A Prayer For Your Little One

As Christian parents, it is our duty to raise our kids to become men or women who know God and to become godly people who would live their lives solely for the LORD. It is not just an expected obligation but also a command from God (Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Prov. 22:6). As we raise our kids to become godly men or women, we may do everything were supposed to do, but still, it is God Who will work in their lives. That is why, as we do our best to raise them to become godly people, we also consistently pray for them.

Father in heaven, I thank You because as I raise my child to become a person who knows You and is a follower of Christ, my spouse and I are not alone in this. You are also at work in the life of our child. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

 

 

Why should I pray for my little kid/s?

We are to pray for our little ones because we are responsible for raising them as godly men and women, and that is ultimately God’s word in their lives. In Proverbs 22:6, it is written that we are to train our children in the way that they should go so that even when they grow older, they won’t depart from it. That means teaching them about Who God is and His ways so that they will continue to walk in His way and never depart from it. We also teach them to ponder their paths so that all of their ways shall be sure, and they won’t sway to the left or the right but always turn away from evil and walk straight on God’s path, as written in (Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. Proverbs 4:26-27).

As parents (especially fathers), we are to discipline our children. The Bible prescribes for us the right way to discipline our children since we are not doing them any good if we don’t do this. In (He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. Proverbs 13:24), it is written that we hate our children if we don’t discipline them, but we love them if we are diligent in disciplining them. We are instructed in the Bible that we are not just to discipline them but also give them instructions of the LORD so that they may obey and walk in them, as written in (And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4).

 

Raising a godly child does not only involve instructing and disciplining them but also teaching them to love God above all else and with every fiber of their being. In Deuteronomy 6:4-9, we see that God has commanded Israel to love Him with all of their heart, soul, and might. That commandment should be in their hearts, and they should also diligently teach their children to do the same.

Above all else, the most important thing that we can teach our children is the Gospel. A good example of this is Timothy, to whom the apostle Paul wrote two pastoral letters. Timothy’s grandma discipled his daughter Eunice, who then also discipled her son, Timothy. Just as we preach the Gospel to those who don’t know Christ and disciple them as they follow Him, we should do the same for our children. If we can’t disciple our own children, how can we care about those of other people?

If you look at the things we have mentioned and the responsibility of Christian parents, raising a little child to know Christ and become a godly man or woman is no easy task. That is precisely why we must pray for our little ones. It is because, at the end of the day, we need God’s help, and we ultimately depend on Him as we raise our little ones to become godly men or women.

We may do everything a Christian parent should do, but in the end, God will work in their hearts. It is the Holy Spirit Who will turn their hearts of stone to hearts of flesh, as written in Ezekiel 36:26, and open their spiritual eyes. It is also the Holy Spirit who will continue to empower them to live holy lives and grow more in the image and likeness of Christ.

How can I pray for my little one?

You can pray for your little one by first praying for their salvation. When we say praying for their salvation, it means praying that, as you teach and disciple them, they understand the Gospel and why they need Christ so they will respond in faith and repentance toward the Gospel. It is important to note that just as teaching and disciplining your kids is not a one-time thing, praying this prayer is something you should do continually until they mature in the faith. You can also include other prayer points that are related to their walk with God, such as always walking in obedience, never becoming overfamiliar with God, and other prayer points that address their personal journey with God.

Holy Spirit, I pray for my child that You would continually give him spiritual understanding and knowledge as I teach and preach the Gospel. I pray that Your Word shall bear fruit in his heart and that he in turn shall bear fruit as young as he is. Soften his heart, Holy Spirit, and open his spiritual eyes so that he may see the truth and Who Christ is. I pray that You will continue to empower him and pour out Your grace upon his life so that he may always pursue godliness and walk in Your path. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Besides prayers regarding your child’s salvation and walk with God, you can also pray for other matters regarding their well-being. You can do this by thinking about your specific concerns. Is it everyday safety as they go to school? Is it protection from any bad influence from their peers? Is it to be excellent in their studies? As you think of whatever concerns you have for your little one, Philippians 4:6-7k reminds you that we can lift these up to God, Whose peace transcends all understanding and guards our hearts and minds.

Heavenly Father, I pray for my little one that as she goes to school every day, You will continually keep her safe from any accidents. Protect her school from any malicious intent. I also pray for good health upon her. Give her the grace that she needs to be excellent in school. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

We may do everything in our power as parents, but it is God Who ultimately looks after our little ones. We can’t be with them 24/7, but God, in His omniscience and omnipresence, can. That is why we constantly pray to God for our little ones. In the end, it is God on Whom we depend regarding their spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being.