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

September prayers will be a continuation

of August's theme, based on the Sermon

on the Mount and the Beatitudes.

 Jesus teaches us

how the people of God's Kingdom

should live. May our children

also learn these valuable lessons as they mature.

September is the time of the new semester

and a time to bear many fruits.

The weather becomes suitable for studying

and for praying.

September 1  Let us live before God and not before people

"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. (Matthew 6:1)

Lord, thank you for watching over us with your love, moment by moment. You are the God of overflowing mercy and kindness. Thank you for making us righteous through the blood of Jesus, although we were sinners. Lord, we do not have any righteousness of our own, but we have received your righteousness.

Lord, guide our children to know this truth so they may live before God and not other people. Keep them from trying to look righteous before other people, but rather, help them to live righteous lives before God. Only you can love us completely, but there are times when we foolishly try to get approval from other people. Lord, guard our children from this kind of vanity.

The people of this world judge us according to our looks, wealth, position, and actions; but you, Lord, look at our hearts and accept us as we are. Help our children to realize this truth deep in their hearts. We pray in the name of Jesus, who covers us with his blood. Amen.

September 2  Keep us from publicly displaying our kind deeds

"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. (Matthew 6:2)

Lord, you are truly worthy of praise. Thank you for this time of prayer for our family. O Lord, highly enthroned, forgive us for the times we publicly displayed our acts of righteousness to somehow look better than others, despite the fact that we are so weak and helpless. There have been times when we have wanted our good works to be acknowledged by other people. Lord, please help us to become humble like Jesus.

God of love, you call us to serve our neighbors, and to help the orphan and the widow. Lord, help our children to help and serve our weaker neighbors. You bless us when we bless others. Lord, help our children to become humble in serving others.

We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

September 3  Help us to invest in God's plan

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:3-4)

God of peace, thank you for being with us. Thank you for watching over us today, and for giving us good health. Thank you for guarding us in the city and out in the country. Help us to be pleasing to you and to live God-centered lives. May our family render all glory to God.

When our children give to the needy, guard them from doing so for attention or from a sense of obligation. May all of their giving be the fruit of their love for others. Help them to spread God's love through giving, regardless of others' response.

May our children's lives of giving to the needy first come from giving to the Lord. Help them to invest in the work of God. Help them to receive the reward of faithful servants.

We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

September 4  Help us meet with you alone

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:6)

Lord, you are pleased to hear and answer our prayers. Thank you for watching over us, even when we sleep. Although we sleep, you do not sleep and slumber because you are always watching over us. Forgive us for the times we have made excuses not to pray.

Lord of grace, please help our children to give first priority to personal prayer time with you. Help our children to realize that, although corporate prayer is important, it is most essential to have private prayer time with God. Help them to experience personal time with God when they can feel free to cry and to praise. Help them to experience the peace and grace that comes only through prayer. Watch over their prayers, the times and the places where they pray so their prayers may never be hindered or distracted by other things. Watch over their prayers, the times and the places where they pray so their prayers may never be hindered or distracted by other things. Help them to keep their prayer times regularly, always giving them the first priority.

We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.