Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes - 30 Days of Prayer for Our Kids

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I recently shared with you a new book I just read — Lead Your Family Like Jesus. One of my favorite fiction authors, Tricia Goyer, co-wrote this book with Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges.

One of my favorite things about LYFLJ is the very practical, easy-to-implement advice it provides to parents. In chapter eleven, Tricia shares about how daily quiet time with God is the most powerful tool parents have in their arsenal. Here is what she says —

The power of solitude, prayer, and the study of Scripture can’t be overemphasized. Together they can help us become parents who, like Jesus, are servant leaders.

And this —

Prayer is an essential act of will that demonstrates whether we’re really serious about living and leading our families like Jesus. Without it we’ll never be able to connect our plans and efforts with God’s plan for His kingdom, or engage the spiritual resources Jesus promised in the work of the Holy Spirit.

Ouch. That one bites, doesn’t it? It did for me. Because I know that I pay a lot of lip service to desiring that Ben is able, willing, prepared and equipped for whatever God has planned for his life. But I’m not sure that my prayer life is a great testimony of that.

In this same chapter, Tricia shares how she came up with a formula for praying about four foundational things for her children daily, using the children’s song, “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.”

Head — Pray your children will always lift their heads to look to the Lord, and when they’re too hurt of discouraged, pray they’ll allow God to lift their heads. (Psalm 3:3)

Shoulders — Pray your children will learn to let God carry their burdens. (Psalm 55:22)

Knees — Pray your children will get on their knees before God often. (James 4:8-10)

Toes — Pray your kids will be connected to a community of believers who will keep them on their toes. (Hebrews 3:12-14)

I love this model for praying for our kids. It covers those foundational things I hope for my son as well, and it is an easy way to remember them.

To help us all along in developing the habit of praying diligently for our kids, I would like to challenge you to open your Bible to the passages referenced above and begin praying for your children, using this model as well. No more lip service. It’s time to match the desires we have for our children with the prayers we whisper for them.

Will you join me in praying for our kids’ heads, shoulders, knees, and toes for the next 30 days?

If you will commit to praying these prayers for 30 days, beginning on April 1, please leave a comment below. I would like to pray for you as you lead your family like Jesus.

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Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes — 30 Days of Prayer for Our Kids