Live, Love, Laugh in the Presence of God

Heavenly Father I praise You today for the gift of children in the world.  I praise You for helping us to remember to see the world with wonder, to trust whole heartedly, to imagine things to be greater than what we have seen.  I praise You for the unabashed love that children can have for parents, grandparents, and others.  I praise You for their fearlessness to talk to all people and to share their world with anyone who will take the time to join them.

Holy Spirit teach me to love as if I had never been hurt.  Teach me to remember what it was like to be a child and trust You unconditionally.  Help me to still see the wonder of Your creation.  Help me to still be amazed at how precious life is and how delicate it is.  Help me to learn to laugh a little more, especially at myself when needed. 

Holy Spirit help me to walk in the Spirit and to dwell on the good so that I can make it through the bad.  Help me to not only see the light but to be the light or hope for those who are down trodden and have lost all hope.  Help me to demonstrate kindness, charity and meekness. Help me to be like a child and not fear to talk to others about You.  Help me to always be able to give witness to all You have done for me in my life. 

Holy Spirit help me to love my wife, children, grandchildren, and friends with unconditional love.  Help me to always acknowledge them and listen with intent to understand.  Help me to be discerning and speak with wisdom so that I do not cause pain.  Help me to demonstrate my love and respect whenever I am with them.  Help me to always be there to lift them up and encourage them and to remind them of how proud I am to be in their lives. 

I thank my God for every reminder of you.  In every prayer of mine for you all, I have always made requests with joy, due to our relationship and fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.  I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ…..you all are fellow partakers of my grace.  For God is my witness, how I long after you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.  And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.  Philippians 1:3-6 and 9-11  I also ask God to help me to always remind you of how precious You are to me.  In Jesus’ name, amen.