“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8, ESV)
You’d be hard pressed to find a parent who doesn’t emphatically state that they love their children. Parents have, at times, an irrational love of their children. We know this is true, because when our kid throws a temper tantrum and launches their bowl of Cheerios across the room at us, we are angry with them, but we still deeply love them.
While all parents love their kids, we need to express our love in ways that help our kids to feel secure, free and accepted. The Lord gives us a perfect example of how this looks because His love for us is unconditional and unmerited. That type of gracious love truly does cover a multitude of the mistakes that we will inevitably make as parents.
Today, thank your Heavenly Father of His gracious love for you, and ask Him to help you love your children, spouse and those around you with that same type of unconditional love.
“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.” (Proverbs 10:9, ESV)
Integrity—a word we pray is a character quality of our children and ourselves. Most of us would describe integrity as living honestly and morally. Dictionary.com also defines it as “the state of being whole, entire, or undiminished.” I believe both those definitions are described in Proverbs 10:9 which states that if we live a life of integrity we will live securely with no need to hide or fear.
In recent months I’ve had struggles with a child being dishonest. Lies break my heart. It’s been a challenge to impress upon my sweet one how destructive deceitfulness is to everyone. Allowing my child to suffer the consequences has been difficult and absolutely imperative. Living a life of integrity is non-negotiable. I hope for more for my children…honesty, morality and security.
Lord, please give our children a desire to live a life of integrity. We pray that our children will trust that the truth is always best. May we model behavior that encourages our children to walk securely in the truth.
Thank you, Father, that you deliver, protect and guide us as we take each step with integrity.
Written by Karis Murray
