Psalm 84
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of Heaven's Armies.
2 I long, yes, I faint with longing
to enter the courts of the Lord.
With my whole being, body and soul,
I will shout joyfully to the living God.
3 Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young
at a place near your altar,
O Lord of Heaven's Armies, my King and my God!
4 What joy for those who can live in your house,
always singing your praises.
O Lord of Heaven's Armies.
2 I long, yes, I faint with longing
to enter the courts of the Lord.
With my whole being, body and soul,
I will shout joyfully to the living God.
3 Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young
at a place near your altar,
O Lord of Heaven's Armies, my King and my God!
4 What joy for those who can live in your house,
always singing your praises.
Psalm 78
1 O my people, listen to my instructions.
Open your ears to what I am saying,
2 for I will speak to you in a parable.
I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—
3 stories we have heard and known,
stories our ancestors handed down to us.
4 We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.
5 For he issued his laws to Jacob;
he gave his instructions to Israel.
He commanded our ancestors
to teach them to their children,
6 so the next generation might know them—
even the children not yet born—
and they in turn will teach their own children.
7 So each generation should set its hope anew on God,
not forgetting his glorious miracles
and obeying his commands.
Open your ears to what I am saying,
2 for I will speak to you in a parable.
I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—
3 stories we have heard and known,
stories our ancestors handed down to us.
4 We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.
5 For he issued his laws to Jacob;
he gave his instructions to Israel.
He commanded our ancestors
to teach them to their children,
6 so the next generation might know them—
even the children not yet born—
and they in turn will teach their own children.
7 So each generation should set its hope anew on God,
not forgetting his glorious miracles
and obeying his commands.
As I think about the incredible opportunity of being a father, I will certainly teach my children about the Lord so that they will grow in knowledge, wisdom, and fear of the Lord. But I think the best that I can do is "build our nest" in the presence of God so that our children will know Him personally!
Heavenly Father, I beg you to show mercy on me as a father. May I walk in your presence, and may I lead my family in walking in your presence so that they may know you and your character. Lord, please show us your grace and shine the light of your face upon us - even to this child not yet born. I pray that they in turn will teach their own children of your loving kindness so that all nations may set their hope on you. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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