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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.