One of the things I often do when I check on my kids in the middle of the night is to gently place my hands on their head, heart, hands and feet and pray that God will give them the mind of Christ, a servant's heart, hands that are quick to help those in need, and feet prepared with the gospel of peace. I decided that my laundry-folding time would be another great opportunity to pray for each member of our family.
I thought about each piece of clothing and the corresponding area of the body (e.g., shirt-heart), and looked up verses relating to that part. I rewrote some of my favorites into prayers, and I think I am going to just pick one or two verses for each piece of clothing, for each load. It'll be a good way for me to hide more of God's word in my heart, too. I hope you'll join me!
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In case you need a jump-start, here is my list for shirts--
- Deut 30:6 Circumcise ____’s heart that he may love you with his whole heart and live.
- I Chron 16:10 Let ____’s heart rejoice as he seeks you, Lord.
- Psalm 19:4 Let the meditation and thoughts of ____’s heart be pleasing to you, oh God.
- Psalm 20:4 God, grant the desires of ____’s heart and cause all his plans to succeed.
- Psalm 73:26 God, be the strength of ____’s heart and his portion forever.
- Psalm 90:12 Teach _____ to number his days so that he may have a heart of wisdom.
- Prov 4:23 Guard ____’s heart.
- Jer 17:9, 24:7 Let _____ understand that without you, his heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. Give him a heart to know you.
- Jer 32:39 Give _____ a singleness of heart and action so that he will always fear you.
- Matt 5:8 Give ______ a pure heart.
- Luke 8:15 Give _____ a good heart so that the seed of your gospel will take root and bear fruit.
- John 14:27 Do not let ____’s heart be troubled and do not let him be afraid.
- Ephesians 1:18-19 I pray that the eyes of ____’s heart may be enlightened in order that he may know the hope to which You have called him, the riches of your glorious inheritance in your holy people, and your incomparably great power for those who believe.
- Ephesians 3:16-18 I pray that out of your glorious riches you may strengthen _____ with power through your Spirit in his inner being, so that Christ may dwell in his heart through faith. And I pray that ______, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.
- Eph 4:32 Make _______ kind and tenderhearted to those around him.
- I Thes 3:12-13 Lord, make ____’s love increase and overflow for each person in this family and for everyone else. Please strengthen his heart so that he will be blameless and holy in your presence, God and Father, when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
