Prayers of a Mother
Never stop praying. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT
“Practice tough love!” This phrase is said to first originated in the late 1960’s to early 1970’s by author Bill Milliken. By the early 1980’s my mom was made aware of it and began implementing the practice with me with strong determination.
The world and its ways had tightened their grip on me, and I was well absorbed in dark places where young girls had no busy being. The enemy lured me into places with promise of excitement and friends who said they liked me. Little did I know I would be trapped for years in this jail on earth where bad habits were formed. Putting it mildly, I was saturated in activities and actions that make the news headlines and parents’ cringe. It would take years to sever the additive chains and gain clear thinking.
The best and most mentally stable choice for a mother of a wayward, troubled teenager was the concept of tough love. In addition, she committed herself to prayer and recruited many faithful, Christian women who surrounded her.
My mother never ceased praying. Never! I knew this because she would tell me nearly every chance she could. It bothered me, this constant reminder of someone praying for me, so much that I verbally lashed out at her many times.
Those years of tough love and prayer that my mother committed to paid off after approximately ten years. Yes, ten years. For a mother, this is a lifetime. Yet, it’s in God’s timing is not ours that we are to continue praying so matter how long it takes. Look was it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT Never stop praying.
Unfortunately, memory loss has taken my mother to a different world, but she still will occasionally say to me, “I never stop praying for you.” I thank God for my mother’s persistent and constant prayers that opened heavens doors to allow me to see the light of a true and loving God!
As a grown woman myself of children and grandchildren, I understand the tough love and burden to never stop praying. It’s not easy; in fact, it is extremely difficult to keep praying when you see little results from your efforts. But God gives mothers the responsibility to keep praying, even when we want to stop.
How to Keep Praying When You Want to Stop
• Keep hope ever present to know your prayers are heard.
• Keep God’s love for the person in the forefront.
• Memorize Bible verses and prayers that will come automatically when frustration want to take over.
• Meet with other Chrisitan women in prayer groups to stay encouraged.
• Listen to podcasts and teaching on the need to prayer.
• Use prayer cards to list prayers so consistency continues through challenging times.
PRAYER
God, we ask for consistent reminder to never stop praying. When we get weak, we ask that you make us strong and renew our spirit that wants to give up. Let your love be the reminder that never stops our prayers. Turn our sorrows to hope in the knowledge that we know you hear our prayers. In Jesus name – Amen.
If you’re in a season where praying feels hard, or you don’t know what to say anymore, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out on your own.
👉 Learn the what, why, how, who, and when of prayer with my downloadable resource, Never Stop Praying:
