A Prayer of Blessing and Strength for Fathers
By Christine F. Perry
Bible Reading:
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” - Galatians 6:9 NKJV
Listen or Read Below:
“Are you trying to air condition the whole neighborhood?”
“You are a better door than window.”
“With daughters like you, who needs enemies?”
These are just some of the infamous sayings my dad would tell me as a kid. Like most dads, he was notorious for overemphasizing the facts. As I’ve gotten older, my dad, who is no longer here, is still the voice in my head. But, it’s more than his comments about the A/C or standing in front of the TV; they are phrases and values to hold to and live by, like:
“Leave the place better than when you found it.” [It dawned on me, after he passed, that this can be applied to every area of life — your household, relationships, job, etc.]
“Never put yourself in a situation where it’s their word against yours.”
“If that’s what the Bible says, do it.”
I realize I’m very blessed to have a dad who was not only in my life but also worked from home. I am keenly aware that not everyone had a dad who was present, and some never met their fathers. But having my dad’s voice in my head reminded me how much more important it is to have my heavenly Father’s voice in my head. The question is, how much time am I spending in His Word so that I hear and am reminded of His voice? Our Father is always willing and waiting to spend time with Him, but are we making time for Him? And, if you’re a father, how much are you listening to your Heavenly Father so you can impart His wisdom to your kids?
I distinctly remember a person making a remark to me about “Who Needs Men?” And I say we all do. As a father, you’re the first line of defense for your family. You’re the one your wife and kids are looking to make the final decision. Don’t let the world tell you that we don’t need men. If you think I am lying… Watch this documentary on the ramifications an absentee father leaves on his children. I realize your job/role is not easy, but if you haven’t been told lately, your wife needs you. Your kids need you. And our society needs you. Don’t give up. You’re needed and appreciated!
Let's Pray:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for being our Father. Thank You for Your provision and protection. Thank You for each Father reading this today. I pray that You would strengthen, encourage, protect, and bless them. Please bring joy where there has been sadness, bring strength where they have felt weak or inadequate, bring courage where there has been hesitancy, and bring favor where there has been stagnancy. Please equip each man to live the life You have called him to live. I pray that You will do exceedingly abundantly more than they can ask, think, or imagine. I pray all this in Jesus' mighty name. Amen!
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/andreswd
Christine is just a lady who was given the gift of being raised in an incredible family. For reasons unknown to her, God has blessed her with an amazing life full of beautiful friendships, remarkable experiences, and a love from Him that is completely underserved. She desires to encourage others and share hope as we journey through the highs and lows of life. Christine is the author of How I Met Peace and For the Weary Life Traveler, a 31-day devotional. Check out more of Christine's work at her website: Learning to be fearless and her Patreon.
Related Resource: Establishing a Routine of Rest
For a long time, rest felt less like a gift and more like a guilty indulgence — something to be earned, something to feel vaguely ashamed of, something that productive, faithful people did not really need. In a world that measures worth by output, the idea of stopping feels dangerously close to falling behind.
But what if rest is not optional? What if it was never meant to be? Tonight, lay down the hustle. Receive the gift. This is exactly what you were made for. Your Nightly Prayer is a daily Christian prayer podcast from the LifeAudio Podcast Network and Crosswalk.com. Each night, the team behind Crosswalk.com brings you a devotional and prayer to help you end your day in conversation with God. May these nightly prayers help you find the words to pray and focus your heart and mind on the love of God as you end your day. If you like what you hear, subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!