Today's Passage: Colossians 3:18-21

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Today's Prayer: 

Father, in a world that abuses power at every turn, you’ve called us to be different. In Ephesians 5:21 you instruct us first to submit to one another in Christ. We pray that, as men, women, and children, you would stir us to humility in heart to show preference to others and serve in our homes, churches, schools, and workplaces. Just like you washed the feet of Your disciples, help us in our marriages and families to take on the posture you modeled—that you would even wash the feet of one who would betray you hours later. 

Also, Lord you’ve given us as men double admonitions in these verses. You tell us twice to not be harsh. Lord, You have set the standard of leadership as the one who gets to sacrifice first. You did this by sacrificing Your life on a cross—to die for us, to sacrifice first. 

Father, would you help us as husbands and dads to sacrifice first that everything else flourishes around us. That our wives would feel nurtured, safe, and seen to then grow more into who you’ve made them to be. That our kids would find comfort, safety, and healthy boundaries to grow into the person you have created them to be. Help us not forget that we, as men, are also your bride as the church and your adopted child. 

Help us rest in these with you so we might know better how to lead and love our own. 

NOTES & LINKS:

Information about the Women's Summer Study

Information about the Men's Summer Study

Reach out to the Center for Spiritual Formation