What does prayer mean to you? To me, prayer simply means talking to and communicating with God. The irony of ‘simple’ in my explanation above is profound, because to me, the ‘simple’ act of communicating with God has had and will continue to have a profound impact on my life and my children’s life. I am so grateful for the gift of prayer.
I remember praying and trusting God for the children we were yet to have during our season of infertility. I did not know when we would have them, but my husband and I talked to God and believed that we would be blessed with children. That is because we believe in the power of prayer. I remember when our first child was born, marking the end of our infertility stage, and with me very much in that newborn haze, my mum shared a bible verse with me, Exodus 23: 20-21. She encouraged me to pray this scripture over my daughter and future children and reminded me of the importance of praying for our children. I have held on to that advice and I am so grateful to my mum for the advice and reminder. Thank you, mummy.
Fun fact: my daughter’s name means ‘God has answered our prayers’!
The power of a praying parent cannot be underestimated. It is so important and is one of the best things we can do for our children. As parents, our hearts overflow with love and hope for our children. We dream of their bright futures, worry about their challenges, and long to see them grow into people of faith and purpose. One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is prayer—a daily act of surrendering them to God’s loving care. My heart is to create a community where we learn from and support each other and so on that note, I want to share six prayers inspired by some amazing and beautiful Bible verses, all rooted in God’s promises.
On the days that you feel you may not have the right words, any words or all the words to say (I know, as I have been there!), I encourage you to read these bible verses and personalise it over your child(ren):
- A Prayer of Gratitude
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” (1 Chronicles 16:34)
Oh Lord, we thank you because you are good and your love for us never fails. We thank you for the gift of prayer and our children. Thank you because every good and perfect gift comes from you. Thank you for choosing us to be stewards of our children. Thank you because our children are a blessing from you.
2. A Prayer for Trust and Guidance
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Lord, we entrust our children (for example, insert child’s name here) to You. Guide them when they face tough decisions and remind them to look to and always lean on You. Teach them that Your plans are good, and Your path leads to peace. Teach them to trust in you and to know that their identity is found in You alone. May they grow in faith, always trusting in Your perfect wisdom.
3. A Prayer for Peace and Knowledge
“All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace.” (Isaiah 54:13)
Father, teach our children to hear Your voice amidst life’s noise. Fill their hearts with Your peace that surpasses all understanding, and which is not dependent on what may be going on around them. May they grow in your wisdom, be grounded in Your truth, and live confident in Your perfect love for them.
4. A Prayer of Victory Over Challenges
“No weapon formed against you shall prosper.” (Isaiah 54:17)
Lord, protect our children from harm, both seen and unseen. Guard their hearts and minds against fear, evil, doubt, and negativity. Equip them with the courage to stand strong and walk in the victory that You have already promised them.
5. A Prayer for Love and Compassion
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind… Love your neighbour as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)
Jesus, plant the seeds of love deeply in our children’s hearts. Teach them to love You wholeheartedly and to extend that love to others. Teach them to lead with kindness and compassion. Help them to really know that they are fully loved by you and that there is absolutely nothing that can separate them from Your love for them. Help them to be fully rooted in the truth of Your love for them. Help them Lord to fully experience Your love and in turn pour out that love freely to others in Jesus name, Amen.
6. A Prayer for Protection and Purpose
“See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.” (Exodus 23:20-21)
Heavenly Father, we pray that you will assign your guardian angels to watch over our children 24/7. Protect them as they navigate life’s journey and lead them into the purposes You have prepared for them. May they walk boldly, knowing You go before them and that You are with them every step of the way, in Jesus name we pray, Amen.
These are some of the bible verses that I use to pray over our children. The bible is full of amazing truths and promises that we can use to speak over our children. Praying for our children is more than words, it is an act of faith and trust. As much as we might like to, the fact is that we cannot always be with our children and that sometimes can cause us a bit of worry. Being able to talk to God about my children reminds me that while I cannot always physically be there to shield them, God is ever-present and is guiding, protecting, and loving them greater than I ever could.
Let us continue (or start) to cover our children in prayer daily, rejoicing in the power of God’s promises and resting in the peace that comes from knowing and trusting that the ever-present God loves them and holds them safely in the palm of his hands.
What prayers do you hold close to your heart for your children? Let us uplift one another in this beautiful journey of parenthood!
I will close with this, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26.
With all my love,
Esther x
This post is everything! I constantly worry about my kids but as much as I do, I say a word of prayer for them every time.
Thank you for sharing Pastor Esther! Love eet!