The Foolishness of the Cross

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
    the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." (I Corinthians 1:18-19)

 

Wise Father,

 

I pray these children follow a path of higher education. However, in following that path I have seen some who have allowed that learning to take them away from you as they became too "intelligent" to believe in you and your Son. Give these children true wisdom, your wisdom so that they never consider the cross to be foolishness. Allow them to honestly search for you as they participate in higher education, to ask difficult question, to wrestle with challenging faith issues. But may they not become arrogant in that process, as I believe that any honest and humble search will lead back to you. At the end of that journey, may their faith be strong and durable, may they be ready to give a reasoned account for the faith that they hold and may they bring an educated Christian worldview to bear on the problems of this fallen world.

 

Amen

Respect Authority

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. (Romans 13:1,2,6,7)

Lord,

We often forget this teaching. It is easy to get caught up in criticizing public officials and speaking disrespectful about them. It seems to be a national pastime. It is easy to complain about taxes. But your word tells us that is not how we should be. We should speak respectfully about public servants and office holders and we should pay our taxes.

I pray these children will develop that respect for these individuals, not that they must agree with them or vote for them, but that they will respect them. That they respect them because you have put the officials in the position they hold. May they also willingly, and without complaining, pay the taxes they owe, because it is their duty to support the government that you have given authority. They will, regardless of their political persuasion, buck the norm and their peers by having this attitude, but may they reflect you and your patience as the choose this path, not looking down on those who do not follow this teaching.

Amen

If it is Possible, Live at Peace

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18)

Prince of Peace,

These children will encounter people in their lives whom, try as they might, they simply can't get along with. Some people have difficult personalities, some people are slighted easily and are unforgiving, some have mental disorders  and some are simply heavily influenced by the evil one.  Give these children the wisdom and the tools to navigate those difficult waters; wisdom to avoid the temptation to retaliate, but also to set reasonable boundaries to protect themselves and to avoid enabling the other persons bad behavior. Within an organization, these children will also need to be "shrewd as snakes" (Matthew 10:16) to deal with the political issues such a difficult person can create.

On a more global stage, you know that I am near being a pacifist. But I do believe you are telling us here that, try as we might, there will be times as a nation that peace is not possible. I pray for wisdom for our leaders in that regard and if any of these children must serve in a war, I pray that they serve honorably and that you protect them from harm.

Amen

Practice Hospitality

Practice hospitality. (Romans 12:13)

Graceful Father,

I pray these children develop a pattern of accepting people into their homes, both for gatherings and providing a place to live for a time. You have blessed us with this opportunity over the years and we thank you for that. We have truly been blessed in doing that and it has given us the opportunity to influence many people. Give these children the desire to practice that hospitality, the financial resources to do so and a home sufficiently large to accommodate it.

Then bring many into their paths who can be invited into their home for short and longer term accommodation and give them the wisdom to have the words and witness to influence those people for the betterment of your kingdom.

Amen

One Body, Different Gifts

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. (Romans 12:3-6)

Dear Father,

Help these children to discern their gifts given by you. May they keep an open mind as to those gifts so that they honestly and humbly seek to learn what you have in mind for them. As you show them their gifts, help them to understand that all gifts are important to you, none greater than another. That what is important to you is only that they submit to use those gifts. May they be neither arrogant about their gifts if they are the more public gifts, nor feel inferior about their gifts if they are less "important" in the eyes of the world. May they understand that in every stage of life you will imbue them with gifts and that spiritual maturity is embracing the newer gifts as they journey through life and accepting that some gifts may be lost as they age. But may they understand that, regardless of their status in life - young, old, healthy, sick, rich or poor, you have given them gifts they can use to your glory.

Amen

Not Conformed but Transformed

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
(Romans 12:2)

Spirit of God,

You transform us. You want better for us than how we are today. Transforming and renewing our minds are not something we can do on our own. Use your indwelling power to transform these children into the likeness of Jesus. But also help them to understand what it means to conform to this world. Help to discern the activities and attitudes that tend to conform us to the pattern of this world - television shows, music, gossip, trying to climb the social ladder, all things that slowly can cause us to rationalize ungodly behavior and thought and to compromise our beliefs and convictions. Help them to see that it is their minds, their thought processes that must be renewed - done differently, and that can only be done by changing what they take into their minds - rather than garbage in, garbage out, instead godly in, godly out - all with your power at work. By that renewing, may their eyes then be open to see your will for their lives.

Amen

Living Sacrifices

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. (Romans 12:1)

Dear Father,

I pray these children come to understand true worship, worship that is defined as a fully surrendered life. May they understand that worship is what they do moment by moment - how they treat people, how they minister to people, their integrity and honesty, their generosity, their compassion, their patience, their mercy. May they come to the point in their lives that they truly turn it all over to you so that you own everything. May they arrive at the point that they lay their lives on the alter for you. And when they do so, take their lives and do powerful things through them. Expand their spheres of influence to impact the world in amazing ways. Magnify their lives as they humble themselves before you.

But help them also to understand that this instruction is given in the plural - "I urge you" - plural. Help them to see that you intend this surrendered life to be surrendered in community with other Christians, within Christ's church. Teach them that the Christian life is not to be lived as an individual in independence, but in fellowship with other believers as all, together, lay their lives before you.

Amen