FATHER,
WE ARE ENTERING ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR, AND WE FEEL THE RESPONSIBILITY AS PARENTS TO ASK YOU TO WATCH OVER OUR CHILDREN AS THEY RETURN TO SCHOOL.
WE ASK YOU TO PROTECT THEM FOR THE TIME THEY ARE AWAY FROM US AND ENTRUSTED INTO THE HANDS OF EDUCATORS WHO MAY, OR MAY NOT, SHARE THE SAME CORE OF BELIEFS THAT WE HONOR AS A CHRISTIAN FAMILY.
WE LOOK TO YOU, FATHER, TO KEEP THEM AS THE APPLE OF YOUR EYE AND HELP US TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO RAISE THEM UP IN THE PATH THEY SHOULD GO WHERE THEY WILL NEVER CHOOSE TO DEPART FROM IT.
WE KNOW, FATHER, THEY MAY BE OUT OF OUR SIGHT, BUT THEY ARE NEVER OUT OF YOUR SIGHT.
FATHER, I ASK FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT TO CONTINUE TO SHAPE THEM THROUGH LOVING CONVICTION OF WHAT IS RIGHT AND WRONG, NOT BY THE STANDARD OF THE WORLD, BUT BY YOUR STANDARD.
DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WATCHFUL CARE OVER THEM. HELP THEM TO HAVE A GREATER INFLUENCE ON THEIR FRIENDS THAN THEIR FRIENDS HAVE OVER THEM. (GIVE THEM THE RIGHT KIND OF FRIENDS).
HELP ME, OH LORD, TO KNOW WHEN THEY ARE IN NEED OF PRAYER, AND SHOW ME WHEN THEY ARE IN SITUATIONS THAT MAY BE A NEGATIVE INFLUENCE ON THEM IN THEIR FUTURE WALK WITH YOU.
FATHER, WE ARE SO THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE YOU TO TALK WITH ABOUT OUR CHILDREN, FOR YOU HAVE GIVEN THEM FREE WILL; AND, IN THAT WE HAVE DEDICATED THEM TO YOU, WE KNOW YOUR LOVE IS WITH THEM. YOU HAVE A GREAT DREAM FOR THEIR LIVES!
FATHER GOD, YOUR PROMISES REGARDING OUR CHILDREN ARE AN AFFIRMATION TO OUR HEARTS THAT YOU WILL LEAD THEM WITH GENTLE GRIPS AS YOU GUIDE THEM BY YOUR PROMISE TO BE WITH THEM ALL THE DAYS OF THEIR LIVES.
RIGHTEOUS FATHER, JUST AS JESUS GREW IN STATURE AND IN FAVOR WITH GOD AND MAN, LET THEM FOLLOW IN HIS STEPS.
FATHER, WE LIFT OUR HANDS IN VICTORY AS WE MAKE THIS FAITH DECLARATION: AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE WE WILL SERVE THE LORD!
We believe in you!
Cleddie and GayNell