Psalm Tuesday

Please join us today as we pray by focusing our thoughts UPWARD:

Oh Lord, My Father, I thank You for the privilege of coming to You in prayer. Thank You for the study of Daniel which shows many people expressing Your praises.

It is there we see You grant favor and compassion to godly people who are in influential positions. I pray that you would raise up God-fearing people to influence or become our nation’s leaders. Use us if it is Your will.

In Daniel we see You grant understanding of visions and dreams. You also made the four Hebrew youths 10 times wiser than all the magicians and conjurers in King Nebuchadnezzar’s realm. Grant us wisdom and understanding that is better than the world’s and give us opportunity to use them in our spheres of influence.

King Nebuchadnezzar, who was king of Babylon in its greatness, recognized you as The Most High God; King Darius, who was king of the Medes when they held great power said, “I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel; for His is the living God and enduring forever, and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, and His dominion will be forever.” Thank you for inspiring them to praise You. May we recognize Your great and enduring power as these pagans kings did.

You control the times and the epochs. Your remove kings and establish kings; for King Nebuchadnezzar, he reigned a year after he heard the prophecy of the end of his kingdom; for King Belshazzar, another Babylonian king, he lost his kingdom in a night. We know You are in control of our nation, its politics, and even our elections, some of which take place next Tuesday.

You reveal profound and hidden things; You know what is in the darkness. We can’t see what is ahead, but You can.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew that You are able to deliver Your servants from anything if You choose to do so. We don’t know if You want to bless us or correct us at this time, but keep us faithful in all thing. Yes, Lord, keep us faithful in all things.

[prayer by Gail Peo]

INWARD:

Dear Jesus, I come to you knowing in my head that you tell the truth. Your Word says you know me–my thoughts, my desires, everything about me. But that means you know I planned to have a baby girl to raise. As my youngest turned one year, it hit me that our family is complete. We have the 4 babies we wanted. I love my family. You gave me 4 handsome and healthy boys. I love them with all my heart. I enjoy being active with them and sharing/learning about their interests.

But there are days after a long week when I feel left out of my own family. I feel untrained and unfit for the boy humor, the roughhousing, the noise and smells that come with a house of boys.

Lord, I have had to rely on you more with each boy. I can’t rely on my own strength or knowledge. I want to raise men who love and follow you. Ones who are clean, helpful, and respectful, but it feels like most days I’m failing.

Lord, I pray for wisdom and open ears to hear and believe you when you say you don’t make mistakes and chose me to be the mom those 4 boys needed.

I love you,

In Jesus name,

AMEN

[prayer by Erin Scheffert]

OUTWARD:

Heavenly Father, I want to lift up my girls today to you, but not only my girls, but the boys and girls that are represented in this room today by their moms, grandmas, aunts, and friends.

In Psalm 1 it says, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.” I pray that our boys and girls would have discernment as they navigate their days and that they would have the strength to not walk in the counsel of sinners.

Psalm 1:2 says blessed is the one whose “delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night.” Lord, I pray that our children will find joy in knowing you more and that when they are faced with questions they turn to you and seek Godly counsel.

Psalm 1:3 says, “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.” Lord, I pray that our kids have strong roots–stable roots that seek living water. I pray that they can withstand the winds of this world and provide fruit and shade to those wearied by this world. I pray they can be a blessing to others.

Heavenly Father, I pray that our children choose your way, the way of righteousness, and that they have strong roots in you so they can represent your love to our world today. I pray Philippians 2:15 over them that they are children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which they shine like stars in the universe as they hold out the word of life. Lord, help our kids to shine like stars in a dark world, to be the light that our community needs. Help them to be a blessing to others and a light in our world.

And finally, Lord, help us not to parent in fear, but in confidence, knowing that even as they walk in the valley of the shadow of death, we do not need to fear evil for you are with them always. And we thank you for that promise.

In Jesus’ name,

AMEN

[prayer by Jessica McKillip]