The Full Armor of God - the Shoes of the Gospel

"with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." Ephesians 6:15

Father who fights for us,

I find it significant that spiritual and mental speed and agility are attributes you consider critical in spiritual warfare. And it does follow that such speed and agility comes from having a keen knowledge of scripture. But this verse goes deeper than that, I think. You are not telling us that simply a knowledge of scripture gives us that spiritual agility in warfare, but it is that we internalize the good news of scripture such that it gives us peace. The "good news" of the gospel is that your Son has been victorious over death and over evil and that, thereby, we will also be victorious. And that because of his victory over sin and death, we have the forgiveness of our sins and have the ultimate victory over death. Thus we can have peace.

But why does that make us swift and agile in spiritual warfare? I am reminded that the most fearsome warriors are those who are fearless. By having absolute peace in the knowledge of who we are in you and what is our ultimate destination - knowledge that comes from the gospel of peace, we can wage war against evil fearlessly.

Lord Jesus and Spirit of God, give these children a deep understanding of your gospel. May that deep understanding give them total peace in their salvation and peace in knowing they are on the side of total victory. With that deep knowledge make them fearless in facing the evil they will encounter such that they will be more than conquerors.

Amen

The Full Armor of God - Breastplate of Righteousness

"With the breastplate of righteousness in place." Ephesians 6:14

Dear Father, protector of your people,

As I think of the significance of a breastplate, I imagine protection in battle from a frontal attack. As I relate that to our lives today, I understand that the surest protection against unjust attack, of attack against character and wrongful accusation is living a life of righteousness. Having a reputation that causes people to be unwilling to believe the attacks.

I pray that these children come quickly to understand the importance of a good and righteous reputation, one that can defend them against the frontal attacks that they will invariably face at some point or points in their lives. Give them keen insight that choosing to live rightly is the path that best allows them to stand confidently in all circumstances.

Protect them from the temptation to rationalize unrighteous acts. Give them your wisdom to recognize when they are being tempted to rationalize and justify actions that are not right. Help them to have the courage to ask the important question - "what is the right thing to do" and then the courage to follow through to follow that right path.

Reward them greatly when the choose righteousness, both in this life and the life to come.

Amen

The Full Armor of God - Belt of Truth

"Stand firm, then with the belt of truth buckled around your waist." Ephesians 6:14

Father,

We have moved into a post-modern age when "truth" is considered no longer to exist or is considered rather to be relative and a matter of opinion. These children will be bombarded with that world view as they grow up. They will be considered close minded if they hold that truth exists, particularly if they hold that truth exists in the form of your revealed word - the Bible. The post-modern view has developed because science and knowledge has not solved humanity's problems and the answers in science that we were so sure of, have continually been disproved by new knowledge - thus the view that we simply can't ever know what is true.

As your word described truth as a belt, it makes sense to me as the primary purpose of a warrior's belt was to hold the sheath for their sword. And the sword is described as the "word of God". As a sword does little good unless it is held in place by the sheath and the belt, so your Word is of little value unless the holder believes that truth exists and that your word is truth.

I pray that your wisdom fills these children and allows them to understand that a world without truth is chaos and that you are a God who created order, and thus you would not have left your creation in chaos by failing to give us truth. That by your wisdom they refuse to accept the lie that truth is relative and that they embrace the existence of truth and seek it. Though I pray they seek truth in all aspects of life, I pray that their overarching search of truth is to search within your revealed truth, the Bible. Give them a desire to learn your truth and to live by it and bless them richly as they search for your guidance in life. And do not let them be put to shame for their commitment to your truth as you give them the ability to articulate their beliefs in a way that can answer their post-modern critics, as your wisdom within them shines through.

Above all, let your Spirit transform their lives as He uses your truth as His sculpting tool.

Amen

The Full Armor of God

Powerful Father,

I pray that these children will choose to call on and rely on your strength and your mighty power and take their stand against the evil one and his schemes. Remind them that their struggle is not against people, though there will be people who disappoint them and hurt them, rather that their struggle is against the evil one and his agents. That they come to understand that they are in a spiritual war that can only be won by relying on your power, and that they should not hate the individual who hurts them, but rather hate the evil one who influenced them to behave that way.

Help them to understand that spiritual war is real and it demands that they understand that stay close to you for protection. And when the day of evil comes, they will be able to stand their ground and at the end of battle, that they will remain standing.

Amen

Psalm 25

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. In you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame by having placed my trust in you, for no one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame.

Show these children your ways, O Lord, teach them your paths. Guide them in your truth and teach them, for you are God, their Savior, may they put their hope in you all day long. Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Remember not the sins of our youth and our rebellious ways, according to your love, only remember who we are, your children and protect these children from repeating our mistakes. For you are good, O Lord.

You are good and upright, and therefore you instruct sinners in your ways. You guide the humble in what is right and teach them your way. All of your ways are loving and faithful, for those who strive to follow your ways.

For the sake of your Name, O Lord, forgive the iniquities of these children, though they may be great. As these children worship you, instruct them in the ways chosen for them. Let them spend their days showered by your blessings. Confide in them your ways. As their eyes turn to you, release them from the snares in which their mistakes have caused their feet to be trapped. Turn to them and be gracious to them when they are lonely or emotionally wounded. When the troubles of their hearts have multiplied, free them from their anguish. Guard their lives and rescue them, let them not be put to shame as they take refuge in you.

May they be people of integrity and uprightness, and may that protect them as they put their hope in you. Redeem them, O Lord, from all the troubles they encounter.

Amen

Psalm 63

O God, you are my God.

May these children earnestly seek you, may their souls thirst for you, may their very being long for you, when their lives seem a dry and weary land where there is no water.

Let them see you in your sanctuary and behold your power and glory, because your love is better than life,

I pray their lips will glorify you. That they will praise you as long as they live and in your name they will life up their hands. Satisfy their souls as with the richest foods, so that with singing lips their mouths will praise you.

May they remember you on their beds, and think of you through the watches of the night.

Be their help so that they can sing under the shadow of your wings.

May their souls cling to you and your right hand uphold them.

Amen

They are your Sheep

Father, shepherd of your sheep,

These children are your sheep and you are their shepherd, please watch over their souls.

Their souls to keep watching over them ever, watching wherever they go.

And when the wind blows, please be their shelter. And when they're lost and alone, please rescue them.

And when the lion comes, please be their victory, constantly watching over them. Constantly watching over them.

They are your children and you are their Father, please watch over their souls, for great is your love for your sons and your daughters, watching wherever they go.

So when the wind blows, you are their shelter and when they're lost and alone, you rescue them and when the lion comes, you are their victory, constantly watching over them, you'll be constantly watching over them.

Amen

Psalm 5

Dear Father,

Give ear to my words, Oh Lord, and consider my deepest longings.Listen to my pleas, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell.

But I, by your great mercy, will come into your house; in reverence will I bow down toward your holy temple.

Lead these children, O Lord, in your righteousness, make straight your way before them. Let them be glad as they take their refuge in you. Let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that they may rejoice in you. O Lord, bless them and surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Amen

Blessed are the Persecuted

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 5:10

Father,

I do not like the idea of these children suffering persecution. However, I also realize that the only way to have any possibility of avoiding persecution is to never stand up for anything. For as sure as we stand up for any cause, persecution of one variety or another will happen.

So, as I have prayed that these children stand up for justice and against oppression, that they stand up for their faith in you, and that they seek to make a difference in their community and in their church, I realize that I am,  thereby, praying persecution into their lives. But I would have it no other way. I pray that their sphere of influence be greatly increased and that they, through your power working within them, choose to live an extraordinary life for causes that matter. I pray that you give them strength, patience and endurance to withstand the persecution that will come with the territory. I pray that you help them see that persecution and hardship is a natural cost of living a life of significance and that their only alternative is to waste the life you have given to them. The cost of leadership is high - higher yet is the cost of failing to lead, as I often say.

I then call on your promise that these children will inherit your Kingdom - inherit it both eternally, but that also they are able to fully participate in the Kingdom in this life. May the power of your kingdom sustain them.

Amen

Blessed are the Peacemakers

Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9

Father,

There are those who  seem to cause strife wherever they go and there as some who are passive and watch strife being created but do nothing about it. Then there are the peacemakers - those who attempt to do something about it. I have been each of the three categories, I think, at different points in my life, but more often I vacillate between the latter two categories. From experience I have learned that playing the role of peacemaker is often a frustrating and thankless job. Cooling egos is challenging and when one or more of the parties is fundamentally a strife-maker, it is almost impossible to resolve the conflict successfully. It is even more complex and difficult when the conflict is in a marriage. There is also a great risk of being criticized by everyone in the effort - a comment I often make is that in a war, people in the middle get shot.

Never-the-less, Lord, you tell us that we are blessed when we attempt to make peace. More than that you tell us that in that act we become like you - your children. I have come to understand that more fully in past years when I have been able to more fully grasp how you made peace between you and us by sending your Son to earth to be a sin sacrifice on our behalf (Colossians 1:19-20). All of the pitfalls of peace making that I mentioned above were suffered by Jesus - and you as the instigator of the peace effort. He had to cool egos (not very successfully), he had to deal with people who were fundamentally strife-makers (not very successfully) and he did suffer great criticism and persecution in the effort.

And so it seemed at the time that his effort at peacemaking was a complete failure. But we have a better picture looking at it some 2,000 years later. We see that millions have accepted the peace offering and have made their peace with you through his efforts. So, as with so many acts of righteousness, often the end result is not apparent at the time, but may take years or even generations for the fruits of righteousness to ripen.

So with that, I pray that these children be peacemakers, not strife-makers and not passive observers. I pray that you give them strength to endure the inevitable consequences of such efforts and the wisdom to understand that their efforts will never be fruitless, even though they may never see the fruit. Show them in special ways that you are pleased with their attempts and that they truly are being like you as they reach out to calm to storms of human conflict. And may that effort help them to build peace in their own relationships.

Pour your peace into their hearts through your Spirit within them (Romans 15:13).

Amen

Blessed are the Pure in Heart

Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God. Matthew 5:8

Dear Father,

I do pray for the children and their physical purity, amid all of the temptation and open sexuality of our generation. But Jesus was talking about emotional purity - purity of heart. That is a much more complex concept. I pray that your Spirit will grow in these children a heart of purity. Not only that they keep themselves pure, but that the desire to do so to please you. That they be emotionally pure - pure of desire for things and people that are not theirs to have, pure of hatred, pure of arrogance, pure of self-centeredness, pure of manipulation, pure of materialism, pure of bitterness and grudge holding, pure of gossip and pure of anger.

I then call on your promise that these children will see you. I don't think that the promise in Matthew 5:8 is talking about seeing you in heaven, though it may include that. I believe that your grace, through faith in your Son, will save them eternally, not the level of their purity. I think your scripture is telling us here that as we strive to be pure, and allow you Spirit to purify us, the clouds of deceit that Satan covers us with will begin to clear and we will  see you more clearly and will see your will and your purposes and will see your truth.

So, I of course pray that these children will see you eternally, but in their lifetime, as your Spirit works to cleanse their hearts, I also pray that you will make yourself more clear and more plain and more real to them - ever increasingly all the days of their lives.

Amen

Blessed are the Merciful

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7

Father,

One thing is very clear to me from scripture is that you expect us to be merciful. The parable of the unmerciful servant is the most clear teaching of that truth. I pray that, through the power of your Spirit, you develop in these children hearts of mercy. That if they err in their judgments and decisions, they will err on the side of mercy. I try to live out what I often say - that if on the day of judgment, I am accused of being taken advantage of because I was too merciful, I will be glad to accept that.

Give them discernment, though, in knowing when and how to hold people accountable for the best interest of those they are dealing with.

And in all of this, I call on your promise that you will show them great mercy, not only in the Day of the Lord, but in life as you shield them from the worst consequences of the poor choices they will inevitably make.

Amen

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

Father,

I pray that you instill in these children a desire to follow a righteous path. I pray that your Spirit fills them with the wisdom to understand that the path of righteousness is the path that will lead to an impactful life. And as they choose that path, fill them, as you promise. Fill them with the joy of knowing that you are pleased with them. Fill them with an understanding and awareness of the good that they are accomplishing by following your ways. Fill them with the richness of relationship with others who have also chosen righteousness. Fill them with strength to continue on their righteous path. Fill them the satisfaction in old age of a life well lived.

Amen

Blessed are the Meek

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Matt 5:5

Father,

This verse has always been a challenge for me to understand. First of all, I know that meekness does not mean weakness. Jesus was meek, but at the same time was willing to stand up to the arrogant and to those who used their power to oppress the poor and the outcasts. He was tough enough to endure persecution and brave enough to face resolutely what he knew lay ahead of him. Yet he did not use his power to defend himself, and he was gentle and compassionate with the downcast and outcast.

So, I get that - but then what about the part of inheriting the earth. In all of this I conclude that Jesus was the first fruit of resurrection (I Corinthians 15:20) and that we shall be like him (I Corinthians 15:49 and I John 3:2) and that we will appear with Him in glory (Colossians 3:4) and that when He comes there will come with him a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1 and II Peter 3:13) and therefore the meek (Jesus as the firstfruit) will inherit the new heaven and new earth.

Father, from all of that, my prayer is that by your Spirit, you grow in these children a quiet strength. A strength that is not self seeking, but a strength that will stand against injustice. I strength that does not impose its own will, but a strength that faithfully fulfills obligations and mission. A strength that does not oppress, but a strength that protects and defends.

I pray that you instill in them a strong and steady gift of leadership based on the meekness of Jesus.

Amen

Blessed are those who mourn

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted  Matthew 5:4

Dear Father, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort (II Corinthians 1:3),

Because we live in a fallen world and therefore death and loss are a basic part of our journey on this earth, I know that these children will experience loss, sorrow and mourning. If I could protect them from that, I would. But the  only way to avoid all of it is simply not to live at all. We know that you will raise the believers from the dead, but that does not remove the pain of loss. Your Son patterned that when Lazarus died - though he knew that he was about to raise Lazarus from the dead, he wept.

I also understand that mourning and loss are not just about death, but about other kinds of losses - loss of relationship, loss of dreams, loss of job and even loss of contests.

So, first my prayer is to call upon your promise for these children that in times of mourning, you will comfort them. I believe that this kind of comfort is not simply them feeling better about things, but that in some supernatural way, your Spirit gives peace into their hearts beyond what is humanly normal. That is my prayer for them.

Secondly I pray that in these times they will stay connected to their family of believers. Your servant Paul tells us that one means that comfort comes to us is through others who have previously received your comfort (II Corinthians 1:4-5). Their tendency may be to pull away from people in these times, but I pray they do not and that you bring strong comforters in to their lives from within their family of faith.

Lastly I pray that, indeed, by the experience of comfort that they receive in these times, that they will become people of compassion, who reach out to those who mourn to provide comfort as they have been comforted. Give them a special grace of being comforters, giving them wisdom of what to say - and what not to say - to people who are in distress, such that your comfort naturally flows out of them.

Amen

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs in the kingdom of heaven. Matt 5:3

Father,

I pray that these little ones are spared the curse of arrogance.  Though I pray that they have a good self-image, I pray that self image comes not from their own accomplishments or position or power and position in the social pecking order, but from their knowledge and confidence in their status as your children.

By that they may be described as poor in spirit - having no value save you living within them. May they ever grow in their realization that they are nothing without you - but by you they are everything. May they always know that, by their own power, they are flawed and sinful, but by the righteous act of your Son, they are forgiven and perfect in your eyes.

And by their continuing and growing awareness of these things, may they fully inherit your Kingdom as royalty.

Amen

Happy Birthday AGM!

Dear loving Father,

We thank you so much for bringing AGM into our lives this past year. It is amazing to us that he is already a year old! I thank you that he is a healthy baby and we pray that he will continue to be healthy and grow normally. I pray that you give E and S extra wisdom in raising him over the next year and that they are able to savor the joy of his toddler years.

I pray that you begin to grow the small seed of your word that is already being placed within him and that you will already begin to mold him for great purpose in your kingdom. Be his shield of protection against all harm.

Amen

Happy Birthday ISH!

Dear Father,

Thank you for bringing ISH into our lives. A perfect name he was given - he laughs. Such a joy he brings to the whole family by the joy that wells up from his very being and spreads to all about him. 

I pray for his health, that you will allow him to continue growing up and live a long and healthy life. I pray that you give L and K great godly wisdom in raising him up to serve you. I pray that ISH and GEO have a life long closeness that they have today and that GEO is a strong and godly influence on ISH as he grows up, and beyond. As L and K consider and pursue an adoption, should the effort be successful, I pray that ISH also becomes the strong and godly big brother to the next child or children to enter their house.

I pray that you mold ISH and guide him into a role in your kingdom that will have far-reaching impact for good. Give him wisdom beyond his years and great courage. Bring strong godly peer influence into his life and shield him from negative peer influence. Bring mentors into his life and give him the wisdom to understand the importance of godly mentors and therefore a desire to seek them.

If it is his lot to be married, I pray that you are also raising up and molding a godly young woman who will be his wife and life-long companion.

Continue growing within him the seed of your word, such that he will have an unquenching desire for your word and a desire to give his allegiance and life to your Son.

Amen

Psalm 40

Dear Father,

I pray that these children will wait on your during their life, and as they wait, you will hear their cry. There will be times when they find themselves in a slimy pit - life in a mess. Sometimes it will be because of things of their own doing, sometimes because of the actions of others, and sometimes simply because they live in a fallen world. When they cry out to you, I pray that you lift them out of the pit, out of the mud and mire, and set their feet on a rock - on solid ground. Then put a new song of praise in their mouths. And by their example let many see and believe in you.

Help them to look to you and not to the proud.

Many, oh Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us, no one can recount to you; were I to recount them, they would be too many to declare.

Do not withhold your mercy from these children, Oh Lord, may your love and your truth always protect them.

Amen

Be their Shield - Psalm 3

Most powerful father and God,

Be a shield around these children. Sustain them as they lie down to sleep and as they wake up. Take fear from their hearts even when they are threatened by the world around them. When they cry out to you, please answer them from your holy hill.

Place your glory on them when they feel defeated and insignificant so that they and the world around them can see your glory shining through them and thereby they and the world understands that they are, in fact, children of the king.

When they are discouraged, lift up their heads and restore them. Lift up their heads so that they look on your face and know the power, the gentleness, the kindness of a loving father. Lift up their heads so that they can see the big picture, rather than just dwelling on the problem at hand. Lift up their heads so that they can see that those are with them are greater than those who are with the evil one. Lift up their heads and restore the joy in their heart that can only come from knowing their true place in the universe - adopted children of the creator of all that is.

Amen

Shine Like Stars - Phil 2:15-16

Father,

My prayer for these children is the same as Paul's prayer for the church in Philippi - that they will shine like stars in the universe as they hold out the word of truth. There is so much darkness and hopelessness in the world. We see atrocity upon atrocity committed by humankind on thier fellow man.

In the midst of this darkness, you call your people to be light - the light of truth and the light of hope. I pray that each of these children will shine brightly within their sphere of influence, and that their sphere of influence expands over their lifetime. May their brightness be ever increasing as their knowledge of the Word expands and their boldness in sharing that Word increases.

Help them to understand how significant a single point of light can be in lighting up the world

Amen