A Liturgy for Mothers, Part 3

Part 1:  Confession and forgiveness
Part 2:  "Not I, but Christ"

This final section focuses on Scripture prayers for the day ahead.

The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.  (Lord, I want to please you, not myself!)

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest of righteousness if we do not give up. (Gal 6:8-9)

Fill me with courage to seek what is great and become worthy of it. (the virtue of magnanimity)

Give me humility to be a servant to my family, as You washed the feet of others. Never as a martyr, but filled with holy humility and love.

Fill me with the wisdom that comes from above, that is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. (James 3:17)

Help me:

-set my heart on things above, not on earthly things (Col 3:2)
-rid myself of anger, rage, malice, slander and lies (Col 3:8)
-be clothed with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and love (Col 3:12)
-bear with my loved ones and forgive (Col 3:13)
-be ruled by the peace of Christ (Col 3:15)
-be indwelt by the word of Christ as I teach, admonish and sing...with gratitude (Col 3:16)
-to reprove, rebuke and exhort with great patience and instruction (2 Tim 4:2)
-not to embitter and discourage my children (Col 3:21)
-to encourage and help (I Thess 5:14)
-to be patient, kind and joyful always (I Thess 5:16)
-to pray continually, giving thanks in all circumstances (I Thess 5:17-18)
-to have a gentle and quiet spirit (not angry and protesting) (1 Peter 3:4)
-to do what is right and not give way to fear (1 Peter 3:6)

Help me not to be angry, and in my anger, not to sin. (Eph 4:26)

Set a guard, O Lord, before my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips. (Ps 141:3) Let me be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to take offense and get angry. (James 1:20) Help me do all things without grumbling, fault-finding, and complaining (Phil 2:14), but instead to encourage and help. (I Thess 5:11)

If I have the ability to speak life to you, to encourage you, to help you, to make you feel good, to cause you to believe that you can make it, but I choose instead to discourage you, to tear you down, to make you feel mieserable, to cause you to want to give up and quit, there is something wrong with my mouth. (Joyce Meyer, Me and My Big Mouth)

Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and will teach you what you shall say. (Ex 4:12)

These passages are so significant to me that I like to come back to them here:

Enlarge the place of your tent; stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not; lengthen your cords and strengthen your pegs.  For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left. And your descendants will possess nations and will resettle the desolate cities. (Is 54:2-3)
Behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and your foundations I will lay in sapphires. Moreover, I will make your battlements of rubies, and your gates of crystal, and your entire wall of precious stones.
All your sons will be taught of the Lord; and the well-being of your sons will be great.
In righteousness you will be established; you will be far from oppression, for you will not fear. (Is 54:11-14)
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost...and delight yourself in abundance. (Is 55:1-2)
For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace.
Instead of the thorn bush the cypress will come up, and instead of the nettle the myrtle will come up. (Is 55:12-13)

Final thoughts to go into the day:

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree planted in the house of the Lord. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green. (Ps 92:12) 

When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Thy consolations delight my soul. (Ps 94:19)

May the God of peace sanctify me through and through. The one who calls me is faithful, and He will do it. (1 Thess 5:23-24)

Amen.