A Prayer for Your Children

By Michael Griego on May 2, 2025 • ( 0 )

Consider the impact of calling upon the real power of all things to be directed upon your precious little ones. This just might change how you pray going forward. ◊

In last week’s post, A Prayer for Your Family, a simple framework was demonstrated to use as a memorable way to pray for various members of your whole family.

For many people, the challenge of prayer, beyond understanding the mystery of it, is simply struggling with what to say, or how to say it.

To take it to another level, consider prayer as it applies to your young children.

First of all, consider your children and the manner in which they approach you, their mother or father. When a child calls out to their mother, they don’t think much about what to say or how to say it. They just come to their mother with tears, or anguish, or pain, or fear, or anger, or confusion, or joy, or love.

There’s no script or preset formula or speech. It’s raw, real, and to the point.

Prayer is simply talking to God, your Creator, directly. In God’s own Word, the Bible, we are directed to:

Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances. (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. (1 John 5:14)
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. (Colossians 4:12)
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:12)
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. (Matthew 6:7)

Praying for Small Children
Several years ago, after she and her husband starting having children, my daughter shared with me a series of Bible verses that she faithfully compiled together into a honest, heartfelt prayer for her young children. She shared this new compilation of common Bible verses in a prayer that she could pray over her children as they slept, laid down to rest, or were sent off to school.

As you review the following words and verses of this prayer written out, consider whether you are applying this type of powerful prayer covering over the ones you hold dearest, your own children. Of course, this can apply to young and to even adult children. It can be a prayer for your grandchildren.

Read this, pray this, and consider the impact of calling upon the love and power of Almighty God to be directed on your own precious little ones.

It just might change how you pray going forward.

A Mother’s Prayer for Her Children ¹

Jesus, above all else I ask that you would call my children to yourself and that nothing would hinder them from coming to you (Matthew 19:14). May they confess with their mouths you as Lord, Jesus, and believe in their hearts that God raised you from the dead (Romans 10:9). Let your Word richly dwell within them, Father (Colossians 3:16), and even as they grow in knowledge and understanding I pray that they will never lose their childlike faith (Luke 18:17).

Lord, let our children know and embrace the magnitude of your love (Ephesians 3:18) and the freedom of your grace (Romans 6:14), learning daily to walk and be empowered by the Spirit and not to carry out the desires of their flesh (Ephesian 3:16; Galatians 5:16). Teach them to actively submit to you, to be quick to confess and forsake their sin, and to resist the devil so he will flee from them (Proverbs 28:13; James 4:7). As they turn from evil, let them cling to you, love you, and hunger and thirst for righteousness (Joshua 23:8, 11; Matthew 5:6), and in so doing may they obey you (1 John 1:3) and bear fruit so that your joy may be in them, Jesus (John 15:10-11).

God, help them also to honor us, their parents, by obeying us in your name (Ephesians 6:1-2). Today and always, I pray our children will be kind, tender-hearted and forgiving toward one another and others (Ephesians 4:32), and may they regard each other and all others as more important than themselves (Philippians 2:3). Surround our children with wise, God-fearing peers and mentors who will help us teach and demonstrate for them how to seek wisdom, listen to counsel and walk in integrity (Proverbs 8:17, 12:15, 10:9). Keep their minds pure, desiring and dwelling on all things good and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8) and overflowing with gratitude (Colossians 2:7).

Lord God, finally, incline our children’s hearts to pray in all things (Ephesians 6:18; Phil. 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; James 5:13-16). Grant us the greatest joy, Father, by allowing us to see our children walking in the Truth (3 John 1:4). We give you all praise and glory, Lord, for all the work you have done and will do in our children’s hearts and lives. Amen.

Blessed Assurance
May this be an encouragement to all of us who acknowledge a belief in the power of prayer. And do not be troubled or dismayed or feel it’s too late. It’s never too late to pray.

Certainly, after praying this prayer one can’t help but feel assured and encouraged that the children are covered – like a spiritual blanket of blessing, guidance, and protection. Yes, there is power and wonder in the petition and ushering of God’s loving grace and hand upon one’s own children in humble submission and dedication.

And as our Good Father, He will respond as promised, even unto generations.

And therein lies a parent’s legacy. In that Truth we can rest, trust, and be in profound peace.

Parents, are you praying for your children like this?
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But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children. – Psalm 103:17

1 By Lisa Goodin, 2015; published in A Mother’s Prayer for Her Children, by Michael Griego, Biblical Viewpoint, https://biblicalviewpoint.com/2020/07/31/a-mothers-prayer-for-her-children-2/.