Rodney Drury: Prayer Helps for Fathers

5 Prayer Ideas

Something to do

1.       In the old days, you could put a note in your child’s lunch, a little encouragement for them to read during the day. This idea is like that only with snapchat, Instagram or text. The idea is to intentionally build a relationship with your child that centers on God. Don’t try to make it profound, being loving will be enough. Keep it short. Smile.
2.       Ask your kids to send you a prayer need they have every day. Pray for that need and send them back a “got it” and “prayed for you” response.
3.       Craft a prayer or use one of the examples below and give a copy to your child or children. Pray from that prayer daily for them and ask them to see if anything on the prayer is happening. Go to coffee or smoothies and talk about your prayer life and what is happening in their life.
4.       Not every child will be touched by affirmation with words, it’s simply not their love language. If you do know what their language is, make sure they know, as often as possible, when God prompted you to act in ways they receive love. When you reveal those promptings you will be showing your children how God cares for them and how God uses you to help Him love them.
5.       If you have a prodigal child that is living outside the will of God, make sure you pray for them with the same love, faith and hope that you pray for others. Don’t allow disappointment or even sins against you hinder your ability to love them. Try to posture your heart like father God, who has endured all kinds of evil and rejects, yet ever intercedes for us with a loving heart for the lost. Often the starting place for this kind of prayer is one line prayers like “Father forgive us our sins” or “Jesus, we need your everlasting love.”

5 Simple Crafted Prayers

Help getting started

Because of all that Jesus is and all that He has done, I ask you Father, to protect and shield my child. May they know your great faithfulness all the days of their life. May they see in you a beauty that is not found in the world. May the eyes of their heart be open to things eternal. Fill my child with your Holy Spirit and create in them a clean heart.

Jesus I ask that your presence would drive all fear out of the heart and mind of my child. I ask that when the enemy tries to control them with fear, your presence and peace would protect them. You are our Lord and Shephard, we have nothing to fear, and we will not let fear rule over us. We are unable to care for ourselves and need your everlasting, gracious care. Thank you Father that your love for us reveals your loving care.

Into your hands I place my child. As a father, I ask that you father them when I cannot see them, that you be with them when I cannot be with them. I ask you Father to touch their heart with your love and your wisdom. Grant freely to them all they need for life and Godliness. I ask on their behalf that today you will be their shield and strength, their provider and friend.

Light of the world come and fill my child. Reveal all they need to know today. Illuminate the pathway you would have them walk today. Radiate on them your warmth and joy so their spirits are full and with you they are satisfied. Push back all the shadows of deception. Provide all that is needed for growth. You are the vine and they your branches, may your life flow to them this day and forever.

Father bless my children, the children they are now and the people they will one day be. Bless the work and words they will speak today and the work and words they will one day speak. Prepare this day for them to follow and serve you and prepare all their days, for them to be your servant. Hold them in your heart, your hand and keep your loving gaze upon them.

There are times when we do not know how to pray or when we are so broken we cannot pray. In moments like these we are helped by the indwelling Holy Spirit, who prays through us even with groaning’s. During such times, I have often prayed by allowing myself to feel the burden and weight of the situation. Often in such moments all I can say is “I love you Lord” or express some simple form of worship or adoration.

20 One liners

Thoughts

1.   God’s watching, that’s not a threat, it’s a promise.
2.       God cares for you even when you don’t care for yourself.
3.       Hope is what we have when we don’t have what we want.
4.       Screaming doesn’t help much, but you’re free to do it.
5.       Call me when you can’t stop yourself. I’m here to help.
6.       Never be ashamed to keep asking. God is listening.
7.       God is not disappointed with you, He knew your limits long ago.
8.       Un-forgiveness weighs you down, forgiving is a great weight loss plan.
9.       Pretending doesn’t help God or help me. Honesty hurts, but helps.
10.   You have one perfect Father and one human father.
11.   Anger doesn’t help change the mind, it only hardens the heart.
12.   “Listen to me” is dad talk for “I love you.”
13.   I’ll share my money if you’ll share your heart.
14.   We pray because we can’t do it on our own.
15.   If you don’t learn how to be disappointed now, it will be harder to learn later.
16.   Patience and waiting are tools God uses to build trust and faith.
17.   Being responsible and being right are not always the same thing.
18.   Love requires us to say both yes and no.
19.   Actions should not be determined by reactions
20.   I’m sorry. Please forgive me.

10 Passages of Scripture for Fathers

Reflection

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

"It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear. (Isa 65:24)

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. (Php 4:4-8)

Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah. (Psa 62:8)

This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them. O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! (Psa 34:6-8)

and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (Heb 10:21-25)

"In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. "Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full. (Joh 16:23-24)

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. (Rom 8:14-17)

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. (Jud 1:20-23)

A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psa 23:1-6)

Resources