Lord,

My kids can be best friends one minute and enemies the next. Craving attention, they fight and tattle on each other’s mistakes. Jealousy creates conflict over “stuff.” Peace is lost as each child craves first place and tries to keep the upper hand. Demanding their own way is stealing the joy from our house.

Restore unity to our family today. Move in my children’s hearts, bonding them together by your Spirit. Let them “make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” May they “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above [themselves], not looking to [their] own interests but each of [them] to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:1-4) Teach them to share gladly, show compassion, and cheer each other on every day.

Give me patience and wisdom as my children’s parent. Show me how to guide them away from sibling rivalry to kindness and self-control. Help me to set an example as a peacemaker in my relationships. Make us into a family who is slow to take offense and quick to forgive. Let the love in our home shine the light of Jesus to all who come in.

Amen.

Do everything without grumbling or arguing,
so that you may become blameless and pure,
“children of God without fault in a
warped and crooked generation.”
Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky
as you hold firmly to the word of life.
(Philippians 2:14-16)