As parents, we want what's best for our kids. Of course, we want them to do well in school, have quality friendships, and be successful in their activities. But most importantly, we want our kids to love God, follow Him, and share the love of Jesus with those around them.
The Bible is a guide for how to pray for your kids. We're going to share 7 Bible verses to pray for your child but before we do, we want to encourage you in whatever stage you may be in your parenting.
Maybe you're expecting your first child and your heart is full of hopes and dreams for them. You may be in the newborn or toddler haze and are barely keeping your head above water between the late nights, temper tantrums, and runny noses. Perhaps your child is elementary age and just discovering their strengths and interests, or your preteen is questioning everything.
Your teenager may be testing boundaries, or perhaps they are already well beyond your boundaries. They experience added peer pressure and new relationships. Major life decisions regarding college or career loom ahead of them.
Your adult child could be searching for purpose, struggling with an addiction, or striving for success in unhealthy ways.
Why Should You Pray Over Your Children?
As parents, praying over your children brings us into alignment with God’s will for your kids. Remember, your children are ultimately God’s children. He created them and loves them even more than we do!
As you pray for your colicky baby to have peace, or pray for your rebellious teenager to return home, or pray for any circumstance in between, you are asking God to make His will known in your children’s lives.
Sometimes, you may not know what to pray for your child. That’s when you can turn to God’s Word for wisdom, and pray these Bible verses for your kids.
Encouragement for Parents as You Pray for Your Child
Every stage of your child's life has unique challenges. When you feel alone in your parenting, remember that you are never alone. God is with you through the highs and lows. God knows how it feels to have rebellious kids, successful kids, and everything in-between. He is there for every milestone, late night, and heartbreak that you experience with your child.
God loves your child even more than you do! Isn't that amazing?! He loves all His children uniquely and perfectly. He created each of His children with a purpose.
Part of your purpose is that he has chosen you -- yes, you -- to be the parent for your child. It is not by accident! God wants the best for you and your child, and He choose you to be a family for a purpose.
As parents, one powerful way we can walk alongside our kids is with prayer. But, sometimes we don't know how to pray for our child. In God's great love and wisdom, He has given us the Bible to show us how to pray for our children.
Related Post: 8 Ways to Pray Throughout the Day
A Prayer for Your Child to Know God Better
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. - Ephesians 1:17-19a
There is nothing better than knowing Jesus. We all want the best for our children, and the very best thing for them is to know and love God. Pursuing God means you have wisdom from the Holy Spirit and hope for your future.
A Bible Verse to Pray for Your Kids' Faith
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. - Colossians 1:9-12
This is one of the most powerful Bible verses to pray for your child because it covers so many aspects of their life. Knowledge of God's will, the Holy Spirit's wisdom and understanding, living a life worthy of the Lord, bearing good fruit, power, endurance, patience, being joyful and qualified. We all want these qualities for our children and for ourselves.
Praying for Your Child's Spiritual Fruit
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. - Galatians 5:22-25
Pray for your child's passions and desires. Pray they crucify their flesh and sinful desires, and they "keep in step with the Spirit." When they live by the Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit will flow out of their lives and into the lives of those around them.
How to Pray for Your Kids' Heart
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ - Matthew 22:27-28
Oh, that they will love the Lord with all their heart, soul, and mind! That includes their emotions, thoughts, and desires. Pray they love the Lord fully and pursue a deep relationship with Him. And the second part of this prayer is to love their neighbors. Pray your child is a beacon of hope and love to anyone and everyone around them.
A Prayer for Your Child to Make Good Choices
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. - 1 Timothy 4:12
Kids don't have to wait until they are older to make a difference. Pray they are a good example to their peers in how they speak, act, love, and live our their faith. Pray their pure behavior and genuine love points others to Jesus.
Praying for Your Kids to Follow God's Will for Their Life
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. - Micah 6:8
As a parent, you'll spend time wondering what your child will do when they grow up. A doctor? Teacher? Pastor? What is God's will for your child's life? Micah 6:8 shows what the Lord requires of all of us, regardless of career. We are to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. This is the will of God for us. As we pray for our children's future, pray they do what the Lord requires.
How to Pray for Your Child's Peace
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:6-7
According to many studies, kids now are experiencing more stress, anxiety, and depression than previous generations. Peer pressure, school achievement, and social media can all effect their mental health. It is more important than ever to pray for our kids' peace.
Let's pray that they know God is with them and cares about everything in their life. God is big enough to handle the big stuff, and cares enough to handle the small stuff, too. Pray that our children know they can turn to God for everything that may weigh them down. Pray that God's immeasurable peace will guard their hearts and minds.
What are the Promises of God Regarding Our Children?
As you read through these verses to pray over your child, be reminded of God’s promises to you as a parent.
God loves your child fully and unconditionally.
Your child was uniquely made by God and is deeply loved by Him. This is not something your child can earn. Your rebellious teenager can never be separated from the love of God. He loves your son or daughter so much that He died to rescue them.
God has a plan for good.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. - Romans 8:28
This Bible verse for your kids comes with a promise: God works for the good. His plan for your child is good.
Conclusion
God’s Word is full of hope for parents. Use these Bible verses to pray for children at every stage of their lives, from infancy to adulthood. Our children will always need the wisdom that comes from scripture. Teach these Bible verses to your kids and help them gain the knowledge of who they are in Christ.
These Bible Verses to pray for your child are also great scriptures to pray for ourselves and our own life! Take some time today to pray these verses for yourself and for those you love.
Related Post: How to Disciple a New Christian
Author
