O Lord, YHWH,
You are their light and their salvation. There is no reason for these little ones to fear. Be the stronghold of their lives. There is no one they should fear. When evil advances against them, when those controlled by evil seek to attack them, their adversaries will stumble and fall. Though enemies besiege them, whether enemies embodied in the form of human beings or in the form of fear, in the form of obstacles or in the form of disease, do not let their hearts fear. Though such adversaries break out in war against them, give them a heart of confidence.
I pray that the one thing they desire in life, the one thing they ask of you, the one thing they seek, is to dwell in your house, in your presence, all the days of their lives. To desire and gaze upon your beauty in all of its forms - beauty in the form of your word and your goodness, your beauty in the form of your Son, your beauty in the form of your Spirit, your beauty in the form of your children, even in all of their imperfections, and your beauty in your creation - and to seek you in your dwelling place.
For in the day of trouble you will keep them safe in your dwelling place. Hide them in the shelter of your tabernacle and set them high on a rock out of harm's way. Then their heads will be lifted above their adversaries. In your dwelling place they will shout for joy. They will sing and make music to you.
Hear their voices when they cry out to you. Be merciful and answer them. May their hearts tell them to seek your face. And when they seek your face, do not hide it from them and do not turn them away in frustration. You have already been and I pray you will continue to be their helper. Do not reject or forsake them, O God, our Savior.
Though their father or their mother ever forsakes them, O Lord you will receive them. Teach them your ways, O Lord and lead them in a straight path. Do not forsake them to their adversaries. I am confident of this, that they will see your goodness during their lifetime.
I pray that they will wait on you, that they will be strong and take heart and in all things wait for you.
Amen
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
True Justice
“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.’ (Zechariah 7:9, 10)
Father,
I pray that you place in these little ones, a heart of compassion for those who have no power. That they defend the powerless against oppression. That their hearts are turned to the widow (and in our day, all of the single moms), to the legions of children in our world whose fathers have abandoned them, for the aliens (legal or not) whom our society is so quick to use up and cast out and to the poor. It is not popular to stand up for these. Criticism and persecution comes when a person argues against the angry voices who so easily condemn the bottom of our society. Give them the courage to defend those whom you defend and to whom your Son ministered. Give them strength of will and endurance in their quest to administer true justice - your justice. And you define your justice to be defending the cause of people such as these. You defend their cause even though these people may have made mistakes or contributed to their current condition. You did not ask why the alien was an alien, nor did you ask why the poor were poor. You simpy recognize their powerless condition and have compassion. May these children grow up to follow your example in this.
Amen
Father,
I pray that you place in these little ones, a heart of compassion for those who have no power. That they defend the powerless against oppression. That their hearts are turned to the widow (and in our day, all of the single moms), to the legions of children in our world whose fathers have abandoned them, for the aliens (legal or not) whom our society is so quick to use up and cast out and to the poor. It is not popular to stand up for these. Criticism and persecution comes when a person argues against the angry voices who so easily condemn the bottom of our society. Give them the courage to defend those whom you defend and to whom your Son ministered. Give them strength of will and endurance in their quest to administer true justice - your justice. And you define your justice to be defending the cause of people such as these. You defend their cause even though these people may have made mistakes or contributed to their current condition. You did not ask why the alien was an alien, nor did you ask why the poor were poor. You simpy recognize their powerless condition and have compassion. May these children grow up to follow your example in this.
Amen
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Happy Birthday MAC!
Dear Lord,
Thank you for bringing MAC into our lives. He is such a gentle spirit, even though he is all boy. There is a kindness about him that is evident in how he treats people. Give him a growing desire to know more about you and to follow you. Show him your paths and light his way. Bring good influences into his life and remove those who would draw him off of your path. Give him health and allow him to grow normally. He is and will be a big boy. Allow him to enjoy the things his size will allow, but also help him to understand the responsibility that will come with his size and strength. Give him a close and healthy relationship with his siblings. Give his parents and step parents wisdom in raising him as they point him toward you.
Show him the special purpose for which you have designed him and give him the wisdom to perceive it and the courage to follow after it.
Amen
Thank you for bringing MAC into our lives. He is such a gentle spirit, even though he is all boy. There is a kindness about him that is evident in how he treats people. Give him a growing desire to know more about you and to follow you. Show him your paths and light his way. Bring good influences into his life and remove those who would draw him off of your path. Give him health and allow him to grow normally. He is and will be a big boy. Allow him to enjoy the things his size will allow, but also help him to understand the responsibility that will come with his size and strength. Give him a close and healthy relationship with his siblings. Give his parents and step parents wisdom in raising him as they point him toward you.
Show him the special purpose for which you have designed him and give him the wisdom to perceive it and the courage to follow after it.
Amen
Monday, February 6, 2012
The Full Armor of God - Prayer
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." (Ephesians 6:18)
Spirit of God,
I pray that through your indwelling power, you mold and transform these children into prayer warriors, people who look to prayer as an act of first resort, having a deep belief in the power of prayer in the spiritual battle that you help them to see vividly is raging around them. Give them frequent evidence that you answer prayers such that their faith is continually strengthened. Help them to understand that prayer is primarily a weapon for spiritual warfare rather that simply a healing tool - as they will see what we all understand to be true, that so long as this fallen world exists, disease and death will continue to be a reality from which none of us will be spared.
Give them a full understanding of the power they hold in prayer against the forces of evil who will come against them and their loved ones and may they learn to wield that weapon with abandon.
Amen
Spirit of God,
I pray that through your indwelling power, you mold and transform these children into prayer warriors, people who look to prayer as an act of first resort, having a deep belief in the power of prayer in the spiritual battle that you help them to see vividly is raging around them. Give them frequent evidence that you answer prayers such that their faith is continually strengthened. Help them to understand that prayer is primarily a weapon for spiritual warfare rather that simply a healing tool - as they will see what we all understand to be true, that so long as this fallen world exists, disease and death will continue to be a reality from which none of us will be spared.
Give them a full understanding of the power they hold in prayer against the forces of evil who will come against them and their loved ones and may they learn to wield that weapon with abandon.
Amen
Sunday, February 5, 2012
The Full Armor of God - the Sword of the Spirit
"and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:17
Spirit of God,
I see in this verse that our faith is not only to be defensive, but also to be aggressive and offensive. Storming the forces of darkness that hold the world captive. Jesus said that the gates of hell cannot stand up against the onslaught of his church.
I pray that you will fill these children with the power of your word that you have given to us and that their knowledge of your word will empower them and spur them to march into enemy territory to free captives. I don't know what that looks like for them. It may mean that they themselves march into enemy territory or that they support those who do. But even if they support those who do, help them to see that there are captives all around them whenever they go, people held captive by the lies and deceit of the evil one, without hope, without power, without the true joy that can only come from your indwelling. May your word fill them with wisdom, power and strength to break the chains of darkness.
Amen
Spirit of God,
I see in this verse that our faith is not only to be defensive, but also to be aggressive and offensive. Storming the forces of darkness that hold the world captive. Jesus said that the gates of hell cannot stand up against the onslaught of his church.
I pray that you will fill these children with the power of your word that you have given to us and that their knowledge of your word will empower them and spur them to march into enemy territory to free captives. I don't know what that looks like for them. It may mean that they themselves march into enemy territory or that they support those who do. But even if they support those who do, help them to see that there are captives all around them whenever they go, people held captive by the lies and deceit of the evil one, without hope, without power, without the true joy that can only come from your indwelling. May your word fill them with wisdom, power and strength to break the chains of darkness.
Amen
Saturday, February 4, 2012
The Full Armor of God - the Helmet of Salvation
Take the helmet of salvation. (Ephesians 6:17)
Dear Father,
As I think of why salvation would be described as a helmet, I think of the purpose of the helmet being to prevent head injuries. Of course, in spiritual war we are not talking about physical injury to the head, rather injury to our minds and thought processes. Once again, the surest defense against being deceived by our enemy, against having our judgement impaired by temptation, against having our self image injured by harsh words and by apparent defeat, is the full knowledge of and belief in our salvation. It is that knowledge and belief that gives us the perspective we need to overcome these attacks and obstacles that can "mess with our heads".
Father, instill in these children the understanding of the assurance of their salvation when they have put their trust in you - Trust in you to save them even though they make many mistakes and sin often. Let that knowledge of their salvation in you allow them to keep their heads when attacked by temptation so that their judgement remains good and their decisions wise. May that knowledge allow them to put the put-downs and slights of other people in perspective as they know who they really are and to whom they really belong.
Amen
Dear Father,
As I think of why salvation would be described as a helmet, I think of the purpose of the helmet being to prevent head injuries. Of course, in spiritual war we are not talking about physical injury to the head, rather injury to our minds and thought processes. Once again, the surest defense against being deceived by our enemy, against having our judgement impaired by temptation, against having our self image injured by harsh words and by apparent defeat, is the full knowledge of and belief in our salvation. It is that knowledge and belief that gives us the perspective we need to overcome these attacks and obstacles that can "mess with our heads".
Father, instill in these children the understanding of the assurance of their salvation when they have put their trust in you - Trust in you to save them even though they make many mistakes and sin often. Let that knowledge of their salvation in you allow them to keep their heads when attacked by temptation so that their judgement remains good and their decisions wise. May that knowledge allow them to put the put-downs and slights of other people in perspective as they know who they really are and to whom they really belong.
Amen
Thursday, February 2, 2012
The Full Armor of God - the Shield of Faith
"In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." (Ephesians 6:16)
Father,
This verse reminds me that, in the spiritual battle that is being waged around us, our enemy is aggressive and intentional. He takes aim at your people with weapons that can inflict great damage. Flaming arrows were not intended to simply kill, but rather to be a weapon of mass destruction, destroying homes and entire villages and cities. And such is the intent of our adversary, to use temptation to bring down entire families and communities with the collateral damage that comes when someone falls.
This verse tells us that our belief in you, in the reality of your existence, in the reality of your involvement in our lives and in the reality that we have an eternal existence with you, we are able to shield ourselves from the specifically targeted temptations that our enemy will fire our way. Our constant focus on you and the reality that is you will protect us from the temptation to chase after things that appear to be desirable, but are not reality.
I pray that these children will develop such a protective faith that allows them to see reality and avoid things that are illusory. Open their ears to hear and open their hearts to receive and their minds to understand. May their parents and step parents and the rest of their extended family pattern lives of faith and faithfulness. Show yourself to them as very real. Give them wisdom and perception to see clearly the deception of the evil one.
Amen
Father,
This verse reminds me that, in the spiritual battle that is being waged around us, our enemy is aggressive and intentional. He takes aim at your people with weapons that can inflict great damage. Flaming arrows were not intended to simply kill, but rather to be a weapon of mass destruction, destroying homes and entire villages and cities. And such is the intent of our adversary, to use temptation to bring down entire families and communities with the collateral damage that comes when someone falls.
This verse tells us that our belief in you, in the reality of your existence, in the reality of your involvement in our lives and in the reality that we have an eternal existence with you, we are able to shield ourselves from the specifically targeted temptations that our enemy will fire our way. Our constant focus on you and the reality that is you will protect us from the temptation to chase after things that appear to be desirable, but are not reality.
I pray that these children will develop such a protective faith that allows them to see reality and avoid things that are illusory. Open their ears to hear and open their hearts to receive and their minds to understand. May their parents and step parents and the rest of their extended family pattern lives of faith and faithfulness. Show yourself to them as very real. Give them wisdom and perception to see clearly the deception of the evil one.
Amen
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