Monday, August 22, 2011

A Peaceful Mind

Below are Nicole's thoughts on Chapter 20 of The Power of A Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian. Please know that what we all learn from a study is usually different. Therefore we encourage you to share your thoughts on this chapter as well.

Cow jumping over the moon...cow jumping over the moon....cow jumping over the moon...cow jumping....These were the words I heard coming out of my son's mouth over and over again this past weekend. If I tried to help get these thoughts out his mind by having him talk to me about other things it increased it more. This time louder...COW JUMPING OVER THE MOON, COW JUMPING OVER THE MOON, COW.... Until he breaks down in tears saying "I'm sorry Mommy." It's so difficult for me to know what it's really like for him having autism. Does he say these things to control the situations surrounding him? Or does he say these things because he gets thoughts, phrases, songs stuck in his head like a broken record? When my son has episodes like this, I can't even get him to answer me. It's heartbreaking, frustrating and feels hopeless.

What Jesus wants me to see is that it's not hopeless. I tried everything in my power to get him to stop saying this and to just focus on being with us. However, it kept getting stronger and I felt like he was blocking us all out. In fact, as I type this, he is in school and I wonder if he's having as difficult of a time there. I'll be the first to admit that I totally forgot about writing in the blog this morning. In fact, I just read the chapter. However, I am so glad I did remember. Chapter 20, Receiving a Sound Mind, is exactly what I need to be praying over my son at this particular moment.

Stormie reminds us on pag 139 that the Bible says "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.". Phillipians 2:5. We are also reminded on page 140 "For God has ot given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.". 2 Timothy 1:7. Further down the page she gives us the following verse from 1 Corinthians 14:33 "God is not the author of confusion but of peace."

In other words, we should be praying that our children have a restful mind. We need to go to God in prayer and ask for peace of mind in our children, especially our children with autism. We need to ask that anxiety, confusion and fear be taken from their minds and be replaced with peace, rest, and love.

Lord,
We lift up all of our children with and without autism. We ask that you will fill their minds with your love. Give them the peace that can only come from you. Keep their minds safe and away from any confusion that may be thrown their way.
In Your Name we pray,
Amen

1 comment:

Jessica said...

Thank you so much for this post Nicole. Matthew has been struggling so much with escalating anxiety and your post with 2 Timothy 1:7 (which I just prayed over him this morning) was a confirmation that indeed it is not hopeless and that I should continue praying this way over him.