Day Seven: Maintaining Good Family Relationships

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they shall be called the sons of God.

- Matthew 5:9

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Let us pursue the things which make for peace

and the things by which one may edify another.

- Romans 14:19

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Lord, I pray for David & Elizabeth and their relationships with all family members. Protect and preserve them from any unresolved or permanent breach. Fill them with Your love and give them an abundance of compassion and forgiveness that will overflow to each member of the family. Specifically, I pray for a close, happy, loving and fulfilling relationship between David and Elizabeth for all the days of their lives. May there always be good communication between them and may unforgiveness have no root in their hearts. Help them to love, value, appreciate, and respect one another so that the God-ordained tie between them cannot be broken. I pray according to Your Word, that they "be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another" (Romans 12:10).

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Teach my children to resolve misunderstandings according to Your Word. And if any division has already begun, if any relationship is strained or severed, Lord, I pray that You will drive out the wedge of division and bring healing. I pray that there be no strain, breach, misunderstanding, arguing, fighting or separating of ties. Give them a heart for forgiveness and reconciliation.

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Your Word instructs us to "be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous" (I Peter 3:8). Help them to live accordingly, "endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3). In Jesus' name I pray that You will instill a love and compassion in them for all family members that is strong and unending, like a cord that cannot be broken. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.*

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Now may the God of patience and comfort

grant you to be like-minded toward one another,

according to Christ Jesus,

that you may with one mind and one mouth

glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

- Romans 15:5-6

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*Make this prayer your own! From the book, The Power of a Praying Parent. Ordering information is at the bottom of this page.