Are you looking for simple Scriptures to pray for your children? Out of all the verses in the Bible, do you struggle to know which ones to cover your children with? As a Mom of 3 ages six and under, my time spent with the Lord is often accompanied by diaper changes, snack crumbs, and predawn meltdowns. Given this, I often find it challenging to align my prayerful intentions with my circumstances. I’ve learned that having a quiver full of Scripture “arrows” helps me quickly and effectively enter the prayer battlefield. I hope these five simple scriptures will become stepping stones for you on your journey toward a sustainable and richer prayer life.
Throughout the Bible, I have observed a pattern in which the children of the good kings of Israel and Judah do not follow in their father’s footsteps. This has puzzled me. How can King Hezekiah, who ruled like King David, have a son who completely abandoned his father’s faith? I realize that passing along the baton of faith is not an equation. Godly parents do not necessarily equal godly children, though I believe there is an undeniable connection between the two. And vice versa. That said, I have a question that may not have a clear answer in the Bible, but I think it’s worth considering. Could it possibly be that King David, King Hezekiah, and King Jehoshaphat, as God-fearing kings, weren’t earnestly and devotedly praying for their children? I only wish I knew.
The Urgency to Pray For Our Children
The world and what it offers is captivating; unfortunately, our children aren’t immune to its effects. The culture we grew up in is significantly different from the one our children are experiencing. It is why I feel so urgent to commit my children to the Lord in prayer and why I encourage you to do the same. I understand that, as a young mother, the thought of incorporating prayer into your daily routine may feel like a daunting task. I remember feeling like it was impossible to get my teeth brushed. Yet, like any habit developed, the longer we persist in it, the more familiar it becomes. Prayer can become just that. Day by day. A small act of obedience after another.
5 Scriptures to Pray For Your Children:
1. Numbers 6:24-26 (ESV)- Pray Blessing Over Them
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”
This is the one I remember my mother praying over me as a child, so it is near and dear to my heart. We have this precious opportunity to bless our children through the timeless words of Moses. It’s such a beautiful scripture to pray for your children.
2. Ezekiel 36:26 (ESV)- Pray for a Soft Heart
“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
I always return to this verse. Having a soft and moldable heart is such a huge desire of mine for my little trio. A heart that is soft, is one that is ripe and ready for the gospel’s message to bring them from death to life.
3. Mark 12:30-31 (ESV)- Pray For Our Children to Love God
“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
This one is truly the cry of my heart. Don’t we all desire our children to love God with every facet of their beings? I pray that it will be so and that it will be a love that transforms them from the inside out.
4. 1 Samuel 12:20-25 (ESV)- Pray For Our Children to Not Turn Away
“Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty.”
What a beautiful testimony that would be. To be able to say that our children are faithfully walking with their Creator God amongst the countless empty things that they could be turning to. As parents, may we set the standard, repeatedly turning to the One who can truly satisfy our hearts.
5. 1 Timothy 4:12 (ESV)- Pray For Our Children to Live Righteously
“Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”
Finally, I hope and pray that our children lead lives reflecting Christ’s light. In a world that is becoming increasingly darker, may our children’s faith shine even brighter.
Letting Go and Letting God
In general, committing to prayer is a long-term endeavor. It’s impossible for us to fully grasp the amazing ways in which God can work over time in response to our prayers. That being said, weariness on the journey is so very real. I have been in tears on multiple occasions, pleading with God for answers, healing, and deliverance. And yet, more often than not, I found myself still in the same circumstances. I was being unwantedly refined, hewn, molded, and shaped. Unbeknownst to me, my turmoil was being made into a mosaic of grace. We don’t have to charge forward, white-knuckling our way into a false sense of belief. Be present with the state of your heart, take solace in the promises of God, trust in His goodness, and throw yourself at the feet of the Father, for His yoke is easy, and his burden is light.
“You’ll never be a perfect parent, but you can always be a praying parent…prayer turns ordinary parents into prophets who shape the destinies of their children, grandchildren, and every generation that follows. Your prayers for your children are the greatest legacy you can leave.”
-Mark Batterson
If you are interested in more scriptures to pray for your children, check out these from Dear Mushka. They are beautifully created and are specific to praying for children.
Last but not least, if you’re wrestling with the desire to give your kids all the beauty that comes along with living in this world but find yourself in a season of not being able to do so, visit this blog post. I pray it will be uplifting and encouraging to your heart.
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