A short daily prayer for my children
Lord, I bring my children to You by name today. Keep them safe, help them grow in wisdom, and draw their hearts to You.
Give them good friends and kind words, and give me patience and love to be the parent they need. Amen.
How to pray for your children
Praying for your children is one of the most lasting things you can do for them -- and it often changes you as a parent, too. Here are some ways to pray for them faithfully at every stage.
Pray for their whole life, as Luke 2:52 describes
"Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man" (Luke 2:52). Pray for each of these in your child: their mind, their body and health, their relationship with God, and their relationships with others.
Pray specifically for each child
Each child faces different things -- a test, a friendship, a fear, a choice. Ask them what you can pray about, and keep a short list for each one.
Pray with them, not only for them
A short prayer at bedtime, before school or at meals teaches children that they can talk to God themselves. Let them hear you pray for them by name.
Pray for their friendships and influences
Friends shape children deeply. Pray for good friends, wise teachers and mentors, and protection from people and influences that would harm them.
Pray for yourself as a parent
"Provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). Ask God for patience, wisdom and the humility to apologize when you get it wrong.
Entrust them to God
Hannah prayed for her son Samuel and then said, "For this child I prayed... therefore also I have lent him to the LORD" (1 Samuel 1:27-28). Your children belong to God first. Praying for them includes letting Him hold what you cannot control.
A prayer for my baby
Lord, thank You for this tiny life You have given us. I am amazed by them and a little overwhelmed.
Keep my baby healthy and safe, help them grow and sleep, and surround them with love. Give us strength for the long nights and joy in the small moments. Amen.
A prayer for my child at school
Father, as my child goes to school, go with them. Help them learn well, make good friends and be kind to others.
Protect them from bullying and harm, give their teachers wisdom and patience, and let them come home safe and happy. Amen.
A prayer for my teenager
Lord, my teenager is growing up fast, and I cannot see everything they face. You can.
Guard their heart and mind. Give them wisdom in their choices, courage to stand for what is right, and friends who build them up. Keep our relationship open and honest, even when it is hard. Amen.
A prayer for my adult children
Father, my children are grown, and their lives are their own now. I still carry them in my heart every day.
Bless their work, their homes and their relationships. Draw them close to You. Help me support them without controlling them, and keep the door of my love always open. Amen.
"Suffer the little children to come unto me": Mark 10 and how Jesus sees children
But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. ... And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
Mark 10:14, 16 (KJV)
Parents brought their children to Jesus so He would touch and bless them. The disciples tried to send them away -- Jesus was busy, and children seemed unimportant. Jesus was "much displeased." It is one of the few times the Gospels say He was indignant.
"Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not" means "let them come; do not stop them." Jesus did not treat children as a distraction from real ministry. He treated them as people who belong in the kingdom of God, and even as an example for adults to follow.
Then He "took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them." It was tender and personal. Jesus did not bless children from a distance; He held them.
When you pray for your children, you are doing what those parents did: bringing them to Jesus. You can be confident He welcomes them -- at every age, in every season, whether they are close to Him right now or not.
Would you like a pastor to pray with you for your children?
You can start a private voice call or chat and talk about a child you are worried about -- their health, their behavior, their faith or their future. If a pastor is online, you are connected with them; if none is available, an AI prayer companion answers instead.
You might pray together for each child by name, for wisdom as a parent, and for peace about what you cannot control. This is prayer and spiritual support, not parenting or medical advice.
Bible Verses to Hold On To
Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Psalm 127:3 (KJV)
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
3 John 1:4 (KJV)
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Luke 2:52 (KJV)
For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him.
1 Samuel 1:27 (KJV)
Common Questions
How can I start praying with my children?
Begin small and keep it regular: a short prayer at bedtime, before meals or on the way to school. Let your children add their own words, even if they are funny or simple. Children learn to pray mostly by hearing their parents pray.
What if my child has walked away from faith?
Keep praying, keep loving, and keep the door open. Pressure and arguments rarely help. Our prayer for a child who has wandered from God, on the family prayers page, may help you put words to it.
How do I pray for a child who is anxious or struggling?
Pray with them gently, using simple words they can repeat, and let them know God cares about their worries. Also take their struggles seriously in practical ways -- talk with their teacher, doctor or a counselor if the struggle continues.
Can someone pray with me for my child right now?
Yes. You can start a private voice call or chat on Pray with Christ at any hour, and your first call and chat are free. You are connected with a pastor when one is online, or an AI prayer companion when none is.
If a child is in danger or being harmed, please contact local emergency services or child protection services right away. For ongoing worries about a child's health or mental health, talk with their doctor.
If you are in crisis, please contact local emergency services or a crisis hotline right away -- you can find a free helpline in your country. See also our Safety Notice.