10 Things to Pray for Raising Godly Children

Here are a few excerpts from journal entries and newsletters I’ve written over the years…

Like a good new mother, I had every good intention of feeding my children healthy, balanced meals. But then I regained consciousness. Why did I put myself through the torture? It would have been easier to prepare supper, and rather than putting the food on the table for fifteen minutes while the kids picked at it, only to end up throwing the food away, I could have just skipped the “table” step and thrown the food away right after I made it. But no, I played the game. You know the game, Food Threat— “You have to eat what is on your plate or else you will not be able to have a snack; you will go to bed early; you will never eat ice cream again in your entire life; and you will be grounded until you get married.” For some reason when your child says, “How many more bites do I have to eat?” and then goes into the gag reflex, grandiose visions of being America’s Top Chef fly out the window.

Then there’s the trip to the outlet mall . . . I was pregnant with our fourth child when I had a lapse in judgment and took three preschoolers shopping. Annie and Luke were in the shopping cart and Meghan was riding on the outside. I promised them ice cream if they all behaved and obeyed mom. After all, I was eight months pregnant and just needed a few hours circulating with the real world. How crazy could it get?

We’d been in the store for thirty seconds when it began. “Where’s Meghan” I asked Luke, two, and Annie, three and a half years old. “Meghan, Meghan!” I screamed in the store. “Oh, there you are hiding in the plus-size rack. No, you don’t need that bra yet. Now stay on the cart, honey. Annie and Luke, sit down, don’t stand up in the cart. No Annie, you can’t have those work boots. Let’s put them back. Luke, let go of Annie’s hair. Meghan, get back on the cart. Do you want ice cream? Sit down Annie. Don’t lean, oh no . . . sit down I said. Annie and Luke, don’t lean . . . the cart is going to flip.” That’s when I became Hercules as I single-handedly gripped the flipping cart and flung it back into its upright position to ensure Meghan, Annie and Luke’s safety and survival. It was also at that time that I became a transformer: nice mommy turned into raving wild woman.

As I marched all three kids out of that store and to the car, you could have heard my lecture three states away, “I asked you to obey mommy in the store, didn’t I? Don’t you understand that I just needed a break today? I can’t believe you kids acted just like 2, 3 and 5 year olds! We are not going to get ice cream, do you hear me? No ice cream for you . . . ”

I could tell you about the trip to Sears for the 152 photos for $24.99 experience . . . but you can guess how that turned out. I am glad to report that our children aren’t scarred, but we do have some funny memories! And, I know that as a mother, you have your own fun stories!

Raising kids is a joy as well as a challenge. As moms, our hearts long for nothing more than to raise kids who turn out right—kids who love God, are successful, obedient, kind, giving, joyful, happily married and on and on. We want to raise kids who are unselfish and servant-hearted—kids who feel worthwhile and valuable. We want them to be confident and articulate. It’s our goal to help our children become healthy and balanced spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically. We train them up to leave and lead successful lives in God. And we all know it doesn’t happen by accident!

Let’s look at this topic.

There are so many dynamics to motherhood: training children, disciplining, loving and nurturing, being an example, teaching the Word and so on. But I want to focus on one of the most important roles we have as mothers, and that is the responsibility and privilege of praying for our kids. Let’s talk about how to pray effective prayers that make a difference in the lives of our children.

A Praying Mom

Abraham Lincoln said, “I remember my mother’s prayers and they have clung to me all my life.” Moms, your prayers make a difference!

If you ask most moms, they will probably tell you they have prayed for their children. Yet, they often live in fear, worry, doubt, anger and anxiety as far as their children are concerned. They worry about their protection, their future, their education, their mates, their friends, their welfare, and their health. You name it—they worry about it!

1. James 5:16

The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. (AMP)

His Word is His will. If we ask God on behalf of our children for anything according to His Word, then we know He hears us, and if we know He hears us, we know that we have the thing we have asked Him.

Ten Prayer Deposits to Make for Our Children

Effective prayer begins with knowing that what we are praying about is indeed God’s will. If we find promises in His Word, then we know that is His will, and if we pray according to His Word, He hears us and grants our request. Praying earnest, heartfelt, continued prayers according to God’s Word for our children will make tremendous power available for them. Our prayers will make supernatural deposits in their spiritual welfare. As we pray for our children, we put God’s power on deposit for them to withdraw when they need it.

God’s Word is loaded with promises He wants to fulfill. In prayer, we take God at His Word as we bring His promises to His very throne and make our requests. Let’s look at “Ten Prayer Deposits to Make for Our Children.” After you’ve completed this section, I want to encourage you to use this as a guideline in praying for your children.

Deposit #1: Pray for Your Child to Know Jesus Christ

1. John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)

2. Acts 2:38-39

And Peter replied, “Each one of you must turn from sin, return to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; then you also shall receive this gift, the Holy Spirit. For Christ promised him to each one of you who has been called by the Lord our God, and to your children and even to those in distant lands! (TLB)

Deposit #2: Pray for Your Child to Be Filled with God’s Word

1. 2 Timothy 3:14-17

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NIV)

2. Psalm 119:10-16

I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. (NIV)

3. Ephesians 1:15-19

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. (NIV)

Deposit #3: Pray that Your Child Would Be Led by the Spirit

1. Romans 8:14

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. (NLT)

Deposit #4: Pray for Your Child to Live by Faith

1. 2 Timothy 1:5

I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. (NLT)

2. Hebrews 11:6 Underline the words “faith” and “believe”

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (NIV)

Deposit #5: Pray for Your Child’s Personal Maturity

1. Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. (NKJV)

I love this passage in the New Living Translation and The Message Bible translations: Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. (NLT)

Point your kids in the right direction—when they’re old they won’t be lost.

You can pray for God’s wisdom and grace to point your kids in the right direction and help them choose the right path.

2. 1 Timothy 4:12

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and purity. (NIV)

Deposit #6: Pray for Your Child’s Education and Learning

1. Daniel 1:17, 20

God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams. When the training period ordered by the king was completed, the chief of staff brought all the young men to King Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and no one impressed him as much as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the royal service. Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom. (NLT)

Deposit #7: Pray for Your Child’s Friends and Mate

1. 1 Corinthians 15:33

“Bad company corrupts good character” (NIV).

2. Proverbs 18:24

A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (NKJV)

Pray that Jesus would be their best friend.

3. Mark 10:6-9

“But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” (NIV)

Pray for God’s best choice for your child’s spouse. Pray that the Lord will order their steps to one another in His timing.

Deposit #8: Pray for Your Child’s Sexual Purity

1. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor—not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. (NLT)

As they experience puberty and the hormonal changes that go along with them, they will be curious and have questions, so it’s a good idea to have age-appropriate resources to share with them. God’s Word is the best resource, so be sure you know what He says about sexuality. Read up in Proverbs 5-7, Song of Solomon, Romans 1, 1 Corinthians and other places.

Deposit #9: Pray for Your Child’s Well Being and Long Life

1. Ephesians 6:1-3

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—“so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” (NIV)

Pray for the heart of your child to be submissive and obedient to you. Stand on God’s promise that life will go well for your children and God will grant them long life on the earth. We need to teach our children to respect all authority—governmental, civil, spiritual and educational leaders. We live in a society of disrespect, but as believers we should raise children who respect their parents, elders and God-appointed authorities.

Read Proverbs 3 for more insights on how to pray for your child’s welfare and a long life.

Deposit #10: Pray for Your Child’s Destiny and Future

1. Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (NIV)

Pray that your child will seek the Lord with his or her whole heart and find God and His will for their lives.

2. Psalm 25:4-5

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. (NIV)

We can pray that God’s plan, His divinely implanted sense of purpose and His ways would be fulfilled in our children’s lives. Ask God to open their hearts and spiritual eyes to desire and understand His destiny and purpose for their lives. Ask Him to order their steps. Let’s pray and make prayer deposits for our children’s futures.