As Christian parents, it is imperative to teach our children at a young age, that prayer is our greatest strength and weapon against sin and the evil in this world. It not only strengthens us as Christians living in a fallen world, but it turns our focus from ourselves, to God and His will for our life. Praying should be like breathing. It should be something that naturally happens each day.
For parents of small children. If you’re trying to explain prayer to a younger child, try this: “You know how daddy asks you how your day was when he gets home from work? He likes to know what you did. And you tell him all about it.” –“It’s the same with God. He is our Heavenly father, and He wants to know all about our day. He wants to hear if you’re happy or sad or excited, because He loves you so deeply.” Then you can say. “What if daddy came home from work and you didn’t talk to him. Do you think he would be sad? Yes, of course he would. Now think about God. He created you. He loves you so much! Don’t you think He wants to hear from you?” We can’t hear God speaking in a big voice like daddy’s, but when we pray, we can talk to Him and He can hear us. And when we read our Bible, we can “hear” Him.
My son is fourteen and he has known since he was old enough to speak, that God is ALWAYS there listening to us. (even when we don’t want Him to be. ;) He knows that when he is mad or sad or frustrated or even happy, that he can pray and talk to God. It is his first instinct to pray in trying times and that truly warms my heart as a mom when he says he is praying for me.
We’re all busy. But never let yourself get too busy to pray. That’s when life really will start falling apart. I hope that over the next month you are dedicated to setting aside some quiet time to pray intentionally for your children. Depending on your personal situation, you may not get a block of uninterrupted time for more than a few minutes. And that’s ok. Shoot for ten-fifteen minutes in the morning before the kids are up. If that doesn’t work, pray while you’re in the shower, or while you’re brushing your teeth. Whatever you do, just stick to it. I hope and pray that it will not only bring you closer to your children, but closer to God as well.
Day 1: Pray for the dedication and focus to follow through with a month of praying for your child/ren. You may get distracted, or frustrated and want to give up. Scratch that. You will. That’s a fact, but I hope and pray that you will continue on with this for the whole month. I pray that whatever you are dealing with, with your child, that there will be progress and breakthrough. I pray in Jesus name that you will be blessed for seeking God’s will for your children and I ask that God will strengthen not only your relationship with Him, but your child’s.
Day 2: Pray that your child would have a strong prayer life. Prayer. That’s literally what this is all about. It’s our weapon against the wages of war. I spent every single night as soon as my son was born, praying over him. Praying out loud with him day and night. Praying was something I did so often in front of him, that by the time he was 3 or 4 his response to a problem was to pray. (such a beautiful sight and sound!) If you aren’t already praying with your child, start! It’s never too late. And if they are very young, just start praying out loud with them and it will soon become something they recognize. Let them know that prayer truly changes things and more importantly, it changes us!
Day 3: Pray for your child to share the gospel with others. It’s one thing for someone to say they are a Christian. But it’s another thing to actually share what being a follower of Christ is. To share the gospel with someone may very well change their life forever! And how amazing would it be to know that your child helped save another child’s life. “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”
Day 4: Pray for your child’s eyes and heart to be protected from the enemy’s lies. Let’s be honest. Any chance he gets, the enemy will try to trick you with a lie. To a child, that may be a whispered lie that says, you’ll have fun if you do _________. Don’t listen to your parents, they don’t want you to have fun. He lies to us any chance he can get. So as parents, we need to first, let our children know about the devil and how he will work HARD at getting you to second guess God. He wants to steal your joy, cause you to stumble and get caught up in sin. Pray boldly that your child will not only be protected from the enemy’s lies, but that they will be able to discern when something is from him and not of God. The truth is, that the devil isn’t some scary, ugly person. He is sometimes wrapped up with a pretty bow. He is tricky like that. So I encourage you to let your child know that we have power over the enemy in Jesus Christ. Encourage them to pray and ask Jesus when they aren’t sure about a thought or feeling or situation.
Day 5: Pray that your child will speak the truth in love. This does not mean having a weak demeanor. It is about the way the truth and love go hand in hand. Because as Christ followers, we know THE truth and we are called to share it, even when it is not popular. We as Christians are to train others in the truth. The gospel truth. Sharing these from a selfless love (agape love. Truth about who God is and what He has called us to do. Truth about correction and what is right and wrong in God’s eyes. For a young child, this may seem unnecessary to pray for, but I encourage you to pray that your child (and you) will grow confidently into a person who always speaks THE truth in love, even when you are silenced, censored and hated.
Day 6: Pray that your child doesn’t have jealousy in their heart. Jealousy will eat you alive. It may not be something you think about as your child is young, but as they start to get older jealousy will most likely creep in. So I encourage you to be praying about this before it happens. “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” Proverbs 14:30
Day 7: Pray for your child to have Godly friendships. Pray that they not only would have Godly friends, but that they would be a Godly friend to others. Pray for people to come into their life that would encourage your child to draw closer to God, especially when things get tough. Ask God to help them be able to discern who they should and should not be friends with. “A perverse man stirs up disssension and a gossip separates close friends/ A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good. Proverbs 16:28-29 –“He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffer harm.” Proverbs 13:20
Day 8: Pray for your child to have self control. With self control, we are able to control our thoughts, words and actions. Because our fallen nature is to sin, when we have the Holy Spirit we are able to die to our sin and live in Christ. Pray that your child would die to their earthly desires, and always seek God and His will over their own. “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” Titus 2:11-12
Day 9: Pray for your child’s faith. Our faith will always be tested, mocked and tried in this world. But we must hold strong to the promises we have in Christ. Pray that they always have “faith like a child.” –“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12
Day 10: Pray for your children’s future spouse. Pray that your child will find someone who loves the Lord and who keeps His commandments. Someone who is loyal and trustworthy and respectful to their parents and to their future spouse (your child.) Pray that their parents are God fearing parents who are praying the same thing for their child. –“But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” Mark 10:6-9
Day 11: Pray for their relationship with YOU! Pray for your child to always keep the lines of communication open with you whether they are a young child or a grown adult. And to trust you as a safe person to talk to, no matter what the situation is. There will be many outside voices in your child’s life; God’s should be first and then yours. –“Honor your father and mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Deuteronomy 5:16 –“Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.” Proverbs 23:22
Day 12: Pray that your child uses their gifts and abilities for the glory of God. It’s easy to get caught up in the approval of peers. Your child may think that their gift of singing would be amazing for a TikTok career. (though I hope your child does not have a TikTok.) Yes, it’s fun to have people cheering us on. But when we use our gifts for the glory of God, we are richly rewarded. Ask God to help your children know that their gifts are from Him and that they desire to use them for His glory, not their own. Pray that they know it’s a blessing to let God work through us to reach other people for His glory. –“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the multifaceted grace of God. Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking actual words of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11
Day 13: Pray that your child will not be fearful. This may seem irrelevant if your child is older, but fear creeps in at all stages of life and it keeps us from fully trusting God and His plan for our life. Pray that your children are not afraid of any situation or person. Let them know they are safe in God’s arms. Pray that they know Jesus has overcome death and is bigger than any scary situation or person. Pray that God helps them be strong and courageous, because truthfully we know that at some point, they will be scared of something or someone. Pray that they know that in their weakness, God’s power is made perfect. –“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me.” Psalm 23
Day 14: Pray that your child knows they were created by God, with a purpose, for a purpose. It is important to not only pray about this, but to also tell your child that their worth and purpose is ONLY found in Jesus. Pray that they do not fall into the trap of trying to fill a void that only Christ can fill. “For we are God’s masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
Day 15: Pray that your child would be compassionate towards others. Ask God to help your child have compassion towards others and to love as Christ loves us. “…encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.” 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15
Day 16: Pray that your child would grow in maturity. Ask God to help their minds and hearts grow in maturity and wisdom from Christ. “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching…instead, speaking the truth in love, will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is Christ.” Ephesians 4:14-15
Day 17: Pray for your child’s health. Not just for their physical health. But their mental and spiritual health as well. Pray that they will take care of their body and honor it as a temple. That they will fill their minds and bodies with healthy thoughts and food. “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own. For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Day 18: Pray for your child to always hears God’s voice above the noise of the world. There are so many loud “worldly” voices all around us. This world is not going to think like we do, so pray that your child always goes to God’s Word to find answers, hope and strength. This also starts with us as parent’s giving our children a strong foundation in the Bible and what God says. The more we know what God says is right, the less we will listen to the things the world says are “right.”
Day 19: Pray that your child takes every thought and makes it obedient to God. “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Day 20: Pray for your child’s safety. If you have a wild child, you may already be praying this. :) My son was one of those kids, that had no fear. I can remember when he was about 4 and I bought him a shirt with a cape. He thought he was Superman and jumped off the brick planter in our backyard and ended up breaking his arm. :( I am no stranger to praying for his safety and protection and do every day. I actually probably do more as he has gotten older and is now a teenager. And though, yes your child will get hurt from time to time, that’s just life. I still always pray for extra protection over him. Pray that God will hold your child securely in His arms. Ask God to watch over and protect them every day.
Day 21: Pray for your child’s attitude towards you (their parent.) Pray that they are respectful and seek to always keep God’s commandments. (honor your father and mother.) Pray that they would not be rude, angry or disrespectful. Yes, there will be plenty of times they will, especially as they get older, but again, as their parent, set them up for success. Pray for them. Teach them God’s ways. Guide them to be respectful to you, to God and to others. Teach them to pray that their words and actions reflect God. Pray that they will not be bitter or resentful towards you as you make decisions they may not like.
Day 22: Pray that your children will have a good work ethic. Ask God to instill perseverance in your child. That they would keep going strong even when things get tough. And that they would be humble to do whatever they do for the Lord. Not for glory, riches or fame. That is especially hard in this world where people have zero drive to work hard and just expect to get rich and famous from being a “youtuber.” “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58
Day 23: Pray that your child puts their trust in God. Ask God to grow your child’s trust in Him. You want your child to trust God so that He is the one they seek out in times of trouble, pain or sorrow. “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.” Jeremiah 17:7
Day 24: Pray for your child’s mind. Pray that God would protect and guide their mind and thoughts. Pray that they get sucked into thoughts of depression, or anxiety. Pray their minds and thoughts stay pure and on things of Christ, not things of this world. “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7
Day 25: Pray for your child’s integrity. Ask God to fill them with integrity and have a desire to do what is good and pleasing to the Lord. That they would not lie or try to hide or cover up their wrong doings. “May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you.” Psalm 25:21
Day 26: Pray for your child to grow in wisdom from the Lord. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever..” Psalm 111:10
Day 27: Pray for your child to listen to Godly instruction and obey. “My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.” Proverbs 1:8-9
Day 28: Pray for your child’s heart. Pray that Christ rules their heart, mind and body. For them to honor and glorify God above themselves. And to repent and be saved. “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23
Day 29: Pray that your child’s words reflect a follower of Christ. This goes with praying for their heart. “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Matthew 12:34 As a follower of Christ, not only should our lives reflect Him, but also our words.
Day 30: Pray for your child and the choices they make. Kids are going to mess up from time to time and that’s ok. But as a Christian parent, we want our children, especially as they are a teenager and an adult, to make decisions based on their life and future as a Christ follower. Pray that your children will always make good choices and not be pressured by the world to make choices that are not good or Godly. “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
Day 31: Today is the last day of the month. I encourage you to pray for your children to grow and mature daily in their Christian walk. For them to have a strong faith in God and who He is and who He says they are in Him. Pray that they will pray and seek God’s will for their life, each and every day.
xo, Elizabeth
