Lord, it doesn’t look like Jesus fits in around here. If we follow him, we choose the road of misfits too. The world labels us as “fools” who believe in myths and fairy tales. Yet you offer deeper wisdom, love, and absolute truth as a light in the darkness. On this April Fool’s day and every day, give our family courage to live as fools for you.

Give us crazy faith to hold tenacious joy in suffering.

If our kids feel rejection at school, comfort them with your acceptance. When we struggle through sickness, failure, or painful loss, let us throw aside the world’s self-pity to

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4)

Give us foolish joy that holds on to hope and faith no matter what comes our way.

Show us what’s really important.

Help us to reject the foolish equation of money + success + popularity = happiness. Let our family crave treasures in heaven that last forever instead of cheap pleasures here that burn up in the end.

Satisfy our heart-needs through intimacy with You and each other, instead of social media and more “stuff.” Let us “seek first [your] kingdom and [your] righteousness,” so all the things we foolishly worry over will be given to us as well. (Matthew 6:33)

Transform our minds with your Word.

We want to know—really know—what’s true and wise. Saturate our home with the scriptures—show us how to “impress them on [our] children” by talking about them morning, noon, and night. (Deuteronomy 6:6-9) Shape our attitudes, our conversations, and our worldview so we’re conformed to the mind of Christ.

Guard us from the enemy’s lies.

He twists human thinking to believe good is bad, and bad is good. Without your Spirit’s help, we’ll become confused and forget who we are as your children. We’ll be easily led away by false teachers down the wide, easy road going nowhere.

We know our obedience will seem ridiculous to many. No matter how we’re challenged, put down, or dismissed, keep us faithful and steadfast. If we suffer persecution for following you, make us “shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” so we can respond with truth and love. (Matthew 10:16) May we stand firm in devotion to you. Help us to follow Jesus perfect example of humility and compassion that never wavered.

Lord, we love you. Thank you for the new life and identity we’ve found in you. May we cling to our salvation, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)

But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it,
this is commendable before God.
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you,
leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

“He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate;
when he suffered, he made no threats.
Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross,
so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness;
“by his wounds you have been healed.”

For “you were like sheep going astray,”
but now you have returned to the Shepherd
and Overseer of your souls.
(1 Peter 2:20-25)

Take hold of these resources to continue praying for your marriage and your family every day: