If 2020 has taught us anything, it should be pretty obvious that we don’t have as much control over our lives as we once thought we did. So many things we used to rely on are vulnerable (our health), confusing (our media and government), or unpredictable (well, most everything). It’s a sweet relief to remember that God has not been surprised by any of this chaos. Still, trusting Him is hard work for us fallen human beings, and we want to be able to do something in the midst of our circumstances.
With that in mind, we’d like to invite the Rooted community to pray together this week. Each of the next five days we will post a list of prayers, drawing from the deep well of God’s Word to nourish our souls as we cry out to Him together with one voice.
And because it’s our 10th anniversary here at Rooted, we’ve got the number 10 on the brain! We’ll pray 10 prayers each day for Parents; Students; Youth Pastors; Teachers, Schools and Leaders; and Churches and Ministries. We hope you will join us in lifting each other up to our good God.
Today we pray for parents.
- Patience — Lord, teach parents during this time to be joyful in hope and patient in tribulation. Help them to continue steadfastly in prayer, even when it seems life is getting more complicated, not less. As you are patient with us, Father, help parents to be patient with their families. Let mothers and fathers be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. (Romans 12:12, James 1:19).
- Endurance — Father, we pray that right now parents be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work you have given them, knowing that their labor is not in vain. We pray that parents would be strengthened to run this race with endurance, looking to Jesus who, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross for us. Remind parents that Jesus Himself is the joy set before all believers. We grow weary, but you do not; show us what it looks like to wait on you. (1 Cor 15:58, Hebrews 12:1-3, Isaiah 40:28-31).
- Wisdom and Discernment — Your word promises that if we need wisdom, we just ask for it and you will give it. Right now parents need wisdom in every part of life — from dealing with small conflicts at home to making major decisions for their family’s well-being. We know that wisdom starts with fearing you; we know that wisdom is precious above anything else; and we know that wisdom comes from you alone. Please give parents the spirit of wisdom to guide them in these days. (James 1:5, Proverbs 1:7, 3:13, Ephesians 1:16).
- Trust and Faith — Father, as much as anything, right now parents need to trust you with all their hearts — not leaning on their own understanding, but rather acknowledging you in all their ways. In their fear, in their weakness, in their frustration, help parents to cry out to you, “Lord, I believe! Help my unbelief!” You are infinitely worthy of our complete and total trust. (Proverbs 3:5-6, Mark 9:24).
- Peace — Along with trusting you, Father, comes peace. Help parents to keep their minds and hearts fixed on you, because it is your will that they have your perfect peace. This world sure won’t give us peace, but you have given us the peace of Jesus, so our hearts don’t need to be troubled or afraid. (Isaiah 26:3, John 14:27).
- Marriage/ Single Parents — Lord, this is a challenging time for marriages. We pray that husbands and wives will be completely humble and gentle with each other, patient with one another and bearing with each other in love. We pray that above all they would keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins and binds husbands and wives together in perfect unity (Ephesians 4:2-3, 1 Peter 4: 8, Colossians 3:14). This time is no less a challenge for single parents. We pray that single parents be strong and courageous, firmly convinced that you will never leave them nor forsake them. Help them rest, knowing that their family has your special protection and care, and that you have given them absolutely everything they need for life and godliness. (Joshua 1: 5-6, Psalm 68:5, Peter 1:3).
- Self-care — Jesus, you made us with spirits and souls and bodies. During this busy time of caring for our families, we pray that you would help parents to find time to receive refreshment from you. You have such compassion for weary, hungry people. Lead parents beside still waters; restore their souls. (1 Kings 19:7, Mark 15:32, Psalm 23:3).
- Creativity — Jesus, you spoke the world into being, and you created us in your image, so we too are creative beings. But right now parents feel more desperate than creative when it comes to spending time with their families, or solving the problems this pandemic has caused us. Help parents to hear the voice of the spirit saying, “This is the way, walk in it.” (John 1; Genesis 1:27, Isaiah 30:21).
- Rest — Father, we pray that all parents who are weary and heavy laden with all the burdens of this present time would come to you and find rest for their souls. We pray that parents would leave aside all worrying and striving and anxiety. Teach us to be still and wait on you. We pray, Lord, that we would all enter into the rest you have for us in Christ Jesus. Parents do not have to justify themselves by responding well to this pandemic– whatever that even means– but can take comfort in the finished work of Jesus on our behalf. (Matthew 11:28-30, Psalm 46:10, Hebrews 4: 9)
- Grace — Father, in this precarious and unpredictable season, parents need to know what your grace is sufficient for them. Jesus made a way for parents to approach your throne of grace with confidence, to receive the grace and mercy we all so desperately need. As you have lavished your grace upon us, Lord, we pray that parents would show that grace to everyone around them — and especially to themselves. (2 Cor. 12:9, Hebrews 4:16, Ephesians 1:8).
Homeschooling/Online Parents — Father, for those parents who have chosen to homeschool, or have not been given the choice by their school districts, we pray that they will rest in their circumstances and trust you completely with the outcome. We pray for divine assistance in every area: that parents would have necessary materials and good wifi; that parents would have the time and the energy to help their children as they need; that parents would have the discernment to know when to help a child with their work and when to leave them alone; that parents would have clear communication when explaining concepts or helping a child with their work; that parents would have time and energy to devote to their own work, and be able to honor their commitments to their employers while also helping their children; that husbands and wives would shoulder this work as a partnership, each honoring and appreciating the other; that you would offer special provision for single parents shouldering their children’s home education alone.
Conclusion
Though we can get tired in the waiting, Father, we know that your Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before you. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for you is worked into something good. May we live our lives absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and your love because of the way that Jesus has embraced us. We love you Father. Amen. (Romans 8:26-28, 38 MSG)
To conclude prayer week, we are hosting a prayer call via Zoom, and we would like to invite you to join us. On Friday at 11:00 CST, Rooted steering committee, staff, board members and friends will meet to pray boldly for all of our communities. To register for the zoom prayer call, please click here. We hope to “see” you there.
