But in Everything - Prayer. Phil 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)

Dear Father, the God of all comfort,

We so often are practical atheists. We say we believe in you. We say that we trust you. We say we believe in prayer. And yet we don't pray, unless things get really bad and we decide we can't fix whatever it is that we are facing. Then you become our god of last resort, after all our other gods haven't worked. I confess my own guilt in that regard.

I pray first for those who are raising these children and for those of us who are attempting to live out Godly examples for them that, first, we will strongly embrace a life of prayer. Not so much a fixed time of day, though that is good, but more importantly a walk of prayer, a continuing conversation with you during our day. I pray this because I do believe you wait on us to call on you. And that you do respond to our prayer in your wisdom. Secondly, though, I pray that we are overt in our prayer life so that these children see a pattern of prayer in our lives.

I then pray for these children, that they will see our prayerful life pattern and will emulate it. That they will develop a habit of prayer and that through that, they will develop a walking conversational relationship with you. I pray that they will not rely on themselves but will look to you in prayer, that prayer will be their first resort in times of trial and concern. I pray that you reveal to them via daily experience that you answer prayer and that you are walking with them in the joys and trials of life.

Amen

The Lord is Near. Do not be Anxious. Phil 4:5-6

O YHWH Jireh, God who Provides,

How often we fail to think of you when we face difficulties and concerns. We think, we worry, we fret, we mull over and over in our minds how we are going to deal with a trial we are facing or concerns about things that might happen. And yet we are told that you, the creator of all that is, are near to us. And that you are near to us as a parent is to a child. And that because of that, we simply should not be anxious.

I pray first of all for those who are raising these children and for those of us who a trying to live out our lives as examples to these children. Give us a greater since of your presence. Show us more and more your glory so that our courage is increased such that we live as examples of people who are not anxious, but trust. And that by our calm and trusting lives, we pattern behavior that these children can follow.

I pray then for these children. That you will constantly show yourself to them such that they have a deep sense of your nearness. That they become people who truly walk with you moment by moment and that by that they do not have anxious hearts and that their peaceful confidence is evident to all around them. And that thereby they will pass on that spirit to their children and will draw others to you by reflecting a life that can only come through you and through your presence.

Amen

Let your Gentleness be Evident to All. Phil. 4:5

Dear Father,

Our society does not honor gentleness. It is seen as weakness. Yet your Son was gentle, but had more courage than anyone who has walked the earth. He showed us that gentleness can stand up to those who oppress others and use their power to hold people down. But at the same time his gentleness allowed him to show compassion toward the unlovable and the struggling. I pray that these children develop in you the stength of gentleness. A spirit that is strong and unwavering, yet spreading healing and compassion to those around them. Let their gentleness, though, show itself when people are oppressed and mistreated as a gentleness toward the downtrodden, but strong and courageous in their defense.

In everything, may their first response be calm and gentle, throwing over the money changers' tables only when necessary. And may their reputation as a calm, gentle and steady hand precede them.

Amen

Rejoice in the Lord. Philippians 4:4

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again. Rejoice!"

Dear Father,

I pray that these children come to know and feel the joy that you intend for them. Life can and will be hard. But in you, even in the midst of difficulty, there can be joy. And we can rejoice and celebrate. Help them first to develop a keen awareness of the blessings they receive from you everyday and develop a heart of thankfulness for things great and small that you shower on them. Let them live in an attitude of thankfullness so that joy and rejoicing erupt naturally out of their thankful hearts.

May their joy, then not depend on their particular circumstances because they become able to see your blessings in the midst of adversity. Let the light of their joy brighten the world around them and may your salvation reach those in their spheres of influence because their lives reveal the true joy that comes from being in you and in your Son, filled by your Spirit.

Amen

Isaiah 61 - The Year of the Lord's Favor

Sovereign Lord,

I pray as these children follow in your footsteps that your Spirit will be on them, that you anoint and call them to tell the Good News to the poor. That they will see their calling to tend to the brokenhearted and to strive to free those physically and spiritually captive and to free the spiritual prisoners bound in darkness. That they will proclaim your favor, your grace and your mercy to the poor and the captives but also that they will declare your vengeance on those who refuse you and on those who take captive and oppress the weak and defenseless.

I pray that their nature will be to comfort those who mourn and grieve, not only to comfort them but to give them a crown of beauty, instead of mourning ashes, the oil of gladness, instead of mourning, a garment of praise, instead of a spirit of dispair.

As they reach out in comfort and support to those who mourn and suffer, may they be seen as oaks of righteousness, planted by you to display your glory and splendor.

Amen

Psalm 37 - Do not fret because of Evil Men

Dear Father,

I pray the courage of David for these children. That they do not fret because of evil men and they do not become envious of the success of godless men who lack integrity and ethics. For like the grass they will soon wither. Like green plants they will soon die away.

I pray that, instead, they will trust in you and do good, that they will dwell in your land and enjoy safe pasture. That they will delight themselves in you and that you will, therefore, give them the desires of their hearts. I pray that they will commit themselves to your way and trust in you and that you will, therefore, make their righteousness and their example shine like the dawn and that their commitment to your justice will shine like the noonday sun.

I pray that they will be still before you and wait patiently for you and do not fret when men succeed in their ways when they carry out their wicked schemes. I pray that in those times they will refrain from their anger and not turn to violence, and that they will not fret, as it will only lead to evil. Evil men you will cut off, but those who hope in you will inherit your land.

Help them to learn that it is better to be righteous and have little than to be wicked and have wealth for you will break the power of the wicked, but you will uphold the righteous.

The salvation of the righteous comes from you, you are their stronghold in times of trouble. You help them and deliver them, you deliver them from the wicked and you save them because they take refuge in you.

Amen

Psalm 42 A Thirst for You

Dear loving Father, the provider of all good things, the one who fills our souls,

My prayer for these children is that as the deer pants for streams of water,
so their souls will long for you, O God,
for the living God their souls will thirst.
There will be times of great sorrow for them when
their tears will be their food day and night, while men say to them
"Where is your God?"
Their souls will be downcast,
and disturbed within them.
May they then put their hope in you,
and praise you in the midst of sorrow,
our Savior and our God.
When their souls are downcast within them;
I pray they will remember you deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers will sweep over them.
By day you direct your love,
at night your song will be with them—
a prayer to you of their lives.
May they, in their sorrow, feel confident to say to you, their Rock,
"Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?”
They may find themselves in times of agony while men say to them
"Where is your God?"
Their souls will be downcast,
and disturbed within them.
May they then put their hope in you,
And praise you in the midst of sorrow,
our Savior and our God.

Amen