I’ve listened to the song many, many times. It is on my running playlist. The music has pushed to me to keep going on a run more than once, but it’s the lyrics that are pushing me forward this morning.

If I’m being completely honest, a new week almost always starts with a list of things I need and want to get done. Planning for the week often trumps praying for the week. And I can feel our week reflecting this in its focus on tasks and schedules over experiences and moments.

This song came on during a run and, after a stressful and self-centered week, I heard the words in a different way. I heard them as a mom who needed a different perspective going into a new week. I heard a prayer for a heart more like Christ’s – full of love and surrender to the will of God. I heard just the thing I knew I needed to start each week.

For King and Country’s The Middle of Your Heart was once a super motivating running song to me, but it is now my morning prayer and motivation as a mom. Take a moment to listen today and I think you’ll know why…

Each Monday {and every other day, too!}, I find myself needing to confess and surrender…

This is where I say I don’t need to have control…
I don’t know how to handle it…
You’re my only hope…
All that I have to offer is the white flag of surrender…

And I pray this to start anew again and again…

Take me to the middle of Your heart
Lead me to wherever Your love starts
To a new day dawning
To the place You are
And if You want to take me over the edge
I’ll let you cause Your love is where I’ll land
Wanna be right where You are,
In the middle of Your heart

My morning couldn’t begin a better way than with these words. It’s a recommitment to love the way He does, start fresh, and take those leaps of faith knowing He will always catch me, full of His never-ending grace.

Specifically, I pray these things over my relationship with my children. I know that my love has its limits, but His does not, and I want to love those boys with His love.

P.S. This song is a really great one to crank up in the car as well. Just so you know.

Which leads me to our Love Dare for Parents check-in for the week…

I feel like this week gave me a LOT to think about, even more than things on which to act. A few questions I am still pondering from this week include:

• What life skills and life lessons do I want the boys to learn from us?
• What positive attributes do I see in my kids that I could affirm to them?
• What changes do I need to make to discipline them with both nurture AND admonition?

Every day is like a baby step toward better parenting for me, and sometimes I wish I even had more than one day to work on a certain dare. If you feel like that as well, feel free to hit pause and spend more time on a lesson you need or want more time to process and act on!

I am on Day 15 today, but it’s more about continuing the challenge than moving from day to day on schedule. Take it at a speed that feels good to you, but don’t stop! Don’t let life pull you away from this journey!

What dares are you still processing? Which day this week stuck out in your mind as the most important for your family?