A Prayer For The Christian Mother

Heavenly Father,

I pray that you will help me to become a woman after your own heart. I know that you who have begun a good work in me will perform it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Father, your word says that children are to obey their parents. Likewise Father, make me obedient to you, immediately and in all things, including in my raising my children for You, so that I will be the kind of mother you would have me to be.

As Paul prays for his fellow Jews so I pray for my children: “My heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.”

Help me to remember that you have granted me charge of my children out of his great mercy and love and guide me in setting them on your path that they may be used mightily by you such that we will bring glory to your name.

Lord and Master, God of the Universe, owner of all wisdom, keep me always seeking wisdom only from you and never let me be led astray by the ways of the world.

Forgive me of my sins, especially my sins I have committed in dealing with my children. Cleanse me of all unrighteousness in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ who died on the cross for my sins. Continue to sanctify me as I wait in joyful hope for the coming of my Savior Jesus Christ.

In Jesus’ mighty name I pray,

Amen.

Confession Of Sin: Prayer

This classic prayer, penned by John Calvin in 1543, is good for both personal devotions as well as an appropriate way to begin family devotions. I have recently begun to pray it in the mornings after re-writing it to first-person.

Lord God, eternal and almighty Father: We acknowledge before your holy majesty that we are poor sinners, conceived and born in guilt and in corruption, prone to do evil, unable of our own power to do good. Because of our sin, we endlessly violate your holy commandments. But, O Lord, with heartfelt sorrow we repent and turn away from all our offenses. We condemn ourselves and our evil ways, with true sorrow asking that your grace will relieve our distress. Have compassion on us, most gracious God, Father of mercies, for the sake of your son Jesus Christ our Lord. And in removing our guilt, also grant us daily increase of the grace of your Holy Spirit, and produce in us the fruits of holiness and of righteousness pleasing in your sight: Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer courtesy of Erskine Theological Seminary.