A Father's Day Prayer

Shared during the Gathering on Father’s Day by Rich McDaniel.

“Jesus did something that was unprecedented in history—because he talked to the Father in heaven with a term of endearment. You know what it was? It was Abba.”

********** 

For all the fathers, aspiring daddies, fill-in daddies, grandfathers, uncles:

Abba, we love you and we need you. We stand before you here in this moment as your children. We are aware of your love and we’re amazed by it, we’re astounded by it, we don’t know how to process it.

But Lord we also stand before you as daddies, as padres, as papas, who fervently love our little ones, our children, whom we brought into the world. And Lord we need you. Abba, we need your help. So we pray for this. We pray, Lord, and we commit as we pray that we surrender ourselves right here. We surrender our will. And we pray that your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We pray that your will be done on earth in me as it is in heaven. That begins here and now. We pray that you would take us and use us.

And Lord, we draw near to you as James said, draw near to me and I will draw near to you. So we are drawing near, we choose, we resolve, we commit, we purposely step into, this drawing near to you. That we might live in your kingdom, in your presence. That’s what we pray for. We want to live in your presence. And Lord as we seek to do that, we pray that you would move us from this place of awareness, and that that awareness would turn to conversation, and the conversation would turn to communion, and the communion would turn to union, which is that which you call us to. For we realize, Lord, that the best thing we can do for our children is to be like you, is to be transformed, and to live the life of faith with integrity in their eyes. We pray for that.

Abba, we need you as well for our children. There are so many things in their lives that we simply cannot touch or influence. And so we pray, Lord, that you would protect them, hedge them in from the power of evil, which is all around them in a confused and distracted and often evil world. We pray, Lord, that you would protect them.

And we pray, Lord, that you would nurture them. That in their life experience, that you would bring them to the point where they can see you, and then know you, and then love you. We pray, Lord, that you would nurture them.

And, Lord, as they go through life with you in your presence, we pray that you would bring them peace, not the peace of the world, but your peace. The peace that is not a freedom from trials because trials are needed for character, but we pray that you would give them that sense of your presence in trials, because that’s what gives us ultimate peace.

And we pray as well, Lord, that you would give them joy. We pray for more than happiness, because happiness comes and goes with circumstance, but joy is integral to who we are in our spirits, and the knowledge that you are with us and for us and that nothing can be against us in that context. So we pray for their joy, for joyfulness.

And so, Lord, we pray all these things as we commit ourselves and then our children into your hands. May it be so. For it is in the name of Christ, the Messiah, our Lord and Savior that we pray. Amen.

A Mother's Day Prayer

Happy Mother’s Day to ALL the women that are here today. I know today can come with a myriad of emotions - if you were blessed like me to have an amazing mom who made home a glad place of refuge, it is easy to celebrate and honor her, but it can also come with hard and complicated emotions - deep grief and sorrow if we’ve lost our mother or a child, disappointment, sadness, and aching for those who yearn to be mothers but it remains an longing unfulfilled. Maybe you have a complicated relationship with your mom. I remember while we were struggling with infertility there were some Mother’s Days I couldn’t even come to church because the longing and pain of being childless was too much to bear. Wherever you find yourself this Mother’s Day, may you remember that we serve El-roi, “the God who sees” and Emmanuel, “the God who is with us.”

To those who are mothers…

…May you feel loved, honored, and celebrated today and always - for the fierce love you pour out, the sacrifices made, sleepless nights endured, tears you wipe away, boo boos kissed and fixed, the refuge and safe place you are, the stories you read, listening ear you offer, advice and wisdom you give, and all the prayers spoken. We are forever grateful.

To those with good mother relationships…

…May you cherish the time, closeness and love you share with your mother. May you make sweet memories together in the days while you still have each other to enjoy this side of heaven. 

To those who have complicated mother relationships…

…May you find a safe place to share your story, be humble enough to own your part of the relationship, offer forgiveness for past hurts, be supported by mother-like women to learn from and be loved by, and if possible find restoration.

To those who have lost mothers…

…in your grief, may you be comforted by the memories you hold of her, gratitude for the time you were given with her, and all the ways, big and small, the she showed her pride in you and her great love for you.

To those who have never known a mother…

…May you be loved and supported by spiritual mothers and mentors that can help fill the void of lost experiences. 

To those who long to be mothers or have missed their chance to be a mother…

…in your grief, and as you wait, may you feel His nearness and find comfort, strength, and peace in the opportunities to love and nurture the children God’s placed in your life. 

To mothers who have lost children…

…in your deep ache and sorrow, may you experience God’s comfort and care, receive gentle love and kindness from those who love and support you, and in the vast absence of your child, may the beauty of the memories shared with your child bring comfort to your aching heart. 

To the aunts, stepmoms, sisters, and special women in our lives…

…Though you may not have physically birthed the ones you mother, the love, care, and support you offer is irreplaceable and is cherished by those whose lives you’ve impacted. May you feel honored and celebrated for the special role you play to those in your life and community. 

Today and everyday, may each of us see and receive all of the ways God mothers us - may we allow Him to nurture our broken and hurting hearts, receive His sacrificial love and forgiveness through Jesus, walk as His beloved children, and feel His pride and delight in us, knowing there is nothing we could do to separate us from His love. Amen.