7 Prayers That Work

Dear Lord Jesus, You are the great Teacher. You opened minds, explained truth, challenged cultural norms, welcomed questions, defended the outcasts, championed justice, presented absolute truth with absolute grace and mercy. You loved the unlovable. You confronted the arrogant. You encouraged the weak. You comforted the grieving. You were the ultimate Teacher. This is my wish, my goal, my calling-- to recognize those that need a gracious word, to challenge those whose minds are made up. To call students to a greater work than they have ever imagined. (Click here to read "The Abolition of Man: i.e. The end of real education") Mold me into the kind of teacher you are, as much as possible. Give me your wisdom to recognize need, to see beyond the subject material and personalities. Help me see people like you see them. Make me an instrument of your love and grace this year. (Click here to read "Believe, love, learn: how thinking like a ch...

Dear Lord, I need the fruit of your Holy Spirit , the evidence that you are working in my life and producing works that are honoring you. Give me love like yours that doesn't see status, race, gender, intelligence, economics, politics, personality, age, or sinfulness. Help me just love souls like you love souls. This is not a gift so much as it is a decision. Help me decide to love like you. (Click here to read "Why love hurts.") Fill me with joy at being in relationship with you. This, I think, is also a decision. Help me decide to choose joy and thankfulness for any and every situation, to have the faith that you are present and you will accomplish good in me and through me. Your will and timing are always best. Remind me not to chase after happiness because that is fleeting. Joy lasts. (Click here to read "Handling joy and grief at the holidays.") Help me seek peace over safety, security, and being proven right. Convict me when my decisions and...

Dear Father, Wrap your arms around my children on their first day of school. Turn anxiety into excitement. Turn fear into courage. Turn embarrassment into eagerness. Turn shyness into hospitality. (Read "How to Help Your Children Walk Away" here .) Continue to transform them into the image of Jesus, who loves everyone, accepts everyone, and stands for truth. (Read "A Prayer for your College Student" here .) I pray for the Holy Spirit to speak unimpeded into their hearts and souls, to convict, question, confirm, and encourage. Teach them truth, even midst untruth. Show them inclusion, even midst exclusion. Help them distinguish acceptance from tolerance and innocence from ignorance. (Read "4 Values Moms Need This School Year" here .) Mold them into your image-- a person of grace, truth, and love. (Read "Specific Things to Pray over your Children" here .) Protect their hearts and minds from the enemy of their souls, wh...

Dear Lord Jesus, Thank you for your love  and for demonstrating it through the love of a human family. What a beautiful concept! Thank you for creating each person in this world so carefully. Each is unique in personality and purpose. Thank you for the overwhelming blessing of children, parents, siblings, extended family. Thank you for everything-- for the struggles and the pain that living in community brings. Thank you for the joys and the surprises, the disappointments and the hope. Thank you for all of it because you use all of it to make us better and to prepare us for your purpose. Thank you for the love of my spiritual family, for friends at church, for mentors, teachers, and leaders, for all the people I'll never meet  who preached a sermon or wrote a book, or started a non-profit, or wrote curriculum that formed me and challenged me and changed me. Bless them for their service to me because they loved and obeyed you. I just need your Spirit...