Why should a mother pray for her children with her children?

By Brian Croft

So much of the daily grind of a mother goes unnoticed.  Children, especially when they are younger are very ungrateful and overlook so much of what mothers do and this can be a great discouragement for mothers.  This discouragement grows as mothers find themselves burdened for the souls of their children and see very little spiritual fruit from their efforts.

Here is a word of encouragement to all Christian mothers to press on in your daily tasks to serve you families; to remain steadfast in those spiritual disciplines with your children that appear to have little effect.  This word of encouragement comes from the great Charles Spurgeon as he reflects on the impact his praying mother had on him as an unconverted boy:

It was the custom, on Sunday evenings, while we were yet little children, for her to stay at home with us, and then we sat round the table, and read verse by verse, and she explained the Scriptures to us…Then came a mother’s prayer, and some of the words of that prayer we shall never forget, even when our hair is grey.  I remember, on one occasion, her praying thus: “Now, Lord if my children go on in their sins, it will not be from ignorance that they perish, and my soul must bear a swift witness against them at the day of judgment if they lay not hold of Christ.” 

That thought of a mother’s bearing swift witness against me, pierced my conscience and stirred my heart.

Mothers, I hope you were encouraged yesterday and honored by your husband and children as there is much to honor in the way you sacrifice and care for your family.  However, you may not have been honored as you hoped.  You may not be seeing the spiritual fruit you desire in your children and that was apparent yesterday.  Take these powerful words from Spurgeon and press on in the tasks before you this week.  Pray for your children, with your children.  You never know how much your words of pleading with God to save their souls might impact them in the years to come.

Quote most recently found in The Brokenhearted Evangelist written by my dear friend, Jeremy Walker.