“Prayer is a surge of the heart, it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.”
~St. Therese Lisieux
Michael Keaton starred in the 1996 comedy Multiplicity; he played a husband and father who tried to be present to his children and wife and still maintain his successful career. A scientist managed to clone him into four versions of himself to do right by his family and his career. The plan works for a while but comes to a comedic end. The movie’s intrigue has stayed with me as I’ve seen our family grow and divide into three parts of the country; my desire to live near each of them couldn’t be fulfilled, so multiplying myself sounded like a great idea. I follow their lives in conversations, texts, and Facetime. We are unique in our interests and pursuits, and even though I long to be a daily companion in their lives, I must rely on another kind of multiplication.
I offer up my prayers for each of them and am oriented to their well-being; my prayers as a wife, mother, and memiere are indeed the upward surge of my heart throughout each day. I can turn my look to our Heavenly Father, knowing that he knows my heart and embraces my family even better than I do. The idea of “arrow prayers” isn’t original to me. Still, my pattern of daily prayer for my lovies could be described as arrow prayers. They are a few lines of Scripture or quotes from the writings of the Saints or prayers of The Church coupled with my knowledge of each of my lovey’s needs.
When we were raising our children, I made a practice of writing said prayers on 3×5 cards strategically placing them around our home. The silent witness of those prayers seeped into our family atmosphere, and I know they helped to form our children’s faith in God. I encourage you to practice praying arrow prayers for your children and grandchildren. Remember that the Word of God is living and active…sharper than a two-edged sword…able to pierce the heart and mind (Hebrews 4:12). Our “arrow prayers” are just as intense!
The arrow prayers we pray with our children when they are young are much different than what we pray for in other stages of life. For instance, whenever we hear a siren or helicopter, we can train our children to know that someone is in trouble and then ask God to help them. The change of seasons gives us ample reasons to offer praise together to God for the beauty of his creation. Simple prayers like “Help them, Jesus” or “Thank you, Jesus” orient our children to God.
My prayers are different now. As I pray for my adult children and grandchildren, I rely on God’s prevenient grace (see Pray It Forward: Introduction) to answer my prayers. I still write appropriate arrow prayers in a prayer journal I keep for my family. Some I’ve relied on so often that they are written in my memory. It is as though I carry a quiver full of arrows with me each day, ready to be shot to heaven at the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I am sharing some of those prayers in my quiver to help guide your prayers or give you ideas of what to fill your quiver with.
Lord Jesus Christ,
I ask that [ ]…
Would grow in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man.
Would function with godly wisdom, discernment, and revelation.
Would be given a sense of purpose and hope for the future.
Would inflame them with Spirit, that it would burn, consume, and nourish them so that your Supreme will form them.
Mary lay her mantle over them so the infernal serpent may not dare to penetrate or entice them away from you.
Would be someone who speaks wisely, graciously, and clearly and never foolishly, rudely, or insensitively.
Would open the doors of salvation and draw them into your Divine will to form their life all in you.
You would remove anything that separates them from you.
May they see, hear, taste, savor, and touch you. They would be conscious of your presence and enjoy you!
I lay a spiritual ax to the root of their family tree and pray that the physical, mental, or emotional tendency stops and will not manifest in them.
May the Spirit of the Lord stir them onward and upward in the ascent of holiness.
May they rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances.
Grant [ ] the Spirit of Wisdom that they may not be attached to the perishable things of this world but aspire only after the things that are eternal.
Grant [ ] the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten their minds with the light of your Divine truth.
Grant [ ] the Spirit of Counsel that they may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven.
Grant [ ] the Spirit of Fortitude that they may bear our cross with you and that we may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose our salvation.
Grant [ ] the Spirit of Knowledge that they may know God and know themselves and grow perfect in the science of the Saints.
Grant [ the Spirit of Piety that they may find the service of God sweet and amiable.
Grant [ ] the Spirit of Fear that they may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may avoid anything that may displease him.
Mark [ ], dear Lord, with the sign of your true disciples, and animate [ ] in all things with your Spirit.
May the words of [ ] mouth and the meditation of [ ] heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, our Rock and Redeemer.
Keep sending your arrow prayers to the Lord on behalf of your family. He will receive them and work all things together for the good of those who love him.
The Maiden Warrior 