Good morning, Lord Jesus. My Lord and Savior, Good Shepherd of my soul, I welcome You here in my heart and every moment of my day. ...
My wife is a traffic guard for Rainbow Pre-K school. She directs parents dropping off their children in the car line. Madison City Schools started back yesterday. Since it is a pre-Kindergarten school, yesterday was the first day ever for most of the children dropped off. My wife came home yesterday and told me stories of mothers and fathers crying in their cars, taking pictures in front of the school sign, and long hugs with their children as they dropped them off into this new season of their life. So this morning, my heart turns to You Jesus on behalf of all our children going back to school – Pre-K or kindergarten, elementary or college, public or private, vocational or spiritual, at home or abroad. And as I listen for the leading of Your Spirit on how to pray, this Story of Your heart for our children comes to mind:
“(Jesus) called a child, whom He put among them, and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in My name welcomes Me. If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in Me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.... Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of My Father in heaven.... So it is the will of your Father in heaven that not one of these little ones should be lost” (Matthew 18:2-14).
For many “little ones,” this is the first day of school to start off this school year. Some have already begun; others will begin soon; yet, all are always learning, always vulnerable, and always in need of our prayers and Your angels.
Thank You for these “ministering spirits” who are Your guardian angels sent forth at Your command and watch over our children and Yours -- not just when they're little, but all the days of their lives. "Are not all angels spirits in the divine service, sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14) "Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out His plans, listening for each of His commands. Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels who serve Him and do His will!" (Psalm 103:20-21)
Father, we entrust our children to You -- to Your word and Your will, Your protection and Your purposes, Your guidance and Your guardians, Your care and Your compassion, Your heart and Your hands. We entrust them to Your Holy Spirit in Your heavenly school, as they go back to school, secure in the Spirit. You love them even more than we do and even more than we ever could.
So we know You'll watch over them -- sending forth Your word and Your warriors -- in ways we can't and never could. "The Lord is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him" and carefully watching over all those entrusted to Him (Psalm 103:13).
We trust in You to protect their immune systems from covid and their minds from confusion, their spirits from criticism and their bodies from abuse, their hearts from rejection and their thoughts from fear. We trust You to be with them through the challenges, as they mature in character.
Fill them with Your Spirit and anoint them for learning. Remind them of who they are in You and who You are in them, as they grow “in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and with man” in the model of Jesus (Luke 2:52). Then bring them home again, safe and sound, secure in Your Spirit and growing in the confidence of their true identity in You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, may your heart be steady as we entrust our children and the children of our communities in the heart and hands of our Father who loves them more than we every could, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
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My wife Nancy and I are in a new season of our ministry of pouring completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods, and having “boots on the ground” serving in our community.. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You Thank You!
