Mothers — You Are God’s Birthing Vessels!
Giving birth to your children is not the end to your labor pains. You have the privilege of laboring in prayer until Christ is formed in them.
Plant the Seed of God’s Word, water it with your faith and reap an eternal harvest of souls.
Your child’s heart is your garden where you will learn to pull weeds and strongholds, plant the seed of God’s Word and pray down the rain of the Holy Spirit. Listen to the Word God gave me when my children were little.
Their Hearts-Your Garden
Longing to see my family reflect Christ, I poured out my heart to the Lord. “Lord, teach me how to raise my children until they are changed into Your likeness.” This was a cry from deep within my heart. The answer I received to my cries was one that changed our lives forever. Hopefully, it has the same life-affirming impact on you as well. It seemed I could hear God’s clear instruction in my spirit. Here is what He spoke to me that day:
“As in all spiritual things, the battle is won on your knees. Saturate each child in prayer.”
“I have given you a Garden — their Hearts. You are like a gardener and these children, their hearts, are your garden. Pull out the weeds — the fleshly thinking, the world and sin — for they will surely kill the plants.”
“I have given you all you need: My Word and My Spirit. On that last day there will be no excuse, for I have given you all through My Son, Jesus Christ.”
“Fill their hearts with My Word – the seeds of life. Plant it and surely a great harvest shall sprout. Through My Spirit I have provided you with all you need. Plant My Word.”
“Pray, pray, pray!”
“This prayer brings the water needed for growth. For My Spirit shall be poured upon them and fill them, bringing them to life.”
“Protect your garden from insects — the devil, your enemy. If you do not, he will surely eat away the roots so they will shrivel and die.”
“Plant in their hearts and you will reap a great harvest. Plant! Water through much prayer and the rain of the Holy Spirit shall fall, and surely much fruit shall be produced.”
“Do not allow My garden to lay dormant, for surely the weeds shall strangle the life out of each plant.”
“Pray. Follow the Holy Spirit, for He knows the times for planting, and pulling, watering and sunning. He shall teach you to be the gardener that I have called you to be.”
“Plant so they are exposed to much sun — My SON, Jesus — His Light will stimulate growth.“They must learn to search for the Light, for all they need is found in the light. The Son knows how much shade to provide. Do not plant them in darkness, for here, too, they will shrivel and die. Be vigilant in caring for this garden, and you will harvest fruit for eternal life.”
Do you long to see your loved ones changed to be more like Christ? Then heed His voice heard in the Bible as well as in your heart, and learn from the Master. Maybe you’ve never thought of God as a gardener before, but look closely in scripture and you find Him planting, watering and reaping in the hearts of His people. And don’t be intimidated or put off if you’re not a gardener yourself. God will teach you how to effectively plant in His garden.
We are God’s garden … the garden of His delight. 1 Cor. 3:9 (AMP), Isaiah 5:7 Excerpt from Mud On My Knees Prayer Guide and Journal.
Do you long to know how to pray for your children? Is your heart is aching for your wayward child to come back to God?
As you join together with the Master Gardener in what He is doing in their hearts, strongholds will loosen and their hearts will soften making it easier for them to surrender to God. If you are willing to get mud on your knees and join the Master Gardener in the soil of your love one’s hearts … cultivating, planting seeds and loosening weeds, you will see a harvest. It may not come tomorrow, but it will come!
God’s promise is … for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. Gal. 6:7 (NAS) And God has provided you with a storehouse of Seed (the Seed of His Word) to sow into the hearts of your loved ones. Whether you till earthy soil or not, you can learn how to be a gardener in God’s garden – the heart. Use this Prayer Guide to:
• Pray for your prodigal children, spouse, friends (wayward loved ones)
• Pray proactively to protect your heart and the hearts of your loved ones, and
• Pray for the lost – those who have never known Christ, our Lord.
Let’s get started and belief God together for a harvest of souls! Scriptures are incorporated throughout this book as well as in an expanded, topical section added at the very end of the book, to help you cultivate your children’s hearts and stand in the gap for their souls.
Mud On My Knees Prayer Guide and Journal
XOXOXO Debra