Week#25 – What does the Lord require of you?
- Micah 6:8 What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
- 1 Peter 5:6 God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
- Philippians 2:8 Jesus humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
- Matthew 23:12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
- Matthew 18:4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
- Proverbs 22:4 The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life.
- Psalm 25:9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for all the spiritual and material blessings You have given to us. Help us to be good stewards of all the blessings that we have. Lord, we have nothing to take pride in our lives other than what You have done for us. We know that You guide the humble in what is right and teach them Your way so help us not to be proud. Give us the grace to be humble and know that humility comes before honor. Help us to do everything that is right with You and with others and help us to treat others better than they deserve from us. We know that no vital relationship with God is possible if one is unfaithful to the God-given responsibilities toward the God-given relationship. So help us to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly in our daily lives. In Jesus’ name, we pray Amen.
Week#26- Let the children keep a clear conscience
- Acts 24:16 Paul said, “ I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.
- Job 27:6 I will maintain my innocence without wavering. My conscience is clear for as long as I live.
- Acts 23:1 Paul looked at the Sanhedrin and said, “I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day”
- Hebrews 13:18 We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.
- 1 Timothy 1:5 &19 The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith. Hold on to your faith in Christ and keep your conscience clear.
- 1 Peter 3:15-16 In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Answer everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have with gentleness, respect, and keeping a clear conscience so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
- 1 Corinthians 4:4 My conscience is clear but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive praise from God.
Dear Heavenly Father, we pray that children will always keep a clear conscience before God and man as long as they live. Help them live honorably in every way trusting in You. In their hearts set apart Christ as Lord and give the reason for the hope that they have with gentleness, respect, and keeping a clear conscience to everyone who asks. Help them know that You are the judge and will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of their hearts. If their conscience is clear before you they can stand firm against any slander that others speak against their good behavior. Let you be the Lord of their lives. In Jesus’ name, we pray Amen.
Week#27 - Let the children have the qualities (beatitudes) of a Kindom Citizen
- Matthew 5:3, 4 Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
- Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
- 2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death
- Isaiah 6:5 “Woe to me! I am a man of unclean lips”
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for the beatitudes that You taught Your disciples. Help us to practice that in our life so that we can also be your disciples. It is a perfect standard of the Christian life. Give the children the strength to practice these teachings in their life, they can not do it without You strengthening them. The poor in Spirit are those who recognize their natural unworthiness to stand in God’s presence. Help them acknowledge their lack of personal righteousness and depend on You. Help them to examine their hearts and mourn over their sins and be comforted. Help them mourn for the sins of others who live in their communities, and nations. Let them have the desire to care for the people around them. Help them know Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. When Isaiah saw the vision of God he could say he was a man of unclean lips. Let the children sit in your presence and in the light of the word of God and know their hearts. We ask these in your precious name. Amen
Week#28 – Let the children be meek, for they will inherit the earth
- Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
- Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.
- Matthew 26:39 My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.
- Philippians 4:5 Let your gentleness be evident to all.
- Psalms 25:9 He leads the humble in what is right and teaches them His way
- Is.29:19 Humble will rejoice in the Lord
- 1 Peter 3:23 When they hurled insults at Jesus, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
Dear Heavenly Father, We pray that our children will walk humbly before you and do everything that pleases You. Help them to be meek, which is to have control over themselves, manage the impulses of their heart, accept corrections, forgive others, and submit to God’s will. Jesus was a perfect example of meek for he said, “I am gentle and humble in heart”, He submitted to His Father’s will, and at the cross, He prayed for those who persecuted Him and entrusted Himself to the Father who judges justly. He forgave the thief at the cross. Let them possess these qualities and let their gentleness be evident to all. Help them be humble so that You can lead them in the right way and inherit the land in God’s kingdom. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.