Tim Baker - God, Grant Me Wisdom: Devotional Prayers for Fathers

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2015 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.

Print ISBN 978-1-63058-733-8

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Therefore, as Gods chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
C OLOSSIANS 3:12

Dear Jesus, I love my kids. I marvel at their creativity, and I love their personalities. Youve blessed me with amazing humans to live with, to find joy with, and to discover the world with. Thank You for making me their father, for gifting me with these souls to shepherd for Your kingdom.

Thank You for making each of my kids what You intended them to be. As they grow, give me compassion for them so that I will care for them the way You would. As they struggle, help me speak words of wisdom. When they succeed, give them the gift of celebration through me. And God, lead me to lift them up to You daily. I love You, and I thank You for loving my kids. Amen.

All your children will be taught by the L ORD , and great will be their peace.
I SAIAH 54:13

God, give me the courage to be a model for my family of a life that pursues You. As I try to be a godly man, give me wisdom about Your Word so that I can lead them to Your living water. Help me teach them truth, so they can live rightly. Reading Your Word is easy, so remind me to open it with them. Praying to You is simple, too, so give me the courage to bow daily with them so we can offer our hearts to You.

Through these acts, create me into someone whose family can look to him not only as a physical father but also as a spiritual father. Thank You for increasing my familys faith as I simply walk in Your footsteps. Amen.

When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.
1 K INGS 3:28

God, You are aware of the struggles I sometimes have with my kids. One hurts the other, and then they fight. And then they come to me crying, complaining about how one hurt the other. It happens often sometimes every hour. Honestly, its tiring.

I love my kids, but the constant back-and-forth is a source of aggravation. Their ongoing feuds make it difficult for me to be a righteous father, and I often blow up and yell at them. But more than that, I struggle with knowing who the offender is. And when that happens, I default to punishing them both.

God, give me wisdom to know how to best manage my childrens arguments. More than that, make me a wise judge who knows how to best lead them and how to best show them what Your righteous judgment is like. Amen.

Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
1 T IMOTHY 5:8

God, Im often quick to tell people that Youve given me everything, and yet Im also quick to spend my money on my own desires.

I know Youve called me to give, so give me the strength to be a giverespecially to my family. Allow me the privilege of supporting my family with Your gifts. Make me a son who supports, a husband who provides, and a father who showers gifts on his children. Help me steward the money You have given me, and help me place it in the hands Youd place it in. Take away my desire to be selfish and give me a passion to surrender. Thank You for the opportunity to take whats in Your hands and place it in the hands of others. Amen.

In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
E PHESIANS 5:28

God, each day I wake up next to the woman You called me to marry. I know her wellmaybe too well. I know how she dresses, and I have her laugh memorized. I know what makes her angry and am all too aware that I push her buttons more often than I should. I know what frustrates her, but I often act carelessly, raising her frustration level.