A Prayer for All Graduates
By Debbie McDaniel
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
The season of Graduation and new beginnings can bring a mixed bag of emotions to many of us. Though it’s a time of celebration and fresh starts, the letting go process can bring some pain too. Yet parenting is often just about that – the letting go. And whether it’s letting go as they head to Kindergarten, or letting go as they head to college, or straight off into their first job, it can be difficult.
But there’s hope to remember.
Our children – are His. No matter where they go, or how old they are, they are in His care. They are in His hands. And He has great purpose for them in this life – and that’s the very best place we can let them go. We’re entrusting them, again, straight into the safe care of a powerful and loving God. And that’s the safest place they can be.
His hands are big. To carry. To hold. To protect. To cover. To lead. And He loves each one of them more than we could ever imagine.
So here’s to great year ahead of God’s favor and blessing.
Prayer for Graduates:
Dear God,
We pray for our graduates today and lift them before you. We thank you so much for these we love and for the work you are continuing to do in their lives. They are a gift to us and to many others. And during this season of new beginnings, we ask that you would make their way clear. We ask that you would keep their footsteps firm and remind them that you are with them, always. May they sense the freshness of your Spirit over their lives in amazing ways, may they be strengthened, instilled with hope, for the new roads you have in store.
And today, again, we release our children straight into your tender care. Because we know that’s the best place they could ever be. We thank you in advance for all you have in store, for this day, for this year, for their lives.
We pray for protection, for your covering, that you would surround their lives as with a shield. Protect their coming and going. We ask that you would help them to live aware in a dark world and keep harm or evil intent far away. We ask that you would hide them in the safety of your powerful presence.
We ask for your wisdom and clear direction over their lives, that you would give them understanding beyond their years. Thank you that your timing is perfect. We pray that you would direct their steps, that your plans for them would prosper; that every place you have determined for them to walk would be paved clear. We ask for you to open doors that need to be opened and close every one that should be shut tight. Allow every gift and treasure you have placed inside their lives to grow, develop, and flourish, to bring you glory.
We ask that you would remind them every day how very much you love them, that they would find security and confidence fully in you, knowing that you are trustworthy and true.
We ask that you would teach them your ways and fill them with an unquenchable desire to learn your word. Give them a compassionate spirit, and the wisdom to look beyond outward appearances to the heart within. We pray that you would surround them with friends and leaders who would challenge them to press closer to you.
We ask for your peace to cover them. We ask for laughter and joy to fill their days. We pray that you would give them boldness and courage to face challenges set before them, with the confidence and peace that can only come from your spirit.
We ask that you would raise up greatness in their lives, greatness in this generation, willing to stand strong and true, passionate for you, believing that you have designed them for purpose and good works, which you have planned and prepared in advance for them to do.
Be a lamp for their feet, and a light to their path. Shine over them. Fill them with your spirit. Bless them with your favor and peace.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
“The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you, the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26
Find more by Debbie at www.debbiemcdaniel.com, Facebook, or Twitter.
www.crosswalk.com
New to this blog? See How to use this blog….
Please note: If you use material from this blog, please be careful to credit the original author and source. They are clearly identified in each blog post. (There is no need to credit the re:Worship blog itself.)
Submissions: I am so grateful to those of you who send me your own material to post! We all benefit from your creativity and generosity. If you haven’t previously submitted something but would like to, you can find my email address by clicking on my name in the “About Me” section below.
Looking for something? Here are some indexes that might be helpful:
Calls to Worship: Old Testament
Calls to Worship: New Testament
Calls to Worship by Title/Topic
Prayer Index: Psalms
Prayer Index: Old Testament
Prayer Index: Matthew & Mark
Prayer Index: Luke & John
Prayer Index: Acts through Revelation
Prayers of the People by Title
Opening Prayers by Title/Topic
Affirmations of Faith: Topical
Confession: New Testament
Confession: Old Testament
Benedictions: Scriptural Index
INDEXES: For a complete list of all the indexes on this blog, click here.
Upcoming Sundays: For lectionary-based worship resources for specific Sundays and other special occasions, see the following:
February 17: See Epiphany 6 C
February 24: See Epiphany 7 C
March 3: See the Transfiguration Worship Resource Index, or click on the “Transfiguration” label below.
March 6: See the Ash Wednesday Worship Resource Index.
For other worship resources, scroll down to the list of “Labels” below, or see the “Search” box above.
re-worship.blogspot.com
LIGHT
Lord Jesus, you have said that your followers must be the
light to the world*.
Light propagates itself, dispels darkness.
It sows rays of joy and hope. It is lifegiving.
Help me, Lord, to be a light to this world,
so that my
life
radiate your message of love, hope, and
joy.
May I be the beacon leading to You those who seek truth.
SALT
You also said, Lord Jesus,
that your disciples must be the
salt
to this earth.
Salt gives taste to food.
It retards spoilage.
It is also a healing agent.
Lord, may I be the
salt
that takes away the blandness in the routine of living,
that prevents the rottenness of
hatred
and greed from
expanding around me,
that brings compassionate healing to anguished souls I
encounter.
Lord, help me to be “worth my salt.”
And infuse your “saltiness” in me, so that I do not
become “flat” and useless.
LEAVEN
“Be the leaven to the world,” said You to your friends.
Bread, a staple of life, and cakes, always present at
celebrations,
would be dull and lifeless without the tiny bit of yeast.
Without it, the dough remains inert, hard.
Elsewhere, You also told us to multiply our talents.
You thus expect that we use the talents you gave us as the
leaven to this world.
Teach me,
Lord
Jesus, that alone I am insignificant,
but mixed with the talents of my brothers and sisters,
I can lift this world out of its insipid mediocrity.
May I be a bit of leaven in the Bread of Life,
and a sign of Your celebration in this
life
and
life
eternal.
COMMITMENT
Lord, on this “commencement” day,
let there be a beginning of my life.
In the days of darkness, be my Light,
so that in turn I can radiate your
truth
and your message
of love, hope, and joy.
In the days of blandness and of blahs,
Lord, be my Salt, so that in turn I can fend off the
corruption,
the staleness, the mediocrity around me.
In the days when I am flat on my back or fall flat on my
face,
Lord, be my Leaven, so that not only can I rise again,
but also raise the downhearted to the celebration of your
Love.
And Lord, thank You, for the school years, for the talents
I received.
Amen.
www.catholic.org
