Prayer For Dads
God, according to the riches of Your glory, grant _________ to be strengthened with power through Your Spirit in his inner being, so that Christ may dwell in his heart through faiththat he, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that he may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Lord, bless _________ and keep him; make Your face to shine upon him and be gracious to him; lift up Your countenance upon him and give him peace.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank you for all the fathers in this room, and for those not with us today. Thank you for the example fathers give us, at their best, of sacrificial, other-centered love. Thank you for giving us fathers to be servant-hearted leaders in our homes, displaying both strength and humility.
In all of this, we get a glimpse of your perfect, sacrificial love for us. Of your giving of yourself to the utmost for our sake, even when we deserved none of it. Of your faithfulness to us, though we are disobedient and ornery children.
We pray that these fathers would find their worth and identity and hope first and foremost in being your child, in being known by you, loved by you, and held by you.
Protect them from making an idol out of their careers, their hobbies, and even their fatherhood. Let them see themselves first and foremost as your children.
Teach these fathers to seek you first, and build them up, by the power of your Holy Spirit, to be humble, wise, pure, and diligent men of God. Teach them to love their families, love their church, and love you.
We pray that in their role as fathers, you would cause them to delight in their children, as you delight in us. Give them great patience and grace towards their children, that they might not exasperate or provoke them to anger.
For those currently raising children in their home, give them wisdom in extending both grace and discipline. Give them opportunities to point to your truth and grace in ways their kids can understand. And may all our children come to know, love, and trust you.
May these fathers see the fruit of their labor, and find joy in seeing their children grow and mature.
As your grace and Spirit work in our families, may we extend your grace to those around us. May our families love and serve other families and individuals in this community. May our work to love and care for our families provide a compelling witness to the power and truth of your gospel. And may you bring others into your family through this witness.
Heavenly Father,
you entrusted your Son Jesus,
the child of Mary,
to the care of Joseph, an earthly father.
Bless all fathers
as they care for their families.
Give them strength and wisdom,
tenderness and patience;
support them in the work they have to do,
protecting those who look to them,
as we look to you for love and salvation,
through Jesus Christ our rock and defender.
Amen.
Heavenly Father,
Today we ask You to bless our earthly fathers
for the many times they reflected the love, strength, generosity, wisdom and mercy that You exemplify in Your relationship with us, Your children.
We honor our fathers for putting our needs above their own convenience and comfort;
for teaching us to show courage and determination in the face of adversity;
for challenging us to move beyond self-limiting boundaries;
for modeling the qualities that would turn us into responsible, principled, caring adults.
Not all our fathers lived up to these ideals.
Give them the grace to acknowledge and learn from their mistakes.
Give us the grace to extend to them the same forgiveness that you offer us all.
Help us to resist the urge to stay stuck in past bitterness,
instead, moving forward with humility and peace of heart.
We ask your blessing on those men who served
as father figures in our lives
when our biological fathers weren't able to do so.
May the love and selflessness they showed us
be returned to them in all their relationships,
and help them to know that their influence
has changed us for the better.
Give new and future fathers the guidance they need
to raise happy and holy children,
grounded in a love for God and other people -
and remind these fathers that treating their wives
with dignity, compassion and respect is
one of the greatest gifts they can give their children.
We pray that our fathers who have passed into the next life
have been welcomed into Your loving embrace,
and that our family will one be day be reunited in your heavenly kingdom.
In union with St. Joseph,
whom you entrusted with Your Son,
we ask Your generous blessings today and every day.
Amen.
We give our thanks, Creator God, for the fathers in our lives.
Fatherhood does not come with a manual, and reality teaches us that some fathers excel while others fail.
We ask for Your blessings for them all and forgiveness where it is needed.
This Father's Day we remember the many sacrifices fathers make for their children and families, and the ways--both big and small--they lift children to achieve dreams thought beyond reach.
So too, we remember all those who have helped fill the void when fathers pass early or are absent; grandfathers and uncles, brothers and cousins, teachers, pastors and coaches and the women of our families.
For those who are fathers, we ask for wisdom and humility in the face of the task of parenting. Give them the strength to do well by their children and by You.
In Your Holy name, O God, we pray.
Amen.
God, our Father
Bless these men,
that they may find strength as fathers.
Let the example of their faith and love shine forth.
Grant that we, their sons and daughters,
may honor them always
with a spirit of profound respect.
Dear God,
Thank you for all the fathers and father-figures in this world and for the many ways you use them to lovingly guide others to Your heart. I ask that you would bless them and give them great joy and peace. May they see You and know You in new ways. Show them how much you love them and care about them. Guide their steps, use their hands, and make them a blessing to others as you continue to fulfill your special purpose for their lives.
Amen.