For This Season

Day 7: Mercy

Mercy.  "May my children always be merciful, just as their Father is merciful." Luke 6:36

Dear Heavenly Father-

How undeserving we are of you incredible mercy!  Please instill in those two little hearts this amazing gift you've given us.  No matter how we fail you - how often - you are always so consistently merciful. 

There are so many people around us who need a merciful heart - we become so immune to the needs of others. We so often allow our hearts to be hardened toward others - break our hearts and replace our selfishness with Your mercy.  We ALL belong to you and help them to know that from an early, early age.  Remind Scott and I DAILY to model our lives per your instruction....when someone is hungry, feed them.  When someone is thirsty, give them a drink.  When someone is a stranger, invite them into our home.  When they are naked, clothe them.  When they are sick, care for them.  When they are in prison, visit them.   There are so many opportunites around us DAILY to be merciful - yet, we opt to look the other way.  You have blessed us so much - that we need to share that.  And, that prison you speak of - so, so many are in prisons in their own homes, or bodies with sickness or sufferings.  Please allow us to model this very, very important virtue in our lives that it may trickle down to our children and become a part of who they are IN YOU. 

In Your Name,

Amen 

Day 5: Self-Control

Self-control. "Father, help my children not to be like many others around them, but let them be alert and self-controlled in all they do" (1 Thess. 5:6).

Dear Lord,

As always, remind me to be the first to apply these prayers to my own life - so they may be mirrored in my children's.  The world has so much to offer that is very enticing, at their young ages - please give them discernment to be alert and to maintain self-control in everything.  For now, the games they play with other children, their tempers when they don't get "that" toy or the immediate need they see at that moment.   Specifically, give Noah a peace and a calmness that everything does not have to be perfect.  Give him a self-confidence that only you can provide in that he doesn't always have to be the best student, the best athelete, the best child - that you have created him to be just as he is and that with guidance and self-control - he can be that 'little boy'.  For Evan, as we are in the midst of the "twos" - please, help me to redirect him in a calm manner.  Help me to seek out the behavior from his heart and not necessarily his actions at the moment.   Please help me to instill in him that the world will not stop spinninig if he doesn't have that second piece of candy or that toy his brother is playing with.   

Thank you for two boys who KNOW what they want, but, often need a little redirection. 

In all of these things, Amen.   

Day 4: Honesty and Integrity

Honesty and integrity.  "May integrity and honesty be their virtue and their protection."  Ps. 25:21

Dear Lord:

In this fallen world that often overlooks the values of honesty and integrity - and actually embraces the opposite - please help Scott and I to guide, through the example of our lives and Your love, that there is no exception to this principle.  No looking the other way.   No short-cuts.  No compromising of these invaluable-values.

With the circumstances of Scott's accident -  alot has been lost.  But, thankfully, one thing that has remained soundfully intact is Scott's values of honesty and integrity.   I praise You for allowing that to be something that has remained - for it will be a priceless gift to these little boys.  It is something that I pray will help shape and mold these two little lives.   And, will profoundly impact generations to come.  As far away as that sounds, it is actually just moments around the corner as they are absorbing everything.   Please allow our "little teachable moments" to be building that strong foundation that will last a lifetime.  You have blessed us with many uncompromising people in our life - and for that we are so thankful.   And, to turn this prayer to myself, and look in the mirror,  please help me to stay on track with things that may seem so trivial at the moment.  But, if I tell them I will so something with them or for them - and, I allow myself to get busy with other things and allow that to slide,  please convict my spirit at that moment.  Let them know that a promise is a promise and someone's word is their word.  I know that I have failed in this area on many, many occasions - that not only results in broken and saddened hearts - but, also, it allows distrust - something I want far removed in my relationship with them.   Please restore any damage that has been done and forgive me where I have failed.

I ask all of this in your name - Jesus Christ, Amen.

Day 3: Love

Love.  "Grant, Lord, that my children may learn to live a life of love, through the Spirit who dwells in them"  Gal 5:25, Eph 5:2

Dear Lord,

In a world where it is all too often every man for himself - please turn our children from that mentality.  Instill in them your unconditional love for all of Your creation.  Please guide them to make decisions based on Your truths.   

Again, let them see your love reflected in the relationship between their Daddy and I despite the complications, impact and toll the accident has taken.   It is so easy for us to get caught up in our life - that we often fail to see those in need around us.  Please open our eyes and give us teachable moments with our children that will turn into lasting lessons learned for their hearts.   Let our actions proceed from our hearts - and help us to guide their little lives in the same manner.  Please help us to identify our selfishness toward you, each other and those around us.   Please forgive us as we fail you in this manner daily.  Please help Scott and I to raise Noah and Evan to lovingly put others before themselves - even when it is not the most comfortable or easiest thing to do. 

All these things, I ask in Your Name, Christ Jesus. 

Day 1: Salvation

First of all, I cannot take complete credit for this.  Another blogging mommie is currently taking the 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Children by Bob Hostetler and posting those along with her personal prayers on her site.  I think it is a terrific idea and will follow her wise lead.  I used to have these posted in our bathroom - so when I got ready in the mornings - I could pray for my little guys.  It somehow disappeared....(Evan, maybe?)  

So, as my goal will be to follow them daily for the next 31 days.....I will type the virtue given and will then add my own personal prayer for the boys.  I will also continue to post the good, the bad and the ugly of our life for my fan base of two.  

The first is for Salvation. "Lord, let salvation spring up within my children, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory" (Is. 45:8, 2 Tim. 2:10).

Dear Lord,

I have prayed for their salvation since before they were conceived.  I pray that the seeds their Daddy and I plant today, will spring into life in your timing.  There is nothing more important; not health, happiness, wealth or a long life.  Without a personal relationship with you, nothing else matters.

I sincerely pray that Scott and I reflect you in everything we do before their little eyes - eyes that see everything.  I pray that our home conveys your love and mercy.  I pray our words are careful and thought out.  I pray that our mannerisms are loving and kind.  I pray that they see you in us.   Please help us to guide them to you and not away.  Let them see a firm, defined relationship with you - let them see the reality of you in us.   Help us to weed out the unimportant and unnecessary.  Help us to establish a firm foundation. 

I sincerely ask all of these things - in Your Name - Amen.