Prayer From a Parent’s Heart
As I sit down to write this article I am reminded of the awesome honour of being a parent. God has granted me the privilege of raising three of His special little ones, but with the privilege comes great responsibility and a lot of hard work. Perhaps more than any other area of life, parenting brings with it the capacity both for boundless joy and tremendous heartache. What can we do as parents to succeed at the task God has given us? Pray, Pray, Pray!
Parenting has not been an easy journey for me. I have had to face my own inadequacy and rely on God’s plan for my life and my children. Part of that process was God teaching me how to pray for my children. There is no exact science for this, but the Lord put it on my heart to write a prayer for each of my children.
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Why write a prayer? I had so many things that I wanted to remember to pray for each of my children, and writing it out really helped me to be concise. The written prayers reflect each child’s uniqueness, while also covering the basics in such a way that I don’t feel like I’m forgetting any important issues. I’d encourage you to give it a try.
Begin with a decision to take the time to pray for your children. This sounds simple, but it takes follow-through and commitment. When it comes to prayer, there is no substitute for time, and writing a well-crafted prayer for each child takes extra effort. But you will find that it’s well worth it.
Next, sit down and brainstorm a list of all the things you want to pray for. What is important to you as you raise your children in this difficult culture we live in? Try to catch a glimpse of the future: what kind of adults do you want your kids to become? Here are a few items on my prayer list:
* (Editor’s Note: Try printing out these prayer items and insert it in your Bible so you can be reminded to pray for your kids.)
- Purity: I pray for purity both for my kids and for their future spouses. Their spouses are out there somewhere, growing up as children right now, and what happens in their lives will greatly affect the life of my children down the road.
- Relationships: Above all, I pray that my kids will develop strong relationships with the Lord. I also pray for healthy relationships with their siblings, with friends, and with my husband and I as their parents.
- Protection: The world is a dangerous place in many ways. I pray for physical, spiritual and emotional protection for each child.
- Personal weaknesses: Every child has their own struggles, whether it’s lying, angry outbursts, disrespect, or any number of other issues. I pray that God will shape their character and turn their weaknesses to strengths.
- Thanks: Each child also has unique strengths that are God’s gift to our family. For some it’s charm, for others leadership ability or a sense of humour. I thank God for these special qualities and ask Him to continue to develop these characteristics in our children.
After brainstorming your list, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in writing the prayer. Then it’s finally time to sit down and start writing! In addition to working from the list, I try to incorporate scripture passages that are applicable to the situation. Because the Bible is God’s perfect Word, I believe it is very powerful in prayer.
Here is an example of what I wrote as part of a prayer regarding purity:
For a daughter:
“Lord, we ask for purity in her life and that of her husband. We ask for protection over their innocence and purity; protect them from others and wrong choices, call them to a higher standard. We ask for wisdom and discernment in teaching and preparing her for a life of purity and modesty. I also ask that you grant her husband’s parents wisdom as they raise a man of integrity.”
For a son:
“Lord, we pray against pornography and lust and its evil effects on his life both as a child and as an adult. Give us wisdom in teaching him to respect girls and women. Put a calling of purity upon his life that he will never use, abuse, or take advantage of girls or women. We ask for wisdom and discernment in teaching and preparing him for a life of purity.”
I pray blessing and biblical qualities for my children. The Bible has a lot to say about how we speak and the power of the tongue to do damage, but also to bring healing. “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21).
“Father we thank You for (insert your daughter’s name here), You have heaped us with bounty and we praise You for entrusting us with her. She is fearfully and wonderfully made. You chose her for us and we thank You for the gift she is to us. We bless her and ask that You fill her with “Whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, having virtue, or anything praiseworthy, let her think on these things.””
I pray for wisdom as a parent regarding specific issues for this child. The Bible says whoever lacks wisdom should ask…so I ask a lot! “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).
“Lord, grant us wisdom. We ask that you would impress upon him that lying is wrong. Help us to train him to be a man of integrity and honesty starting now. We ask that you would raise him up to be an upright man; one who is pro-active for what is right. May he not be passive, but aggressive for truth and what is honourable.”
Relationships will be a lifelong pursuit for your children: relationships with family, friends and especially with the Lord. My dad prayed faithfully for a good Christian friend for me in high school. I am so thankful for those prayers, and I believe God has answered them many times over in my life. I thank God for many wonderful friends over the years.
“We ask Father that you would fill her life with good relationships, first with you Lord. Help her to seek after Godly things. We ask your blessing on our relationship with her, help us to express to her and for her to feel unconditional love; may she rise up and call us blessed. We ask for good friends for her; that she may feel accepted and influenced by good kids. Keep her path straight. We ask your blessing on her life by causing Godly people to positively influence her life at the crossroads she will face. Go before her and prepare the way.”
I hope this glance into my heart as a mother will encourage you in your parenting journey. As I conclude this article I want to share that the first prayer I wrote was a turning point for our family. I wrote that prayer out of desperation because I had tried everything the world has to offer, and yet nothing had worked. Truly God wanted to begin a work in me, and it started with turning my eyes upon the Lord and looking to Him for answers. As I look back I see a faithful God working in our lives. The true changes began when I took my eyes off changing my child and started changing myself.
74 Responses to “Prayer From a Parent’s Heart”
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dear melissa– prayer–father God i pray for carter for this son i pray a cleansing over carter’s mind, i pray if its attack i pray for you enemy to leave his mind in JESUS name amen. for me i memorized philippians 4 verses 8 whatever is good, pure, lovely think on such things and also i john 4.4 greater is he in carter than the one in the world. i am praying for you and carter love sharon
Thank you for sharing these prayers for children. Also, for reminding me that I need to allow God to work in my life, so that I may teach my children to allow him to work in their lives. Please pray for my 5 year old son, Carter. He is experiencing “bad thoughts” and many of them are impure. He asked Jesus into his heart a few months ago, and these thoughts are fairly recent. I am so worried about him, and what these thougts are doing to his mind. I feel like he is under attack from the enemy.
dear deanna prayer–father God i pray for this daughter for her to see on who you made her to be, give her dreams and visions that you have great plans for her and that lying is not right in your eyes God give her parents wisdom and guidance on how to handle her lying and help this daughter to see on who you are and that she wants to live for you. i pray for a miracle for this daughter i pray everything in JESUS name amen i am praying for you all
Please join me in praying for my 11 year old daughter, Madelyn. . I am finding that she has a tendency to lie quite often. It can be something very simple or lying when being confronted about something. It seems to come very natural for her and I think sometimes she doesn’t even know she’s doing it. She starts middle school next year and I really want to see this broken off of her. She is such an amazing young lady and I know God has big things in store for her. Please pray that she finds her identity in Jesus and not in her friends or her successes or failures.
My husband and I need a lot of wisdom and discernment to handle this properly
He especially is struggling with relating to her right now.
Your prayers are greatly appreciated.
Blessings,
Deanna
Maryam:
Thank you for your kind comments. I agree with you that the world is for both those who remember God and those who don’t. God causes the sun to rise, and sends rain, on the righteous and the unrighteous. I pray for your daughter, that she will rise up to be what God has created and equipped us to be – Super Overcomers. I pray that what ever situation she is going through, that she will overcome it in a way that will help others grow their faith in God.
I hope you don’t mind, but I’d like to share with you what the Bible says about how we know what is right and wrong — it is through the help of God’s Holy Spirit (John 16:8), which rests within each one of us if we allow God to help us live our lives in tune with Him. I want to share that when I was a teenager, I did not really know God the way I do now. I used to speak bad words, I used to sometimes be disrespectful to my parents, and be open to things that probably would have negatively impacted my future. But I had an aunt praying for me, along with the whole family, that I would come to know the Lord. Through those years, although I did not think of Jesus much, I had a basic acknowledgement of God and looking back now, He protected me from many things, even though I was not pleasing to Him.
I am not saying I am perfect now, but I am definitely bothered in my spirit to either regret and make amends for certain things, or feel compelled to do certain things until I do them. If I would have had the Holy Spirit with me from the time I was a teen or younger, I can only imagine how my life would have been different. It has been an adventure and I have just this week felt led by the Holy Spirit to speak specific words to a stranger, and it turns out that the teen needed to hear those exact words during his transition from being an Atheist to knowing Christ.
I agree with your prayers for all the sons and daughters and share the love you have for many, whether they be your own daughter or son or not. I can tell you have this big love in your heart and I know God will bless you and all your prayers for this love that is in your heart.
Many blessings,
Rasheil
The world is a test and not a punishment for the rightous people and for those who remember God and those who do not. Be patient and inshallah your prayers will be answered if not already. I love your prays and will use them because my daughter is going through a hard time. May Allah (God) give them grace and courage to change the things that should be changed and wisdom. I pray for all the daughters and son of Allah (God) to know the difference between right and wrong. Ameen
Dear Lord,
I lift up Carrie’s family to you right now and agree with her in asking that the custody order for her children would be reversed. You know the heart of these boys that so badly want to come back to live with their mother. Father, You can see into this situations and I ask that You would work in the lives of all concerned. Amen.
Carrie, we have wonderful online prayer mentors who would also love to pray for you. Just fill in the form on this page and one of them will be in touch with you.http://powertochange.com/discover/need-prayer/
Please pray for a quick turn of events with the custody order of my children, and they can come home to live with Mom. they been with dad about 5-6 years 200 + miles away. they are now 11 and 12 and dad is being investigated for child abuse. My boys want so bad to come home to me and i want this to. its caught up with cps and i had a past issue in 06 with cps and a drug use. so this is whats holding everything up. I am clean from drugs and never bruised my children physically the way he has. father has a no contact order with his children, but the county they reside in seem to not be serving justice. They are staying with step mom, who i believe wants to stay with him. This is not the childrens best intrust for this man to get away with this. thank you father Jesus Amen.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I lift up Angie’s family to you. You know the situation that her daughters are in, and we ask that You by Your Holy Spirit would call them by name. Speak to their hearts Lord so that they would come to know You personally. Father You are the one that promises to redeem the years that the locusts have eaten and so we ask that You would be the one to redeem each life Lord. Amen
My oldest daughter (33) is always in and out of jail for being drunk, she has 7 children and 2 daughters are still in children’s aid one is crown awarded..the other girl (31)always drunk the other younger girl (29)is married through justice of peace..never got married in a church. shes married a shizophrenia, sounds scary to me. I am a christian, still praying for these girls. My son (21)is going to be having his first child. I left my husband, got deceived, wasnt right in the lord, that time, now i got back on track with my lord and savior!! I keep on praying! What else can you do but pray for your children, thats the best thing..run to jesus in word ..he never changes.
Lord God I pray for Maria-Christina’s family. I ask that You would be speaking loudly into their lives so that they cannot ignore it. I ask that You would bring other followers of Jesus into their lives so that they will have the chance of seeing the difference that You make in a person’s life. Soften their hearts and help them to receive the free gift of salvation and acknowledge you as their Lord. Amen.
Please pray for our five girls. Two of them live in Sweden and do not want to know anything about God. We have four grandkids. Please pray for their salvation. Thank you so much!!
Jude, God is NOT disgusted with you. Have you seen that collection of verses called God’s Love Letter? THIS is what God thinks about you:
My Child,
You may not know me, but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2
I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31
For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27
In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28
For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28
I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5
I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live.
Acts 17:26
You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14
I knit you together in your mother’s womb.
Psalm 139:13
And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6
I have been misrepresented by those who don’t know me.
John 8:41-44
I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1
Simply because you are my child and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11
For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48
Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3
My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18
And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17
I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40
For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5
I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41
And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3
If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29
Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4
For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20
For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart.
Isaiah 40:11
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes.
Revelation 21:3-4
And I’ll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23
For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26
He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you.
Romans 8:31
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19
His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you.
1 John 4:10
I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me.
1 John 2:23
And nothing will ever separate you from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39
Come home and I’ll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7
I have always been Father, and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15
My question is… Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13
I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32
Love, Your Dad
Almighty God
Father’s Love Letter used by permission Father Heart Communications
© 1999-2011 http://www.FathersLoveLetter.com
I cannot imagine how hard a road you have walked, but it sounds like you have done everything you could. You sound like a good Mom. You prayed hard, and often, you kept your kids safe even though it meant that you were alone for years. I can hear a lot of guilt in your comment. You are not responsible for what your ex-husband did to your kids. He is the one who will answer to God for that, not you. You must have cried so many tears.
When we feel far away from God it always means that we are the one who put space between us. God does not move away from us, we move away from Him because we’re scared or we feel guilty or dirty or unworthy. God calls out to each of us with open arms. I do not know your story, but I do know that God promises that if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. You can be on speaking terms with God right now in this moment. He’s only ever one prayer away.
I remember hearing a speaker years ago who said that salvation has two parts to it: expiation and propitiation. The first one is the salvation that saves us from the things we have done with our own hands, thoughts and voices. But the second one, propitiation, that’s the salvation that saves us from the things that we done to us. When 1 John 1:9 talks about “cleanse us from all unrighteousness” that’s what it’s talking about. You are not guilty of the things that were done to you (or to your kids) but God cleans up the mess from that too. He wipes away the evil that other people smeared on our faces, he cleans the heart from all those hurts. You are carrying a heavy load. Have you considered seeing a counsellor or a pastor for some additional support? I think it could really help.
Jude,
My heart goes out to you. I just prayed that you would feel God wrapping His arms around you. May God bless you.
Pls pray for my prodicals. I have two sons and a daughter that were abused, beaten, emotionally and physically by their dad and the younger two molested by him. The two youngest are living the gay lifestyle and the oldest cant keep a job. They are ages 29, 27, and almost 25. Ive tried since 1995 when we divorced and he abandoned his kids to make up for all that he did.. Ive prayed harder than ive ever done anything in my life! I feel cursed and hopeless. Im still alone and never brought a man into the mix as they’ve been so traumatized by their dad. Im sure i have trust issues too. Life is so hopeless…..im sure God must be so disgusted with me, he told me not to marry that man. Pls pray for my kids.
Dear Olivia, I would love to pray for your daughter…..
Father, thank you that You are our Heavenly Father who never ever leaves us nor forsakes us. Thank you that even now You know where Olivia’s daughter is and You are there with her. I ask that You would speak to her heart so that she would come home. Remind her often that her mother loves her and is waiting for her just like the story of the Prodigal Son. Amen.
Olivia,we do have online prayer mentors that would love to join you in praying for your daughter as well. Just fill out the form on this page and someone will email you. http://powertochange.com/discover/need-prayer/
Please join me in prayer for my daughter who took off from home!
Let me try that again:
This blog seems to be for me more than for most of you, in that our son who is turning 40 this month, is following his own drummer. He has no respect for me, ridicules my faith, and seldom contacts us. He appreciates his mother since she raised him (while I was pursuing my own interests). I even find it difficult to pray for him. I can say, however, that I’ve given it all the the Lord, knowing that in His perfect timing, my son will be “brought in” to recognize and accept Jesus. So, I thank God for keeping him safe, and for surrounding him with friends that will have an impact on him and direct his gaze heavenward.
Thank you, Angela, for mentioning the story of the prodigal son, and that our Father always knows where our son is!
Mine may be the case of “failure to pray” and failure to take interest in our (adopted) son. When he was young I was painfully aware of the fact that he’s a very different character than I am, so we had very little in common. It was difficult for me to go out of my way to cater to his interests; and now I’m reaping the dirty fruit of those years. We are not giving up, for there is still hope! He has good rapport with his sister who is a beautiful Christian. Blessings.
prodigal son
Dear Roxy,
Dont give up on Jesus,just remember about the prodigal son and I will give you a site where Fr.Augustine speaks about the mercy of God. I am a widow and I feel what u are going through. this is the site go to google and type “Divine on line” you can go through all the talks but first hear ” Streams of Grace – Episode 13 ”
God loves you my friend and he will not leave your son.
Roxi, I think that the question, “Why is this taking so long?” is one of the hardest ones of all. Whether it’s a woman trying to get pregnant or one like yourself who is waiting for a child to come home “How much longer God?” is always a brutally hard question. I wish I could answer it for you but I can’t. All I can say is that God knows and he is very aware of what is going on. I can only imagine how hard it must be to watch your son make choices that could be harmful for him. He is very young, perhaps that means that he also changes his mind fairly quickly? Worst case scenario he drops out – it wouldn’t necessarily mean the end of his education forever. People do go back to school and alternative programs exist if he decides to finish another way.
The very best thing you can do is what you are doing now – pray for him. Pray hard. Talk to him as much as you can. Try to help him to see the long term effects of his choices without berating him about it. Right now he is getting a taste of freedom and self determination, which can be pretty powerful. But along with that comes consequences, the less enjoyable part of freedom. He may need to stumble a little to realize that he’s not really ready to run his own life yet.
I know that it is hard, really really hard, but hold on to hope – even if all you have left of it is a tiny thread. God has not given up on your son. He is there with him. Can you talk to the school at all, get their stance on things? They might have more experience than you do with dealing with situations like this. It might be helpful to know exactly what the school plans to do so you can make sure your son is aware of that too. For example, he might think that the worst that can happen is a one day suspension when the school might be considering something much harder. Helping him to see the consequences before they happen could be helpful. If he won’t listen at least you would know where things stand.
Claire yes i do have contact with him..very little but i do have some contact. I have let him know that he can come home anytime he is ready to. But since he has been gone he has been missing a lot more school and i dont know what to do?? Im afraid my son is goibg to ruin hia education and now he is telling me he wants to drop out all together. What if anything amm i suppose to do?? Im afraid for my child and thee choices he is making iin his life and i feel helpless cause i have no control of what is.going on. I know God hears my prayers but i dont understand why its taking so long for my prayers to be answered:( Im trying to be strong and leave it in Gods hands but im loosing hope, instead of tthibgs getting better they seem to be getting worse.
I blog for a couple of grandparenting websites. I would like to have permission to use this article in my blogs to give grandparents ideas of how to pray on their prayer journey for their grandchildren. I would like to link the blog readers to this website. Thank you for your response.
Roxi, Do you have any contact with your son? If so, make sure he knows that he can come home. Sometimes we get into situations where it feels like we’ve gone too far and we don’t realize that we really can come back. As hard as it is with the choices he has made, do what you can to keep a relationship with him. Make sure he knows that you love him even though you don’t agree with his current choices. If you are in contact with him, try to make sure that when you talk to him you say more than just “When are you coming home?”
And as you are doing that, continue to pray for you son. Ask God to protect him in the midst of his current choices and pray that God would bring him home. I’m sure you’ve re-read the story of the prodigal son about a million times but read it again and remember as you’re reading it that even when the son was eating with pigs, God still knew exactly where he was. He was far away from home but he was not out of God’s sight. God is all about hope and restoration. Write Joel 2:25 “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten” somewhere where you can see it often.
Resources:
My prodigal son (video)
Praying for his return
Running back to God
All we could do was pray