Prayer Thoughts for July – Make a Difference for Children
Who was a positive, influential adult during your childhood? A teacher? A coach? A parent? A church leader? A friend’s parent? You may have had more than one adult you remember as being influential. Thats great! Everyone looks up to another individual for different reasons, but all positive, influential adults have one trait in common – they cared! They cared about you! They cared enough to make a difference.
30 I and the Father are one.”
31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”
33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’? 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— (John 10:30-35, AMP)
A person who makes a difference can be found in the most unexpected places. Perhaps the injured man saw the priest approaching. He would have breathed a sigh of relief – surely a priest, a man of God would care, would stop to help! But the priest passed him by, more concerned about himself. And then came a Levite. The man may have again thought help was at hand – surely a Levite, a servant of the Lord, would care, would stop to help! But the Levite passed him by, more concerned about himself. And then a Samaritan came. The man certainly did not expect help from a Samaritan, for the Samaritans and Jews despised each other! They went to great lengths to avoid walking through each other’s lands. Yet, the Samaritan stopped, helped, and took the injured man to where he could properly recover, paying all expenses, asking nothing in return. The most unexpected person can make a difference!
Can you be that person who makes a difference? July is National Make a Difference for Children Month. While we should always strive to be a positive influence in the lives of others, this month, focus on how you can make a difference in the life of a child. Perhaps you interact with children as part of your daily life. You are probably already making a difference! Reflect upon what you have done and how you can change and improve your interactions.
Therefore encourage and comfort one another and build up one another. (1 Thessalonians 5:11a, AMP)
If you do not interact with children daily, how can you make a difference? Pray for the Lord’s direction. Should you join a program such as Big Brother/Big Sister? Should you volunteer to coach a local sports league? Or volunteer to watch children? What action can you take? Pray for children and consider ways – and take action! – to make a difference to child.