Father,
I come before You today broken, yet humbled. Thank You my Lord for another opportunity to serve You; and although my circumstances may be far from ideal right now, they could not be in more perfect hands than Yours. Jesus, You call for all of us who are weary and heavy laden to come before You and that You will give us rest. God, my body and my soul both need rest right now. There are days I feel like nothing is going right; other days I am irritated and stressed beyond what it seems like I can handle; and there are times I wonder how I am ever going to make it on the path You have laid out before me. But then I reflect upon Your promises for my life. You have promised to never leave me nor forsake me; and that every good gift is from above. I believe Jesus has been tried and tempted in every way I have and that I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. And for that today, Lord, I am grateful.
Father, please help me to have a softened heart towards my children’s (father/mother). Lord please forgive me for when I have acted out towards him/her when I shouldn’t have. God help me to remember that I am just as broken as they are and that Jesus died for him/her the same as He died for me. God I pray you would bless my children’s (father/mother); that you would draw his/her heart towards Yours; and that You would keep him/her safe and healthy. Lord, help me to have an attitude of forgiveness and to show grace even when it is not being reciprocated back to me. Help me to take the high road and to hold fast to that standard to which I have attained.
Lord please bless my children. Help me bring them up in Your Word so that even when they are old they will not depart from it. Please protect them both in the natural and the supernatural. I pray to bind the negative influences of this world over their lives and to release Your promises over them instead. Keep them safe and healthy and allow them to be bold witnesses to their friends for Your sake. Above all, my Lord, please continue to change me from glory to glory so that I may be used in a mighty way for Your purposes. Help me to offer my body as a living and holy sacrifice, walking in a way that is pure in every aspect of my life. For I know my eternity is secured in You and that You will supply my every need. Thank You for everything You have blessed me with.
In Jesus’ Name, amen.
He gives power to the weak,
and to those who have no might He increases strength.
Isaiah 40:29 (NKJV)
Single parents, will you continue to pray this prayer over your family?
By Matt Haviland
Dad of one daughter
1 Corinthians 13 Parenting Team Member
Founder of “A Father’s Walk”
Author of A Father’s Walk: A Christian-Based Resources for Single Fathers
Special update to this post. This prayer is published in the book, The Messy Life of Parenting by Lori Wildenberg.
Order your copy at New Hope or on Amazon!) Author and co-founder of 1 Corinthians 13 Parenting, is passionate about helping families create connections that last a lifetime. Her books and talks reflect her heart and mission. She meets parents where they are with her warmth, transparency, humor, and straight-forward faith-filled approach. Lori is a licensed parent and family educator, national speaker, lead mentor mom for Moms Together (a Facebook Community Page), and a contributor to a number of online magazines: Crosswalk.com, The Mom Initiative, Life Notes Cafe, ChristianParenting.org, Just Between Us, and Her View from Home. Catch Lori’s practical and warm-hearted faith and family blog Eternal Moments every Monday. She is available for speaking, parenting workshops, and parent consulting and coaching. The Wildenbergs home is nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. A perfect day in Lori’s world is a hike with Tom–her hubby, five kids ( four plus one daughter-in-love) , and Murphy– the family labradoodle! Contact Lori at LoriWildenberg.com.
www.1corinthians13parenting.com
Dear God, I know I have failed. You say that you walk before me and only give what I can handle but I feel I have lost my way. I prayed and believed and still was beaten. I prayed and fasted and still was in financial failing. I know you are true and real, but I’m not reaching you nor hearing you and I’m scared.
My child needs to be more responsible, I can’t afford what his choices are, but his future depends on it. I can’t stop the thoughts and stories and problem from running through my mind and cant sleep. I can’t figure out a financial solution. I can’t enforce my child to change. I’m afraid that my health is suffering. I have no support system. I have no actionable plan or process to get a result of relative peace.
I need you to quiet my mind. I need you to dry the tears, bc I can’t keep crying at work and keep my job. I need you to speak to my child to direct their path. I need to know that I’m worth waking up each morning and have more of a purpose than hurt, worry, sadness, and failure.
Please don’t give up on me and my child.
Return to 7 Daily Prayers to Get You Through The Week
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Honoring parents means more than sending cards on special days. And it’s more than an occasional invitation to dinner.
In the biblical context (Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:2), it includes respect and a commitment of grown children to care for their parents, especially when they are infirmed. It is one beautiful outworking of the Gospel. God cares for us, His children, and He models what ongoing, compassionate ministry looks like.
One of the greatest privileges of my adult life has been to pray for my elderly mom. Although we are separated by many miles and the burden of physical caring for her falls mostly on my precious sister, I do what I can and I love to pray for Mom.
Here are some of the things I’ve found useful to pray over the years. Perhaps they will be a template for prayers for your parent.
Father God…
I pray for your continuing PROVIDENCE in my parent’s life.
I am grateful my parent trusted in You long ago, but I know there are many parents and elderly loved ones who still do not know you, Lord, and I ask you to woo them to Yourself and bring about their salvation and transformation (Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Timothy 1:9; 2 Peter 3:9).
I pray You will bring to my loved one’s remembrance all the ways You have been their hope and help—in many cases since childhood (Psalm 62:5; 71:5; 121:2).
I thank you for all the ways You used my parent to shape my young life. What a precious gift! My parent guided me in practical ways and showed me how to trust You. Although my parent was not perfect, I sensed the desire to mold me into a good person, and I’m thankful I was encouraged to become a Christ-follower.
And now the roles are reversed. I have the privilege to help and serve, and remind my loved one of Your tender, shepherding care. Give me patience, wisdom and an understanding heart. Help me continue to show respect and appreciation, and to value who You, in Your Providence, created my loved one to be (Exodus 20:12)
Ultimately, I know Your care for my parent is beyond anything I can offer, for every good gift comes from You (James 1:17).
I pray for PROTECTION.
I pray my parent will keep on leaning on You, the Rock of strength and righteousness (Psalm 71:3a; 73:26; 92:12-15). Spread your protection over my parent, because You are the ultimate Refuge (Psalm 5:11; 46:1).
I ask you to protect my parent from the evil one, and show the way out in moments of temptation (2 Thessalonians 3:3; 1 Corinthians 10:13). May wisdom, discretion and understanding protect and guide every day (Proverbs 4:6; 2:11; 138:7).
I pray my parent will be courageous, confident in Your presence, help and deliverance (Psalm 121:1-8; Deuteronomy 31:6; Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 34:19; Psalm 91).
I pray for PROVISION—that you will meet my loved one’s needs.
Show me how to meet my parent’s needs in ways that will please You, Lord. Equip me to be a good steward in my loved one’s care (1 Timothy 4:5; 5:1-2).
There is much I can do, but You are the Great Provider. Thank you for your willingness to supply my parent’s needs for Your glory and my loved one’s joy (Romans 8:32; Matthew 6:31-32; 7:11; Philippians 4:19; John 14:13-14; 16:23-24). I pray my parent will be made holy through Your grace and receive Your good favor (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; Psalm 84:11)
I pray for POWER, your strength in my parent’s weakness.
As strength declines, I pray for a greater sense of Your presence and power (Psalm 71:9, 18a). You are mighty, Father, and our strength is in You alone (Ephesians 6:10).
In times of need, help my parent lean on your sufficiency and everlasting arms (2 Corinthians 9:8; Deuteronomy 33:27); and when life feels so impossible, remind my loved one that nothing is impossible with You (Matthew 19:26).
I pray for PEACE in my parent’s aging years.
I ask You to give my parent a trusting and thankful heart, especially as days grow more difficult (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Help my aging parent take every disappointment to You. Preserve from any bitterness or spirit of discontent (Psalm 25:21).
I pray the Holy Spirit will teach and comfort, guide and calm (John 16:13; 2 Corinthians 1:4), and that my parent will not become discouraged in aging.
I pray for continuing PURPOSE.
I ask you to help my parent flourish—“like the palm tree… bearing fruit in their old age”—with an eternal perspective (Psalm 92:12-15). Work in my loved one’s life for Your glory (2 Corinthians 4:16). Open appropriate opportunities for ministry and influence.
Help my parent live as a holy and faithful role model, Father, for as long as you allow (Titus 2:2-5). I pray my parent, from a wealth of experience, will share important life lessons You still want me to learn.
Fill my parent’s mouth with Your praise, and a desire to worship and bring You glory from a testimony strong and true (Psalm 71:8).
Thank you for the many ways parents can influence children and grandchildren for good. I pray my loved one will, by word and deed, proclaim Your power and care to this generation (Psalm 71:18b).
Father, I thank you for Jesus, who makes possible our God-honoring transition from this world to everlasting glory. As I pray these things for my parent, I pray them for myself as well. I pray we all will someday hear Your “well done.” Amen!
Dawn Wilson and her husband Bob live in Southern California. They have two married sons and three granddaughters. Dawn assists author and radio host Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth with research and works with various departments at Revive Our Hearts. She is the founder and director of Heart Choices Today, and also publishes LOL with God and Upgrade with Dawn and writes for Crosswalk.com. Dawn also travels with her husband in ministry with the International School Project.
Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com
Publication date: January 23, 2017
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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Tonight I decided to surf the Web in search of something a little inspirational and spiritual for us single parents. I found a number of comforting prayers that I thought I’d pass along to you.
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A Single Parent’s Prayer
Lord, grant me
Time enough
to do all the chores, join in the games, help with the lessons, and say the night prayers, and still have a few moments left over for me.
Energy enough
to be bread-baker and breadwinner, knee-patcher and peacemaker, ballplayer and bill juggler.
Hands enough
to wipe away the tears, to reach out when I’m needed, to hug and to hold, to tickle and touch.
Heart enough
to share and to care, to listen and to understand, and to make a loving home for my family.
Author Unknown
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A Single Parent’s Prayer
Lord,
Help me to be both Mother and Father to my children. Keep me healthy and strong on those days when I am weak. Remind me to love them in the same way that you have shown that special love for me.
Amen.
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Prayer of a Single Parent
Lord Jesus Christ my God, who carried Your own Holy Cross to Golgotha, grant me the strength, patience and wisdom to bear the burdens of parenthood.
Fulfill in me anything I may be lacking and grant that through our prayers and those of Your Holy Mother, our family may grow closer to You and a Life in Christ. Amen
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Prayer for Single Parents
Lord,
We pray that you will give strength, patience and wisdom to single parents trying to be both mother and father to their children, while at the same time facing up to their own needs.
Put into the hearts and minds of loving family, friends and neighbors the need to give support and help, to provide the benefits that are lacking.
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A prayer for a single parent
Lord, the Bible tells me that you are a “God of the fatherless and of the widow.” While I am not a widow, I am a single parent. It comforts me that you take special note of my station in life and the challenges I face. You know the limitations I have and the difficulties I am faced with. Be my guardian and protector. Provide me with my daily bread. Open doors for me so I will be able to find meaningful and gainful employment. Watch over my child when I am not able to be with him/her. Soothe me when I am troubled. Take the burdens of my heart and make them your own. Give me rest from my fears. Help me to take time to read your word a few minutes every day. Help me also to find a good church home where your word is taught in its truth and purity. Support me and let your holy angels watch over us. I take refuge in your cross where you purchased the forgiveness of all of my sins. I trust in your unfailing love. Amen.
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