One way I plan to honor my father this year on Father’s Day is in prayer, not only for him who has already received his eternal reward, but also for the other fathers in my life—my father-in-law, my son, my son-in-law and numerous friends and other loved ones.
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A terrific Father’s Day gift—and one that is routinely neglected—is prayer, whether it is written in a card, prayed over the phone or offered in private. With that in mind, here are seven great prayers for the fathers in your life:
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“Lord, bless _________ and keep him; make Your face to shine upon him and be gracious to him; lift up Your countenance upon him and give him peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26, ESV)
“I pray that in all respects _______ may prosper and be in good health, just as his soul prospers.” (3 John 2, NASB).
“I pray for __________, that his love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that he may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9-11, ESV)
“God, according to the riches of Your glory, grant _________ to be strengthened with power through Your Spirit in his inner being, so that Christ may dwell in his heart through faith–that he, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that he may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:14-19, ESV)
“God, give ___________ Your strength to steer him,
Your power to uphold him,
Your wisdom to guide him,
Your eye for his vision,
Your ear for his hearing,
Your word for his speech,
Your hand to protect him,
Your pathway before him,
Your shield for his shelter,
Your angels to guard him
from ambush of devils,
from vice’s allurements,
from traps of the flesh,
from all who wish ill,
whether distant or close,
alone or in hosts.” (The Breastplate of St. Patrick)
“Christ be beside him,
Christ before him,
Christ behind him,
Christ within him,
Christ beneath him,
Christ above him.
Christ on his right hand,
Christ on his left,
Christ where he lies,
Christ where he sits,
Christ where he rises.
Christ in the hearts of all who think of him,
Christ in the mouths of all who speak to him,
Christ in every eye that sees him,
Christ in every ear that hears him.” (The Breastplate of St. Patrick)
“Father, thank you for _____________.
Please continue and complete your work in him,
granting that he may walk with you like Enoch,
believe you like Abraham,
obey you like Isaac,
wrestle with you like Jacob,
know your hand on his life like Joseph,
speak face-to-face with you like Moses,
win victories for you like Gideon,
speak boldly for you like Elijah,
worship you like David,
see you high and lifted up like Isaiah,
and carry Jesus’ cross like Simon of Cyrene.” (written by Bob Hostetler)
You may want to revise, amplify or add to those prayers. You may want to write one in a note or read it over the phone. You may want to offer each of these prayers, one for a different father you know.
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Whatever else you may do, find a way to offer the fathers you love the best gift of all this Father’s Day: a prayer.
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If you are Dad or Granddad, you are deserving of blessing and honor for who you are and for all you do. No matter what your age, single or married, here is a prayer of blessing for you for every good work, every good word, and for every act of love you have ever offered on behalf of the ones you love:
Dear Lord,
Bless every father and every grandfather with the best of your spiritual blessings today. Let him know he is not alone in the tasks you have given him to provide for and support those under his care. Show him how much you delight in his work, and affirm the value of whatever You have given him to do—both as a father or grandfather and as a child of Yours. Confirm his worth daily so he has no reason to doubt whether he is loved in the eyes of his Heavenly Father.
Create in him a deep sense of trust in You, knowing that He can count on You to help him lead and protect those dependent on him. Let him know that every unselfish act of love and encouragement he has offered has been a gift that You receive gladly. Show him how effective the prayers of a godly man really are, and what a difference he has and can make to those around him, no matter how big or small the assignment.
When challenging times push him beyond his limits, assure him that You can take Him further into the realm of possible impossibility. Speak deep into his spirit the powerful words he longs to hear from You—that nothing can ever separate him from Your love. Help him to grasp firmly the promises of Your Word, standing with faith on the things You declare are true. Reward him for his faithfulness past, present, and future, assuring him that true success and satisfaction don’t lie in his accomplishments or accolades, but in the steadfast, Christ-like character You are forming in him.
Demonstrate to him Your amazing grace and forgiveness as he seeks to love and to know you with all of his heart, soul, and mind. Release him from unwanted burdens of false guilt, and bless him for his willingness to keep short accounts with You, forgiving both himself and others. Help him to see his children or grandchildren through Your eyes, realizing that in Your hands is the safest place they can ever be. Strengthen his confidence in the Only One who can bring good out of any situation.
Teach him how to meet the needs of his child’s life that are within his ability to do so, but help Him to trust You for the rest. Push out any needless fears, and grant to him godly wisdom and spiritual guidance to lead and direct those precious children in Your path, knowing he must also release them into Your hands with prayerful love.
Complete any healing of past hurts or regrets that may interfere with parenting or grand parenting his children. Build in him a sense of joy, humility, and playfulness that draw his family close. When plans don’t develop as he hopes, or dreams are not yet realized, open his eyes to see beyond this world to a greater joy that never disappoints, and to a Father who will never leave or abandon him or his loved ones.
Give him a passionate faith, a persevering spirit, and a powerful testimony that overcomes any weakness or doubt, as he wears the armor of God daily You have provided for him as a spiritual leader and child of God.
Today, on special days, and for all the days of his life, fill him with the best of Your blessings, so that one day he will stand before you and hear Your ultimate words of praise, “Well done, my son, well done!”
In Jesus’s name,
Amen
Rebecca Barlow Jordan is an inspirational author, speaker, and passionate follower of Jesus who loves to encourage others heart to heart. She has written 11 books and over 1700 other articles, greeting cards, and other inspirational pieces. Her daily devotional Daily in Your Presence is available for delivery through Crosswalk.com. You can find out more about Rebecca at www.rebeccabarlowjordan.com.
Publication date: June 13, 2017
Image courtesy:©Thinkstock/WavebreakmediaLtd
This article is part of our larger Prayers resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Visit our most popular prayers if you are wondering how to pray or what to pray. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and God knows your heart even if you can’t find the words to pray.
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Prayer for StrengthPrayer for ProtectionMorning PrayersGood Night PrayersThe Prayer of JabezShort PrayersThe Lord’s PrayerThe Prayer of St FrancisSerenity PrayerA Birthday PrayerSinner’s PrayerPrayer for ForgivenessPrayer for GuidanceIntercessory PrayerIrish Prayers and BlessingsAdvent PrayersChristmas PrayersThanksgiving PrayerHoly Week Prayers for Each DayEaster PrayersMother’s Day PrayerPrayers for My HusbandPrayers for My SonPrayers for My Daughter
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God our Father, We give you thanks and praise for fathers young and old.
We pray for young fathers, newly embracing their vocation; May they find courage and perseverance to balance work, family and faith in joy and sacrifice.
We pray for our own Fathers around the world whose children are lost or suffering; May they know that the God of compassion walks with them in their sorrow.
We pray for men who are not fathers but still mentor and guide us with fatherly love and advice.
We remember fathers, grandfather, and great grandfathers who are no longer with us but who live forever in our memory and nourish us with their love. Amen
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We want to share this prayer and bible verses for Fathers Day with you!
Even if you didn’t have good memories of your earthly father growing up, remember that you have a Heavenly Father who loves you very much and you can honor Him on Fathers Day as well.
These bible verses will help for you to reflect on your earthly father and your heavenly Father.
Proverbs 20:7 Amplified Bible (AMP) “The righteous man who walks in integrity and lives life in accord with his beliefs—How blessed are his children after him .”
Proverbs 23:24 New International Version (NIV) “The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.”
Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
Romans 8:15 “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
Deuteronomy 5:16 ““Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
Hebrews 12:5-11 (NIV) “And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
Here is a prayer for the Fathers:
Abba Father, we thank you for our earthly fathers. Today we honor them so that we may have long lives in this land that you are giving us. Thank you for providing for them and for continuing to build them up in the faith. Bring peace and comfort to them. Give them joy, courage and strength. Grant grace so they may do the things that are difficult. Thank you for the love, nurturing and discipline that they give to us as we know this was for our own good. We ask that your love will continue to cover the multitude of sins and blot out the imperfections as we know they are human. May we continue to honor them beyond Fathers Day and support them. Give then health so they may have long lives. Show we how to be a better son/daughter to them and how I can encourage them so that they may walk even closer to you, in Jesus Mighty Name, Amen
You can pray the Our Father Prayer to honor your Abba Father
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