12 Prayers for Children - Powerful Words of Protection and Hope

A Prayer for My Children's Protection

Lord, I pray Your emotional, physical, and spiritual protection over my children. Keep evil far from them, and help them to trust You as their refuge and strength. I pray You will guard my children's mind from harmful instruction, and grant them discernment to recognize truth. I pray You will make them strong and courageous in the presence of danger, recognizing that You have overcome and will set right all injustice and wrong one day. Help them to find rest in Your shadow, as they lives in the spiritual shelter You provide for them. Let our children know that the only safe place is in Jesus, and that their home on earth is only temporary. In Jesus name, amen. 

-  Rebecca Barlow Jordan

Prayer for a Child's Faith

Dear God, Create in my child pure heart, and renew a steadfast spirit within them (Psalm 51:10). Help my child to know your Word and to grow in faith each day. Thank You that Your word says I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate my child from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for Our Children to Find Their Identity in Christ

Dear Jesus, help my children know that we are all born as sinners and separated from God because of our wicked hearts. However, at an early age, help them grasp the life-transforming concept that he does not have to live as a sinner under that condemnation.

Teach my children that they have the opportunity to accept a new, beautiful identity that is called “good,” not because of what they have done or what they look like, but because they are secure in who YOU say they are: treasured, delightful, known and protected. Let them not place their self-worth in accomplishments achieved, but let our children discover these deeper truths about who You believe they are and build every decision they make on that sure foundation. In Jesus' name, amen.

Free Prayer Guide! Every day for the next 30 days, pray in a specific way for your children. Each day will have at least one verse for you to study and pray over your children.

Ready to spend the next month praying for your children? Let’s get started!

A Prayer for Children's Wisdom

Lord, I pray that my child will develop an eternal perspective with wisdom purpose that comes from You, not from the earth.  Help my child to see life–and every challenge–through Your eyes, eager and unafraid to share with others the good news of Jesus wherever he goes. I pray that they will set their mind on things above, not just what’s going on here, and that they are rooted and grounded in Your love. I pray that my child will come to understand the extent of Your own love for them–that it surpasses all the head knowledge they will acquire in school. I pray they will be filled up with You from morning ’til night.

A Prayer for Children's Friendships

Lord, protect our children from negative influences that would lead them away from you. Surround them with friendships and mentor-type relationships that portray what it means to live a Christ-centered life. Allow godliness and righteousness to guide their thoughts and actions. May our children be friends that build others up, friends that influence their peers for good. Help our children to be a light in the dark world and to be encouraged by friends who will stand with them. Amen.

A Daily Prayer for Your Children

Dear God, Another day is ahead, and once again, I want to release my children who I love so incredibly much, straight into your tender care. Because I know that’s the best place they could ever be. Thank you in advance for all that you have in store, for this day, for this season, and for their entire lives.

I ask for your wisdom and direction over their day, that you would give them understanding beyond what their years say they should even know. I ask that you would remind my kids again of how very much you love them. I pray that they find security and confidence fully in you, knowing that you are trustworthy and true.

I ask for laughter and joy to fill their day. I pray that you would give them boldness and courage to face the challenges set before them. I ask for you to protect them from feelings of shame or condemnation, but instead, cover them with your grace and hope. Amen

(excerpt from A Prayer to Prayer Over Your Children Each Morning by Debbie McDaniel. Photo Credit: Thinkstock/evgenyatamanenko)

Prayer for Children's Safety

Lord, Please keep them safe today. I ask that you would protect them from any harm or evil intent that would lurk close by, or attack them while they’re unaware. I ask for you to cover them in your care and hide them in the safety of your powerful presence. I pray for you to protect their coming and going, and to remind them that you’re always with them. Give them alertness, spiritual discernment, and wisdom to avoid temptation and to make the best choices.I thank you God, that you walk ahead of them, beside them, and behind them too. So I can trust you to always lead the way, be constantly at their side, and to have their back too, all at the same time. Amen.

(excerpt from A Prayer to Prayer Over Your Children Each Morning by Debbie McDaniel.)

A Prayer for Children at Bedtime

Dear God, We come before you and we thank you for this day and all that it’s brought our way, the good things and the hard things too. Thank you that within it all, you’ve reminded us again how much you love us and are always with us. We pray that you would help us to leave all of our cares and worries with you right now. Forgive us for the times we didn’t get it right today, in our attitudes or actions. We confess our need for you, and we thank you that you’re so loving and forgiving, compassionate and kind. Help us to be more like you every single day.

Thank you that you constantly remind us we never have to be afraid, in the day or the night. So we choose to put our trust in you as we lay our heads down and close our eyes to rest. We need the sleep and peace that only you can give. We pray for good dreams, for your blessings to surround us in every way.

(excerpt from A Prayer For Your Kids at Bedtime by Debbie McDaniel)

A Birthday Prayer for Children

Father, this child is a beautiful blessing to our family and we thank you for the gift of life in them! We could not have dreamed up a more delightful little person to grace us. We are blown away by your goodness and creativity. May we always turn to you in worship as we appreciate this child. Thank you for their laughter and smiles. Thank you for this child's growing imagination and an inquisitive mind. Thank you for growing a heart able to spot needs: hands that rush to help feed the dog or hug a crying sibling. Lord, please grow this child to love you with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. Let their faith be rooted deeply in you. May they use their gifts and talents to bring glory to your name. Grow their character to display the fruit of the spirit. Bless this child and favor them with physical, mental, and emotional health. Thank you for the gift of this child. Help us to steward our influence and relationship for your glory and their good. Amen. 

(excerpt from A Special Birthday Prayer by Molly DeFrank)

Prayer for Future Work

We pray that our kids would persevere in whatever vocation you give them and that they would work with cheerful hearts as if they were serving you directly. We pray that our kids would see at an early age that money and possessions are a gift from You and thus must be always held with an open hand so that You can use those gifts to bless others.

(excerpt from "5 Areas of Your Child’s Life to Pray against Satanic Attack" by Alicia Michelle)  

Prayer to Trust God With Your Child

Lord, You love my child more than I do, Lord, and I trust you with their life. I know you work all things together for good for those who love You. Please give my child stamina to handle trials and struggles that come and the faith to endure any hardship. Help them to hear Your voice, feel Your presence, and impact the faith of others as they live a life of confidence in You. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Prayers for a Bullied Child

Father, it’s hard to see our children hurt. Guide us to act swiftly in their defense when they are in danger physically, and compassionately remind them of who they really are when their soul’s are under attack. We are promised that “in this world we will have trouble,” and that’s no more evident than amongst a crop of elementary-aged children hurling mean insults at another child… or our own child. 

Bless and protect our children’s hearts and minds. By the power of the Holy Spirit who helps us to recall Your Word, may we have Truth on the tips of our tongues to remind our kids what You say about them. May they always know that You love them, and that they are Yours. Stir their hearts to hear Your call on their lives early, and may their steps follow fast after You all of their days. 

Help us to remember to pray for our enemies. To pray for the bullies. Bless those that harbor malice and anger in their hearts, treating others as less than what they are… Your beautiful creation. Search their hearts for hurt and call them back to You. Love their hurt away. 

Father, parenting is amazing and heartbreaking at the same time. Help us, Jesus. Guide us through this maze of raising a child that is God-fearing, God honoring, and Christ following. Beyond our mistakes and inabilities, we know that You chase after our children. Praise You, that it’s not all up to us. Bless our feet to walk out our calling as parents, and our children to hear Your voice above all others… ours and the bullies. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

(excerpt from A Prayer for Moms of Bullied Children, Meg Bucher)