Friday, June 17, 2016

Pray for Families (Embracing Fatherhood)

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

In honor of Father’s Day, spend the weekend praying for fathers and fatherhood. 

The statistics aren’t good.  One out of every three children live in biological father-absent homes.  Let’s look at the impact of an absent father.

These youth are more likely to commit suicide, run away from home, drop out of school, become homeless, exhibit behavior disorders, become incarcerated, and be the victim of abuse or neglect.

“Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34

There is hope though, so let us pray!

For men who are married to their child’s mother and embrace the role of fatherhood, Lord abundantly bless them!

For men who are divorced from the mother of their children, but stay present in their children’s lives to model the importance of fatherhood, Lord abundantly bless them!

For those men who lack the courage to marry the mother of their children, Lord bless and fortify them, help them to grow into fatherhood as you intended.  Heavenly Father, show them the way!*

For men who have fathered children, but are absent from their lives, Lord, help them hear your call to arise!  Until them, send strong male role models into the lives of these children, and give their mother the strength and fortitude to power ahead.

Whoever has ears ought to hear.  Revelation 3:6

Lord, meet each father where they are at, and bless them for the amazing journey of fatherhood that you set before them.  Teach them to listen, to be present, and to love unconditionally. Give them the gifts of kindness, fortitude, patience, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.  Make them beacons of your Fatherly love, so that all may come to understand by experiencing their father’s love, just how deep and pure Your love for them must be.

So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.  Matthew 5:48

Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet

Pray that all fathers will embrace the gift of fatherhood.  Pass it on! 

* Compared to children born within marriage, children born to cohabiting parents are three times as likely to experience father absence, and children born to unmarried, non-cohabiting parents are four times as likely to live in a father-absent home.