Tag: children

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

For Families with Little Ones in Worship

Heavenly Father,
Sundays are sacred. But worship is a unique challenge for parents with little children. Thank you for the Christian parents who prioritize bringing their little ones to worship. Some mornings, before they even pull into the church parking lot, they have already experienced a day’s worth of stressful wear and tear. Provide them with the strength and determination to follow through with worship, and through it, rejuvenate their spirits. Fill the members of their church families with compassion to know when to lend a helping hand to frazzled moms and dazed dads. Direct congregations to consider how they might become more family-friendly. Give parents the discernment and discipline to raise their children to view worship with reverence and respect. Through these formative years in church, lay a solid foundation in children that paves the way for a lifetime of faithful worship attendance, so their hearts remain saturated by the gospel. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

To Be There for Young People

Son of God,
Growing up in the world today is not easy. So many kids come from broken homes and dysfunctional families. They face pressure to excel and succeed already at such a young age that they’re hardly allowed to just be kids. Parents often choose permission over discipline, leaving them ill-equipped to function in the real world, where wrongdoing has consequences. Technology and temptation often form an alliance that kids (let alone adults!) simply aren’t able to handle.

For all of these reasons, and many more, help me go out of my way to help young people in any way. Rather than just complaining about all the problems with young people today, I want to be a part of the solution. Let me take the time to do the simple things like acknowledge them, listen to them, and encourage them whenever possible. Give me discernment to know when it is appropriate to correct bad behavior and wrong choices when I witness them. Help adults to be mindful of when and where young people can be included in meaningful ways. Through these efforts, let young people know they are appreciated and cared for, not just by us, but even more importantly, by you. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

Thank You for Family

Giving Father,
Thank you for the blessing of family. While no family is perfect, your design for the nuclear family remains the ideal model for a healthy society. When a husband and wife are committed to each other with a devotion only overshadowed by their devotion to you, children have something to aspire to. When they put forgiving each other into practice, children see what grace in action looks like. When parents present a united front in lovingly raising their children with consistency, discipline, and an abundance of grace, little ones will be well-equipped as adults. The unique bond shared between siblings can allow them to serve as strong pillars of support throughout all of life, and provide a level of closeness that can surpass that of best friends. Continue to raise up and strengthen nuclear families, Lord, and bless not only those within the family, but also whole communities as well.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

For Strong Parents

Strong Father,
You call parents to the noble goal of not only raising strong citizens, but also strong Christians. Theirs is not an easy task in a world that is flooded with outside opinions, influences, and distractions – so many of which are negative and destructive. Purify their hearts from all selfishness that could lead them to resent their children as a bother or an inconvenience. Help them to manage their anger and frustration so that it would never be taken out on their children or put them in danger. 

Keep them focused on their parental responsibilities and provide them with necessary resources and support. Let the words that come from their lips match the behavior that is reflected in their lives, so that children are not confused, but have clear expectations and boundaries. Through the gentle patience and loving discipline of parents, establish homes that are places of safety and stability. Equip parents to put Jesus’ love on display constantly, and let your Word dwell richly in families everywhere. Bless faithful parents with the countless joys that accompany parenthood, lighten their burdens, and limit their discouragements. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

For the Privilege of Raising Children

Gracious Father,
All good gifts come from you, and children rank near the top of the list. Because parenting can be so exhausting and require so much energy, we can overlook the blessing they are. No matter their season of life – infants, toddlers, teens, or adults – lead parents to appreciate the unique joys of each stage of raising children. Thank you for their individual personalities and the variety of gifts you grant to them. Let children see fine examples of the Christian faith modeled in their parents. Make Jesus central to the home so that the gospel plays a prominent role in their training and instruction. When law and gospel are present and grace abounds, may fruits of faith flourish in children, including loving obedience and respect toward their parents. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

To Bless the Work of Those Serving Families

Caring Father,
Bless the efforts of all fields of work, organizations, and individuals who exist to help and serve families. Give family counselors and therapists the specialized skills and abilities necessary to help them provide whatever unique services families may need. Thank you for establishing organizations devoted to meeting the physical needs of struggling families. Expand the influence and reach of all who champion the important role of families and advocate on their behalf. Make ministries and congregations aware of the opportunities they have to pour into families, and equip pastors to minister well to them. Lead families to be dedicated to the pursuit of letting your Word dwell richly in the home, so that you may bless them in the greatest and best ways possible. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

For Special Blessings on Non-Traditional Families

Faithful Father,
Families today come in all shapes and sizes. One of the many effects the fallen world has had on families is on their mix and makeup. Realities like divorce have brought about single-parent families. Death leaves behind children without parents and the need for adoption. Remarriage inserts multiple sets of parents into families, normalizing step-parents and step-siblings.

Nevertheless, the different DNA we see in families does not make them inferior to the traditional family. Neither do such cases in any way keep you from being able to generously bless them. Indeed, let there be an extra measure of your grace, patience, and forgiveness within non-traditional families, thereby equipping them not only to overcome the typical issues every family faces, but also to manage the burdens and challenges brought on by their unique circumstances. Lavish them with your love and let your light shine brightly to and through them.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

To Heal and Restore Broken Families

Restoring Father,
Sadly, families are not immune to the collateral damage of existing in a fallen, sinful world. I pray for your help and restoration in healing families broken by sin. Where the sin of adultery has ripped husband and wife apart, grant repentance and reconciliation to repair the marriage bond. When abuse of any kind has left family members or children devastated, intervene and bring it to an end. In those cases, also bring about justice for the one responsible and provide any necessary therapy to those harmed by it. Let those families crushed by traumatic death or injury receive counseling and support to help them process and navigate their grieving or loss. No matter what struggle or hardship any family may face, see to it that your grace is always apparent to provide healing and hope. 

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

For Healthy Families

Loving Father,
When I consider the blessings that flow into and through healthy families, I marvel at your plans. You have established the institution of marriage as the bedrock upon which the home is built. Through it, you provide husbands and wives to commit to pouring into each other in loving service. Within the family, fathers and mothers work as one to teach and train their children not only life skills, but also eternal life truths by which your Spirit anchors them to you.

As children lovingly obey their parents, they display for society what honor and respect for those in authority look like. When families lovingly serve their neighbors, they model on a small scale how ideal communities function and what a healthy society looks like. Establish strong families, allowing them to serve as a special channel by which your goodness richly flows into the world.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

DAILY PRAYERS FOR GUYS

adbLeave a comment

For Dealing with Difficult Family Members

Loving Father,
Family relationships have the potential to be among the most treasured connections we have, as well as some of the most challenging. Since we generally tend to be as close to our family as we are to anyone else, that tight bond can amplify both the best and the worst of any relationships. Give me the awareness to recognize family members who manipulate the shared bond and twist it to induce guilt or shame on other family members. Grant me patience with difficult family members, as well as the courage to lovingly call them out whenever necessary. Let me be unafraid to call believing family members to repentance when they have sinned, and also unashamed to evangelize unbelieving family members. While I cannot change or control the behavior of my biological family, I am responsible for how I respond to them and handle them. Let me do so with a balance of firmness and grace, seeking always to do what is in the best interest of their eternal good.  

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.