Parents' Prayers For November

December 13  Bearing the fruit of goodness

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Good and merciful Lord, thank you that we live in the grace of your goodness and mercy. Thank you for caring for us, even to the smallest detail, and for providing for all of our needs. Thank you for guarding us from our sinful ways. There are times when we sin against you, sometimes knowingly and sometimes unknowingly. There are times when our children sin against you. Lord, please forgive our children's sins and give them your heart so they may despise sin.

Lord, please bless our children to bear the fruit of goodness. Help them to bear the fruit of meekness. We pray that they may have a kind disposition toward others. We pray for our children to inherit the kindness and the mercy that you have shown all of your people. We pray that we may hold onto you as we grow in the character of your image. Lord, we desire to drink the living water that comes from you so we may bear these wonderful fruits of the Holy Spirit. Help us to grow in your image. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

December 14  Bearing the fruit of faithfulness

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Lord, we praise your name. Thank you for being with us today at work, at school, and at play. We thank you for the grace of your providence in giving us our daily bread. We lack nothing in you. Lord, we give glory and praise to you, and only you, for your name is holy.

Lord, thank you for the grace of granting our children the fruits of the Holy Spirit, which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and goodness. We ask you today to add unto these the fruit of faithfulness. Lord, bless our children to be faithful to God, even up to the moment of their death. You have promised us the crown of life for those who will be faithful to the end. Help our children to strive to fulfill that promise. Lord, guide our children to be faithful to you with their heart, minds, and bodies. We know that you want our children to grow and mature spiritually more than to have just worldly success. We also desire for them to grow in the Spirit. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

December 15  Bearing the fruit of gentleness

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Lord, we give you thanks for the strength to pray and to seek you diligently. We pray that your name may be uplifted, glorified, and revered in our family. But Lord, there have been times when we have lived no differently from the people of this world. There have been times when we have remained quiet about our Christian faith. We didn't have the courage in those times to live earnestly for the Lord. Lord, we pray for our children to be bold in their Christian faith instead of shrinking back. We pray for them to be powerful witnesses of God's work.

We pray for our children to have gentleness. Lord, we know that gentleness is not the same as being passive. We pray for them to be gentle and bold when they witness to others. Lord, guide them to have gentleness, humility, and meekness, just as Jesus had, so they may be known as peacemakers wherever they go. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

December 16  Bearing the fruit of self-control

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Lord, we praise you because you love spending time with our children. May our thanksgiving and praise be acceptable to you. Thank you for keeping us under the protection of your wings and watching over us today with joy. But Lord, sometimes this world is not always a joyful place for them. Sometimes it can be a place of suffering, discomfort, and decay. Despite this, Lord, guide them to live in this world and continue to grow in the image of your godliness.

Lord, we pray that our children learn self-control from an early age so they may have long- suffering patience during difficulties and not develop explosive tempers. Please grant them the self-control to keep their emotions in check. Lord, give them self-control so that even though they are blessed with riches, they may live sensibly. Give them the self-control to practice restraint when they serve you so they don't do what you haven't called them to do. Lord, help our children to bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit as they serve the body of Christ, giving you all the glory.