Guilt in Parenting

Key Scripture: Psalm 34:4-5 (NIV)

⁴ I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
       he delivered me from all my fears.
⁵ Those who look to him are radiant;
       their faces are never covered with shame.

General Prayer Focus: Family

Specific Prayer Focus: Parents Suffering from Guilt

Prayer: Father, today I pray for parents who struggle with feelings of guilt and shame when they feel like they have failed or made mistakes.  So often we mess up as parents and do things we later regret or simply don’t have the wisdom we need to make the right decisions.  It’s easy for the enemy to assault us with guilt and shame and condemnation, so I pray for these parents, that You would draw them to Yourself with Your tender mercy and lovingkindness.  I pray that You would cause them to come to You with their fears and insecurities and inadequacies and that You would deliver them from the lies of the enemy that would seek to separate them from You.  I pray that they would look into Your face and see the depths of Your love and grace for them in their time of desperate need and that You would remove all shame from their hearts.  I pray that they would be filled with great joy and that You fill them to overflowing with Your love, that that same love would flow to their children.  I pray that they would not be locked down by shame and guilt, but that they would be motivated by Your Holy Spirit to seek to be godly parents and learn from their mistakes and move on.  I pray that You would give them the strength and comfort and encouragement they need, as well as the wisdom in how to change and move forward in the right direction.  Where they feel lost or overwhelmed or discouraged, I pray that You would shine the light of Your face upon them and deliver them from their fears, in Jesus’ Name.  Amen!

Sacred Parenting

Key Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:5-7

⁵ Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 

General Prayer Focus: Family

Specific Prayer Focus: Sacred Parenting

Tidbit of Information: “…having kids isn’t about us – it’s about him.  We are called to bear and raise children for the glory of God.” (Sacred Parenting, Gary Thomas, pg. 16)

Prayer: Father, today I pray for parents, that as they seek to love You with all their heart, soul and strength, that You would give them the grace and strength to teach their children to do the same.  I pray that You would write Your Word upon the hearts of parents today and show them how they can impress Your Word upon the hearts of their children.  God, would You show us that parenting is not about us, but it’s about You and about raising our kids for Your glory.  I ask that You would give us wisdom in how to parent, as well as creativity and discernment in how to teach and instruct our children in Your ways.  Father, I pray that You would help parents to be a godly example their children, that our lives and actions would match what we are saying with our words.  Would You empower us to realize the sacred and holy calling that parenthood truly is and give us the grace to be made holy and more like You, Father, in our journey of parenting.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sources/Links: Sacred Parenting by Gary Thomas
Impress Your Kids