"And the very hairs on your head are numbered." - Matthew 10:30
Lord,
Thank You for designing my child. I am so excited to hold my baby for the very first time and see what he/she looks like. I know that You care so much about my child, from the details of his/her features to the larger details of his/her life. You are continually watching over my little one as he/she grows. That assurance brings me great comfort and peace. Thank You, Father, for loving us so much and knowing us so intimately. Amen.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
In the Potter's Hands
"Yet, O Lord, You are our Father. We are the clay, and You are the potter. We are all the work of Your hand." - Isaiah 64:8
Dear God,
I can't express my wonder and praise for the masterful work You are doing within me! You are always at work on Your creation. As You mold my child, You continue to mold me. I ask that you mend the areas that are broken and in need of repair today. Create in me something new. Make me into the vessel that You desire. Fashion this little one just as You would have him/her to be. Thank You for Your constant involvement in our lives. Amen.
Dear God,
I can't express my wonder and praise for the masterful work You are doing within me! You are always at work on Your creation. As You mold my child, You continue to mold me. I ask that you mend the areas that are broken and in need of repair today. Create in me something new. Make me into the vessel that You desire. Fashion this little one just as You would have him/her to be. Thank You for Your constant involvement in our lives. Amen.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Treasures Reflect the Heart
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be." - Luke 12:34
Father,
I thank You for the treasure that I have in my relationship with You and for the other blessings You have provided in my life. Today, I ask that You help me be an example to my child in the area of priorities. Let my priorities line up with Your will. When adjustments are needed, illuminate them. Help me to reorganize my treasures, even if it means putting fun, work, money, and others to the side. I want my heart to be fixed on You and Your will in my life. In Your name, amen.
Father,
I thank You for the treasure that I have in my relationship with You and for the other blessings You have provided in my life. Today, I ask that You help me be an example to my child in the area of priorities. Let my priorities line up with Your will. When adjustments are needed, illuminate them. Help me to reorganize my treasures, even if it means putting fun, work, money, and others to the side. I want my heart to be fixed on You and Your will in my life. In Your name, amen.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Ears as the Discerner of Words
"Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food?" - Job 12:11
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit and for the discernment that only You can provide. Today, I ask that You filter my speech and testing of words. Help me know what to say to my child and how to interpret his or her thoughts and feelings. I want my child to feel like he/she is being listened to and that his/her opinion is valued. Only through genuinely listening and discerning can I develop the type of relationship I desire with my child. Guide my mouth and ears as I begin to practice my communication with others today. Amen.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit and for the discernment that only You can provide. Today, I ask that You filter my speech and testing of words. Help me know what to say to my child and how to interpret his or her thoughts and feelings. I want my child to feel like he/she is being listened to and that his/her opinion is valued. Only through genuinely listening and discerning can I develop the type of relationship I desire with my child. Guide my mouth and ears as I begin to practice my communication with others today. Amen.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Use of Words
"Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged." - Colossians 3:21
Dear God,
Thank You for Your Word that continually leads us in the paths of righteousness. I am always convicted by Your wisdom about words and how we use them. Today, I pray that You would set guards over our mouths and minds. Help Adam and I use our words to build up our child, not tear him/her down. Specifically, I pray that You would help us not to be overly harsh in punishment or too critical of our child's behavior. Let our expectations of him/her be appropriate; let us be consistent with our words and actions; and let us praise them enough for jobs well done. When we do fail to allow You to guide our speech and we embitter our child, let us be quick to recognize and seek forgiveness. In situations where others use words to hurt our child, help us to cultivate a heart of forgiveness and restoration in our child. Lord, keep our child's heart pure and encouraged by You and Your teachings. Amen.
Dear God,
Thank You for Your Word that continually leads us in the paths of righteousness. I am always convicted by Your wisdom about words and how we use them. Today, I pray that You would set guards over our mouths and minds. Help Adam and I use our words to build up our child, not tear him/her down. Specifically, I pray that You would help us not to be overly harsh in punishment or too critical of our child's behavior. Let our expectations of him/her be appropriate; let us be consistent with our words and actions; and let us praise them enough for jobs well done. When we do fail to allow You to guide our speech and we embitter our child, let us be quick to recognize and seek forgiveness. In situations where others use words to hurt our child, help us to cultivate a heart of forgiveness and restoration in our child. Lord, keep our child's heart pure and encouraged by You and Your teachings. Amen.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Children and Leaders in the Church
"I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord." - Psalm 122:1
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the support that we find in the community that we worship with. Fellowship with other Christians is vital to growth and edification, and we are so glad that You've placed us in a community where that can happen. Today, I pray that our church environment would be a positive place for the spiritual upbringing of our child. I ask for You to bless and guide those who will help nurture and rear our baby. Allow their gifts to be used in a way that best fosters growth in the children of our congregation. Also Lord, show me what level of involvement You would like me to have in our church's youth programs. Continue to guide me into the roles that You would have me serve. Amen.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the support that we find in the community that we worship with. Fellowship with other Christians is vital to growth and edification, and we are so glad that You've placed us in a community where that can happen. Today, I pray that our church environment would be a positive place for the spiritual upbringing of our child. I ask for You to bless and guide those who will help nurture and rear our baby. Allow their gifts to be used in a way that best fosters growth in the children of our congregation. Also Lord, show me what level of involvement You would like me to have in our church's youth programs. Continue to guide me into the roles that You would have me serve. Amen.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Imitating Jesus
"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children." - Ephesians 5:1
God,
I praise You today for leaving me an example that I can follow. As a child sometimes imitates his/her parents, help me to be an imitator of You. Holy Spirit, examine my heart and guide me to remove any words or actions that don't reflect You. Let me be a good example that my child can follow after. Raise us both up in Your image. Continue to reveal Your character to me on a daily basis so that I may relay that character to my child. Thank You, Lord. Amen.
God,
I praise You today for leaving me an example that I can follow. As a child sometimes imitates his/her parents, help me to be an imitator of You. Holy Spirit, examine my heart and guide me to remove any words or actions that don't reflect You. Let me be a good example that my child can follow after. Raise us both up in Your image. Continue to reveal Your character to me on a daily basis so that I may relay that character to my child. Thank You, Lord. Amen.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Pleasing God, not man
"It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man." - Psalm 118:3
Father,
I am so thankful that Your opinion is the only one that really matters throughout life. It is much better to please You than to please men. When we live life with You in mind, it becomes much easier to walk in righteousness. I pray that You will help me as this baby's parent to live this truth as an example and to speak it openly so that it might take root in his/her heart. In Jesus' name, amen.
Father,
I am so thankful that Your opinion is the only one that really matters throughout life. It is much better to please You than to please men. When we live life with You in mind, it becomes much easier to walk in righteousness. I pray that You will help me as this baby's parent to live this truth as an example and to speak it openly so that it might take root in his/her heart. In Jesus' name, amen.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Beauty of the Heart
"Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the marvel that is happening within me. Let me see myself through Your eyes. Let me at no time regard myself with a harsh eye in relation to my physical appearance. I pray that You will guide me in teaching my child this same concept. Help me show him/her that purity of the heart is what truly matters. Protect him/her from the trap of vain thinking and over-emphasis on outward appearance. Let his/her confidence be in You, not in he way he/she looks. Help this child to appreciate others for how You made them and to look at others the way that You do. Amen.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the marvel that is happening within me. Let me see myself through Your eyes. Let me at no time regard myself with a harsh eye in relation to my physical appearance. I pray that You will guide me in teaching my child this same concept. Help me show him/her that purity of the heart is what truly matters. Protect him/her from the trap of vain thinking and over-emphasis on outward appearance. Let his/her confidence be in You, not in he way he/she looks. Help this child to appreciate others for how You made them and to look at others the way that You do. Amen.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Being Content
"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you, never will I forsake You.'" - Hebrews 13:5
Dear God,
I acknowledge that all money comes from You. You are the One who gives us the ability to earn, and we are responsible to You for our finances. Your Word says that we are to be content with what we have. Today, I ask for a spirit of contentment (in me and in this child). Help me to provide our child with a healthy view of money and its purpose. Let us be examples of how to give, save, and spend. May our child be generous at all times, looking to You for provision and not his/her own efforts or accomplishments. In Your name, amen.
Dear God,
I acknowledge that all money comes from You. You are the One who gives us the ability to earn, and we are responsible to You for our finances. Your Word says that we are to be content with what we have. Today, I ask for a spirit of contentment (in me and in this child). Help me to provide our child with a healthy view of money and its purpose. Let us be examples of how to give, save, and spend. May our child be generous at all times, looking to You for provision and not his/her own efforts or accomplishments. In Your name, amen.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Bad Company
"Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." - 1 Corinthians 15:33
Heavenly Father,
I thank You for setting a standard for man to live by in Your Word. Help Adam and I to live acceptably in Your sight and to pass that example down to our child. Let us clearly see the good character traits that need to be built up and encouraged in this child. We want to play an active role in leading this child into life-affirming, not destructive, relationships. Give us boldness to stand when we need to stand and the strength to to endure when we need to endure. I pray that we would not allow any circumstance to infringe on the safety or godly upbringing that You desire for this child. Give us words to say and the ability to articulate what we feel and expect when it comes to our child or others. Show us how to promote healthy relationships and to be aware of his/her environments. In Your Son's name, amen.
Heavenly Father,
I thank You for setting a standard for man to live by in Your Word. Help Adam and I to live acceptably in Your sight and to pass that example down to our child. Let us clearly see the good character traits that need to be built up and encouraged in this child. We want to play an active role in leading this child into life-affirming, not destructive, relationships. Give us boldness to stand when we need to stand and the strength to to endure when we need to endure. I pray that we would not allow any circumstance to infringe on the safety or godly upbringing that You desire for this child. Give us words to say and the ability to articulate what we feel and expect when it comes to our child or others. Show us how to promote healthy relationships and to be aware of his/her environments. In Your Son's name, amen.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Teaching Our Child to Pray
"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask in prayer." - Matthew 21:22
Father,
I am thankful that You invite Your children to have open commuication with You. Consistent dialogue with You is so vital to the development and maintenance of our relationship with You. Today, I ask that You instruct me in leading our child on a path of consistent prayer. Help me model this relationship and be a part of opening that line of communication. Let this child's prayer life begin at an early age and continue throughout his/her life. Let him/her come to You at all times about all things - in times of need and in times of joy. Give him/her eyes to see Your work in response to our prayers, and let those experiences help him/her build faith and trust in You. Work through this child as a prayer warrior. Help him/her come to the knowledge of what praying for others truly means and how it benefis the Body of Christ. Amen.
Father,
I am thankful that You invite Your children to have open commuication with You. Consistent dialogue with You is so vital to the development and maintenance of our relationship with You. Today, I ask that You instruct me in leading our child on a path of consistent prayer. Help me model this relationship and be a part of opening that line of communication. Let this child's prayer life begin at an early age and continue throughout his/her life. Let him/her come to You at all times about all things - in times of need and in times of joy. Give him/her eyes to see Your work in response to our prayers, and let those experiences help him/her build faith and trust in You. Work through this child as a prayer warrior. Help him/her come to the knowledge of what praying for others truly means and how it benefis the Body of Christ. Amen.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Confidence in Him
"For the Lord will be your confidence" - Proverbs 3:26a
Dear God,
At times when I doubt or struggle and feel like I'm unable to handle this job you've called me to do, assure me that You are my confidence. There is nothing that You do not understand or know about me, my baby, or the future. Help me rest in You today and know that all things are in Your hands, moving according to Your plan. I want to be confident in You and in this wonderful experience You are giving me. Help this little one within me to know that You are his/her confidence in life, as well. Thank You for being the anchor and rock of my soul. Amen.
Dear God,
At times when I doubt or struggle and feel like I'm unable to handle this job you've called me to do, assure me that You are my confidence. There is nothing that You do not understand or know about me, my baby, or the future. Help me rest in You today and know that all things are in Your hands, moving according to Your plan. I want to be confident in You and in this wonderful experience You are giving me. Help this little one within me to know that You are his/her confidence in life, as well. Thank You for being the anchor and rock of my soul. Amen.
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