“Mommy, can I pick out a card?”
I nod my assent and the boys dive into our Prayer Bowl to each select a person, a need to lift up…
Over the last several weeks as a need has arisen – someone is sick, needs a job, a friend has a baby, we hear news of a pregnancy, etc – we’ve taken to jotting down their need and placing them in our prayer bowl.
I discovered these beautiful bowls and even more beautiful concept about 2 months ago. I was immediately drawn and loved the idea of a beautiful reminder to take all of our petitions to the Lord – over and over and over again. I contacted Karen about the prospect of sharing these bowls with you all! She’s created two different beautiful ‘prayer bowls’ to help individuals and families intentionally and continually pray for the needs around them.
As we read in the Old Testament, we’re reminded over and over again how humanity is prone to forgetfulness. We can see God move in miraculous ways and yet the human spirit flags and we succumb to spiritual amnesia. What is the anecdote to this? Spending time with God – communicating with Him, listening to Him speak directly to our souls and in reading His Words. Going to God with gratefulness, to bask in His presence and to bring our petitions is so powerful. Doing that with your children is doubly so.
I’ve recognized my own proclivity to sincerely tell someone I’ll pray for them and then… forget. I have the best intentions, but if habits aren’t in place, sometimes I fail on the follow-through. I’ve learned over the years that it is best to stop right then and there and pray for them. I don’t know about you, but I’ve found that the more I pray, the more in-tune I become to the voice of the Holy Spirit. And when He speaks, I listen and I pray as He places people on my heart.
Looking at my children, I want to pass this habit of remembering and praying for those around us. We love the simplicity of this beautiful reminder that now graces our table. We eagerly dip hands into the bowl each day and pull out reminders. And we pray. We pray for those who have lost loved one’s, we pray for full recovery from a stroke, we pray for God’s touch on a tiny baby, we pray for healing, we pray for friends and family who don’t know Jesus.
The result so far: boys learning to tune in to the Spirit. And when the Spirit speaks, they listen and intercede some more. We’ve had a few moments in the car in the last two weeks where the boys are struck with something and I catch sight in my rearview mirror of heads bowed and heart-felt prayers made.
I’m thankful for beautiful reminders to pray and keep praying. I’m thankful for the opportunity to do this alongside my children…
Each bowl comes with a set of prayer cards with prompts on how to intercede. We’ve loved them to get creative juices running in how we can intercede for those around us. There is an option to buy replacement cards or simply use your own.
This week you have the opportunity to enter to win a prayer bowl for your family. There are two beautiful designs to pick from. Check out Prayer Bowls and come back to tell me which bowl you would love to have grace your table. You can follow them on Facebook or Twitter too!
{This giveaway is open to those over 18 with a U.S. mailing address.}
Disclosure: I was given this Prayer Bowl. All thoughts solely my own. See my full disclosure here.
These are lovely. I just started a prayer jar at our table last month, and we have experienced the same effects you’ve noticed. The kids ask to “do the prayer jar.” It’s just an old canning jar with the wire lid closure. I keep blank popsicle sticks on my desk and in the kitchen to add in. However we do it, it’s a practice of light.
Side note, but Ann Voskamp’s “prayer notebook” app is fantastic. I use that for my personal prayers.
YES! I don’t have a smart phone, but if I ever get one, I’ll have to check out Ann’s prayer app. And yes, any bowl or jar will use. The concept is key!
It’s plum official. I think I just want to move next door to you my friend.
Posted our momma notes tonight. A day late. But it works. So hoping you can come and join. Share your words. your encouragement. your anything mom.
Just moms. Sharing our notes. Creating a melody.
http://justsarahdawn.blogspot.com/2013/07/syllable-by-syllable.html
I like the Celeste!
This is actually the method I use for my own prayer time. I have all the people, concerns, etc., written down on cardboard strips, and I pick out three per day. Keeps it from getting boring, which has been the stumbling block for me with every other method.
Hope to see you soon! 🙂
Love these! I would choose the Angie:) Both are beautiful, though.
They are both beautiful. One way or the other we will be doing something similar. We could use more focused prayer 🙂
THANKS for allowing me to participate would love to win.
Beautiful & inspiring!! The bowls, that is. Let me also say I’ve just stumbled across your blog … haven’t read a lot, but have greatly enjoyed what I have read. Thank you for sharing!
Love this idea! I have been trying to find ways to make prayer more meaningful with my 3 and 4 year olds, and this idea might just do that. 🙂
I love the Celeste. Lovely and elegant. Such a good idea!
Thanks for the great idea!
The Angie! I SO LOVE THIS IDEA!!!!!!!!!!! Love it! Visiting from http://www.aheartforthehome.com
very neat idea. I like the Angie bowl!
Dear Heather ~ How wonderful that this idea grew into a family business for them! When I first was introduced to the idea it was called a prayer basket…and it is so very powerful! Thank you SO much for your sweet friendship and love at this most difficult time. I appreciate you! Please hug the boys and your little princess for me. XO
What a cool idea!! I would love to use this myself, and as my children get a little older and can understand the concept, use it with them. I would pick the Celeste. I love the idea of the app too…please eventually make one for Android too, please!
This is a great idea. I would love to use this with my son. We especially like the Celeste bowl.
This is a really beautiful idea. Thanks for sharing!
Tina @ Mommynificent
The Angie!
What a nice gift! I’ve never seen one before. Thanks for sharing 🙂
I like the Celeste, too, because it is more bowl like.
What an awesome way to get the family involved in praying for others. I would love to win this.
This is such a great idea! I have never heard of these before. I would love to have the angie bowl.
I would choose The Angie! I love the colors and font.
I keep thinking about all of the ways one could piggy back on this idea – just love it! The Celeste bowl is especially beautiful. Thanks Heather!
Me too! I’d love to hear any ideas you come up with. Drawing our kids into intimate prayer time is so powerful.
Both of the bowls are absolutely gorgeous! I really love ‘Angie!’ I have been doing something similar, albeit a little less organized and creative. I have a notebook that I carry around with my to-do list written on it, and as I come upon a prayer request I write it down. Every time I look at my to-do-list (which is A LOT) I send up a prayer for those listed.
This would be a great way to involve the whole family! Thanks for sharing!
The ‘Angie’ is beautiful! I can imagine this concept helping in all our lives as we grow closer to God. Remembering to pray for others somehow falls to the bottom of the list, but these bowls are a great reminder! Thanks for sharing!
Hello! Beautiful concept! I would prefer the Angie, though, like Bethany said, if I do not win- I will be using any bowl to create the same scenario to remember our friends in prayer.
What a great idea! I think I’d prefer the Angie but they are both beautiful.
What a great idea! I’d like the Angie bowl.
I love the colors on the Angie and the Phil. 4:6!
Celeste
great idea!
How gratifying to look back and see your boys’ heads bowed in prayer! You have given them a tool for life, perhaps the most important tool. The bowl as a reminder to pray– so helpful. I was also struck this week as I read Jeremiah how important it is to remember (God, prayer, His truth, to praise Him, etc.) and how easy it is to forget!
Thank you for sharing! I favor the Angie but want to do this same concept with any old bowl even if I don’t win. What a beautiful, present reminder to pray without ceasing for the needs of others.
The Angie of course!
I would chose the Celeste. And it would grace my desk at work… Where I would place the prayer needs for the Blackstone Fellows with whom I work. I might need to get one for my home, too!
This is a wonderful way to bring prayer to the whole family. We pray at meal time, but my husband and I usually do the prayer requests and our children just say a simple prayer. But they would love to do this!
I like this idea! I would choose the Celeste. 🙂
I am liking the Angie. Beautiful!!!
I love these bowls! What a great idea! I like both of them. I would be happy with either one. Thank you!
We have a basket we pull out in November where we write down something we are thankful for and read them during Thanksgiving dinner. This is a great idea to be reminded to lift up others throughout the day! I love the Celeste design too! Thanks!
These are beautiful. I love “the Angie” one.
They are both lovely! I like the one with the verse from Romans. I see an ipad app is in the works too… great idea!
Ooh! I’ve been eyeing this for a few months!
I’d choose “the Celeste”! It’s my oldest daughter’s middle name! 🙂
What a genius idea never heard of doing prayer bowls before. I’d pick the Angie because with just boys blue is the color of all our decor and I’m always struggling with anxiety.