Do Not Become Weary of Doing Good

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)

Sustaining Father,

These children will discover that submitting to your purpose in their lives will not result in an easy life. It will have many heartaches, disappointments and challenges. There will be times that they want to quit and take what appears to be an easier life path. But instill in their hearts an insatiable desire to make their lives count and give them the wisdom to realize that the only way to do that is by submitting to your plan for their lives. May that realization and the power of your Spirit within them, give them the stamina and the courage to go on.

Amen

Restoring the Sinner

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)

Redeeming Father,

Give these children a heart for the lost and struggling, for those who have lost their way and who feel hopeless because of their circumstances. May they approach these people with compassion and humility realizing that such could be the condition of any of us given circumstances and upbringing.

At the same time, give them wisdom to understand that they are susceptible of being drawn into the very temptation from which they are attempting to save others.  True that Jesus associated with drunks, prostitutes and other "sinners", but He is God, your Son. These children are not so strong. Give them the wisdom to work in teams and to accept accountability from others so that they can be in the world, as your ambassador, but not drawn in to become "of the world".

Amen

The Only Thing That Counts

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. (Galatians 5:6)

Loving Father,

This scripture sums it up. All that you ask from us is to believe in your Son, and for that belief to express itself by us loving others as He has loved us. That is simple, yet impossible for us to obey. But by your Spirit's transforming power, we can come closer. I pray these children keep the simplicity of this teaching always in mind and they make it a lifelong mission to fulfill the Great Command, relying on and submitting to the power of your Spirit within them.

Amen

Power Made Perfect in Weakness

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Dear Jesus,

Though your transforming Spirit will be working on the weaknesses of these children, they will not be perfect until you fully redeem them in your presence. The lack of perfection will frustrate them, but, though I pray they are never satisfied or complacent about their faults, may they rest in the knowledge that you will use them, and their weaknesses, to show your power and you accomplish your work through their humility and submissiveness.

Amen

Take Captive Every Thought

we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Dear Father,

Show these children that a Christian life cannot be lived in compartments. There cannot be a church compartment and a school compartment and a work compartment and a leisure compartment and a family compartment and a sexuality compartment. Help them to understand that everything we do must be done with the mind of Christ. Every action, every thought must be taken captive - by self control and by developing a comprehensive Christian worldview and philosophy of life which pervades everything. But they cannot do this by their own power. Unleash your Spirit to work powerfully within them to accomplish this.

Amen

Letting Your Light Shine Before Men

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. (2 Corinthians 9:12, 13)

Father,

Your Son told us to let our light shine before men so that when they see our good works you will be praised. It is a difficult road to walk when allowing people to know what good works we have done in such a way that you are praised and not us, in a way that you are glorified and not our own egos. At the same time you do not want all of our works to be done in secret. Everyone knew what Barnabas had done in Acts 4 and it spurred others on to do the same thing.

I pray these children become known for their generosity and that, by their actions, others are encouraged and spurred on to good works. May they navigate the balance of their works being known such that you are praised, while avoiding the trap of gratifying their own ego.

Amen

"So That"

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:10, 11)

Generous Father,

I do not believe that your word teaches the "health and wealth gospel." However your word, and this particular scripture teaches that, if we give liberally, you will return more to us. But the distinction from the "health and wealth gospel" is that you return money too us for a purpose - so that we can give more. You have proved the truth of this teaching to me by the experiences in my life - I have not been able to out-give you.

Teach these children that same lesson. As they give small amounts to you, return multiples of that to them in obvious ways. Thereby build their trust in your faithfulness so that they grow into significantly generous people.

Amen