“Be a father like God is to you.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – June 17, 2022
As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15
In the same way your heavenly Father cares for His children, so He cares for you and your child. Commune with Christ over the well-being of your child believing heaven will bring to earth all he needs. And with this same manner of love, the Lord will show you how to care for your child, beginning with tender prayers. Start early with prayers for protection from pride and discernment of lies. Prayers for humility and love deposited early, bear the fruit of wisdom and faith later. Praying dads confess their need for God to lead them in how to love their child well. Prayer waits on God. Here are three ways I am learning how to pray for our children and grandchildren:
Thank God for Your Child “We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers” (1 Thessalonians 1:2).
Always thank the Lord for your little ones, especially when they are hard to love. These precious ones do bring moments of frustration, but they are still a gift from God. Learn to laugh with them and your prayers will be more joyful and free. Say out loud to your Savior your feelings of anger or fear, but confess your need for the Spirit’s discipline in your heart to discipline your child in love. Give gratitude to God for your child and He will give you grace and wisdom to parent well.
“Dear Lord, thank you for blessing me with this beautiful child who is an answered prayer from conception to birth. Give me a grateful heart for her, even when she breaks my heart. I praise you for blessing me with a child’s life that reflects your love. Show me how to love her well. Through Christ’s love and in Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Pray Your Child Knows the Lord “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).
The best gift your child can receive from you is the gift of salvation—knowing Jesus as his Savior and Lord. Pray the eyes of his heart will open to seeing the love of God, revealing his sin and offering unmerited grace and forgiveness. Pray he will trust Jesus as a child and follow Him all the days of His life. Pray he will not stray away deceived by the devil’s schemes, and if he does drift away, he will soon come to his senses and repent. Pray that his best friends love Jesus.
“Heavenly Father, in the same way you stirred my soul to be saved by your grace, stir my son’s soul to know you. Draw him close to you by your irresistible love, and protect him from lies. Show him he is your beloved son in whom you are well pleased. Grow him into a faithful son. Through Christ’s love and in Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Pray Your Child Loves and Obeys Jesus “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching” (John 14:23).
Pray your child is captivated by Christ’s love. Ask the Lord to fill her heart with His unfailing love that is illustrated in your life. A parent’s love is an extension of eternal love, so love like Jesus loves you. Pray your child is emotionally healthy, so she loves others as she loves herself, with kindness and respect. Pray the fruit of obedience flows from her true love for God. As she loves Jesus with all her heart, she will desire to obey Him—instantly and fully. Pray she loves and obeys God for there is no other way to find true peace and joy. Love leads to obedience.
“Dear Jesus, grow my girl’s heart of love and teach her truth with your Spirit’s guidance. Truth she can learn and apply to her life. May your love encompass her emotions, so she is able to love others as she loves herself—with acceptance, understanding and empathy. Grow her love into obedience. Through Christ’s love and in Jesus’ name, Amen.”
“For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, show me how to pray as a father for my children, through Christ’s love and in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
What specific prayers does my child need from me in this season of life?
Related Reading
Romans 1:8; Colossians 1:3; Galatians 4:19; Ephesians 1:18
Worship Resource
Alisa Turner: My Prayer for You
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