Here are a few of my life verses, our household rules and daily prayers for our children. I hold these passages dear. I pray you are blessed by them, as well.
I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13,14
Psalm 103 This Psalm is my testimony! Here is an excerpt:
Praise the Lord O my soul; all my inmost being praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Crenshaw Family House Rules:
1) Obey Quickly and Completely - Children obey your parents in the LORD for this is right. Honor your father and your mother. Eph 6:1
2) Honor each other - Be kind and compassionate. Forgiving each other just as in Christ Jesus God forgave you. Eph 4:32
3) Be agreeable - Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure children of God. Phil. 2:14
4) Work hard! - Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the LORD. Colossians 3:23
31 Prayers for Our Children:
1) Salvation: "Lord, let salvation spring up within my children, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory." (Is. 45:8. 2 Tim 2:10)
2) Growth in Grace: "I pray that my children may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 3:18)
3) Love: "Grant that my children may learn to live a life of love, through the Spirit who dwells in them." (Gal 5:25, Eph 5:2)
4) Honesty and integrity: "May integrity and honesty be their virtue and their protection." (Psalm 25:21)
5) Self-control: "Father, help my children not be like many others around them, but let them be alert and self controlled in all they do." (1 Thess 5:6)
6) Love for God's Word: "May my children grow to find Your Word more precious than pure gold and sweeter than honey." (Ps 19:10)
7) Justice: "God, help my children love justice as You do and act justly in all they do." (Ps 11:7, Mic. 6:8)
8) Mercy: "May my children always be merciful, just as You are merciful." (Luke 6:36)
9) Respect for self, others and authority: "Father, grant that my children would show proper respect for everything and everyone, as your Word commands." (1 Peter 2:17)
10) Biblical self-esteem: "Help my children develop a strong self esteem that is deeply rooted in the fact that they are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus." (Eph 2:10)
11) Faithfulness: "Let love and faithfulness never leave my children, but bind these two virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts." (Proverbs 3:3)
12) Courage: "May my children always be strong and courageous in their character and in their actions." (Dt. 31:6)
13) Purity: "Create in them a pure heart, O God, and let that purity of heart be shown in their actions." (Psalm 51:10)
14) Kindness: "Lord, may my children always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else." (1 Thess. 5:15)
15) Generosity: "Grant that my children may be rich in good deeds, generous and willing to share. (Timothy 6:18)
16) Peace-loving: "Father, let my children make every effort to do what leads to peace." (Rom 14:19)
17) Joy: "May my children be filled with the joy given by the Holy Spirit." (1 Thess 1:6)
18) Perseverance: "Lord, teach my children perseverance in all they do and help them run with perseverance the race marked out for them." (Heb 12:1)
19) Humility: "God, please cultivate in my children the ability to show true humility toward all." (Titus 3:2)
20) Compassion: "Lord, please clothe my children with the virtue of compassion." (Col. 3:12)
21) Responsibility: "Grant that my children may learn responsibility, for each should carry his own load." (Galatians 6:5)
22) Contentment: "Father, teach my children the secret of being content in any and every situation, through Him who gives them strength." (Phil 4:12-13)
23) Faith: "I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children's hearts, that by faith they may gain what has been promised to them." (Luke 17:5-6, Heb. 11:1-40)
24) A servant's heart: "God, please help my children develop servants' hearts, that they may serve wholeheartedly, as if they were serving the Lord, not men." (Eph 6:7)
25) Hope: "May the God of hope grant that my children may overflow with hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)
26) Willingness and ability to work: " Teach my children, Lord, to value work and to work at it with all their heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." (Col.3:23)
27) Passion for God: "Lord, please instill in my children a soul that follows hard after YOU. A heart that clings passionately to You." (Ps 63:8)
28) Self-discipline: "Father, I pray that my children may acquire a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right, just and fair." (Prov 1:3)
29) Prayerfulness: "Grant, Lord, that my children's lives may be marked by prayerfulness. That they may learn to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." (Eph. 6:18)
30) Gratitude: "Help my children to live lives that are always overflowing with thankfulness and always giving thanks to God the Father for everything." (Eph. 5:20, Col. 2:7)
31) A heart for missions: "Lord, please help my children to develop a desire to see your glory declared among the nations. A desire to see your marvelous deeds among all peoples." (Psalm 96:3).
Feel free to share your life verses, family rules or special prayers.
