Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. (Proverbs 3:27)
Dear Father,
I pray that these children develop a mindset to look for opportunities to bless and affirm. That their humility and confidence in their position with you will allow them to praise others for their good work and good attributes so that those around them are encouraged. May they be called Barnabas, sons and daughters of encouragement. By that may the ripple effect of their words and actions of encouragement be great in time and space. By their words of encouragement may they change the world one person at a time.
Amen
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Saturday, March 9, 2013
The Lord's Discipline - Proverbs 3:11-12
My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,
and do not resent his rebuke,
because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in. (Proverbs 3:11-12)
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:7-11)
Dear Father,
As I read these words I understand that your punishment is not because you are angry or against us, but because you love us and want the best for us, just as any parent does. I believe that when we are told that we were made in your image, it means that we were made with your emotions. Our feelings toward our children we inherited from you.
I pray, Father, that if these children are heading in a direction away from you, that you will do whatever it takes to get their attention, knowing that the answer to my prayer will mean hardship for them. But I know that my prayer is consistent with your desires. Bring roadblocks into their paths, bring hardship upon them, defeat them in their efforts - anything, absolutely anything to change their path away from destruction. And when they come to their senses and return to you, show them the lovingkindness that you showed proverbially in your Son's story about the lost son, that you and I may celebrate them living in your house eternally.
Amen
and do not resent his rebuke,
because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in. (Proverbs 3:11-12)
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:7-11)
Dear Father,
As I read these words I understand that your punishment is not because you are angry or against us, but because you love us and want the best for us, just as any parent does. I believe that when we are told that we were made in your image, it means that we were made with your emotions. Our feelings toward our children we inherited from you.
I pray, Father, that if these children are heading in a direction away from you, that you will do whatever it takes to get their attention, knowing that the answer to my prayer will mean hardship for them. But I know that my prayer is consistent with your desires. Bring roadblocks into their paths, bring hardship upon them, defeat them in their efforts - anything, absolutely anything to change their path away from destruction. And when they come to their senses and return to you, show them the lovingkindness that you showed proverbially in your Son's story about the lost son, that you and I may celebrate them living in your house eternally.
Amen
Honor the Lord with your Wealth - Proverbs 3:9-10
Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. (Proverbs 3:9, 10)
Lord,
I pray that these young ones learn early to honor you with their money. We know that you do not need anything from us, but that it is for our benefit that we give to you in trust. And though we do not believe in the prosperity gospel, else most of Jesus' followers would not have been poor, we do believe that if we trust you with our wealth, you will see to our earthly needs and will also give us more so that we can give more. I learned that only because you taught this to me. I pray that you give these little ones the same lessons that you so graciously have given me.
Amen
Lord,
I pray that these young ones learn early to honor you with their money. We know that you do not need anything from us, but that it is for our benefit that we give to you in trust. And though we do not believe in the prosperity gospel, else most of Jesus' followers would not have been poor, we do believe that if we trust you with our wealth, you will see to our earthly needs and will also give us more so that we can give more. I learned that only because you taught this to me. I pray that you give these little ones the same lessons that you so graciously have given me.
Amen
Friday, March 8, 2013
Do Not be Wise in your Own Eyes - Proverbs 3:7
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil. (Proverbs 3:7)
Dear Father,
I pray these children quickly grow to understand the dangers of arrogance. Give them the ability to honestly assess the quality of their own conclusions and convictions and the desire to honestly question and test those conclusions and convictions against facts. Give them an open heart to listen to your word and to the wisdom of those around them. Give them the discernment to differentiate between wise counsel and foolish counsel. Help them to honor opinions that differ from theirs, both out of love and out of the desire to continually test the validity of their own conclusions. But I also pray, Lord, that this willingness to continuously test their convictions does not lead them have no convictions at all. I pray that you give them the wisdom to walk the balance between holding to convictions passionately while at the same time testing the validity of those same passionately held convictions.
Amen
fear the Lord and shun evil. (Proverbs 3:7)
Dear Father,
I pray these children quickly grow to understand the dangers of arrogance. Give them the ability to honestly assess the quality of their own conclusions and convictions and the desire to honestly question and test those conclusions and convictions against facts. Give them an open heart to listen to your word and to the wisdom of those around them. Give them the discernment to differentiate between wise counsel and foolish counsel. Help them to honor opinions that differ from theirs, both out of love and out of the desire to continually test the validity of their own conclusions. But I also pray, Lord, that this willingness to continuously test their convictions does not lead them have no convictions at all. I pray that you give them the wisdom to walk the balance between holding to convictions passionately while at the same time testing the validity of those same passionately held convictions.
Amen
Lean Not on your Own Understanding - Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Dear Father,
I pray that these little ones do not lose the innocent trust of children. That even when things are not making sense, they still look to you and to the wisdom of scripture for their guidance. That they trust that if they follow your principles and your teachings you will make all things right in the end. With the perspective of the cross, we understand that "in the end" may not be in this life, but I pray for these children that you will show them favor in this life for faithfulness to you with an understanding by them that your favor in this life is but a small token of what is to come.
Amen
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Dear Father,
I pray that these little ones do not lose the innocent trust of children. That even when things are not making sense, they still look to you and to the wisdom of scripture for their guidance. That they trust that if they follow your principles and your teachings you will make all things right in the end. With the perspective of the cross, we understand that "in the end" may not be in this life, but I pray for these children that you will show them favor in this life for faithfulness to you with an understanding by them that your favor in this life is but a small token of what is to come.
Amen
Love and Faithfulness - Proverbs 3:3-4
Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man. (Proverbs 3:3-4)
Dear Father,
I pray that these children understand that the true worth of a life lived is the degree to which we have loved those you have given us to love and the degree to which we have been faithful to you and to those who have counted on us to be there for them. I pray that they love and are fully faithful to their spouses while they are tempted to think of themselves and their own interests and gratification. But I also pray that they come to understand that love and faithfulness is not limited to the marriage bond, but is also essential in being a parent and role model. A failure to love and be faithful to a spouse is also failing to love and be faithful to their children as the children bear much of the consequence of a parent's failure in this regard. Love and faithfulness is also essential in being a leader and a role model outside the family - in the church and in the community. And even in their vocations, help them to see that love and faithfulness is what makes one an effective leader in the workplace. By that, truly they will win favor and a good name both in your eyes and in the sight of man.
Amen
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man. (Proverbs 3:3-4)
Dear Father,
I pray that these children understand that the true worth of a life lived is the degree to which we have loved those you have given us to love and the degree to which we have been faithful to you and to those who have counted on us to be there for them. I pray that they love and are fully faithful to their spouses while they are tempted to think of themselves and their own interests and gratification. But I also pray that they come to understand that love and faithfulness is not limited to the marriage bond, but is also essential in being a parent and role model. A failure to love and be faithful to a spouse is also failing to love and be faithful to their children as the children bear much of the consequence of a parent's failure in this regard. Love and faithfulness is also essential in being a leader and a role model outside the family - in the church and in the community. And even in their vocations, help them to see that love and faithfulness is what makes one an effective leader in the workplace. By that, truly they will win favor and a good name both in your eyes and in the sight of man.
Amen
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Peer Pressure - Proverbs 1:10
My son, if sinful men entice you,
do not give in to them. (Prov 1:10)
Dear Father,
I pray that you give these young people eyes to see the end effect of evil and such vision gives them the wisdom not to give in to unhealthy peer pressure. Make their hearts indignant toward those who recruit to bully because they see the hurt and wounds that will be caused by that behavior. Make their minds repulsed by those who seek to get them to try drugs and alchohol because they see the lives that are destroyed by both and see how easy it is to fall into addiction. Make their souls resistant to those who would entice them to steal, shoplift or rip off music and software because they see how honest businesses and artists are harmed by the loss of revenues.
Give them an attentive ear to their parents who warn them of these things, and grow within them a desire to please you more than to please peers.
Amen
do not give in to them. (Prov 1:10)
Dear Father,
I pray that you give these young people eyes to see the end effect of evil and such vision gives them the wisdom not to give in to unhealthy peer pressure. Make their hearts indignant toward those who recruit to bully because they see the hurt and wounds that will be caused by that behavior. Make their minds repulsed by those who seek to get them to try drugs and alchohol because they see the lives that are destroyed by both and see how easy it is to fall into addiction. Make their souls resistant to those who would entice them to steal, shoplift or rip off music and software because they see how honest businesses and artists are harmed by the loss of revenues.
Give them an attentive ear to their parents who warn them of these things, and grow within them a desire to please you more than to please peers.
Amen
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