Six Ideas for Taking Time to Pray for Your Children

A friend of mine pointed out to me that the older our children grow, the more we will have to pray for them. For some of us, our children are now married and may have their own children. My friend is right, there is even more to pray over for my children, and not to mention the children and families of our community who need our prayers.

1.     As-you-go prayer. This time of year, school buses are back on the road. They can prompt us to pray. As we drive by schools, through our neighborhoods, and attend ball games, we can pray as we go. Each time you drop your child off at school, what if you took a minute to pray. Over a school year, and through the years, that would be hours of prayer time.

2.     Keep a list. We make lists to go to the grocery store. We make a daily or weekly to do list. The business of parenting, the tyranny of the urgent, the emails beckoning, we can be forgetful or distracted. I need to keep a prayer list. I can do this on a piece of paper, or on my phone note app.

3.     Pray with friends. Commit to pray with a friend, a group of friends, or make sure your small group or Bible study prays for about your children. I am thankful for the people who have prayed for my children. Praise the Lord for praying friends and prayer partners.

4.     Pray as you read the Bible. As we read about Joseph, that can prompt us to pray for our children to depend on the Lord when they face temptation. As we read about Daniel, we can pray for them to dare to be Daniel’s, to be courageous and steadfast. As we read about Ruth, we can pray our children will know and love their Redeemer.

5.     In the moment. Pray throughout the day and in the moment. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 exhorts, “pray without ceasing.”

6.     Pray with them. We talk to our children. We feed and clothe them. We take them to church. I can pause and pray with them as I pray for them.

Thank You, Father, for the grace and mercy You have shown me and showered upon my wife and children. Thank You for always hearing the prayers of Your children. We love You and give Your praise as Our Father.

The SBCV’s mission is to come alongside local churches advancing the Gospel together to reach our neighbors and the nations for Jesus Christ. One of the ways we are seeking to carry out this mission is to come alongside you as your church reaches and teaches the next generation. Let’s be praying for one another and for our families.

“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24–26).