Prayer Focus: The Fruits of the Spirit:: GOODNESS.
Central Scripture: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Ephesians 5:8-11)
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for coming into the darkness to get us. Thank You for willingly entering into our world to claim us as Your own and adopt us into Your family. Thank You for bringing us into the light. Let us now live as children of light, not of the darkness the world offers.
Lord, being “good” is something we frequently ask of our children, but today I ask that You would manifest a holy “goodness” in our family. Let us be children of light in a dark world. There are so many ways that darkness threatens to enter into our home, but I pray against those forces of darkness and ask for Your Spirit to usher in pure and holy light. Let there be no place for secrets or shame, but let the shadows dissipate as Your light shines in.
God, just like the darkness of night disappears with the first sliver of sunrise, I pray that Your light would completely eliminate the fruitless deeds of darkness in our home.
Cultivate goodness in my husband, Lord. He enters into a dark world every day as he goes to work, and I pray that he would carry Your light with him as he goes. Help him to stand firmly in the light and to resist the temptations of darkness that come his way. Help him to live wisely, knowing and doing what pleases You, even and especially when it goes against the grain.
Father, go with our children into the world. Shine Your perfect light ahead of them, that You would be the pathway clearly marked ahead of them. Let them have nothing to do with the darkness they will be introduced to, but help them to discern the difference between good and evil even at a young age. Help them to understand the difference between living for You and following the way of the world, that goodness becomes a strong feature of their character. Help them to understand Your will and what pleases You, and give them the desire to do those things. Help them to crave Your will even over what everyone else is doing…over the desire to be popular…over the desire to blend in and fit in and meet the expectations of everyone around them. Let them live, above all, to please You.
You are a good, good Father, God. We are Your children, so let us take after You as we run toward the light. Cultivate a holy goodness in my family.
Amen.