National Day of Prayer 2008

I'd like to share the prayer that my wife prayed yesterday at our cities National Day of Prayer event. She was one of ten people who were asked to pray on the steps of the city hall. Here is her prayer for families...

Father God, creator of all things. From the beginning of time you created us as men and women to unite & create families. You created marriage & you alone can sustain it.

Reclaim & breathe fresh life into those families that have given up. You are the God of redemption & reconciliation.

Lord Jesus, seek & save that which is lost. Your enemy is prowling around seeking to destroy your children, our marriages & our families. Lord, hear & act on behalf of your people.

Cause us to honor you by being in the world, but not of the world. Let us be different. And so hold unswervingly to the faith we have. May we rest in your promises Holy Father, for you alone are sovereign, faithful & true. Lord Jesus, the author & perfecter of our faith, our hope is in you. Holy Spirit renew our minds through the power of God's word, for your word is truth. Help us to recognize the enemy's schemes so we will not fall prey to them, but fight this spiritual battle with the spiritual weapons of prayer & the reading of your word. Transform us into righteous men & women whose prayers are powerful & effective.

Bind up the broken families. Surround them with people to encourage them & help them. Pour your grace upon single parents to rely on the power of God to show them how to bring up their children in the training & instruction of the Lord. Jesus cause them to take your yoke upon them, as your burden is light. May they find rest & refuge in you alone. Please supply their every need. Through every hardship may your Spirit bring tangible consolation to them so that they will know they are not alone, for you will never leave us or forsake us.

Turn the hearts of our Husbands back to God. May they love the Lord our God with all their heart, soul, mind & strength. And love their wives as they love themselves, giving themselves up for her as Christ loved the church. Make them wise & benevolent leaders of their families.

As Fathers tell your children of the Lord's faithfulness. Lord, make them examples of Christ's love & mercy. Cause each man to be lavish in his demonstration of love toward his family.

Fill each Wife with the desire to honor & respect her Husband in love & selflessness. Open our eyes to the pressures that daily fall on them.Give us grateful hearts as women who live wisely & make the most of every opportunity to edify one another.

As Mothers let us love & instruct our children, relying on God for His perfect provision for their every need.

May our children be obedient & so honor their parents. Help us to be effective parents, influencing our children to honor & obey the Lord their God. Fill them with a knowledge of your word & will.

For the families who build their foundation on Christ, make Christ visible through us in how we love one another, care for one another, bear each others burdens & share with anyone in need.

For the families who do not yet know Christ, may the light of the Gospel shine into their hearts. Draw them into the faith community & give them a hunger for your word.

For Children without families please provide families to come forward to adopt them & show the love of Christ. Since we have been adopted in love into the family of God may we also be the example as dearly loved children of God to live a life worthy of the calling we have received.

For it is only by the Grace of God that our Nation & families stand. Our Nation will only be as strong as the families that inhabit it. Help us, Father, to stand firm.

May we all have the love of the Father,

The obedience of the Son,

And the fellowship of the Holy Spirit in the midst of every family & every relationship.

I ask all this in the powerful name above all names,

Jesus Christ,
AMEN