PRAY ’11, DAY 5: Children and Families

January 5, 2011 by Leave a Comment

January 5, 2011

Praise:
Thank God for the children in your life and for the chance to encourage and inspire a younger person. Thank God for the gift or idea of family. If you’ve never had a real family of your own, thank God for the people he has placed on your path to accept and encourage you.

Reflect:
“People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.”
-Mark 10: 13-16

“And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with men”
-1Samuel 2:26

“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”
-Luke 2:52

Admit (and Ask):
Pray for children by name, and as a parent, if possible, place your hand on their shoulder or head asking for God to protect and watch over them, and that they grow into adults of integrity and wisdom who serve God and others. Ask for strength. Ask for wisdom so you may be an example to the younger people in your life. Even if you don’t have all the answers, stay curious, be open to being amazed by God and ask for help to trust God more.

Yield:
Surrender your children (or children on whom you have an influence) and family to God. Commit to be open to opportunities to learn more about God, and to teach your children about him.

Amen

Next: January 5- Seniors, grandparents or 55plus

Filed Under: childlike faith, children, children in prayer meeting, mark 10: 13-16, pray 11

Pray ’11, Day 4: Marriages and Relationships

January 3, 2011 by Leave a Comment

January 4, 2011

Praise:
Praise God for being the source of blessing and good things.(Psalm 34: 3)
Appreciate the gift of life. Thank God for the gift of marriage and companionship. Thank God for being the author of true love.

Reflect:
“The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.”–Proverbs 31: 11-12

“In this same way, husbands ought to love their
wives as their own bodies. He who loves
his wife loves himself.”-Ephesians 5: 28

We pray for the strength and healing to live God’s ideal for relationships and marriage. We pray for spiritual maturity and maturity overall to be the kind of people who are prepared to love and be loved in a healthy manner.

Admit (or Ask)
Turn to God and confess how you have missed the mark in your marriage or relationships, or ask for God’s guidance if your marriage in trouble. You know someone whose relationship is in trouble or leading to trouble? Is there someone you know who is going through a breakup of a marriage or relationship. Pray for them as they are grieving. Ask for God’s guidance for them in this New Year. Cry out to him about your need for love, patience and wisdom in your marriage. Pray the same for a loved-one whom you know is going though a hard time.

Yield:
When we have done all we can? We let go, and trust God’s capacity to create a new heart within us, and believe in his ability to renew our spirit. Philippians 1:6 says: “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”
May it be so.

Next: January 5 – Children and Families

Filed Under: companionship, Dr. Sabine Vatel, ephesians 5:28, Forest Lake Church, healthy, house of prayer, love and marriage, new year 2011, pray 11, prayer for marriages, proverbs 31, relationships, true love