Father God, Creator of the Universe, King of all Kings, 

        We bow before you, thanking you for the gift of your Son Jesus who saves us and offers eternal life to anyone who chooses to accept the gift. Thank you for creating the world through Jesus, the Word who spoke the seas and skies into existence. Thank you for giving us your written Word, the living document that showcases and proves not only your majesty and power, but your love for each of us. 

We are amazed at the treasures hidden in the pages of your love letter to us.

• If we diligently search out your gems, we find comfort when we’re feeling desperate, promises that assure us of hope and a future.

• Opening ourselves to your Word allows your Spirit to flow through us and heal us, to give us peace in the midst of affliction.

• When we’re confused, the wisdom in your Word seems to address the very thing we couldn’t quite sort out. Your Word can clarify the problem and show us where to step.

• Your Word reveals our deepest flaws and urges us to changes, shows us how to turn all our failings over to you.

• Your Word assures us of forgiveness.

Thank you, Lord. We love you. We’re so thankful for your mercy; so thankful for your Word. Call us to seek you, pursue you fervently just as you pursue us fervently. We want to know you more and more. Please place your Word in our minds, write it on our hearts and reveal yourself to us. Amen

Supporting verses: (all italics mine) 

“And God said, “Let there be light . . .” Gen. 1:3

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.” John 1:1-3

“But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” Hebrews 1:2
 

“The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:12,13

“In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and trust shall be your strength. . . . And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” Isaiah 30:15

“I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. . . .for they shall know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” Hebrews 8:10 -12

Thanksgiving Prayer for Soldier and Family Member Far from Home

O Lord,

            You have set your glory above the heavens. The sun and all the stars are the work of your fingers. And yet, amazingly, you are mindful of us. You observe everything we do and our daily lives matter to you. You look down on our loved ones who are too far from home to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with us and your heart aches for them.

So does ours. We want them to feel joy and belonging, to be included in a family. Please ease the loneliness that has settled around some of them like gray fog. Fill the emptiness. Comfort them. Enable the ones we love to feel our love reaching out to them -- longing for them.  Open and increase their awareness of your love and protection surrounding them. Send powerful angels to minister to the loneliness.

Please banish all hopelessness. Help them fix their eyes on you and know you have a future and a hope for them. Keep them safe from the evil one and make it clear that you planned good things for them long ago. Lift their heads and make them able to think on things that are noble and true. Teach them to remember you and their hope of heaven. Give them grateful hearts.

We are so thankful that you have given them to us, Lord. Help us remember that they are in your hand and much loved. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Supporting verses:

“O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.  Out of the mouths of babes and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care of him?” Psalm 8:1 - 4

“I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass, and have forgotten the LORD, you Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, and you fear continually all the day because of the wrath of the oppressor.” Is. 51: 12-13

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” Philippians 1:3 – 5

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8

O Father in Heaven who loves us and watches over us,

In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, I ask you to bless my friend today with the rich blessings you promise in your Word.

•        Bless my friend by making him / her able to feel your love and know that   nothing can ever take that love from him / her.

•        Bless my friend with the comfort of knowing you watch over every detail of his / her life.

•       Bless my friend with justice. Protect and defend him / her against deceitful people.

•       Bless all my friend's family: parents, siblings, children and grandchildren.

•       Bless my friend with a tongue that speaks wisdom and encouragement.

•       Bless the nation in which my friend lives so that he / she will live in peace.

•       Bless my friend with confidence that you save everyone who looks to you.

•       Bless my friend with hope.

Supporting verses:

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present or things to come, nor powers, not height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38

“The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” Prov. 15:3

“Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me!  . . . Through you we push down our foes; through your name we tread down those who rise up against us.  . . . But you have saved us from our foes.” 

Psalm 45:1, 5,7

“The tongue of the wise commends knowledge.” Proverbs 15:2

“The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.” Psalm 33:11,12

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul form death and keep them alive in famine.” Psalm 33:18

From the book Prayers for Troubled Times, by Jeannie St. John Taylor, AMG Publishers.

Prayer for w Woman Never Loved by Daddy

     Faithful father, who is more important in a little girl’s life than her daddy? He is her first love; her idol. She sees herself through his eyes. If he calls her beautiful, she believes she is beautiful. If he adores his little princess, she knows she is a treasure. 

     Holy God, my friend’s father didn’t know how to love her. He ignored her, criticized her, and punished her harshly. He didn’t know how to cuddle her. He never told her he loved her and he probably never will. That’s why she can’t feel worthy of love. She exhausts her energies striving to prove she is loveable, still struggling to win Daddy’s love. And when she can’t, she searches for other loves to fill the father-shaped hole in her heart. But you and I both know that nothing will satisfy her until she recognizes who you are.

     Open her eyes to the depth of your love for her. Welcome her to Abba Father, her Daddy God. Beckon her to crawl up on your lap and press her head against your strong Father-chest, sinking into the warmth of your love. Enfold her in your arms. Let your truth envelop her. Breathe your Holy Spirit into her heart--filling the emptiness, healing the wounds. Bend your head to whisper beauty. Assure her she is your treasure, your sparkling diamond, and you accept her just as she is. Teach her to close her eyes and quiet her soul because she recognizes your true identity at last. You are her true Father who offers eternal love. She is your beloved daughter. Through Christ you have made this possible, amen.

Supporting verse:

“Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close.” Psalm 27:10

Dear loving Abba Daddy, Father God,

       I praise you that my children are imperfect! I ask you to show them what a privilege it is to make mistakes and be inadequate, because that gives you a chance to show how great you are through them. Teach them to humble themselves so that you can lift them up and shine your power through them. Make them thrill to let you claim all the glory for their good deeds.     

      Help them to thank you for the times when, like Moses, they stutter and the words won’t come. Help them to be grateful when they’re shy or lack skill in a sporting event or can’t understand math concepts or master a musical instrument – when they aren’t fast enough or smart enough or skilled enough. Those are the times your strength is made perfect in their weakness. When you use them despite their inadequacies, let people recognize it must be you working through them.

       I pray that inside their hearts and heads they never feel inferior, because they belong to you. Help them feel like a garden fountain—standing, while you flow through them to bless others. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Supporting verse:

“Each time he said, ‘My gracious favor is all your need. My power works best in your weakness.’” 2 Corinthians 12:9