A Baby Dedication Prayer

Dedicating a baby is one of the oldest traditions practiced by Christians. Though it is a practice that most Christian parents do, it is essential to clarify that it does not bring salvation to the baby. It is good to pray for your child and dedicate them to God. Like any Christian parent, we want our babies to walk in the ways of God and ensure that they do not turn away from the LORD.

What is the prayer of dedication?

A prayer of dedication is what you pray over a baby when they are being dedicated to God. It is not only the baby you pray for but also the parents and godparents. The prayer’s substance is primarily about raising the baby to become a godly person who knows the Lord and fears Him.

A baby’s dedication prayer can be prayed in this manner:

Father God, we pray for (name of the baby) and ask that You pour out Your grace and mercy upon them so that they will grow up knowing who You are. May they walk in fear of the LORD and always keep your commandments. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

What did the Bible say about child dedication?

In the Bible, there were two instances where a baby could be dedicated to God. We have Joseph and Mary in the New Testament, who went to the temple to dedicate Jesus. Going further back in the Old Testament, we have Hannah, who was barren when she dedicated her would-be son. She prayed to God, saying that she would dedicate her child to Him if God would give her a child. Hannah bore a child that we know as Samuel, the prophet who anointed both King Saul and King David.

Luke 2:22

And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

1 Samuel 1:11

And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

How do you dedicate a baby to God?

Dedicating a child involves a church community. More than the baby, it is also about the parents raising their child to be a person who knows the LORD. The parents dedicate the child to God and assert in public, among the church community, that they will raise their child in the ways of God. There are also godparents here and fellow church members who affirm that they will always be there to care for the child if something happens to the parents. How a baby’s dedication happens varies from one church to another. There is no single formula for performing a baby dedication. In most cases, a pastor or minister officiates the baby’s dedication and prays for the child, parents, and the godparents.

Here is one way you can pray as you dedicate a baby:

Heavenly Father, we pray for (name of the baby), and ask that they grow up to become a person who knows You, walks in Your ways and lives with obedience towards You. May they know Your Son Jesus and surrender their life to Him, living a repentant and holy life empowered by the Holy Spirit. May you use them as an instrument for Your kingdom and as a channel of blessings to others. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

As mentioned, the parents and godparents can also be prayed for in a baby dedication. The prayers are more geared towards the parents responsible for raising the child to be godly. You can pray for the baby to grow up as a godly person, but being raised by their parents in the ways of the Lord is essential.

Proverbs 22:6

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

Deuteronomy 6:7

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Ephesians 6:4

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Here is a sample prayer to pray for the parents:

Father, we pray for the parents of (name of the baby), that you will give them the grace they need to raise and train (name of the baby) in Your ways. Help them fulfill their responsibility to teach (name of the baby) about who You are and the things that You have commanded us. May they always give instruction and discipline as they raise (name of the baby) and set a good example for (name of the baby). May they pass down their faith in Christ and disciple (name of the baby) in the coming years. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

For the godparents:

Father, we pray for the godparents of (name of the baby). We pray for the grace they need to fulfill their roles as godparents of (name of the baby). May they always be there to care for (name of the baby) and take the responsibilities of (name of parents) in the event of their absence and raise (name of baby) to become a godly person. May they always encourage and remind the parents of (name of the baby) to raise them in Your ways and teach them about who You are and who Christ is. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

While a baby dedication does not ensure salvation for a baby, any Christian parent should want their baby to be saved. Hence, this is a way to dedicate a baby to God, praying that the baby will get to know the saving knowledge of who Christ is and what He did on the cross. However, for that to happen, the parents must play a vital role in discipling their baby.