Ten things to pray for your child

It is so easy to direct our children, most children, when they are young. At some point as a parent, this changes. Every parent reaches a place where they realise that they cannot control everything, that they are not responsible for their children’s happiness and that they need to step back. I know that we want our children to succeed, but they also are individuals who need to make choices and then deal with the consequences of those decisions. Rather than throwing up our hands in defeat, this is our opportunity to get down on our knees and seeks God’s help and wisdom. He is after all the One who created each person. He loves each child way more than we do, after all, our children are on loan to us from God.

This is our opportunity to get down on our knees and seek God’s help and wisdom.

Here are some things you can pray for your child from when they are little all the way through to adults:

1. For their faith and relationship with the Lord: We can teach our children about the Lord, take them to church, read the Bible, and only watch Christian movies and programmes, we can even mirror faith,  but at some point, everyone must embrace a relationship with God for themselves. We can pray for our children’s salvation.

2 Peter 3:9  “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

2. Pray for their character:  There is a popular quote in Christian circles, “God is more interested in your character than in your comfort.” It really is true. Just think of the teenager who can think of nothing better than spending every day lounging  around all day, doing nothing in particular (maybe on their phone, playing games or watching movies). We are meant to train our children up in the way they should go, which means chores are good for them, learning responsibility is good for them, reaching out to others is good for them, doing things they don’t feel like doing because it is important is good for them. We are meant to prepare our children for adulthood, so that they will become well-adjusted independent individuals, able to make wise choices. Pray that they will embrace a life of integrity and goodness, even in childhood. Romans 5:3-5 ^“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Note: Don’t just pray for them, be pro-active in leading them along the right path to developing a good character morally, ethically, and spiritually.

3. Pray for their safety. We can ask for God’s hand of protection on our children—physical, emotional, and spiritual.

Psalm 4:8 “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” 

Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Pray that they will run to the Lord and teach them how to do this by modelling it to them in your conversation and family prayer time.

Psalm 91is a powerful Psalm to pray over your children.

4. Pray for their joy and Godly contentment:  Money and success can bring happiness for a period, while it lasts. However, unless we learn to be content in all circumstances. Real joy is a spiritual gift and is found in our perspective of life, rather than the situations or circumstances we find ourselves in.

Philippians 4:11 “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

1 Timothy 6:6 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

5. Pray for their desire for the things that matter: Everyone asks the questions “who am I?” and “why am I …” and “what am I …”. Knowing who we are and knowing that we have a purpose is important because it was placed in us by the very God who created the universe. He created man and then gave man a purpose – “be fruitful and multiply … have dominion over”. It’s hard to articulate to younger children and some older children too, why the things of the world are fleeting, and that eternal things are those you can build a meaningful life around. Pray for God to show you how to live this idea daily in front of them and for them to be able to understand it. Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

6. Pray for  their purity: For children, the battle for purity is largely a battle for their minds. Satan’s battlefield is the mind and with the technological advancements of our time,  keeping the multitude of negative influences and ideas that are shouted at them daily by the media at bay is not easy. If you have older children who may have even left home, you can also pray for them for this is the will of the Lord, that we should live pure lives.

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

7. For their health: If your children are healthy and strong, this may be something you only pray when your child is ill or injures themselves. If your child has serious health challenges, then this is the prayer that you will pray most of all. In Isaiah 53:5 says, “by His stripes we are healed”. Health is not just for our physical bodies, but complete wholeness for our spirit, soul, and body. 3 John 2 “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” Psalm 103:2-3 says, “Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all His benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases…”

8. Pray for their friendships: It is easy to choose our children’s friendship circle for them when they are young, but as they enter school and develop friendships  beyond our sphere of influence, we have less say and more to pray about. Good friends are an important part of a child’s social and emotional development and can play a major role in shaping their views. Friendships are also important for adult children, and they can influence our children either for good or not. Pray for your children’s choices in friendship – healthy friendships that will point them to the Lord.

Proverbs 12:26 “The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”

9. Pray for their future: The years go by quickly from fingerpainting and making mud cakes, to the adolescent years and then suddenly our children are out there working and making a life for themselves. We can pray now for their preparation for what lies ahead and God’s blessing.

Jeremiah 29:11 “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

10. Pray for their future spouse: Nancy Jergins wrote, “It may sound crazy to pray about something that’s twenty years in the future, but out there, somewhere, is another child who may one day bring all of their baggage, good and bad, into your child’s life.” And, I have to agree with her. God, the perfect matchmaker wants to provide the right spouse for your child, and that they would enjoy a healthy marriage rooted in a strong common faith.

There is a beautiful story in Genesis 24 about Abraham sending his servant to find a wife for Isaac. I believe Abraham was at home praying and his servant sat at the well and prayed “… let her be the on You have appointed for Your servant Isaac.” God chose Rebekah for Isaac, not Abraham, nor his servant. You can pray that God’s kingdom come, and His will be done in a marriage partner for your child.

James 5:16 “…Pray for each other…The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”