Pray without ceasing....

A few nights ago Sadie just wouldn't go to sleep. She is never like this so we couldn't figure out what was going on. We have a very specific routine we do with her and she pretty much stays on schedule each night. We all have dinner together, she gets a bath and goes down about 6:30. Yes, I know that is early, but she is worn out (she has a lot of energy) and she is ready for bed each night, no problems at all. Well, this night was different, we couldn't figure out what was going on. Clark usually puts her to bed because I am feeding Jack and putting him down at the same time (yes, he goes down at 6:30 too, aren't we blessed?? ) Anyway, after putting him down I could hear her really upset and screaming she had a dirty diaper. Clark changed her and she was still screaming, we couldn't figure it out. I tagged him and took my turn to see if I could put her down. She was screaming like crazy and just didn't want to go to sleep. I knew she was testing us, she wanted to get up and play more but it was time for her to sleep. I knew that if I gave in this time then she would think she could do this every night. I have a smart girl on my hands. So, I disciplined her and put her in her bed and told her she needed to go to sleep. I left the room and the wailing and gnashing of teeth began! And so after a few more minutes of this I went back in, talked to her and told her she needed to sleep. Well...she started up again, she was mad. She did not want to obey me at all. After almost an hour of this going back and forth, I did only what I knew to do. She was standing in her crib screaming at the top of her lungs and I just started praying out loud. I prayed for her peace, for her comfort, for her to sleep, for Father to wrap His arms around her, I prayed she wouldn't have any fear, I prayed and I prayed and I prayed over her. After about 5 minutes or so of praying, she started to calm down, she picked up her dog, her paci and she just looked at me quiet as a mouse. I continued to pray over her and I picked her up and started to sing her song "Worthy, you are worthy" over her and she put her head on my shoulder (previously when I started to sing, she would yell, no, no, no) and I sang over her and then I continued to pray my heart out for this little girl. She completely calmed down and I put her in her bed and walked out of the room. I couldn't help but be utterly amazed at the power of prayer in that moment. I know that it might seem like such a small thing but it was because of the presence of my Father that I know she calmed down. She was receiving that peace that passes all understanding from Father.
Now, each time that I have put her down I have prayed over her, not just a simple prayer but simply pouring my heart out to Father. Each time she has calmed down and slept peacefully.
Why do I ever doubt the power of prayer? We serve an amazing Father who truly cares about the small things, such as putting our children to sleep each night.