our children.

a. Serve as Prayer Warrior

We are called to protect our children by covering them in prayer. We pray protection over their hearts, their minds, their souls, and their bodies. We pray that guardian angels would surround them through the day and night. We pray against the lies of the enemy and that God would replace those lies with his truth. We pray a blessing over them, and that their hearts would always be soft to the things of God.

b. Equip Your Child

We are called to equip our children with tools needed to resist Satan. God, in his infinite mercy, and love gave us several tools at our disposal to stand firm against Satan’s plans. The first of which is the Holy Spirit, who serves as a guide helping us discern between spirits. (1 Cor. 12:10) We can teach our children to invite the Holy Spirit daily into their lives. Asking him to give them ears to hear his voice.

Ephesians chapter six is another tool that serves as a model for teaching our children to daily put on the armor of God. It says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:10-17

Prayer is crucial to your child’s ability to resist Satan.

c. As An Example

Children learn best through experience, and your daily relationship with God is a living model for your children. As you experience new depths to your relationship with God that hunger and love for God spills out into all of your relationships. You can teach your children how to stand firm against the lies of Satan all day long but what sticks with them is your own relationship with God. More is caught than taught.

3. Praying For Your Child: Warfare Prayers

Preparing and interceding for your child doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here are a couple of ideas of warfare prayers that are very effective and only take a couple of minutes.

Armor of God Prayer

“Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:13-17,

Protection over Hearts and Minds

“Father, We ask that you would guard _____(child’s name) and keep ___ (him/her) safe. We ask that you would put a hedge of protection around_____ (his/her) heart, mind, body, and soul. Surround ______(him/her) with your guardian angels and uproot any lies from Satan and replace them with your truth. Remind____ (him/her) of who _____(he/she) is, your beloved child. Let ____(him/her) experience the depth of your lavish love today. We love you and praise you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Protection over Your Child As They Sleep
Pray Protection for Travel
Pray Your Own Prayer Based on Childs Circumstances

If you want to know how to get started in living a deep life with God; grab our Deeper Life Beginners Guide (below). And join our community of moms who are hungry for more Jesus in their lives and in the lives of their families.

What about you? What is your #1 issue when it comes to praying for your kids? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!

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One Simple Family Prayer That Has Astonishing Results

Reading Time: 4 min 48 sec

It was the best day of the year, his birthday. A shy grin stretched across his face as he was surrounded on every side with aunts, and uncles, grandparents, and cousins, siblings, and parents. He listened to the rousing rendition of the Happy Birthday song, which ended with the sound of cheers and laughter.

His face hurt from smiling. His anticipation rising, he heard the crowd get closer, felt the big and little hands of family members rest on his shoulders, head, and back. His eyes drifted shut, the part he had waited for all year had finally arrived.

And then one by one, the voices of his dearly loved ones, celebrated their love for him with the Creator of the Universe. Their prayers recognized the fingerprints of the Holy Spirit at work in his life. Every person ended their prayer with a blessing.

His face bowed, his heart full, their words enveloped him, reminding him of who he was, where he came from, and where he was going. The experience lasted only a couple of minutes, but the effects were felt to the end of his days.

“A Blessing given in love and faith is a precious gift to a child.” Catherine Stonehouse, Listening to Children On The Spiritual Journey.

Today, I want to share with you one-simple prayer that can’t help but change the trajectory of your child’s life.

1. Family Praying: Jesus’ Model

2. Family Praying: Blessing Prayers

3. Family Praying: When To Pray A Blessing

1. Family Praying: Jesus’ Model

The prayer of blessing has been around since the beginning of time. Throughout the Old Testament, we have examples of parents and elders laying hands on their children and praying blessing over them. The most famous example is found in Mark 10:13-16, where Jesus stops everything and blesses the children.

It says this, “The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: “Don’t push these children away. Don’t ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them.”

I love how it reads in the Message translation, “gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them.” Prayer is an active experience. Blessing prayers are not just a verbal but a physical act of anointing future generations. Positive touch, by the laying on of hands or through a hug, communicates God’s love, incarnate to that child.

Imagine the power, of your child not only hearing a verbal expression of thankfulness, love, and blessing but feeling God’s love through your physical touch and presence.

Vernie Schorr Love, in her book, Spiritual Disciplines for Children, says it this way, “The combination of words and touch leaves children with the deep sense of being loved, accepted, cared for, and valued. Blessings speak hope, life, and a sense of belonging, worth, and competence into them. Blessings lay the groundwork for children’s inheritance to multiply with each generation.”

Your act of engaging in the practice of blessing your child can affect the spiritual lives of your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. What a wonderful legacy to leave your family!

2. Family Praying: Blessing Prayers

There are a couple of different ways that you can pray a blessing over your children. You can speak your own prayer over them. You might use a combination of calling out where you see God at work in their lives and in asking for his protection and blessing over their future.

A prayer of blessing does not need to be elaborate or long. I remember Jesus’ words as he encourages us in Matthew 6:8 of how to pray, “This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply.”

If you prefer to speak a written blessing over your child, here are some suggestions to get you started:

1. “May the peace of Jesus fill you,

The Love of Jesus surround you,

And the presence of Jesus guard you,

Now as you sleep, and all your life.” -Angela Ashwin

2. “May God Bless you and keep you.

May God turn toward you and be gracious to you.

May God turn to you and grant you peace.

May the light of God shine over you.

May the Holy Spirit fill you.

May the blood of Jesus cover you.

May you sleep/live/go in peace. (Use the verb that suits the setting)

And may you always know just how much the Lord Jesus loves you.” Scottie May

3. “_____, (child’s name), your name means ______ , and _________. We see your tender attitude toward your friends and ours. You are able to see the needs of others and often ask us to pray with you for them. We ask God to continue to bless us and to bless you as you grow, learn, love God, and obey his ways. We love you and thank God for sending you to us.” Vernie Schorr Love

3. Family Praying: When To Pray A Blessing

Prayers of blessing can take place at any time. I have found that it’s helpful to tie a prayer of blessing to a specific event or time of day. This practice helps me to be intentional about incorporating blessing prayer into our lives instead of always postponing it to some date in the future.

Personally, I use blessing prayers on my children’s birthdays, and each night before they go to bed. Children love traditions and birthdays can serve as a great opportunity to intentionally include other people in speaking prayers of blessing over them.

Bedtime blessings are POWERFUL! I cannot tell you the number of rich conversations and positive connections with Jesus that have happened as a result of a bedtime blessing. It can become this deep place of connection with your child. “Children mentioned their bed and their bedroom more frequently than any other as a place where they talked to God and sensed God’s presence.” Listening To God on The Spiritual Journey

There is such power in the liturgy of laying your hand on your child’s head each night and speaking words of affirmation and blessing over them. That time right before they fall asleep, is a very thin place, where children are most aware of the movement of the Holy Spirit. This is where there is an amazing opportunity for your child to experience deep connections with God and with you.

Here are some ideas of when to use blessing prayers:

Birthdays
New Years
Thanksgiving
Bedtime
Meal Times
Important Milestones (Baptism, Graduations, etc.)

I can’t wait to see what God will do through the intentional and simple practice of praying a blessing over your children.

If you want to know how to get started in living a deep life with God; grab our Deeper Life Beginners Guide (below). And join our community of moms who are hungry for more Jesus in their lives and in the lives of their families.

What about you? Have you practiced blessing your children? What was their experience of the prayer? I would love to hear your story! Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!

How To Teach Your Kids to Pray When You Have No Clue

Reading Time: 5 min 17 sec

Every Sunday she stared out the window with longing as she watched her next-door neighbors leave all dressed up in their Sunday best for church. She longed for the love, peace, laughter, and stability that the family exuded. And she promised herself that one day when she had a family of her own she would do the same.

Years later, all grown up with three kids of her own, she desperately wonders how to teach her kids to pray when she isn’t comfortable with the practice of praying, herself. She has this vision of three clean little children, all kneeling to pray, but reality overwhelms her like an ice-cold bucket of water.

Her kids are rolling all over the couch, laughing and irritating each other, and prayer seems to have quickly spiraled into a gross-out contest. After several attempts at praying, which resulted in several children being sent to their room for misbehavior, she is left feeling like a failure.

Here are three steps that you can do today with your kids that that don’t require a seminary degree:

1. Kids Pray: Journey Together

2. Kids Pray: Simply

3. Kids Pray: And Respond

1. Kids Pray: Journey Together

In our society, we have been taught to believe that as parents, we have to have all the answers.

Our child’s spiritual journey can sometimes feel like we are driving on a busy highway, desperately trying to interpret the Holy Spirit’s directions while our child is sprawled out on the backseat.

Talk about pressure! However, God created children not as people that need to be filled up with facts, but as spiritual beings.

Catherine Stonehouse in her book, Listening to Children On The Spiritual Journey says this, “Often adults have assumed that they could give children their understanding of God by just telling them what God is like… We cannot literally transmit to them what we know. As they are ready, children construct or form their understandings for themselves, with the gracious presence, encouragement, and guidance of God’s Spirit.”

The Holy Spirit does the heavy lifting! Yay! Right now, he is inviting your child into a deeper relationship with Jesus. Our role, as parents, is in accompanying our children on their spiritual journeys. We do that by helping our kids recognize and respond to the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

One of the most powerful tools at our disposal is our own relationship with Jesus. As you grow in your walk with God, that passion and love for Jesus naturally flow out into every aspect of your life. When your children experience the power of your own authentic relationship with God the longings of their hearts are stirred.

Pat Lynch, in Awakening the Giant, says it this way: “Notice that not once did Jesus make his disciples pray. He just kept on praying until they could contain their hunger no longer and asked Him to teach them how to pray.”

You don’t have to have all the answers or get it “right” when it comes to teaching your kids how to pray. Your role is to help your child look out the window and notice all the amazing landmarks along the way.

2. Kids Pray: Simply

So how do we partner with what the Holy Spirit is doing in the lives of our children? One way is by offering different tools or resources for their journey. Prayer is simply talking with God. Over time, prayer becomes a way of life, a way of being present to God 24/7.

Jesus walks us through how to pray in Matthew 6:6-13 as he says these powerful words.

“Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.”

-Jesus encourages us to find a place where we are free of distractions, where we can be vulnerable, honest, and quiet before God.

“The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense.”

-He shares with us that God doesn’t play games. That we don’t need to teach our children special language, a specific tone of voice, or posture to be seen as holy or to somehow trick God into answering our prayers.

“This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:”

-Jesus also reminds us that our prayers are received on a foundation that is based on a love relationship with God.

“Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what’s best—as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You’re in charge! You can do anything you want! You’re ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes.”

-Jesus models simply talking with God about your needs, asking for forgiveness, praying for protection, and praising him.

The Lord’s Prayer or Psalm 23 are wonderful tools to teach our kids how to pray. Simply. No flowery language or long prayers needed.

3. Kids Pray: And Respond

When we teach our kids to pray, the most amazing gift that we can give our kids is the gift of space. I tell my kids that we are creating “elbow room for the Holy Spirit”. We can get so focused on making sure we include prayer in our everyday lives that we forget that prayer is an active, not passive activity.

Silence at the end (or throughout) prayer forces us to slow down, even for a couple of seconds and to listen and respond to God’s voice. We are reminded that prayer is a conversation between us and God, not an endless monologue.

Silence has been a powerful tool in my own life, and in the lives of my children and the students, I have worked with over the years. The very act of slowing down long enough to hear God’s voice can be used so powerfully by the Holy Spirit. It reminds your child that we serve a talking God, who is very present in our lives. It also encourages children, by helping them move from acquiring more head knowledge about God to an actual experience of God.

So practically, what does this look like? Here are just some of the ideas to teach your kids how to pray:

Start off by focusing on your own relationship with God. Your desire for Jesus sparks a hunger for him in the lives of your children.

Read and wonder together about the Lord’s prayer or Psalm 23. Use it as your family prayer for a week or more.

Practice the habit of prayer by praying for skinned knees, fights, delightful or beautiful moments, hurt feelings, nightmares, or fears. Focus on including him all throughout the day. These don’t have to be long prayers (we are talking 30 seconds).

At the end of family prayers, start by incorporating 30 seconds of silence. Let your children know what to expect before you pray. For instance, “We are going to spend some time in prayer. Prayer is a conversation between you and God. At the end of your prayer, we are going to be quiet for a little bit and practice listening to God’s voice. I will make sure to close in prayer when the time is up.”

I will leave you with this, as parents, “We are responding to the child’s silent request: ‘Help me come closer to God by myself.” Sofia Cavalletti, Christian Educator

If you want to know how to get started in living a deep life with God; grab our Deeper Life Beginners Guide (below). And join our community of moms who are hungry for more Jesus in their lives and in the lives of their families.

What about you? What is your #1 issue when it comes to teaching your kids to pray? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!

30 Powerful Bible Verses That Destroy Toxic Anxiety

Reading Time: 5 min 3 sec

Have you ever been in a situation where you desperately needed to hear bible verses on anxiety? I remember sitting listening to the doctors, my mind racing with the implications of their words. My head felt stuffy like everything was in slow motion, and I found it hard to concentrate.

“Wait, what?” I asked.

“There is an infection that is spreading throughout his body. We need to hospitalize him for the next several days as we try and figure out how to fight it.”

The words infection and hospital stood out like blaring sirens; my anxiety skyrocketing as I imagined all the worst-case scenarios in the blink of an eye.

Where is God when your feelings of helplessness and fear grow out of control? Anxiety is an ugly master. And Satan loves to use its grasping stranglehold to cripple us.

We live in a world filled with uncertainty, pain, violence, and disease. So how do we fight the lies of the enemy? We combat fear with truth. Check out this article for how to handle the pain in your life.

Mother Teresa who was faced each day with the utter pain and desperation of humanity, said this about anxiety,

“The future is not in our hands. We have no power over it. We can act only today. We have a sentence in our Constitution that says: ‘We will allow the good God to make plans for the future – for yesterday has gone, tomorrow has not yet come and we have only today to make Him known, loved and served.‘ So, we do not worry about the future.”

If you desire to walk in freedom, to live a life of peace, despite the latest headline, you need to hide God’s words in your heart.

Psalm 119:9-11 says, “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

Memorizing and meditating on scripture is not just a good idea or something Christians should do; it is mission-critical to destroying the lies of Satan in your life.

Here is a list of thirty powerful bible verses that will help you destroy toxic anxiety and allow you to live with peace.

I have also created beautiful cards that you can print and post around your home with these verses.

1. Anxiety Bible Verses Exercise

2. 30 Anxiety Bible Verses

3. Anxiety Bible Verses Download

1. Anxiety Bible Verses Prayer Exercise:

As you read through these verses, I would challenge you to read slowly and reflectively, inviting God to speak to you through his word.

1. Pray and invite God to speak to you through the verses below.

2. Read through the verses slowly and notice any phrase or quote that jumps out at you.

3. Bring that phrase or verse to the Lord in prayer. Ask him to speak to you through those words.

4. Read through the phrase or verse again slowly. Then sit in silence allowing elbow room for the Holy Spirit to speak to you. If this is your first time sitting in silence I would highly recommend setting a timer for two-three minutes. It keeps you from constantly checking the time. 🙂

5. Close your time in prayer by thanking God for his presence.

6. Journal any thoughts, feelings or impressions you experienced during this exercise.

Check out this article for how to spend time with God when you feel awkward.

2. 30 Anxiety Bible Verses

These are great verses to remind yourself of God’s desire that you walk in freedom. He wants to carry your worry and surround you with His peace, love, and wisdom that surpasses all understanding.

Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Matthew 6:25, “If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body.”

Matthew 6:31-32, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”

Matthew 6:34, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Psalm 94:19, “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”

Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Psalm 9:10, “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”

Psalm 28:7, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.”

Psalm 56:3-4, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God, I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

Psalm 62:8, “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”

Psalm 143:8, “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.”

Psalm 112:7, “They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”

Psalm 118:8-9, “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.”

Isaiah 26:4, “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.”

Nahum 1:7, “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him”

Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Psalm 4:8, “In peace, I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

Psalm 36:7, “How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.”

Psalm 5:11, “But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.”

Psalm 20:7, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

Matthew 6:27, “Can anyone of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

Matthew 6:28, “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.”

Psalm 94:19, “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”

Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

If you want to know how to get started in living a deep life with God; grab our Deeper Life Beginners Guide (below). And join our community of moms who are hungry for more Jesus in their lives and in the lives of their families.

What about you? What is your #1 issue when it comes to fighting fear? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!

How To Combat Fear When The World Is In Crisis

Reading Time: 6 min 17 sec

How do you combat fear when you are in living in a state of crisis? Are you tired of the news playing havoc with your emotions? Does each press conference, or latest update feel like a stranglehold on your desire for security? Are you desperately searching for a safe haven in the midst of a storm?

At the time of this writing, COVID-19 is assaulting the world. We are daily hearing stories of toilet paper skirmishes, mask shortages, and how hoarding has become the norm. The mainstream media continue to stir the pot of fear each trying to outdo each other with elaborate headlines.

We wrestle with the idea (turned reality) that in our age of advanced technology, and strong healthcare systems, a pandemic can have such an effect on our lives. We subconsciously believe that we are too evolved for viruses that we can’t control.

But pandemics, wars, natural disasters, widespread poverty, and pain are not a new phenomenon. These life-altering events have been affecting humans since the beginning of time. We fight against it because it forces us to come face to face with our own helplessness, our own vulnerability, our innate humanness.

We are not God, and that is never more apparent than in a time of crisis. You wonder is it even possible to live with peace when fear is the common currency? We are going to be talking about three practical ways to combat fear:

1. Fight Fear: Recount His Faithfulness

2. Fight Fear: Praise God When The Sky Is Falling

3. Fight Fear: Practical Tips To Turn Your Eyes Toward Jesus

1. Fight Fear: Recount His Faithfulness

The Israelites from the Bible were very familiar with overwhelming odds and near-death situations. After escaping Egypt, the Israelites were caught between the Red Sea in front of them and Pharaoh’s army pursuing them from behind.

I can’t imagine how terrifying and helpless it would feel to see a huge army, including 600 hundred of Pharaoh’s fastest chariots hurtling towards you, as you are stuck on the banks of the Red Sea with no way to get across.

The Israelites responded to the crisis in the typical human fashion, “They said to Moses,“Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” Exodus 14:11-12

When faced with overwhelming odds, instead of looking too God, they started planning their own funerals. They forgot that they served a God who had just unleashed his mighty power through plagues, rescued them from Pharaoh, provided a pillar of cloud to guide them by day, and a pillar of fire to guide them by night.

So, what do we do, when we feel like the world is closing in around us and there is no way out? We need to learn from the Israelites and remind ourselves of God’s faithfulness. Nothing that is or will ever happen is a surprise to God. He is not scrambling to try and figure out a solution to the issues at hand. When we are tempted to panic, we need to stop and remind ourselves of God’s faithfulness to us. So, let’s get practical, shall we?

Recounting God’s Faithfulness Prayer Exercise:

a. Grab a piece of paper, or journal and a pen. Find a quiet place and get comfortable.

b. Optional -Light a candle as a visual reminder that God is with you right now.

c. Close your eyes and invite God into this time of prayer. Spend a couple of minutes in silence just spending time with God.

*If this new to you, set a timer for 2-3 minutes, so you are not constantly checking your watch wondering if it broke. 🙂

d. Ask God to remind you of his faithfulness in your life. Record those events by writing down any time, large or small, that God has shown up.

Option 2: If you are finding this is difficult, or you have a relatively new relationship with God, start by listing all the ways he showed up for:

People in the Bible
Members of your family
Current Godly men and women that you admire
In the lives of Christians throughout history

e. Post that paper in a prominent place as a daily visual reminder of God’s presence in your life.

2. Fight Fear: Praise Him When The Sky Is Falling

The story continues with Moses challenging the panicking Israelites to not be afraid and to trust in God. With everyone watching, God made history yet again. 🙂 He saved the Israelites from the hands of the Egyptians, by dividing the Red Sea and allowing the Israelites to pass through on dry ground.

Exodus 14:28 says, “The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.”

The Israelites spend an entire chapter, singing a song of thanksgiving to God praising him for his mighty power.

I don’t remember a majority of the sermons that I have heard over the years much to my dismay. However, I once heard a pastor unpack the story of Moses and the Israelites in a way that I have never forgotten. He said that the Israelites praised God on the wrong side of the river.

In the face of adversity, they promptly forgot his track record of faithfulness, and they demanded proof yet again that God was who he said he was. Anyone can praise God AFTER he shows up in a mighty way.

God is inviting us, built on our love relationship with him, to trust him. To praise him when it looks like everything is crumbling around us, and the world is screaming, “The sky is falling! The sky is falling!”

We need to remember that we serve Immanuel, which means God with us. Deuteronomy 31:6 reminds us of God’s character as it says,

“Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.”

Will you choose to accept God’s invitation to trust him and to praise him on this side of the river?

3. Fight Fear: Practical Tips To Turn Your Eyes Towards Jesus

Take a breath and remind yourself that there is nothing new under the sun. The Bible alone is full of men and women faced with extraordinary challenges, completely helpless, and chose to accept God’s help to see them through.

David hiding from Saul in the mountains. Daniel in the lion’s den. Esther facing death. Ruth facing starvation. Baby Jesus and the threat of King Herod are just some of the examples.

I am always looking for ways to take head knowledge into practical heart transformation. I have compiled a list of practical ideas to help you when fear starts to creep up. They are not in any particular order.

a. Place Restrictions on Media Consumption.

I am not advocating burying your head in the sand. It is important to be an informed citizen. However, be wise at how much control the headlines have over your mental and emotional health.

b. Set Parameters on how Long you will Discuss the Latest News.

Along those same lines, be intentional on how much time you spend discussing the latest headline.

c. Spend Time in the Bible.

I would highly recommend reading through the Psalms. They are full of David’s sometimes brutally honest cries to God for deliverance. I would recommend reading a Psalm or two a day and using them as your own personal prayer to God.

d. Don’t Isolate Yourself

Find ways to connect with others, even if it can’t be in person. FaceTime, phone calls, text messages, and yes, even letters. Skype with your small group. Get creative! 🙂

e. Memorize Scripture

The great Christian mothers and fathers throughout history have used meditating on scripture as a way to live in peace, not fear. You can focus on topics like peace, hope, and joy.

f. Exercise

This is so important to your mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Go for a walk around your neighborhood, try out a new exercise video on youtube, play outside with your kids. The point is to get moving!

g. Be Honest With God

Talk with God about your thoughts and feelings. Be honest. He wants to hear from the real you not the “good christian” you.

h. Eat Healthy Foods

I know you want to indulge in comfort foods 24/7 to help manage the stress. But eating whole foods is crucial to supporting a healthy immune system. The little choices you make today affect your overall health tomorrow.

i. Get Rest

Don’t use the latest restrictions as an invitation to binge watch tv until one am. Be wise and set aside six to eight hours for much-needed sleep!

j. Engage in a Hobby that Brings You Joy

Seriously, now is the time to try out that new hobby. This should be something that allows you to decompress and invites you to experience joy, wonder, and beauty in this world. Explore music, exercise, art, fix a car, learn to knit, try a new card game, or a new recipe. The skies the limit and there are no acorns in sight. 🙂

To God be the Glory, Forever, and Ever, Amen.

If you want to know how to get started in living a deep life with God; grab our Deeper Life Beginners Guide (below). And join our community of moms who are hungry for more Jesus in their lives and in the lives of their families.

What about you? What is your #1 issue when it comes to fighting fear? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!

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28 Fantastic Poetry Books for Kids Who Don’t Like Rhymes

Reading Time: 2 min 1 sec

There is something magical about poetry books for kids. Poetry can spark your imagination, let you envision worlds the eye cannot see, and it can stir your heart with its powerful emotion. Poetry strips away time and space and allows you to experience the world in whole new ways.

The thought of poetry can strike most of us with feelings of inadequacy. Why does poetry have to feel so complicated? We were all taught that within poetry is this hidden message that if you are reflective (and brilliant) you will be able to grasp its meaning. It doesn’t work. I reflected the fool out of more poems than I can count and I still walked away scratching my head.

Why does something so beautiful need an army of interpreters?

So, I staged a revolt. I knew that if I waited until I felt confident, I would NEVER introduce my children to poetry. So, we started out our poetry journey by taking small steps. Even though I promptly made a ton of mistakes, I learned a couple of things along the way.

Set yourself up for success by starting with picture books written in rhyme. Not only are the pictures mesmerizing but the cadence of the words makes it a very easy read. After you feel confident, add beautiful poetry books for kids that are short, funny, and relatable. Here is one of our favorite poems called The Naughty Four O’Clocks by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

“There were some naughty flowers once, who were careless in their play;

They got their petals torn and soiled

As they swung in the dust all day.

They went to bed at four o’clock

With faces covered tight, To keep the fairy Drop O’ Dew

From washing them at night.

Poor Drop O’Dew! What could she do? She said to the Fairy Queen,

“I cannot get those Four O’Clocks, To Keep their faces clean.”

The mighty Storm King heard the tale; “My winds and rain,” roared he,

“Shall wash those naughty flowers well, As flowers all should be.”

So raindrops came and caught them all

Before they went to bed, And washed those little Four O’clocks

At three o’clock instead.”

Flowers who are tricked into taking a bath? What could possibly be more captivating than that? 🙂 The poem is simple, imaginative. and colorful. It struck delight in the hearts of my children. You can check out this article to find out my requirements for choosing beautiful poetry books.

My goal is to help my children fall in love with poetry. To accomplish that objective, I want to remove all the stumbling blocks that might interfere. Does that mean that my children will never be able to appreciate the finer nuances of poetry? No, but it does mean that in the early years we are intentional about establishing a strong foundation of curiosity and delight.

Here are twenty-eight suggestions to help you get started in developing a love of poetry for kids in your homeschool. These are all books that we have read together and enjoyed.

1. Favorite Poetry Books For Kids

2. Picture Poetry Books For Kids

3. Short Poetry Books For Kids

4. Poetry Books For Older Kids

1. Favorite Poetry Books For Kids

2. Picture Poetry Books For Kids

3. Short Poetry Books For Kids

4. Poetry Books for Older Kids

Are you wondering HOW do you actually get started homeschooling? Join our community of moms who want to invest in the lives of their children through homeschooling. I also created a 10 Tips to Finding Excellent Curriculum form to help you on your journey.

What about you? What are your favorite poetry books for kids? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!