Podcast (daily-devotion): Play in new window | Download | Embed

Psalm 118:8-14
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I cut them down. They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the LORD I cut them down. They swarmed around me like bees, but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them down. I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me. The LORD is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.

The musical Annie has a song called “It’s the Hard-Knock Life.” The orphans sing about an “empty belly, rotten smelly, full of sorrow, no tomorrow” hard-knock life. While few of us can identify with the plight of orphans, everyone can relate to the hard-knocks that come in some form or fashion. As parents it’s hard for us to watch our children take those hard-knocks.

Here’s a prayer to pray for our children and grandchildren through the inevitable hard-knocks of life.

Heavenly Father,  

Life will come with its hard-knocks. My children will be pushed back and pushed around by situations beyond their control. They will know what it means to stumble. Many times they will fall, and I won’t be there to help them. But You will always be right by their side.

Father, be their strength against the influencing crowd. Be their refuge in the midst of life’s inevitable challenges. Defend them against their strongest temptation in their weakest moments. Let them know that they are never alone. May this confession always be on their lips: “He has become my salvation.”

In Jesus’ name. Amen.