SONJA BURPO on 'Specific Prayers'

(Sonja & Todd Burpo with children: Colton, Cassie, and Colby)

In their latest book, HEAVEN CHANGES EVERYTHING, following up on their HEAVEN IS FOR REAL, which recounts the story of their son, Colton's, encounter with death and heaven as an almost 4 year old child,  the Burpos talk about many things they have learned from the whole experience.  In the following chapter,  Sonja writes about being 'specific' when we pray.   This is Chapter 11 in their second book; the chapter is entitled:  BE SPECIFIC !

 

I'm a big believer in specific prayer.  I don't think I've prayed for someone to be flatulent since Colton's crisis in the hospital   (the doctor had encouraged them to pray that Colton would 'pass gas'), but certainly our experience reinforced for me how powerful specific prayer can be, no matter how personal or intimate it is.

 

When it comes to talking with God, my motto is:  "Ask not, have not."   I don't  just ask God to bless my day.  I already feel like I live in a general state of blessedness all day every day.   Instead, I pray for specific parts of my day,  the work or activities planned, and for specifc people in that day.   Especially my children.

 

I've prayed for my kids since before they were born.  The Bible says God formed them in my womb and knew them before they were born, and as I prayed for them each day of my pregnancy I got to "know" them too.  I imagined their developing bodies and prayed for each part of them:  their skeletons, their digestive systems, their heart and lungs, their hands and fingers.  I asked God to protect them, keep them safe, and bring them safely into the world.

 

I'm still praying for them that way.  I don't pray for something once and drop it.  I'm persistent!  I'm the mom who just won't stop.  I like to think God recognizes my voice because it's one He hears all day every day.

 

And just as I prayed for my kids before they were born, I'm also praying for their marriages and their spouses long before they're married.  (As I write this, Colton is only seven!)

 

I pray for God's protection of their future marriage, and I pray that their spouses love Jesus.  I ask God to give Cassie a husband who respects and loves her and is a good leader in their home.  I pray that the women Colton and Colby marry are loving and supportive.

 

I don't pray that they'll be in full-time ministry, although of course that would please me; but what's really important to me is that they will live their lives for Jesus and serve others.  That's what I pray for.

 

And I don't just offer up specific prayers for my biological children.  Every day at 3:00 p.m. I also pray for "my kids,"  the children in whatever Sunday school and weeknight classes I'm teaching.   I set the alarm on my wristwatch, and every day when it goes off, I'm reminded to pray for those kids by name.  

(Sonja continues on in the Chapter talking about other specific  prayers she offers;  the book is called:  HEAVEN CHANGES EVERYTHING and is published by Thomas Nelson.)