A Full Body Prayer

Dear Lovely,

I was never a mom who slept with their newborns in her room. From day 1, both boys slept in their cribs upstairs. I had a fear of developing a sleeping habit I wouldn’t be able to break later, so Brian and I always reserved our room for just us. It made those first few months more difficult than it could have been had the baby slept in a bassinet in our room, but like I said before, at least we didn’t have a habit to break later on.

As it were, I’d hear James cry, head up the stairs to feed him, get him back to sleep, then back downstairs to put myself to bed before he’d wake up again. Those nights were so hard, especially when he was big enough to sleep through the night, and I’d let him cry a bit to see if he would self soothe.

A tiny cry would crack the silence of the midnight hours in our dark home—those were the days when I was so attuned to my baby, I could actually hear him breathe in his crib if I stood at the foot of the stairs and listened. I’d hear his cry from our bedroom, and I would begin to pray. I would pray that angels would surround James and soothe every part of his body. That his eyes would close. That his little mind would still. That his arms and legs would relax. That his stomach wouldn’t hurt. That he didn’t need a new diaper. I’d pray peace over every part of him, hoping that the Lord’s presence would lull him back to sleep, and he would learn an important lesson at this infantile age: there is peace in the Lord’s presence. I’d also pray this Scripture:

In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8

Eventually, James stopped waking up at night, and to this day, he has been such a sound and peaceful sleeper. Two years later, I repeated those same steps almost to a T with Caleb.

Around this same time, I completed a year-long Bible study at our church, and we were required to write a Rule for Life. This could be something as simple as, pray before every meal, or say “Good morning, Jesus” each day when you wake up. Or it could be a greater commitment such as, pray for one hour each day, or fast one day every month. It was any practice you felt led to commit to for the following year.

As a mother of a 2 year old and a baby, my mind was still on those full body prayers I would say at night, hoping the baby would go back to sleep, and so, I decided to write one for myself. In the throws of those busy days and sleepless nights of motherhood, when their hands were so sticky and faces so sweet, yet my sanity was lost, not to mention my hold on the laundry and housekeeping, I was in great need of the Lord to bring His peace and presence to every part of me.

Lovely, when making a goal for myself this year, I decided I wanted to live my days for Jesus, and I’ll tell you it isn’t easy, and not always because of the distractions of the world. Often, it’s because of me, my own body, my own thoughts, my own wants…I distract myself from the Lord, and I’ve been praying that God would help me to be better focused on Him throughout my days.

And that’s when He reminded me of the full body prayer. I had forgotten about it for years, and couldn’t even remember where I had written it down. The Lord didn’t forsake me, however. He knew what prayer I needed and where I would find it. The prayer 👇🏼 is now saved on my phone so I can see it and say it anytime I need. Feel free to do the same and share it with anyone who would appreciate having a full body prayer on their side in a very chaotic world.

This community has been selected by God for great things. I pray the Lord bless you and meet you exactly where you are. I pray He say what you need to hear and guide you where you need to go. I pray favor over your life and that the Lord use you to do His will. I pray infinite blessings over you. 💜