Prayer Bracelets

So I am writing a series of posts as I go through the book, Large Family Logistics. This month I will be writing on: 

Chapter 2: Goals-My Prayer Life

Praying for my family is a huge priority to me, but honestly, sometimes I feel rushed as I go through my prayer list in the mornings. 

I get distracted.
I linger on one child and don't get to everyone.
Someone spills their whole bowl of cereal milk on another child and I have to go put that 'fire' out before I finish my list.

Anyone else relate? :)

Anywho...I wanted to share a simple idea that has helped me be more intentional in praying over my family.

Have you read this magazine? 
(If not, go subscribe. It's  free:).)

I have been a subscriber since my oldest was a baby (close to over 20 years)! It has been a great source of encouragement throughout different seasons of my mothering.

This past issue had a great article from Pam Fields on Prayer Bracelets! I knew immediately this was what I was looking for to help me in praying over my family.

Pam writes about Aaron's garments which held the names of tribes of Israel...

 "So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the Lord." 

Exodus 28:29

And an idea was born to carry her own tribe before the Lord daily with a visual reminder in the form of Prayer Bracelets.

So I gathered these items (most found on sale at Hobby Lobby) and started making my own prayer bracelets.

(Not pictured is clear stretchy cord and E600 glue.)

(I picked black and gray because those are the usual colors I wear each day.) :)

In the morning, I put the bracelets with Dale's and our children's names on my right wrist. Then throughout the day as I pray for each person, I will move the bracelets, one-by-one to my left wrist. At the end of the day, I pull off the bracelets to start all over the next day.

Let me tell you, this has changed my world:).

I still pray in the morning. However, if I am interrupted before I finish my family list, I know I have the whole day to remind myself to pray.

Now, when I drive, I am reminded by the bracelets, who I still need to lift up in prayer. If I haven't moved all the bracelets over during the day, I find myself intentionally praying while I do chores or waiting in lines. 

It has become a visual reminder to my family that I am praying for them. And has even caused me to be more intentional to pray for those linked to my children...their future spouses, co-workers, teachers, etc.

Such a simple concept with eternal benefits:).

Side Note: I debated about making these bracelets because I didn't want to be legalistic/ritualistic about my prayer life. Some of my most heartfelt prayers came when all I could utter was, "Jesus, I need you." But, I feel the Holy Spirit has used these to prompt me to pray and I find myself praying over different areas in my children's lives. More so than when I was just going down my morning list. So if this could be a benefit, then please copy. But if you feel it will become guilt-ridden ("haven't moved my bracelets today") then maybe you can find another way to help you on your prayer journey. It is all about grace:). Blessings, Karen

Do you have any ideas of how you intentionally pray for your family?

Gathering

Over 5 years ago, I started a group in my home going through this book...

We just moved into a new home (well, new to me) and I was wanting to do something different. 

I remembering sitting on my couch thinking I wanted my 40's to be different. 

I desired community and realized that I didn't have to wait to find the perfect community. 

I could start gathering one in my home.

So, we dove into this book...one chapter at a time.😊

I learned a lot from those meetings...

⏩How to succinctly lead conversations. (I cringe about how long-winded I was at those meetings😊.) 

⏩How to be gracious to other people's ideas and opinions. 

⏩How to listen. 

⏩How to apologize. 

⏩How to taking constructive ;) criticism. 

⏩How to pray for others. 

⏩How to value different points-of-view.

⏩How to be hospitable.

I grew exponentially in a short amount of time. I made some dear, precious friends.

And then I felt God said it was time to stop. 

So I did. 

And my life got real busy with potty training and ACTs and relative's chemo treatments and church activities and washing 500,000,000 loads of laundry...

(But I did miss that group of friends.)

This past week, I picked up that book again. I am in a different season now. Many categories are not applicable, but there are still some good nuggets of wisdom to be gleaned.

I plan to do a series of posts over this book. And I hope that will spur into some different type of gatherings in my home as I work through it.

So...April is my birthday month and I want to start my new birth year with Chapter 2: Goals. 

Setting clearly-defined goals is an important part of faithful stewardship.

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

First Goal: My Prayer Life 

(stay tuned) 😊

Have you read this book?

Do you have any suggestions or books on developing a prayer life?