-The Blessings of the Sermon on the Mount, Part I-·

Prayers for June and July were blessings

from the Proverbs.

 In August, we will pray for the blessings

from the sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes.

Let us pray for our children to have faith that is

fitting for the people of God an

d to bless the work to which

they have been called.

August 1  Blessed are the poor in spirit

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.(Matthew 5:3)

Lord, we praise your name. You are the God of the poor in spirit. Thank you for filling our empty hands and hearts with your abundance today. Although naked we came out of the womb and naked we die, thank you for filling us with your blessings moment by moment. Lord, only you satisfy all of our needs.

Lord, you came as a king to those who are poor in spirit so you can fill them with your abundance. Let us become poor in spirit so you may fill us also. Help our children to realize that they too are poor in spirit so they may know that only God can satisfy their spirits. Help our children to wait upon the Lord with humility and poverty of spirit so they may find God's abundance in their lives.

We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

August 2  May theirs be the kingdom of heaven

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.(Matthew 5:3)

Lord, you are glad to be the God of those who are poor in spirit. We come to you tonight with poor spirits and poor hands. Lord, keep our prayers from being vain. Fill us with your abundance so we may share with our neighbors. Lord, you are the God of heaven, a place that is abounding in praise and glory. May the kingdom of heaven be ours when we are poor in spirit. Help our children to possess the eternal work of the kingdom of heaven. May the abundance of heaven bless our children and their children for generations to come. Help them to seek the eternal things.

Lord, may the kingdom of heaven be ours because it lacks nothing, and it will never perish. The kingdom of heaven cannot be bought with money; it cannot be given by the world; and it cannot be gained through fame. May our children know the secret to gain the kingdom of God. Although the kingdom of heaven is worthless to people, help us to value it like our lives.  We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

August 3  Blessed are those who mourn

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. (Matthew 5:4)

God of blessings, thank you for sustaining our health despite the heat of the summer. We long for your blessings today, blessings that are eternal. You have said, ''Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.'' Lord, grant our children the blessings of those who mourn because of their sins. Help our children to cleanse their hearts, and help them to see the Lord.

Lord, you give us blessings that the world does not understand. The world deems those who mourn to be pathetic. But you said, "blessed are those who mourn." Help us to mourn for our sins. Help us to realize that we cannot see our sins clearly unless we stand before the Lord. Help us to mourn and pray over the world's sins just as Jesus did. May your presence abide in our small prayer, and may your presence help us to realize our sins.

We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

August 4  May we be comforted

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. (Matthew 5:4)

O living God who comforts us and gives us hope, help us to receive the blessings that come from mourning. Let us not mourn over worldly problems, but let us mourn over sin. Help us to be like Jeremiah, who mourned and cried because of the sins of his people. Lord, renew and open our hardened hearts. May your presence be with us as we pray at this time.