For this week’s Sunday Prayer, Michelle leads us in this beautiful prayer of thanksgiving for God’s perfect parenting. Where would we be without his example?

A Prayer of Thanksgiving for God’s Perfect Parenting

by Michelle Hieb

Heavenly Father,

You are the perfect parent, in wisdom, grace, provision, mercy, and love. You alone are worthy of praise. Thank you, Lord, for being a perfect example for us in love and life. 

Lord, you chose a mother and father for each of us. You chose the two people whose unique DNA would contribute to who we become. Lord, regardless of how we may feel about their parenting skills, thank you for that. Abba, if there is bitterness in our hearts towards our own parents, please root it out. Help us to forgive as you have forgiven us and require of us.

Thank you, Father, for your example.

Thank you, Abba, for the many examples of families in your Word. May we learn from them, and be reminded that ultimately our children must answer your call on their own. Help us to model faith for our children. Let them see in us your love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, and forgiveness. 

This parenting gig is hard Abba, we carry our own memories both joyous and painful and want only the best for our kids, but aren’t always able to be our best. Lord, thank you for your forgiveness when we fail and help us to be humble and ask our children for forgiveness also.

Send your angel armies to fight on behalf of our children. Protect our families. Draw us together as mother and father, turn our hearts to each other and to our families. Holy Spirit remind us that our family is our first and most important mission field. That these relationships are the most important to you and foundational to the church. 

Lead us, Father, as our Children Grow.

Abba, for mommas who are struggling during the early childhood years, provide mentors and friends to come alongside and encourage and help with those babies who are loved but exhausting. Help the elementary age mommas manage the schedules and navigate the relationships that bring new challenges, hurts, and joys.

For hose mamas navigating middle & high school, puberty, and technology, help them make wise choices trusting their own judgment over the world and the many, many voices trying to overpower yours. Abba, this can be a very lonely season, give them strength and courage to reach out to others. 

For mamas transitioning to life with adult children, may they rejoice as they see the fruit of their years of tending. Help them transition from active parent to advice-giving friend smoothly. 

Help us, Father, to trust you more.

Lord, help us all to continually seek you first in prayer, understanding we have an enemy that seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. Lord we come to you knowing and trusting that you are greater than he that is in the world. We trust you with the struggles that threaten to overwhelm: the medically fragile children, the rebellious and strong-willed children, the children we just don’t understand. Abba, you are there and we turn to you day by day, minute by minute, even second by second. Trusting that you alone are sovereign and the greatest of all parents.

In Jesus, Name. Amen.