The 3 Things Every Child Needs To Hear

Words of affirmation are essential to building a positive foundation for your children.

In a world that seeks to tear them down...we can be ones to seek to build them up speaking words of life to and over them!

As parents we sometimes focus only on they areas of shall we say..."Opportunity" or "Improvement" and little time is spent on all the great and amazing things you see in them and believe about them. They need to see and believe the same and more about themselves. 

Also, if you don't tell them...who will?! 

This might be a foreign concept to you because like many, you may not have received this as a child from your parents but regardless of this, you can turn the tide and forge a better way and path for your own children!

This is just one small list and a great beginning and I'm sure you can add to this list but start here...

3 Things Every Child Needs To Hear:

   1. I Love You!
   2. I'm Proud of You!
   3. You are Good at this_______!

This is a list is derived from an incredible men's video series I journeyed through quite a few years ago titled "The Quest for Authentic Manhood" by Robert Lewis and it's stuck with me since then and I've tried to regularly communicate this to my children over the years. 

Dads...you especially need to be the one who leads the charge to show and tell them how capable, talented, proud and loved they are because your words speak volumes to the heart, soul and mind of your children! Never underestimate the power of your words! 

Keep Living life on Purpose and make these affirmations and more a regular habit!

In Christ,

rlk

Share this with someone today: There are 3 Things every child needs to hear. Visit ashepherdsheart.org to find out more! #ashepherdsheart

A Prayer For Moms - A Prayer For Strength and Help - Psalm 28:7 - Wednesday, May 18, 2016

To honor moms during the Month of May, I'm posting prayers especially for moms! The plan is to pray through a different Psalm each week. I pray it ministers to you in a special way! Thank you for all you do! This week here's a prayer for you through Psalm 28:7.

Psalm 28:7 

Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your truth, for building me up and daily transforming me as a mom and as Your Daughter as I read Your truth and pray through it. I thank You and praise You for Who You are,  for loving me unconditionally and for being my strength through the good and the bad days. Thank You Father! 

The Lord is my strength and my shield;

Father, I'm overwhelmed sometimes with the weight of responsibilities. 

Sometimes I feel vulnerable and weak...and a bit battle worn on those especially tough parenting days!

Thank You for being my true source of strength.

As I work to dodge arrows that are shot at me from the evil one...

The arrows of negativity and self doubt...

The arrows of negative self image and worth...

The arrows that are full of lies...

and many more...

Thank You for being my shield...my protector and deflecting the numerous attacks. 

I praise You because You are my strength and shield and cannot make it through the tough times or good times without You!

in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;

I confess that sometimes I put my trust in myself, other people, my circumstance and more.

I forget Who You are and all You've done and continue to do in my life and the lives of others.

I sometimes let the hurts I've experienced in my past or present cloud the truth that You are good and trustworthy. 

I confess that sometimes I over-identify with the wrong actions of my children as if it's my fault they choose to do the opposite of how I've  taught them...Help my heart trust in Your truth and know the wrong actions truly don't define me as I work hard as a mom...they are just growth moments in time. 

Help me to continue to love my children even through tough circumstances but separate my identity from their actions as I trust in You because I find my identity in and through Christ alone. 

I thank You that I can put my trust in You fully and I ask for Your help through Your Holy Spirit to trust in You at all times as a first response and not as a last resort. 

All You are and all You continue to do in my life cannot be cataloged as it's too numerous but please help me like the times of old recall Your Goodness, Your Help in the good and hard times. In my heart and mind may You build an "altar" of remembrance so when I go through the circumstances of life...I'll always remember where my help comes from.

Shape my heart oh Lord to trust in You always and remember that it's in You that I find my help. 

my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

Father,  I praise You. My heart is overwhelmed and overjoyed by Your love and grace for me! 

Help me experience Your joy and help me to lift up a song to You in praise and worship through the day-to-day as I walk with You. 

I give You thanks for Who You are. 

I give You thanks for Your provision each day.

I give You thanks for Your Word that I may be instructed on how to live successfully for Your Kingdom and Glory as Your servant.

I give thanks to You for Your helper, Your Holy Spirit's guidance and residency in my life. 

I give You thanks for the life You've blessed me with. 

I thank You for my children.

I thank You for my family.

I thank You for the sometimes daunting but blessed privilege it is to be a mom.

I thank You again for the privilege of being a mom especially as I think of dear friends who haven't yet had the privilege or cannot. Help me to never take it for granted. 

I thank You for the glory I can bring You through being a mom. 

I thank You for the strength You give me when I have none - especially during the time when I'm at the end of my rope with parenting issues. 

I thank You for the numerous blessings You've heaped upon me. 

Most of all I thank You for Your Love and Salvation. 

I praise You and thank You and I ask all these things in His Name, Amen.

In Christ Alone,

rlk

Share this truth with someone today: God is my true source of strength and help. Read Psalm 28:7 #ashepherdsheart ashepherdsheart.org 

PS. If this post was of encouragement to you...consider sharing it with others whom you believe will be encouraged by it! Thanks! 

A Prayer For Moms - A Prayer for Trust When in Fear - Psalm 56:3 - Wednesday, May 11, 2016

To honor moms during the Month of May, I'm posting a prayer especially for moms! The plan will be to pray through a different Psalm each week. I pray it ministers to you in a special way! Thank you for all you do! This week here's a prayer for you from Psalm 56:3.

Psalm 56:3

Heavenly Father, I ask that you instill your truth in my heart as a mom and as Your Daughter as I read Your truth and pray through it. I thank You and praise You for Who you are,  for loving me unconditionally and for being my strength through the good and the bad days. I need You Father! 

When I am afraid,

I put my trust in you.

Heavenly Father, I know You're my strength and sufficiency but sometimes life gets overwhelming and I slip into fear. 

Too many times I "hit my emotional and physical limit." 

...Help me to turn these times of  fear into faith. 

...Help me to turn from merely my own limited strength and instead rely on Your limitless strength. 

...When I fear for the well-being of my family - help me to trust in You.

...When I fear that I'm just not enough for my children - help me remember whose I am and who I am.

...Help me to remember that I am enough as I'm not alone because You're with me always.

...Help me to remember that I am enough because You are my sufficiency.

...When satan slings lies at me from every angle- help me to trust fully in You and the truth of Your Word. 

...Help me by Your Holy Spirit trust cast out the lies in Jesus name. 

...Please help me trust completely in You in the day-to-day.

...Help me to trust in Your provision, wisdom and direction.

...Help me to lay all my insecurities down at Your feet. 

...Help me to remember that fear is the opposite of faith and trust. 

I praise You and thank You and I ask all these things in His Name, Amen.

In Christ Alone,

rlk

A Prayer For Moms - A Prayer While Waiting - Psalm 27:14 - Wednesday, May 4, 2016

To honor moms during the Month of May, I'm posting a prayer especially for moms! The plan will be to pray through a different Psalm each week. I pray it ministers to you in a special way! Thank you for all you do! This week here's a prayer for you through Psalm 27:14.

Psalm 27:14

Heavenly Father, I ask that you instill your truth in my heart as a mom and as Your Daughter as I read Your truth and pray through it. I thank You and praise You for Who you are,  for loving me unconditionally and for being my strength through the good and the bad days. I need You Father! 

Wait for the Lord; 

You call me wait on You and trust in You. Please help me to do this through your strength. Help me to wait on You and Lean Upon You when:

...when I'm stressed out

...when my vision is unclear

...when my kids misbehave

...when there are dishes to be done and homework to check

...when there are bills to pay

...when I haven't grown how I want to grow or have too high of expectations on myself

...when I'm up at 3 am with a sick child, again... and I'm very tired

...I face many more circumstances (insert here)

In all circumstances help me to wait on You and trust in You. 

Help me to always look for and expect Your greater reward as You are my / our provider!

be strong, and let your heart take courage; 

I confess that there are times when I fear for my child's/children's future.

I confess that there are times when there seems like too much month at the end of the money and I'm not sure what to do.

I confess that I'm angry toward my kids and sometimes it's because I'm totally spent.

I confess that sometimes I feel like I don't have purpose, that I'm unworthy, that I'm not valuable and much more. Help me to read Your Word especially during these times as Your truth dispels the fear and the truth...Your truth causes the lies I believe about myself to disappear.

I know You understand all these things and nothing is a surprise to You...

So I ask that You would be my strength. 

I ask that You would help me to be strong.

I ask that You would help me to have courage especially to do what is right.

I ask that You help me to give my child's/children's future over to You as you know it already.

I ask that You continue to guide me through sound financial planning and that You'd continue to provide for my family. 

I ask that You help me daily to be good example (Not perfect) for my child/children. 

I ask that You help me be patient with myself and my child/children.

I ask that You would help me understand who I am in Christ.

I ask that You help me learn more and more about the great purpose You have for my life and that I'd walk in it including the gift of being a mom.

I ask that You help me understand and remember that I am worthy because of Christ.

I ask that You help me understand that I am of great worth as Your daughter.

I ask that You help me remember that I don't have to have it all together because You are my strength and sufficiency. 

Help me to carve out daily time with You where I can seek You and hear from You through Your Word and Prayer. 

wait for the Lord!

In all things, again, please help me to wait on You as I cannot do this alone.
I thank You and praise You and I ask all these things in Jesus Name, Amen.

In Christ Alone,

rlk