My Prayers for You This Year

Dear Grady Lee, Micah, Annalyse, and Jaxton,

God, in His grace, gave us another year together. Now, as 2014 ends and 2015 begins, I want you to know I am praying specific things for each of you. Things that I can't do or make happen, but things that require God's powerful work in you. It's because I know God loves you infinitely more than I do that I want to offer your lives - your potential, your futures, your hearts - to His keeping.

Grady Lee, I pray that your understanding of who God is deepens. I know you cannot understand who God created you to be until you first understand who God is.

God created you with uniqueness and significance. You will develop genuine confidence in who God created you to be when you know, for certain, that you belong to God.

"[Grady Lee ] you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special [person], that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9

"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9

Micah, I pray that early on you will recognize, develop, and wisely use the talents and gifts God has given you.

There is only one you, and you have immeasurable value. You have unique purposes, ordained by God, that no one else can fulfill.

"As [Micah] has received a gift, minister it to one another, as [a] good steward of the manifold grace of God." 1 Peter 4:10

"For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable." Romans 11:29

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." James 1:17

Annalyse, I pray you will grow in your desire to know and love Jesus and that you will trust God's Word and pursue an understanding of it.

God never changes. Avoid the distractions of today because you see the character of God holding true yesterday, today, and tomorrow. 

"Teach [Annalyse] Your way, O Lord; [that Annalyse] will walk in Your truth; unite [her] heart to fear Your name. [She] will praise you, O Lord [her] God, with all [her] heart, and will glorify Your name forevermore." Psalm 86:11-12

"The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death." Proverbs 14:27

Jaxton, I pray that from your youngest of days, you learn God loves you. That He treasures you, values you, delights in you, and has rescued you.

Your reason for smiling, for enjoying today, and for waking up tomorrow is because God loves you. So, so much.

"In this the love of God was manifested toward [Jax], that God has sent his only begotten Son into the world, that [you] might live through Him. In this is love, not that [you] loved God, but that He loved [you] and sent His Son to be the propitiation for [your] sins. [Jax], if God so loved [you], [you] also ought to love one another." 1 John 4:9-11

For all of you, I pray that you will grow in faith. Faith in who God is, faith in what His Word says, and faith in the power of prayer. 

Faith is a gift, and God promises to give it when you ask for it.

"Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." Galatians 6:9-10

Because God's love has forever changed me, and because I desire nothing more than for you to know the power and depth of His love too,

Mom