From the book How to be a Praying Mom, by Jeannie St. John Taylor, published by Hendrickson publishers. 

Dear Lord,

     I don’t want my children to be bullies. Give them compassionate hearts that strive to treat others the way they want to be treated. Help them be kind to others – known for their gentle and gracious spirits. Enable them to see the good in other people, but give them sufficient wisdom to eschew the evil around them.

     Protect them from bullies who would see their kindness as weakness and wish to harm them. Protect their bodies from the pain those bullies want to inflict. Protect their spirits and emotions. Help them know how to respond if they are treated badly. Help them endure the hateful words without allowing the accusations to enter their hearts. Let them be examples of Jesus.

     Help them recognize the changing forms bullying can take as they grow older. Make them refuse to make cruel jokes at others’ expense. Keep them from sarcasm and all other put-down language. Make them encouragers whose words delight the people around them.

     I ask these things in Jesus’ name, amen.

Supporting verses

“Be kind to each other.” Ep. 4:32

“Do for others what you would like them to do for you.” Matt. 7:12

Inspired by Rick Renner’s thoughts on 1 Corinthians 13 in Sparkling Gems from the Greek:

O God,

Please give us the wisdom and strength to function in your agape love for others, even when they hurt us.

Clear our minds to see them through your eyes so we won’t take up an offence at anyone.

Give us a love that covers the flaws of others rather than seeking to expose them -- love that shields and safeguards them.

Keep us loyal and faithful, never surrendering, prepared to “work it out” with those who offend us no matter how much time or energy is required.

Guide us to stay by the side of those who need your help, bearing their burdens with them. Keep us from throwing up our hands in despair over actions or attitudes that distress us.

Teach us to hope for and expect the best in them. Instead of assuming failure or a bad result in someone’s life, help us anticipate everything good for them.

We ask this in the name of your Son Jesus, amen.

Supporting verses . . . 

“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.” Proverbs 10:12

 

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” I Corinthians 13:4 -7

O God of Heaven and Father of Jesus Christ, 

 We praise you for your love and faithfulness – your unfathomable love that follows us wherever we go. But though down deep we believe you haven’t stopped loving us and you will fulfill your purpose for us, we fight fear when so many things seem to be going wrong. And right now the entire earth seems to be in turmoil

Please keep us from fear today.

Open our eyes to see the ways you are working through the disasters wrapping around the globe and difficulties in our own lives. Help us stop worrying -- because we know we are still safely in your hand and you will fulfill your purpose in our lives. Give us a fresh sense that it isn’t all about us, it’s about you. And we are part of your plan. Help us follow and obey you with joy, Lord, as we return your love. We ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.

Supporting verses:

“Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” Psalm 119:18

“The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” Psalm 138: 8

“If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost part of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,’ even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.” Psalm 139: 8 –12

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91: 1, 2

Adapted from the book How to be a Praying Mom by Jeannie St. John Taylor, Hendrickson Publishers.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

I praise you because you are a God of love. Thank you for being holy and righteous and calling us to imitate you – calling us to love the way you love. Give us eyes to see the world through your eyes of love. Forgive us for the many times we fall short. Thank you for accepting us, despite our tendencies to be unloving, as you lead us closer to your perfect love.

Remind us that love is an action, not a feeling. Help us act in love toward the people who wrong us. Give us wisdom to overlook flaws. Help us pray for others rather than resenting them. Help us bless rather than curse. Pull up any bitter roots that try to grip our hearts, and wind the tendrils of your love around them instead. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

Supporting verses:

“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. . . . For this is the message we heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” 1 John 3: 18, 11

“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.” 1 John 5:2