Praise Jehovah Shalom

🤍 Lord of Peace, equip me for battle and be with me. May my soul find rest in you, my rock and my salvation, because you are my fortress. I will never be shaken. Even when life is hard and there are heartbreaking battles to fight, I will choose to find rest and hope in you. I will pour my heart out to you and pursue your Truth with passion. This life is like a fleeting breath but you endure forever. May I never fill my heart with earthly treasure or put my hope in human strength. Power belongs to you, God, and you never fail. Only you bring victory in the battle. Only you give me the power to survive tough times. Only  you are my peace. (Psalm 62)

Protection from Evil

Summer is such a fun season and I pray that you bless my kids and grandkids with special moments that revive their souls and deepen family connections. At the same time, Jesus, protect them from worldly influences and from developing wrong priorities that focus only on entertainment and pleasure. When my kids and grandkids travel, remove anything in their way that is intended to cause harm. Send your angels ahead of them to guard their way and take them safely to their destination. And when they’re away from home, guard their hearts with all vigilance and keep them from temptation so they will experience abundant life and spread everywhere the sweet aroma of the knowledge of you. Lord, just as you rescued the Israelites from their enemies, rescue my kids and grandkids from anyone with malicious intent, and surround them only with people who are helpful and kind. (Exodus 23:20, Proverbs 4:23, 2 Corinthians 2:14, 2 Kings 13:5)

Desire to Know God

As we celebrate freedom this month, Lord, may my kids and grandkids develop a deep desire for the freedom only you can give – freedom from the consequences of sin and the fear of death. May they declare with their mouths that you are Lord and believe in their hearts that you raised Jesus from the dead so they will be saved from the bondage of this world. As they walk in that freedom, draw them into your presence often and teach them to pray – to seek your Word for direction when they face difficult decisions. When my kids and grandkids don’t appear to make church a priority, renew their desire for Christian community and give me the wisdom I need to be good examples of obedience to your Word. May my life inspire my kids and grandkids to love you more, to seek you more, and to understand that being a Christian isn’t about being “good” but about loving you and desiring to follow your Word. (Romans 8:21, Romans 10:9-10)

Experience God’s Power

God, I ask for your power to be unleashed the lives of my kids and grandkids, just as you unleashed it in lives of the Israelites. They were held captive in Egypt for decades, enduring “bitter and hard labor” that left them “broken in spirit.” They were stuck in a cruel situation with little hope of ever being free. Still, you were there. You saw their pain and continued to love them. You had a plan…even when they couldn’t see it. After hundreds of years, you led them out of slavery; displaying your power at every obstacle. When they didn’t know where to go, you sent a pillar of fire to guide them. When the Red Sea blocked them from safety, you made a way. Over and over, your power made a way out of captivity. Where my kids and grandkids are held captive by strongholds, set them free. Where they are lost, guide them. Where they are in danger, protect them. (Exodus 1:14, 6:9, Exodus 13:21, Exodus 14:21)

Healthy Relationships

Father, my parenting role has changed so much since my children were young, and it continues to change as years go by. Spirit, give me wisdom to “parent” well and the strength to release my kids and grandkids into your hands every day. Forgive me for words and actions that have caused them to stumble or caused my relationship with them to be out of line with your plan. Just as you loved and guided Joseph, love and guide my kids. Just as Joseph was a servant, move the hands and feet of my kids and grandkids to serve others. Just as Joseph rejected inappropriate relationships, guide my kids and grandkids to the right people so they will experience healthy relationships that honor you. As Joseph was wise in dealing with others, plant wisdom in the minds of my kids and grandkids so they will receive favor. (Genesis 39:21-23, Genesis 39:11-12)

Emotional and Physical Health

Jesus, when my kids and grandkids feel discouraged or have anxious thoughts, give them the assurance that all who are weary and burdened can find rest in you. Send your Spirit to invade their hearts and minds, flooding them with the overwhelming desire to come to you for help. Teach them to have grit for hard times and to recognize you as their only source of renewed strength – their only provision of the freedom to soar. When their bodies are sick or hurt, intervene as their great Healer; restore their health and heal their wounds. Open the eyes of my kids and grandkids to any habits causing harm to their bodies or minds. Convict them to make difficult changes and surround them with people who will support those changes. Lord, when I need to speak up, give me the right words to say. When I need to stay silent, put a guard over my mouth. I surrender their wellbeing to you. (Matthew 11:28, Isaiah 40:30-31, Jeremiah 30:17)

Wisdom for Parenting

Father, thank you for the grandkids I already have and for any I may have in the future. They are treasured and I pray that their parents raise them with wisdom and love. Help my kids understand that loving you with all of their heart, all of their soul, and all of their mind is the greatest thing they can do for their kids. When my grandkids are disobedient or unkind, may they receive discipline that honors you and leads to good character. Fill their parents with the Holy Spirit so they will demonstrate the wisdom of patience and gentleness, and resist the urge to respond with unrighteous anger. More than anything, I ask that my kids will live in a way that sets an example of everything good; full of integrity, discernment, and wise words so that my grandkids will learn to value behavior that reflects Jesus. (Matthew 22:37-38, Proverbs 15:1, Titus 2:7-8)

Live with Hope and Purpose

Lord God, just as you revealed a beautiful purpose for Joseph, reveal your beautiful purpose for each of my kids and grandkids. Joseph was betrayed, beaten, and imprisoned, but each obstacle caused him to grow strong in character and faith. Though the enemy had plans to harm him, you turned it all to good. I pray the same for my kids and grandkids. Move their hearts to seek your direction when they feel stuck in darkness. Shine light on their paths and give them a clear sense of purpose. When they feel lost, grow good character and faith. And crush any attempt by the enemy to rob them of the confidence that you began a good work in them before they were even born.  Thank you for creating each one purposefully, for loving them, and for promising to complete your good work. (Genesis 50:20, Psalm 139:11-12, Philippians 1:6).

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within me, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 20-21)

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