Praying for our children (and all the children we’ve been called to shepherd) is something all believers should take seriously. Over and over, God exhorts us in His Word to tell the next generation about His marvelous deeds in our lives, and to declare His salvation to them. God has entrusted us with these children, and we need his gracious help to love and serve them. The task is impossible for us otherwise. Only God can save, but he calls us to participate in that work through our labors of love in his name.
God’s Word encourages us to rely on him in everything. In all circumstances, instead of being anxious and fearful, we should be giving thanks to God our Father and presenting our requests to him (Phil. 4:6-7). We must cast our cares upon the Lord because he cares for us and he cares for our children. We should remember what God has said about them and us:
“I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born. I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you” (Isaiah 46:3-4).
We don’t carry our children – God does. We don’t sustain ourselves – God does. Believers understand that our greatest need is to be made and kept alive in Christ; we must recognize that this is also the greatest need of every child. We should be asking God to make them alive, to save them for his great glory. But there are also many commands God has given us to obey—and none of us can do so without the gracious help of the Holy Spirit. Even before they are made alive in Christ, our children need to be instructed in God’s ways, and encouraged through our prayers and examples of relying on God’s help to follow and obey him. God’s Word is ripe with instructions and prayers that we can utilize in our efforts to encourage our children as we petition our Faithful Father in prayer.
Here are some prayers I recently adapted from the Scriptures and have been praying for our unborn daughter. These are prayers similar to what I often pray for my stepsons, nieces and nephews, and other children I have the privilege of knowing and shepherding. I hope you will find these useful to you and your family.
Father, open the eyes of our daughter’s heart and open her ears to see and hear the Holy Spirit’s call to salvation. Give her the grace to trust in Jesus and be saved from all her sins.
O Lord, fill our daughter with the knowledge of your will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that she may live a life worthy of you, Lord.
Father, Help our daughter to please you in every way, bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of you, God, being strengthened with all power according to your glorious might so that she may have great endurance and patience.
Holy Spirit, please fill our daughter’s mouth with your Truth. Give her an open ear and instructed tongue that she might be able to comfort with a word those who are weary.
O Lord, incline our daughter’s heart to fear You and nothing else. Teach her to cherish your Word and seek your face. Show her the way she should go and help her to follow you in faithful obedience.
Father, please give our daughter godly friends who fear you and will point her to you. Help her to be a godly friend who points others to you. Teach her to speak your truth in Love.
O our Strength, be our daughter’s strength and song and salvation. Teach her to sing of your strength thereby silencing your enemies and all who oppose you.
Jesus, please teach our daughter to love, forgive and serve as you have loved, forgiven and served us. Give her your compassionate heart for the lost and hurting. Help her to be a minister of reconciliation and an agent of grace here on earth.
Good Shepherd, keep our daughter from loving money and teach her to be satisfied with what she has. Show her that everything she has is a good gift from you and is for your glory. Teach her to live by your truth that you will never leave or forsake her.
Jehovah Jireh, our God Who Provides, teach our daughter to trust You for all that she needs. Help her to wisely steward all the wealth you entrust to her (time, talents, treasures) and to always give generously and cheerfully.
All-Wise and Loving God, instruct our daughter in your ways. Help her to always listen and obey. Be her Vision, her Wisdom and True Word.
Gracious Lord, teach our daughter to show respect to everyone and honor those in authority over her. Give her a heart that is quick to trust and obey and not turn back from following you.
Our Father in Heaven, let Your will be done in our daughter’s life. If you’ve called her to marry, hide her until you send her godly husband to find her, and help her be a godly, faithful wife. If it’s your will, settle her in her home as the happy mother of children for the glory of your name.
Father, please keep our daughter from all sickness and harm. Protect her from the plots of her enemies and bear her up under your wings. Teach her to seek and find Refuge in you alone! Help her to praise you at all times and bear the sufferings of Christ with joy for the glory of your name!
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