“For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:11-14 NIV)
“When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.” (Matthew 1:24 NIV)
Father God,
As we look toward the celebration of Christmas, we remember the important role Joseph played in fathering Jesus. We thank you for Joseph’s loving and obedient heart—one that listened to your voice and protected and provided for Mary and Jesus.
Today we pray for fathers in our world. In these chaotic years, many fathers have had the gift of working from home and spending more time with their children. Others have watched with grief as their jobs, livelihoods, and dreams were swept away by economic and societal upheaval. Still others have never been able to be present for their children in meaningful ways, and those absences have led to staggering amounts of pain and heartache.
You created us to need a Father in our lives. Just as you walked as Father with Adam and Eve in the Garden, it is no accident that Jesus taught us to pray to “our Father.” We know you designed every child—boy or girl—to need a father’s teaching, guidance, and love.
Thank you for what you teach us as our Father: how to love, how to receive grace and mercy, and how to treat others the way you treat us. Thank you also for the many earthly fathers and father-figures who fill this role in our lives—grandfathers, uncles, coaches, teachers, and even older brothers.
We pray that every child would have their father-shaped place filled by a godly man who trains them up in the fear, admonition, and love of the Lord. And we pray each child would have the strength, stability, and support of a healthy family, the presence of an earthly father, and the deep experience of the love, mercy, and grace of their Heavenly Father.
In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
Train children to live the right way,
and when they are old, they will not stray from it. (Proverbs 22:6 NCV)
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.(Ephesians 6:4 NIV)
Always remember these commands I give you today. Teach them to your children, and talk about them when you sit at home and walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them down and tie them to your hands as a sign. Tie them on your forehead to remind you, and write them on your doors and gates. (Deuteronomy 6:6-9 NCV)
(adapted from Dec. 12, 2023 post)