Simple thoughts on how to pray

Informal Prayer

Believers in Jesus Christ can pray with the knowledge that God knows their desires whether they say them out loud or only think them. You can therefore pour out your heart before him in whatever way you can best express yourself, knowing that it is not the quality of your prayer but the saving work of Jesus that makes your prayers acceptable to God.

Formal Prayer

Formal prayers can be helpful for you as they help you draw on the experience of others to find words to formulate your thoughts in difficult situations. Formal prayers also tend to broaden your perspective as they remind you of things for which you ought to pray which you might otherwise overlook or forget.

From Historic Trinity Lutheran Church in Detroit, MI

Instilling a Desire to Learn

Lord,

I pray that (name of the child) will have a deep reverence for You and Your ways. May he (she) hide Your Word in his (her) heart like a treasure, and seek after understanding like silver or gold. Give him (her) a good mind, a teachable spirit, and an ability to learn. Instill in him (her) a desire to attain knowledge and skill, and may he (she) have joy in the process. Above all, I pray he (she) will be taught by You, for Your Word says that when our children are taught by You they are guaranteed peace. You have also said, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7). May he (she) never be a fool and turn away from learning, but rather may be (she) turn to You for the knowledge he (she) needs.

I pray he (she) will respect the wisdom of his (her) parents and be willing to be taught by them. May he (she) also have the desire to be taught by the teachers You bring into his (her) life. May he (she) also have to the desire to be taught by the teachers You bring into his (her) life. Handpick each one, Lord, and may they be godly people from whom he (she) can easily learn. Let him (her) find favor with his (her) teachers and have good communication with them. Help him (her) to excel in school and do well in any classes he (she) may take. Make the pathways of learning smooth and not something with which he (she) must strain and struggle. Connect everything in his (her) brain the way it is supposed to be so that he (she) has clarity of thought, organization, good memory, and strong learning ability.

I say to him (her) according to Your Word, “Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge” (Proverbs 23:12). Lord, enable him (her) to experience the joy of learning more about You and Your world.

Amen

Taken from The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian

What is Prayer?

What is Prayer?

This is a short video that explains 'what is prayer?' as Lutherans understand. This is part of a 15 week adult instruction course. It's only 5 minutes long!

Prayer is talking to God with your mouth and lips or with your heart. Prayer is an opportunity for you to exercise your faith.

O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.

Psalm 139: 1-4

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Matthew 6:7-8

We are Praying Moms

We are MOMS who know that prayer makes a difference.

We want to . . . .

To pray for our children and families in all their needs.

To pray for our children as they grow in their faith.

To pray for our teachers, staff and pastors.

To pray and encourage moms who carry heavy burdens for their children.

To be a faithful witness to Our Shepherd Lutheran School.

"Prayer is a strong wall and fortress of the church; it is a goodly Christian weapon."

Martin Luther

Be Encouraged to Pray....

Be encouraged to pray for your children during the school year. The resources abound:

• The Scriptures, especially the Psalms
• Use the concordance to find Bible verses
• The Small Catechism
• The Hymnal
• Portals of Prayer

Non-Lutheran Resources

• The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian
• When Mothers Pray by Cheri Fuller
• Every Child Needs a Praying Mom by Fern Nichols

Why God Created Teachers

Why God Created Teachers

When God created teachers,
He gave us special friends
To help us understand His world
And truly comprehend
The beauty and the wonder
Of everything we see,
And become a better person
With each discovery.

When God created teachers,
He gave us special guides
To show us ways in which to grow
So we can all decide
How to live and how to do
What's right instead of wrong,
To lead us so that we can lead
And learn how to be strong.

Why God created teachers,
In His wisdom and His grace,
Was to help us learn to make our world
A better, wiser place.

~Author Unknown~

A Prayer of Martin Luther

Behold, Lord, an empty vessel that needs to be filled. My Lord, fill it. I am weak in the faith; strengthen me. I am cold in love; warm me and make me fervent, that my love may go out to my neighbor. In you I have sealed the treasure of all I have. I am poor; you are rich and came to be merciful to the poor. I am a sinner; you are upright.

O Lord, help me. Strengthen my faith and trust in you.

Amen.