7 Scriptures to Pray Over Your Children This School Year
Back To School
Audio By Carbonatix
4:30 AM on Wednesday, August 7, 2024
By Erin A. Barry, Back To School
1. Scriptures to Pray Over Your Children
Sometimes it's difficult to know how or what to pray. Scripture provides a wonderful framework and transcendent language to use. It is powerful and life-changing because God's Word is alive and active (Hebrews 4:12). Praying Scripture over our children helps us align our prayers with God's heart and will for them. The way I do this is to take verses, add my child's name, pray all or part over them, sometimes expanding the principle as inspired. Here are some examples using the topics of salvation, identity, protection, honor, work ethic, friends, and character. I highlight a key verse, share some thoughts about the topic, and then provide a sample prayer.
2. Salvation
Romans 10:9 (NABRE) "For, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Each of our children must choose to submit their lives to Jesus' Lordship and have their own relationship with Him. As parents, it is our responsibility to faithfully teach them Scripture, take them to church, model a godly life, and pray faithfully for them. So, let's begin by praying for our children's salvation.
Dear Lord,
Reveal to (child's name) that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus (Rom 3:23). Convict him to confess his need for You as Lord and Savior of his life. Then, through the power of the Holy Spirit, teach (name) who You are and who he is in You as a new creation. Train him to walk daily with You. Direct his steps and lead him in paths of righteousness for Your name's sake (Ps. 23:3) that he may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of his life. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.
3. Identity
Romans 8:16-17a (NASB): "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ."
If ever we lived in a time when there was a battle for the identity of our children, it is now. There are so many voices competing for their attention and making promises, but, in the end, they lead to destruction (Proverbs 14:12). We want our children to know who God is and who they are in Him.
Dear God,
In the name of Jesus, I ask You to develop (name's) identity in Your Son as a new creation, a child of God, and an heir with Him in His Kingdom (2 Cor 5:17). In Jesus' name, I bind all confusion and worldly ideology that sets itself up against the knowledge of God (2 Cor 10:5). Protect and instruct her mind in Your truth. Reveal to (name) that she is fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps 139:14), loved, (1 John 4:19), accepted (Eph. 1:7) and that her body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19). (Name) is valuable (1 Cor 6:20), called according to God's purpose (Rom 8:28), and sealed in Christ (Eph 1:13). She is equipped (2 Tim 3:17), free from condemnation (Rom. 8:1), and is an overcomer (1 John 5:4). Through Your Holy Spirit she is empowered (1 Cor 4:20), righteous (2 Cor 5:21), and victorious (1 Cor 15:57). Secure (name's) identity in you. No one can snatch her out of Your hand (John 10:29). In the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.
4. Spiritual and Physical Protection
Psalm 91:1-4 (NIV): "He who lives in the safe place of the Most High will be in the shadow of the All-powerful. I will say to the Lord, "You are my safe and strong place, my God, in Whom I trust." For it is He Who takes you away from the trap and killing sickness. He will cover you with His wings. And under His wings you will be safe. He is faithful like a safe-covering and a strong wall."
With so many reports of mass shootings and natural catastrophes it can be scary to let our children out the door. We can't be everywhere, and even if we could, we are not powerful enough to ensure that no harm will come to them. Along with training our children to trust and obey God, part of parenting is releasing them and trusting the Lord. Only He is omnipresent (everywhere at all times), omniscient (all-knowing) and omnipotent (all-powerful.)
Dear Lord,
Just as the mountains surround and protect Jerusalem, so you surround and protect (name) (Psalm 125:2). Keep him physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually safe. Help him to make good choices by submitting to You, resisting the devil, who will then flee from him (James 4:7). Let no weapon forged against (name) prevail and refute every tongue that accuses him (Is. 54:17). Strengthen (name) ability to clearly hear your voice and follow you (John 10:27-29). You will never leave or forsake him (Heb 13:5). Remind him always to call upon You because You are a strong tower where he can run to and be safe (Pr. 18:10). In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.
5. Honor
I Peter 2:17 (NIV): "Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor."
Respect seems like a lost art, and authority is considered a bad word. But God puts people over us for our good. Teaching our children to show respect to others is important for their character growth and their relationships. We also want our children to be treated with respect in return.
Father God,
I pray in Jesus' name that (name) will live a life worthy of honor towards You (Col 1:10). That (name) will show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, and honor those in authority (I Pet 2:17). May she honor us, her parents, so that things may go well with her (Eph. 6:2-3). Help her to be respectful of her teachers, administrators, coaches, service providers, adults, and others in authority over her today, and that they, in return, will treat (name) with kindness and respect while she is in their care. I pray (name) will have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way (Heb. 13:18). Thank You for Your love, grace and mercy, Amen.
6. Work Ethic
Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV): "Whatever you do, work at it with all heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
School is supposed to teach and prepare children, along with their character development, information, skills, and tools for them to become well-adjusted adults, who share their talents for the betterment of society in the home and/or workforce. So, wherever they are planted they know their purpose is eternal because they are doing it unto the Lord, and it matters.
Dear Lord, please help (name) to develop diligence, focus, and a strong work ethic. Whatever he finds himself doing, let him do it with all his might as unto you, Lord, not for the glory of men (Ecc. 9:10). Help him to value perseverance and effort over speed. Help him to develop the ability to have a healthy pride in his work. Keep (name) from being lazy or apathetic but grow strong study/work habits (Prov. 12:24) as the plans of the hardworking prosper (Prov. 21:5). Thank you, Father, that you hear and lead us. In the all-powerful name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.
7. Friends
Proverbs 12:26 (NKJV) "The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray."
The people we spend time with help shape us. "Research indicates that sitting within 25 feet of a high performer can boost an individual's performance by 15%, whereas the proximity to a low performer can lead to a decline of 30%." So even who we are near can make a difference in our performance. How much more are we influenced by our friendships. We want our children to be that positive influence for others and we want them surrounded by people that will encourage the best in them.
Dear God,
In the name of Jesus, I ask You to please help (name) to choose friends wisely. Surround her with those who love light over darkness and want to grow in goodness and truth. Help her find the balance of being a light for others (Matthew 5:14), and to not remain in compromising relationships where she may be led astray. We know that bad company corrupts good character (1 Cor. 15:33). Please eliminate from her circle those who desire evil. Give (name) wisdom and discernment as she develops reliable, trustworthy, friendships with others. Thank you for guiding (name). Amen.
Photo credit: acroblund
8. Character
Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV): "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control: against such things there is no law."
I like how Joyce Myers says, "You may not know it, but when you gave your life to Jesus, all the fruits of the Spirit were planted inside you in seed form." Those "seeds," which is the fullness of the Holy Spirit, are in our children. As they grow up into Christ, the Holy Spirit will nurture and develop their character to be Christ-like. And when it's all said and done, isn't godly character the goal of education? For regardless of what station a person holds in this world, it is who they are becoming, that really matters.
Dear Lord,
Please help (name) to love you with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:33) and be filled with joy to overflowing (John 15:11). May he not follow the world's speech of cruel, unfiltered words, but instead may he clothe himself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. (Col 3:12) Strengthen him to resist evil, and pursue righteousness, a godly life, and faith (I Tim 6:11). God, there is so much anxiety today, even among children. I pray (name) will be anxious for nothing (Phil 4:6) and not walk in a spirit of fear, but power, love, and self-control (I Tim 1:7). Grant him peace that transcends all understanding (Phil 4:7). Help him direct his mind to whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy (Phil 4:8). Thank you, Lord God, in the name of Jesus Your son, Amen.
Unlike Joe Fox who did not know Kathleen Kelly well enough yet to have her address, we know God knows us. May we ask with confident resolve, trusting that God hears, delights in, and answers our prayers as we cover and walk with our children both practically and spiritually throughout this school year.
