He tends His flock like a Shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young (Isaiah 40:11).
Our Father, our Shepherd, thank You for Your tender care. Thank You for holding us in Your arms. The fact that You carry us close to Your heart is staggering—overwhelming in its magnitude. We lift our grateful praise to You.
Lord, we thank You for Your special care for "those that have young." We think of all the parents, and every type of relative or guardian, facing the challenges of raising children in today's world. Give them wisdom against all the uncertainties, courage against all the battles, and faith against all the obstacles. Give them patience, Lord, compassion, strength, and endurance. Give them a deep and unconditional love. Provide for them, protect them, guide and instruct them.
Father, we cry out to You on behalf of our children and our young! God, have mercy on them! Forgive us for where we have gone off-course. For where we have "eaten sour grapes and set [our] children's teeth on edge" (Jeremiah 31:29). Deliver us from evil, O Lord!
Deliver our children and our young people from the evils of violence, and abuse, and neglect, and addictions, and hopelessness, and despair and emptiness. Rescue them from the soul-devouring wolves that yap at their heels, threatening to plunge them into destruction.
Help us to extend care and compassion to every child; not just the ones in our family. Remind us of the words of our Lord Jesus, how He said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14). Help us to take His instruction seriously, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven" (Matthew 18:10).
Lord, we have no hope but You. Many are searching in desperation for answers. Help us to understand the deep spiritual issues that confront us. Help us to sincerely pray for repentance, and forgiveness and healing. "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You" (2 Chronicles 20:12).
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