One of the many things that I am truly grateful for is the wise counsel that I am under. The couple that mentors me has always encouraged me to pray for, speak blessings over and build up my ex-husband to my son and everyone I speak to.
I have to admit, this not something my flesh wants to do. But my spirit rejoices in the prayers and so many good things have come from this act of love. First of all, there is no possible way to be angry at someone when you genuinely pray for them. The joy that comes from a pure heart towards someone that may have hurt you is unexplainable. Next, the impact on your children seeing and hearing you pray over their father is tremendous. It will influence them to have a pure heart and create peace in their life about their family.
When a single mom remembers that her first priority in life is for her character to become Christ-like, she will remember that one of the fruits of the spirit is the art of self-control -- not controlling others. That means controlling our tongues in every conversation regarding our childrens' fathers.
Every night my son and I pray over his father. We pray that the veil will be lifted off of his eyes and that he will come to know Christ. We pray blessings over his life and favor over his job and anything that he is involved in. My son and I take turns at night praying for his father. What a joy it is to hear a little 10-year-old boy cry out to God for the salvation of his father!
The true reward for me as a mother is for my son to see God move in his fathers life from our prayers. Just recently we prayed diligently for a week over a new job opportunity his father was exploring. God worked in a mighty way and brought his father a new position with a very nice pay increase and company car. My son was elated when his father shared the news with him. He told his father how good God was and how He answered our prayers about the job for his dad.
In every situation that we deal with as single moms regarding our children's father, choose to be a positive influence to your children. Speak well, pray daily and watch the Lord bless you and your family because of it.
Lori Little, A Woman By Design ministry's founder, is the former Director of John C. Maxwell's THRiVE!, Becoming A Woman Of Influence. A major focus of Lori's ministry is the Hope and Help for the Single Mom initiative. Watch for Lori's book Hope and Help for the Single Mom, by Waterbrook Press, in 2005.
21 Principles of a Healthy Single Mom offers meaningful messages, helpful advice and loving encouragement for every single mom. To inquire about and order the CD packages, call 1-888-430-HOPE, or visit the website at: www.hope4singlemoms.com.
Dr. Charles Stanley says of the 21 Principles:
"If a single mom will follow these 21 Principles, there is no way for her to fail. She will watch herself grow in her own strength and abilities and become more confident as the leader of her home.
The 21 Principles of a Healthy Single Mom is a practical asset for single mothers to apply specific, workable, successful guidelines to her life."