Parents' Prayers For August

August 21  Keep us from careless oaths

But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. (Matthew 5:34-35)

God of Truth, bless our family that they may abide in your truth, and may the spirit of truth abide in us. Help our children to be armored with God's truth, even from their young age, so that even if the power of darkness attacks them, they may prevail with the belt of truth. Lord, grant them to be able to discern spiritual things so they may know what is from God and what is from Satan.

Lord, you hate lies, so keep our children from swearing or making oaths. We as humans are unable to guarantee anything, so guard us from making oaths . We do not even know what will happen in just one day, so help us to be humble and never swear to anything. Lord, keep our children from diminishing God's glory by making careless oaths. Let their yes's be yes and their no's be no. Help them to live with integrity. Anoint them so the power of darkness may not come near them.

We pray in the name of Jesus who saved us from Satan's power. Amen.

August 22  Help them to go the extra mile

If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you (Matthew 5:41-42)

Lord, you dwell among us with faithfulness and mercy. Thank you that we can dwell in the house of the Lord eternally. We praise you, for you have kept all of your promises and you do not lie. Lord, bless our children to praise and glorify you. Help them to understand that they were created to worship God. Guide them to run to the throne of grace where the living water always flows. There they can meet with God.

You have commanded us to go the extra mile for others. Although we speak about doing many good things, forgive us for the times we did not fulfill them through our actions. Lord, help us to go the extra mile for others and to generously help them. Lead us to lend with generosity to our neighbors who come to borrow. Help us to realize that we came to the earth with empty hands, and we are only pilgrims here on earth. Lord, may your commands come to life in the lives of our children. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

August 23  Pray for those who persecute you

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (Matthew 5:44)

Thank you, Lord, for we know that you love your enemies, and you have taught our family to do likewise. Grant our children the heart of Jesus so they may also love their enemies. Lord, first of all, take away all hatred from our hearts. Keep emotional hurts from festering inside us so we may not provide a foothold for Satan.

Give us strength to pray for those who persecute us, and keep us from repaying evil with evil. Help us to repay evil with good. Lord, teach our children to pray for those who persecute them. Help us to remember that Jesus also died for our enemies and our persecutors. Help us to pray for them and remember that the Lord loves them. We are no different from unbelievers if we only love those who in turn love us. So help us to love our enemies. We believe that this is possible with the help of the Holy Spirit.

We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

August 24  Be perfect like our heavenly father

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)

Merciful Lord, help our children to grow and mature more each day. Help them to grow out of their childish ways. The Bible records that Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men. May our children be blessed with this same growth.

Lord, only you can make us perfect. Please help our children to be wholesome in their words and actions. Help them to neither turn to the right nor the left in their walk of faith. Help them to become perfect, just as the Heavenly Father is perfect.