Friday, August 31, 2012

Testifying to what He has done

"I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen ..." - John 3:11

Dear God,
Thank You for the testimony that You are forming in me. I pray that my entire pregnancy, birth, and motherhood process bring You glory and allow me to share with others what You have done in my life. Others have ministered to me, and I know it's just a matter of time before I am asked to share what I have experienced. Lord, guide me in these divine encounters with others. Let Your praises be on my tongue! Help me to be a light to all of those around me. Amen.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

A Good Name

"A good name is more desirable that great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold." - Proverbs 22:1

Father,
We know that there are many people who seem to be popular and to have all the things that they need in this world. Unfortunately, many of them lack character that reflects You. We ask that You supply us with the things that we need to help our child obtain character traits that bring Your Kindgom glory. Only You know what this child will become and what desiny You have for him/her to fulfill. I pray that You will supply a good name for him/her and that it will bring blessing to him/her all the days of his/her life. In Your Name, amen!

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Rejoicing in Rest

"Let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds." - Psalm 149:5

Dear God,
Thank You for all that You have done and all that You're doing within me. I want to rejoice and sing of Your goodness, even when I'm at rest. Please continue to let the bed that You've provided for me be a place of sanctuary from the world, a place that I can meet You in praise and prayer. I ask that You fill me with encouraging and godly thoughts, songs, and dreams at night. As I continue to work through the end of this pregnancy, allow me to be nourished through sufficient rest and to feel refreshed each  morning. Thank You for using these opportunities for me to learn more about You, Your character, and Your ways. Amen!

Friday, August 24, 2012

Reading God's Word

"I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You." - Psalm 191:11

Lord,
Thank You for providing us with a blueprint to live by. I ask that You plant in me the desire to read to my child from Your Word on a regular basis. I want him/her to know who You are, what You've done, what You will do, and how to have a personal relationship with You. As we read the Scriptures together, let Your Word come alive to us. Speak to us through it, and let it become a vital part of our walk with You. Amen.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Potential Spouse

"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." - Genesis 2:24-25

Lord,
Today, I thank You for three years of wonderful marriage with Adam. You have given us an awesome opportunity to become sanctified through our relationship with one another and now through the process of raising a child. I pray that if our child's future involves this type of opportunity that You will raise up that special someone in his/her life in Your time. I ask that you would allow his/her spouse to come from a Christian home and that he/she would love You with all of his/her heart, soul, mind, and strength. I pray that you would help Adam and I to provide our child with a loving legacy of a long, lasting, committed marriage. Make our household a place in which love and affection flow freely. Let us show our child what dating relationships should be like and what to look for in a spouse. Give our child patience and endurance to wait on Your perfect will. Protect them as they seek to remain pure at heart throughout this process. Amen.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Daily Tasks and Work

"Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men." - Proverbs 22:29

Heavenly Father,
I pray that my son/daughter will excel in whatever work he/she does and that he/she will do it with all of his/her might. Let good habits develop early in life that will set the standard for a strong work ethic. Help us and other mentors to provide him/her with school work, chores, and other day-to-day tasks that require focus, dedication, and diligence. May whatever my child does, whether a big or small task, be done in a manner that will bring glory to You. Let him/her seek You for direction concerning any task, realizing that the strength and opportunities to work are given by You. Lastly, allow my child to find some way to minister through the job that he/she will have. In Your name, amen.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Uses in Youth

"Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years." - 2 Kings 22:1

Father,
Thank You for watching over my little one as he/she grows and develops in my womb. Only You know what he/she will be called to do in life. Today, I ask that You help me in teaching him/her in Your Word and Your ways, so that he/she will be prepared to do the work You have called him/her to do. Help me encourage him/her in his/her areas of strength, and to support his/her boldness to do Your will. Let this child be a light to those around him/her. Even at an early age, use him/her to witness to family and friends. Again, Thank You for the calling You have already put on his/her life and for the skills that You are already weaving together for him/her to be able to pursue the tasks ahead of him/her. Amen.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Taking Root

"He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." - Psalm 1:3

Dear God,
Thank You for the living water You provide. You are my life source. Help me remember this, especially during the dry spells of life. During those times, allow my already-formed roots to grow even deeper to receive the life-giving water that only You can give. I also ask that You give Adam and I direction in the cultivation of our child. Let us purposefully plant him/her in Your soil, close to the waters You provide. Holy Spirit, help us to educate our child in a godly fashion, so that he/she may yield fruit in season and not wither. Let our child's profession of faith be strong and consistent. Let his/her roots allow him/her to see the work that God has given him/her to do, the power he/she has been given to perform it, and the places and opportunities that have been provided for doing those things. Lastly, God, I ask that our child's roots continue to grow deeper and deeper throughout his/her life. May he/she (with the help of the Holy Spirit) grow stronger in the grace that he/she has already recieved, increase in heavenly desires, and produce much fruit that glorifies You. In Your name, amen!

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Quieting My Soul

"But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me." - Psalm 131:2

God,
When life is full of things to do, You desire and allow me to rest in You. This week, I thank You for that and ask that You provide frequent opportunities for me to do so. Ease my mind in the upcoming weeks. Help me to pursue the discipline of resting in You now and after my pregnancy. Like the weaned child in Psalm 131, let me continuously return to Your bosom, realizing that You were the original One who nourished me. Amen.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Wisdom for Building

"The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down." - Proverbs 14:1

Lord,
I know that it takes years of intentional, Christ-centered devotion to build a home. On the other hand, I know that a home can be destroyed by the enemy in a matter of minutes. I ask that You give me the strength and wisdom needed to build a house full of trust, faithfulness, security, self-esteem, and loyalty. I pray against idleness, laziness, pridefulness, covetousness, anger, lack of self-control, doubt, and bitterness. Help me to nuture and protect my family from these things so that they have a place to seek shelter when the storms of life come. I praise You today for being the Master Builder. You craft us so articulately with such skill. Guide me as I try to do the same. Help me to build up, not tear down. In Your name, amen!

Friday, August 10, 2012

Family of God

"I will receive you, I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." - 2 Corithians 6:17-18

Dear Lord,
Thank You for the privilege of being called Your daughter. I praise You that You didn't create us in a subservient way, but as a family. We are heirs to Your righteousness and partakers of all that You have made and ordained. I pray that my son/daughter will be called Your child as well, and that he/she will come to know You at and early age. Help him/her to grow in the knowledge and joy that he/she is part of Your family. Amen.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Rest and Rejuvenation

"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." - Psalm 4:8

Lord,
I pray that You would bless me with deep, restful sleep from this point forward in my pregnancy. No matter what is going on in my life or in the world around me, help me to reach a place of perfect peace when it is time for me to rest. Relax and rejuvenate me so that I can be healthy home for this baby. Provide me with ways that will allow me to be comfortable and to go to sleep quickly. When I wake in the middle of the night, help me to return to sleep quickly. I ask these things in Your name, amen.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Entertainment

"Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. BUt everything exposed by the light becomes visible. This is why it is said: 'Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.'" - Ephesians 5:11-14

Dear God,
I thank You for Your Holy Spirit, that provides me with guidance and discernment at all times. Today, I ask that You show me truth and give me wisdom when it comes to entertainment. Help me know what criteria certain forms of entertainment must meet before I allow it in my home. Make me aware of the truths and untruths that are presented on television shows, movies, games, and the internet or in books, magazines, and music. Let me not be passive about what is going into the mind and heart of my little one. Help Adam and I guard our own hearts as well, so that we can be a good example to our child. Amen.

Friday, August 3, 2012

Discipline

"Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." - Hebrews 12:9-11

Heavenly Father,
I thank You for the correction You provide in the lives of Your children. You guide us and protect us, teaching us about the true life we can have in You as we learn and grow. Help Adam and I to do the same, providing the necessary guidelines that our child needs to develop properly. I specifically pray that You would supply us with the boldness we will need to be firm in leading our child. Help us to be consistent, not waivering in opinion or sending confusing messages. Let Your will be accomplished in this area so that our child will become the person You intended for him/her to be. Strengthen his/her character. In Your name, amen.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Spiritual Fathers

"Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching, show integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us." - Titus 2:6-8


Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the men that will be involved in my baby's life. I pray that You design each relationship with a purpose and significance. I ask that You secure a special bond between this baby and his/her father. Give Adam vision for what our family is to be like. Help him to be a man of self-control, integrity, seriousness, and sound speech. Draw both of us closer to You and closer to each other in order to raise this child in unity. Thank You for giving us a plan and design for families. Amen.