A Mother's Poem

In the quiet moments of the day,
I reflect on you and am filled with praise.
Hidden away from human eyes,
You're a miracle of God's design.

Expectantly I pray for you.
You're in my thoughts and in all I do.
What will you look like? What will you be?
What will you accomplish by age two or three?

You're like the morning, fresh and new,
Just as the roses kissed with dew.
I long for the day we're face to face,
Cradling you in my warm embrace.

My mother's heart is fully aware
Of all I'd like to teach and share.
I am immersed in joy and love
At God's blessed gift sent from above.

I pledge to parent with God's way in mind
And leave a legacy of faith behind.
My life, in turn, will be blessed, too,
Through the life that God has given you!

- Jennifer J. Weiss

Birthing Pains as Good

"My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you ..." - Galatians 4:19

Dear God,
Thank You for forming Christ in my life. I know that my walk has been a process and will continue to be until the day I come to spend eternity with You. I thank You that You are birthing new things in me daily, especially the opportunity to be a mother. As I grow in expectancy, prepare the heart of my son/daughter to receive You.  Cultivate a spirit that is teachable and workable. As I watch my child grow physically, spiritually, and emotionally, help me labor in love for him/her. Let me be encouraged to intercede in prayer for my children and stand in the gap when needed. Birth new things in my child each day, Lord. Help me not to focus on the birthing pains associated with spiritual and physical growth, but allow me to accept that such processes bring forth good. I ask for this strength in Your name, amen.

For Adoptive Families

"But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship." - Galatians 4:4 - 5

Father,
You have initiated adoption. You love us as if we were Your own, making us Your own, though we have on our own drifted far from You. You love us unconditionally and give to us a love for You. You are our Father. You have bonded with us, and You give us the gift of loving and bonding with You. I ask that this same miraculous love would flow between adoptive parents and their children. Give mothers and fathers an unexplainable bond. Give the children, many of them wounded by deep rejection, a supernatural capacity to receive love. Bond them close. Create family ties where those ties seem impossible. God, for those families seeking now to adopt, give them courage to persevere. For those governments that make adoption difficult, break through and ease the process. With millions of orphans in the world, release a wave of new adoptions. Create and expand many families, and with Your own parents’ heart, give a new capacity to give and receive love. In Your Son's name I pray, amen.

You are our Banner!

"We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests." - Psalm 20:5

God,
Thank You for being Jehovah Nissi, the Lord my Banner. You have gone before me in the process of bringing this little one into the world. May I always remember the confidence that I can have in You. May I always wave Your banner high and bring glory to You. God, I also pray that You will watch over me as I deliver. Help all to go smoothly without complications. Give us guidance and direction as our new addition is born. Let this discipline of praying for our child continue throughout his/her life. Amen.

Time for Prayer and Reflection

"Then Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to them, 'Sit here while I go over there and pray.'" - Matthew 26:36

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the refreshment and strength You have given me so far during this pregnancy. I praise You for seeing me through to its completion. As the time draws near for me to deliver, I ask that You provide times for me to withdraw from my busy schedule for prayer and reflection. Prepare my heart for the task ahead. Strengthen my mind,  body, and spirit. Help me to focus on the purpose of this journey - to bring a fresh little soul into the world. Amen.

Strength and Endurance

"I can do all this through Him who gives me strength." - Philippians 4:13

Lord,
I ask for the resolve to do all things through You. You are my source of strength, and I depend completely on You. I know that placing my thoughts and cares on You will lessen my burden and create a better environment for my baby to grow. So, I ask that, in the days ahead, You lead me to a place of physical, emotion, and spiritual rest. Give me the endurance that only You have as I approach labor and delivery. I ask this in Your name, amen.

Overflowing with Hope

"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." - Romans 15:13

Father,
I know that pregnancy, labor, and delivery can be a time of extreme joy, especially when a mother puts her trust in You. Today, I ask for Your joy and peace to flood every inch of me. Rejuvenate my spirit, and refresh me with hope in You. Let others see Your glory radiating from Your Spirit inside of me. Amen.

Finishing this task with a heart for You

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." - Colossians 3:23

Father,
Thank You for this task You have given me. Although my pregnancy will not last too much longer, I want to commit to approaching it with gladness, boldness, and fervor. I ask that You help me finish this season of life in a hearty way, appreciating the miracle that You are perfecting inside of me each day. Grant me grace and diligence as I do this. Lord, help me to set goals, manage chores, consider my health as a high priority, prepare my home, and plan for the future of my child. Let this child be blessed in part because the way I am doing my job as an expectant mother. In Your name, amen.

Reverence for God

"Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord." - Psalm 34:1

Father,
Thank You for Your love that is extended to us and through us. We know that we are the first window our child will look through to learn who You are and how to serve You. We ask that You begin to work in hearts and minds to cultivate Your Spirit. When our child is born, give us creative and simple ways to share Your truths, Word, and character. Help us grow in our areas of weakness so that we can effectively teach our children what it means to fear You. Amen.

Appreciating Nature and Creation

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." - Genesis 1:1

Creator God,
Your design is so evident in this season. I am in awe when I look at the mountains, sunsets, and changing colors around me. Today, I ask that you remind me to take time out of my busy schedule to reflect on You and Your creation. Help me to develop an appreciation for Your world and to pass it on to my child. Let me instruct him/her to respect Your creation and to care for it. Show me ways to teach aesthetics in a godly manner. Thank You, Lord, for the evidence in nature that points us to You. Amen.

Children as Messengers

"The Lord came down and stood there, calling as at the other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' Then Samuel said, 'Speak, for your servant is listening.'" - 1 Samuel 3:10

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the example of Eli and Samuel, showing us that we should always look and listen for Your voice, even in the youngest of children. As a parent, Lord, use me to encourage this child in times when You are speaking to him/her. Let me not look down on him/her, but realize that You can illuminate his/her mind to understand things that I do not. Holy Spirit, guide me with discernment and wisdom in this area. In Your name, amen.

A Heart for the World

"He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.'" - Mark 16:15

Dear God,
Thank You for the gifts You have placed in me and my child. It brings me great joy to use these gifts for Your glory! Today, I ask that You help me bloom where I am planted. I know that You have divinely positioned me where You want me to be. Lord, help me to use my words, giving, prayers, time, and talents to reach the people that I have audience with. I also ask that You rise up my child to impact his/her social circles for You. Let his/her seeds fall on good soil, so that they may grow and reflect You. Let my child a heart for the world. Protect him/her from the temptation to focus only on the immediate circle of people around him/her. Wherever You lead my child, let my heart have rest in knowing that Your plans are being accomplished in his/her life. All honor, power, and glory to You! Amen.

Week 31 and Proverbs 31, Part 3

"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come." - Proverbs 31:25

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the wisdom, insight, and inspiration You have provided throughout the book of Proverbs. I pray that I would resemble the "wife of noble character" in Proverbs 31. I know that a close walk with You brings such nobility, so I ask that You draw me closer and closer to You in the coming days. Wrap me in strength and dignity. Let Your reflection shine through me during this pregnancy. Help me to trust in You and not fear the days ahead. Instead, let joy, laughter, and peace flood my soul in this hour. Thank You for the confidence I can have in You. Amen.

Man's Gifts vs. God's Gifts

"Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord." - Proverbs 19:14

Dear Lord,
Thank You for placing me right where You want me to be in life. It is so awesome to experience the things that You have ordained for me from the beginning. I ask today that You guard my heart from focusing on the worldly gifts that we could try to provide for our children. If it is in Your will to bless us with certain financial opportunities, let us recognize it and be good stewards. However, let my main focus be on providing a solid spiritual foundation for my family. I ask specifically that You help me to be prudent. Holy Spirit, fill me with discipline and sound judgment. Help me to be creative and frugal in the use of resources You have given us. Show me how to use my talents to the best of my ability. Allow these characteristics to be a blessing to my husband, children, and extended family. Amen.

Week 31 and Proverbs 31, Part 2

"Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 'Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.'" - Proverbs 31:28-29

Dear God,
While my worth comes soley from You, the mere thought of a blessing from my child thrills me beyond measure. I hope that one day I will be able to see the fruits of the prayers and laboring of love that I have already sown into my little one. I want to stand as a mother that is praised by her children and husband for teaching, instructing, correcting, and persuading her children in the things of the Lord. I know that it takes consistency to see such fruit. So, I ask that You show how me how I can accomplish this each day. Help me to be diligent in the task ahead of me. Amen.

Week 31 and Proverbs 31

"She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." - Proverbs 31:27

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for watching over the affairs of my day. You see me when I rise and when I lie down. Your arms are there to hold me when it seems like I can't get anything done. Today, I ask that You help me commit each day to You. Order my days, Lord, in the way that You would have them go. Help me to achieve the goals that I must accomplish. Give me the wisdom, endurance, strength, and diligence needed to manage my household. Provide me with assistance when I need it, and help me to accept it. When I feel overwhelmed, I ask that You quiet my spirit. Show me when and how to rest. Revitalize me in the ways that only You can. Thank You, God, for blessing and caring about my household. Amen.

Introducing our child to Him

"Then little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.' When He had placed His hands on them, he went on from there." - Matthew 19:13 - 14

Dear God,
Thank You for taking the time to extend Your hands and pray for Your children. Today, I ask that You give me a child-like faith - one that allows me to guide my child toward You. Help me to present You in a way that will be easily understood and accepted. Let living with You in our lives be a daily process. Let Your name be talked about and expressed openly and freely throughout our home. Help us, God, to make leading our child to know You a priority in our day. We ask this in Your name, amen.

Designed and Known by You

"And the very hairs on your head are numbered." - Matthew 10:30

Lord,
Thank You for designing my child. I am so excited to hold my baby for the very first time and see what he/she looks like. I know that You care so much about my child, from the details of his/her features to the larger details of his/her life. You are continually watching over my little one as he/she grows. That assurance brings me great comfort and peace. Thank You, Father, for loving us so much and knowing us so intimately. Amen.

In the Potter's Hands

"Yet, O Lord, You are our Father. We are the clay, and You are the potter. We are all the work of Your hand." - Isaiah 64:8

Dear God,
I can't express my wonder and praise for the masterful work You are doing within me! You are always at work on Your creation. As You mold my child, You continue to mold me. I ask that you mend the areas that are broken and in need of repair today. Create in me something new. Make me into the vessel that You desire. Fashion this little one just as You would have him/her to be. Thank You for Your constant involvement in our lives. Amen.

Treasures Reflect the Heart

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be." - Luke 12:34

Father,
I thank You for the treasure that I have in my relationship with You and for the other blessings You have provided in my life. Today, I ask that You help me be an example to my child in the area of priorities. Let my priorities line up with Your will. When adjustments are needed, illuminate them. Help me to reorganize my treasures, even if it means putting fun, work, money, and others to the side. I want my heart to be fixed on You and Your will in my life. In Your name, amen.