7 Powerful Prayers to Pray over Your Children

Why Is It Important to Pray over Our Children?

Children face many obstacles, challenges, and decisions. Even from a young age, children are deciding between right and wrong, choosing to show kindness and love, and resisting the temptation to sin. Parents can fight on behalf of their children by praying for them.

It is important for parents to pray over their children because they need your prayers. Children of all ages are up against the enemy’s schemes; they deal with pressures regarding friendships and school, and they are figuring out their sense of faith and how they will follow Jesus. Prayers for children are vital as they navigate life and faith. Parents can spiritually battle for their children through prayer.

1. A Prayer for Your Young Child

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the gift of my precious child. I am so grateful to watch him/her grow and develop. I praise you, Lord, because my child is fearfully and wonderfully made. I ask that you would help my little one reach his/her milestones, to learn, and to grow in line with how you have made him/her.

Give me wisdom as I care for my little one each day, help me to pass along faith to him/her, and open my child’s ears to hear your truth. Protect him/her each day as he/she plays, makes friends, and learns the world around him/her. Set my child on the path you have for him/her, and help him/her to love you and follow you each day. I pray that my little one would enjoy learning about you, praying to you, and going to church.

I put my dear child into your hands, Lord, trusting you completely with who he/she is and his/her days ahead.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen!

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2. A Prayer for Your Teen to Know Christ

Gracious God,

I am so grateful for my teenage child and who you have made him/her to be. Though it can be tough navigating the world of parenting a teenager, I am blessed by this child and I know that you are with me. Lord, my deepest hope is that my teenage son/daughter will come to know you as his/her Lord and Savior. I pray that my teenager will choose to believe in you, give their heart and life to you, and follow you each day. 

Lord, place the right friends into my teen’s life and help my teen to connect with other Christian kids at church. I know that you have good plans for my teen, so I ask that you help my son/daughter step into the gifts and purpose that you have for him/her. Let the seeds of faith from over the years begin to take root as my teen develops a real and genuine faith in you.

I pray that nothing would keep my son/daughter from making the best decision they’ll ever make, which is to know you as their Savior. Thank you, Lord, for hearing these prayers.

I ask this all in Jesus’ name,

Amen!

3. A Prayer for Your Adult Child

Lord,

When I think back to raising my child, it is hard to believe he/she is an adult. I am thankful to you for allowing me to be his/her parent. Lord, I pray good things for my adult child. I ask that you would help him/her to find the purpose you have for his/her life. Strengthen his/her faith in you. Guide them to the right workplace and help them to use his/her gifts to glorify you.

Lord, the Bible says that we are salt and light in this earth. I pray that my child would be a light each day to family, colleagues, and others he/she encounters. You know the details of my adult child’s life more than I do, so I trust that you are with him/her. Please guide his/her steps and help my adult child to continue to find peace and hope in you.

Bless the relationship I have with my adult son/daughter, that I may speak wisdom and life into him/her and be there to support him/her. Continue to watch over and bless my adult child.

I pray this in Jesus’ name,

Amen!

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4. A Prayer for Your Child to Have Strong Faith

Heavenly Father,

Having faith in you is such a gift! I ask that my child would have a deep faith in you. I pray that whatever my child may go through, that he/she would continue to persevere in faith. May my child’s faith endure the ups and downs of life. When the troubles come, I pray that my child would run to you, Lord. I ask that the hardships would not turn my child away from you, but draw them closer to you. When the good times come, I pray my child would give thanks to you for all the goodness in his/her life. I ask that my child would know that you are a good Father who blesses him/her.

Lord, help my child to love you, serve you, and worship you all the days of his/her life. Let my child grow strong in faith by having a vibrant prayer life and getting into the Bible to learn your ways. I ask that the people in my child’s life would encourage his/her faith and that he/she would have a good Christian community to be part of where his/her faith can flourish. Thank you, Lord, for hearing these prayers.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen!

5. A Prayer for Your Child to Have Wisdom

Loving Lord,

The Bible says to ask for wisdom and it will be given. I pray that my child will have wisdom – not what the world thinks is wise, but wisdom that is in line with your truth. My child faces many decisions, obstacles, and temptations each day and needs your wisdom and help. May my child have the wisdom to reject what is deceitful and sinful, and instead cling to you and follow your path.

I pray my child would desire wisdom and want to honor your ways and teachings. Lord, give my child wisdom when it comes to friendships, work, and choices to be made. I pray that my son/daughter would consult your word and seek your guidance. I ask, Lord, that you would help my child be wise and know your will and way for him/her.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen!

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Anastasiia Stiahailo

6. A Prayer for Christ to Capture Your Child's Heart

Gracious God,

Thank you for your Son and His work on the cross. I am so thankful that you are involved in my child’s life and I lift up my child’s heart to you in this moment. Let my child be open to the love that Jesus has for him/her.

I pray that Jesus would completely capture my child’s heart. Lord, I ask that my son/daughter would love Jesus with all their heart, soul, and strength. I ask that my child would not be infatuated with the world or susceptible to the enemy’s schemes, but would instead have a heart for you and for righteousness. Lord, capture my child’s heart and let him/her embrace the love you have for him/her. Help my child to embrace you and be in relationship with you.

I pray this in Jesus’ most holy name,

Amen!

7. A Prayer for Your Child to Be Brave

Lord,

I give thanks to you for blessing me with an amazing son/daughter. I pray for my child to be brave in the face of challenges and obstacles. The Bible teaches we should have courage and not be afraid because you are with us wherever we go. Help my child to accept that you are with him/her and that he/she has nothing to fear. Give my child bravery and courage to follow you and to live the life you have planned for him/her. 

Lord, you know the situations my child will face, and I pray that they will continue to have courage and be brave in the face of opposition or the unknown. Remind my child that you are with him/her wherever he/she may go. Thank you, Lord, for walking with my child and help him/her in all circumstances.

I pray this in Jesus’ name,

Amen!

As a parent, we will watch our children go through many things – milestones, setbacks, advancements, and challenges. We cannot protect them from everything, but we have a God who is bigger than all of that. We can have full assurance that God loves our children and is taking care of them in ways that we cannot. It is vital for parents to pray for children because they are susceptible to troubles and sin. When we pray for our children, we are helping them fight the battles going on in their lives and supporting them in significant ways through prayer.

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