Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Joy and Wonder

I pray for my child joy and wonder in each moment.  May she live not solely in anticipation of what's coming, but find something to appreciate and enjoy in the present every day.

Monday, August 29, 2011

A Prayer from Isaiah

I am reading the book of Isaiah right now, and am slogging through all the "Woe to you...'s".  Why don't we choose to live in a way that brings blessing and not curse?  We have the choice!

Isaiah 29:13 says: The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught."  I am more familiar with the first part of that, but look at the second part - it's what they have been taught

Lord God, teach us parents how to teach our children LOVE through our rules, and not simply teach them the rules.  May we teach them to worship you by teaching them your heart, not by demanding correct behavior.  May they grow up to be people who live in a way that you will reward and bless.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Passing it On

My prayer today comes from Deuteronomy 6:4-9.  "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."

May we as parents not neglect this passing on of our faith.  May we do the job well enough so they are equipped to teach and train their own children.  May they love you with all their hearts, all their souls, and all their strength.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Be the Good

A friend posted this on facebook today.  Wouldn't it be a great thing if all of us who were praying for our children took the time to talk them through some opening day scenerios?
Special request to all you kids returning to school: If you see someone who is struggling to make friends or being bullied because he/she doesn't have many friends or because they are shy or not as pretty or not dressed in the most "in" clothes PLEASE step up. Say HI or at least SMILE at them in the hallway. You never know what that person might face outside of school. Your kindness might just make a BIG difference in someone's life!
Lord Jesus, Be the words my child needs to hear as school comes closer.  You know what it is they will be facing and what children in their schools will need encouragement.  May our children be the good in their schools.  May you be present and protect them; strengthen them to be your hands and your smiles to others.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Contentment

Thinking about back to school shopping these days...

Lord, I pray today for our children to find contentment in you rather than in things.  May they understand deeply that things will not satisfy or make her happy.  May they know that true joy comes from you and can be felt in any circumstance.

Monday, August 8, 2011

a prayer for a daughter

Wise words in this prayer post from Ann Voskamp.  I thought her prayer for her daughters was well worth sharing.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Being Who You Are

Lord, help me see who you have created my daughter to be so I can help her stay & become fully her.

She is beautiful and is needed by this world.  It is cheating you for her to try to become someone she's not.  May we model this for her as we try to be the people you created us to be.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

My Influence

I pray Lord, that I would follow your guidance and correct the bad habits and practices in my life before I pass them on to her.

I want to give her a godly example rather than a flawed one.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Using it for You

Lord, I thank you for her musical ability and pray that she would decide to use it for you.

What gifts does your child have that you pray they would use for the Lord?