God who protects - El Shaddai,
I pray that these little ones will dwell in your shelter, that they rest in your shadow, that they will say of you "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust."
Surely you will save them from the fowler's snare and from deadly pestilence. Cover them with your feathers so that they will find refuge under your wings. By your faithfulness be their shield and rampart so that they will not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at mid-day.
A thousand my fall at their side, ten thousand on their right hand, but it will not come near them - they will only observe with their eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
I pray that they make their dwelling in you, in you who is my refuge. Then no harm will befall them, no disaster will come near them. Command your angels concerning them to guard all of their ways - angels who will lift up their hands so that they will not strike their feet against a stone - they will tread on the lion and the cobra - trample the great lion and the serpent.
Because of their love for you and your love for them, rescue them and protect them and know their names. As they call upon you, please answer them and be with them in times of trouble - deliver them and honor them with long life. Satisfy their needs, hopes and dreams and show them your salvation.
Amen
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
A new one coming!
Dear Father,
I thank you that you are bringing a new soul into our lives, another one who will call me Grandad. I pray that you bless TH and JH as they prepare again to become parents to a new daughter. I pray that you bless J with a healthy pregnancy and an uneventful delivery. I pray that this little girl will develop normally and be a fully healthy baby when she is born.
I pray that you give T and J wisdom in raising her and that KMA, ECH and AGH will be good and protective big sisters for her. I pray that you create in her a heart that delights in you and who will bask in your presence. Guide her and mold her into a great woman of faith.
Amen
I thank you that you are bringing a new soul into our lives, another one who will call me Grandad. I pray that you bless TH and JH as they prepare again to become parents to a new daughter. I pray that you bless J with a healthy pregnancy and an uneventful delivery. I pray that this little girl will develop normally and be a fully healthy baby when she is born.
I pray that you give T and J wisdom in raising her and that KMA, ECH and AGH will be good and protective big sisters for her. I pray that you create in her a heart that delights in you and who will bask in your presence. Guide her and mold her into a great woman of faith.
Amen
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Psalm 139
Lord,
You know these children, you know them better than we do.
You know when they sit and when they rise, from a distance you know their thoughts.
You know when they go out and when they lie down to rest.
You know all of their ways. Before a word is on their tongues, you know it completely.
You hem them in, behind and in front - you have laid your hand of protection upon them.
Such knowledge is too wonderful to me, beyond my comprehension.
Where can they go from your Spirit, where can the run from your presence?
If they go up to the heavens, you are there. If they make their beds in the depths, you are there.
If they rise on the wings of dawn and settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide them, your right hand will hold them close.
If at some point in their lives they think that you no longer care for them or even see them - if they should say in their despair and loneliness "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
For you created their inmost being, you knitted them together in their mother's womb.I praise you because they are each wonderfully and fearfully made. Search them and know their hearts. Examine them and know when their hearts are anxious. See if there is any offensive way in them, and then lead them in the way everlasting - in the ways of righteousness.
Amen
You know these children, you know them better than we do.
You know when they sit and when they rise, from a distance you know their thoughts.
You know when they go out and when they lie down to rest.
You know all of their ways. Before a word is on their tongues, you know it completely.
You hem them in, behind and in front - you have laid your hand of protection upon them.
Such knowledge is too wonderful to me, beyond my comprehension.
Where can they go from your Spirit, where can the run from your presence?
If they go up to the heavens, you are there. If they make their beds in the depths, you are there.
If they rise on the wings of dawn and settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide them, your right hand will hold them close.
If at some point in their lives they think that you no longer care for them or even see them - if they should say in their despair and loneliness "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
For you created their inmost being, you knitted them together in their mother's womb.I praise you because they are each wonderfully and fearfully made. Search them and know their hearts. Examine them and know when their hearts are anxious. See if there is any offensive way in them, and then lead them in the way everlasting - in the ways of righteousness.
Amen
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Psalm 103
Father, creator of the universe,
Instill in these children a strong desire to praise you with all their inmost being, to praise your holy name. That they will praise you and not forget all the blessings you shower on them: that you forgive all their sins, that you heal their diseases, that you redeem theirs lives from the pit if they wander from you, that you crown them with love and compassion, that you satisfy their desires with good things, that you renew their youth like the eagle's.
Thank you that you will work righteousness and justice when they are oppressed.
Thank you that you will be compassionate and gracious to them, slow to anger, abounding in love.
Thank you that you will not always accuse or harbor your anger toward them, nor will you treat them as their sins will deserve.
As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is your love for these children. As far as the east is from the west, so you will remove their sins from them. As a father has compassion on his children, so you will have compassion on these children.
You know how they were formed and you remember that they are dust, like grass or the flowers of the field. But from everlasting to everlasting, your love will be with these children.
Praise to you who has established you throne in heaven as your kingdom rules over all.
Amen
Instill in these children a strong desire to praise you with all their inmost being, to praise your holy name. That they will praise you and not forget all the blessings you shower on them: that you forgive all their sins, that you heal their diseases, that you redeem theirs lives from the pit if they wander from you, that you crown them with love and compassion, that you satisfy their desires with good things, that you renew their youth like the eagle's.
Thank you that you will work righteousness and justice when they are oppressed.
Thank you that you will be compassionate and gracious to them, slow to anger, abounding in love.
Thank you that you will not always accuse or harbor your anger toward them, nor will you treat them as their sins will deserve.
As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is your love for these children. As far as the east is from the west, so you will remove their sins from them. As a father has compassion on his children, so you will have compassion on these children.
You know how they were formed and you remember that they are dust, like grass or the flowers of the field. But from everlasting to everlasting, your love will be with these children.
Praise to you who has established you throne in heaven as your kingdom rules over all.
Amen
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Fruit of the Spirit - Self Control
Spirit of God,
As you fill these children with your presence, please grow quickly in them the fruit of self control. It is so difficult when we are young to control the impulses of youth. Hormones are raging and the maturity to fully understand the long term consequences of actions has not fully developed. For that reason, I pray for your transforming power to build within each of them a perception and discernment far beyond their years such that they can see clearly the future and understand the benefits of controlling their impulses and the consequences of failing to do so.
Give them a ready ability to sense when things are going in direction that they need to back away and then give them the courage to actually back away. Give them a strong senses of self value - that they belong to you - and thereby they are able to confidently choose a godly course and not be intimidated or pressured into doing otherwise. Strengthen them with your power in extra measure when they face their strongest temptations.
Give them a firm control of their temper, that they can exhibit a calm and steady spirit to those around them and such that they do not do things in anger that they will later regret. Help them to see through their anger to discern what really matters in the situation. There are times when righteous anger is appropriate, but in those circumstances give them the wisdom to make a measured response.
By them having a steady and calm hand, may they develop a skill in leadership that will allow them to be more effective for good in their lives as they lead others toward righteous ends and toward a righteousness life.
Amen
As you fill these children with your presence, please grow quickly in them the fruit of self control. It is so difficult when we are young to control the impulses of youth. Hormones are raging and the maturity to fully understand the long term consequences of actions has not fully developed. For that reason, I pray for your transforming power to build within each of them a perception and discernment far beyond their years such that they can see clearly the future and understand the benefits of controlling their impulses and the consequences of failing to do so.
Give them a ready ability to sense when things are going in direction that they need to back away and then give them the courage to actually back away. Give them a strong senses of self value - that they belong to you - and thereby they are able to confidently choose a godly course and not be intimidated or pressured into doing otherwise. Strengthen them with your power in extra measure when they face their strongest temptations.
Give them a firm control of their temper, that they can exhibit a calm and steady spirit to those around them and such that they do not do things in anger that they will later regret. Help them to see through their anger to discern what really matters in the situation. There are times when righteous anger is appropriate, but in those circumstances give them the wisdom to make a measured response.
By them having a steady and calm hand, may they develop a skill in leadership that will allow them to be more effective for good in their lives as they lead others toward righteous ends and toward a righteousness life.
Amen
Monday, December 12, 2011
Happy Birthday LGC
Father,
I thank you for LGC and the joy that she has brought and continues to bring to her family. I'm thankful for a house full of big brothers who love her and will always be there to look out for her. I know that you are already growing within her the seed of faith as her parents are faithfully exposing her to your word. Protect that seed and allow it to grow and flourish. May she be that voice of a child in her home through which you often speak your wisdom. Protect her from the evil one so that she can grow up amidst joy and peace. Raise her up to be a great woman of faith.
I thank you for LGC and the joy that she has brought and continues to bring to her family. I'm thankful for a house full of big brothers who love her and will always be there to look out for her. I know that you are already growing within her the seed of faith as her parents are faithfully exposing her to your word. Protect that seed and allow it to grow and flourish. May she be that voice of a child in her home through which you often speak your wisdom. Protect her from the evil one so that she can grow up amidst joy and peace. Raise her up to be a great woman of faith.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Fruit of the Spirit - Gentleness
Spirit of God,
As you fill these children with your presence, I pray that you grow in them the fruit of gentleness. It is easy and normal to be gentle with those broken in spirit, but the challenge is in being gentle toward those who create in us natural reaction to respond harshly - those who don't "deserve" gentleness. This is a great struggle for me - when to respond with gentleness and when is a gentle response enabling bad behavior? Because this is such a difficult thing, I know that godly gentleness can only be a gift from you, oh Holy Spirit. It is only by your power that anyone can possess the balance of gentleness measured against the wisdom of admonition.
There were clearly times when Jesus was not gentle - but it was always with arrogant people, with people who were using their position, power or influence to oppress or attack others. But he was gentle with the struggling sinner. Somewhere in that example is the pattern of godly gentleness. But even in those examples, he would say "and sin no more", showing a pattern of refusing to enable continuing bad behavior.
So for these children, I pray that you will fill them with the fruit of godly gentleness, seasoned with wisdom that only you can provide. I pray that they far exceed my own level of attainment in this regard.
Amen
As you fill these children with your presence, I pray that you grow in them the fruit of gentleness. It is easy and normal to be gentle with those broken in spirit, but the challenge is in being gentle toward those who create in us natural reaction to respond harshly - those who don't "deserve" gentleness. This is a great struggle for me - when to respond with gentleness and when is a gentle response enabling bad behavior? Because this is such a difficult thing, I know that godly gentleness can only be a gift from you, oh Holy Spirit. It is only by your power that anyone can possess the balance of gentleness measured against the wisdom of admonition.
There were clearly times when Jesus was not gentle - but it was always with arrogant people, with people who were using their position, power or influence to oppress or attack others. But he was gentle with the struggling sinner. Somewhere in that example is the pattern of godly gentleness. But even in those examples, he would say "and sin no more", showing a pattern of refusing to enable continuing bad behavior.
So for these children, I pray that you will fill them with the fruit of godly gentleness, seasoned with wisdom that only you can provide. I pray that they far exceed my own level of attainment in this regard.
Amen
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