"Don't Make Me Count to Three!"

Recently Gene and I began reading through books on parenting from our church's bookstore. For those of you who just raised an eyebrow, no, we're not pregnant. BUT that is not stopping us from praying for our future children that we hope God has in store for us. Reading through various books on disciplining has sparked good conversation between the two of us. I picked up the book "Don't Make Me Count to Three!" by Ginger Plowman last Sunday and finished it in less than a week. It was so good!

Even though we don't have kids yet, I've been able to apply what I'm learning with my students at school. In the back of that book, Plowman suggests 15 things to pray for your child. I typed up the list and now Gene and I are going to pray for one thing a day, each day, for our unborn children. It's never too early to pray for your child's salvation!

In case you are interested in praying through the list for your child (or future child, or grandchild, or niece, or nephew....you get the idea) here it is:


1. Pray that our children would come to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 2:3-4

2. Pray that they would honor and obey their parents as well as those in authority over them.
Ephesians 6:1-3
Hebrews 13:17

3. Pray that the Lord would surround them with godly friends and role models.
2 Corinthians 15:33
Proverbs 13:20
Proverbs 27:17

4. Pray that the Lord would implant into their hearts a hunger and thirst for him.
Psalm 42:1-2

5. Pray that the Lord would give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that they might know him better.
Ephesians 1:17

6. Pray that the eyes of their hearts would always be enlightened in order that they might know the hope to which he has called them.
Ephesians 1:18

7. Pray that they would always follow the truth and reject the lies of Satan.
Proverbs 22:3
Titus 2:11-12

8. Pray that they would bear much fruit for God’s glory.
Galatians 5:22-23
Ephesians 2:10
1 John 3:16-18

9. Pray that they would flee temptation.
1 Corinthians 10:13
2 Timothy 2:22-26

10. Pray that they would use their gifts and talents to honor the Lord.
Proverbs 16:3
1 Corinthians 10:31

11. Pray that they would have freedom from fear as they trust in the Lord.
Psalm 56:13
2 Thessalonians 3:16
2 Timothy 1:7

12. Pray that they would keep themselves sexually pure for their future mates.
1 Corinthians 10:8
Hebrews 13:4

13. Pray that the Lord would bring godly mates into their lives.
2 Corinthians 6:14-16

14. Pray that they would take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5
Philippians 4:8

15. Pray that they would become more like him.
Romans 8:28-29