The Cry of the Poor - Proverbs 21:13

Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor
    will also cry out and not be answered. (Proverbs 21:13)

Dear Father,

With so many billions of people in poverty, it is easy to become calloused. I pray that these children be the kind that will not turn their heads away from the plight of the poor. That they will never choose to simply not think about it. Certainly as individuals they cannot solve the problems of the poor and as your Son said, there will  always be poor. But that fact does not give us reason to be complacent. I pray that they will  find ways to do what they can for the cause of the poor and pursue those paths with passion. Whether it is in the political arena or the social service sphere, I pray that they focus on the issues of poverty with diligence, whether as their vocation or as volunteers and donors. May it never be said of them that they shut their ears to the cry of the poor.

Amen

All have Sinned - Proverbs 20:9

Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”? (Proverbs 20:9)

Dear Father,

Scripture makes it clear to us that all have sinned and need redemption. But the fact that you have to remind us of that fact tells me that we often forget and begin to think too highly of ourselves. As we do that we also lose the essential skill of self examination which is integral to our transformation into the people you want us to be.

I pray that these children ask this honest question often such that they root out the sin in their lives, all the while understanding the grace within which they stand. Not guilt laden, not mournful, but honest assessment amidst the joy of their salvation.

Amen

Deep Waters - Proverbs 20:5

The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,
    but one who has insight draws them out. (Proverbs 20:5)

Dear Father,

I do not know if any of these children will become counselors, but I pray that some of them do. But whether or not they choose counseling as a profession, for them to have the greatest impact on the world around them, they need to be able to minister to the hurting. I pray that you give each of them a special gift of empathy and the wisdom and insight to be able to draw out of people the hurts they are living with. And once drawn out, I pray you give them the words that will help, not harm. I pray that you not only give them this gift with respect to those outside of the family, but with respect to their family as well - their spouses, their children, their siblings and even their parents. Even if they do not choose counseling as a vocation, I pray that they seek training in how best to work with people who are suffering emotionally.

I realize that what I am asking for is no small matter as professional and lay counseling is indeed a special gift, but I also know that you are no small God.

Amen

Alcoholism - Proverbs 20:1

Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;
    whoever is led astray by them is not wise. (Proverbs 20:1)

Dear Father,

We know that beer and wine are not condemned by you and thus there is temptation among Christians to participate. Even this proverb does not condemn, but it does warn. You have taught me that it is difficult to keep the lines clear in this matter. Most that I have known will cross over that line from time to time and when hard times hit, many have drifted into alcoholism.

My prayer is that these children choose total abstinence because of the great risk of addiction should they attempt to maintain moderation. But if they should choose to drink wine and beer casually, I pray that you give them great wisdom and great discipline to stay clear of crossing the line into drunkenness and addiction. And I also pray that in that effort, they will ultimately learn and see the wisdom of abstinence.

Amen

Kindness to the Poor - Proverbs 19:17

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,
    and he will reward them for what they have done.(Proverbs 19:17)

Dear Father,

In our society it is popular to think negatively about the poor - if they would get a job, if they would try harder to pull themselves up like everyone else did, if they would just get off the drugs. But we have never had the experience of being raised in their environment, to truly understand what it is like to even attempt to lift yourself out of that lifestyle. I am convinced that the vast majority of us, if we were raised in that environment, would also grow up to be poor and dysfunctional.

What I find convicting about this proverb is that it does not, however, speak of helping the poor. Many of us do that and give money to the church and other organizations that help the poor and we support government efforts to do the same. But that is not being kind to the poor. This proverb speaks of relationship. I cannot be kind to the poor unless I interact with them.

Lord I pray not only that you grow in these children a heart and compassion for the poor, but that you grow in them a desire to know the poor and touch them, as your Son did. That they do not confine their help to the poor to sanitarily writing checks. This proverb was obviously in the mind of your Son when he told us that, in helping the poor, we are actually doing those acts to Him. In all of this I pray that you take these children out of their comfort zones to spend time with those who struggle greatly in this world and, by doing so, imitate you.

Amen

Keep an Open Mind - Proverbs 18:17

In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right,
    until someone comes forward and cross-examines.(Proverbs 18:17)

Father,

I see our society becoming more and more polarized and unwilling to give value and credit to differences of opinion. It is leading to more and more dysfunction in our society as civility is becoming out of style. People only listen to the slant of the news that appeals to their predetermined views and no one is willing to listen with an open mind to opposing views.

Though I accept that your truth exists and can be known to us, you have left it up to us to apply that truth in a broken world. And that task does not lead to so precise of answers as some would like to think. There are, indeed, shades of grey.

I pray that these children keep open minds. That they are willing to accept that they do not have all the answers and that their conclusions need to be continually tested. I pray that they continue to read and study and grow. And that they do not become entrenched in their positions. I pray that they honor those with different opinions and show your love to them. May they fully embrace that each person, including themselves, is a work in process and allow room for they and others to grow in knowledge and maturity.

Amen

The Human Spirit - Proverbs 18:14

The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear? (Proverbs 18:14)

Dear Father,

You have created within us an amazing resiliency. Our natural fight for survival is strong. You programmed within us the ability and desire to overcome significant obstacles. In pain and sickness we are slow to give up. Both mentally and via our natural immune system, we fight hard.

But as the proverb says, a broken spirit can defeat us completely. But by your power and your Spirit our spirits are restored. I pray that these children will not suffer a crushed spirit. But if they do, I pray that they will look to you for their strength and restoration, not to their own strength. Bring wise people into their paths - friends, family, ministers, counselors - who will show them the way to spiritual recovery.

I pray also that they will be people who look for and minister to those with crushed spirits. That they spend themselves in tending the spiritually wounded. Give them an extra abundance of strength, stamina and wisdom for this, as such effort is draining and we cannot continue long in that role on our own strength. At the same time, give them wisdom in setting boundaries when dealing with the emotionally hurting so that their own health and the health of their own families is not damaged.

Make them your instruments in a fallen and hurting world.

Amen