Have you ever met the perfect homeschool mom? Picture her in your mind. Her lavishly decorated home could pass the white glove test any day of the week. Her many children are flawlessly groomed and always well-behaved. She gets up early, studies the Bible for an hour or more, then spends at least five to fifteen minutes praying for her spouse and each child. Every day. Without fail. Rain or shine, sick or well. That could add up to an hour…or two or three…of prayer every day just for her husband and kids. Where does she ever find the time?
While I believe the woman of the previous paragraph is a myth, we all know that we need to pray for our children. This job of parenting and homeschooling is gargantuan, and there is no way we can do it on our own. We need divine assistance.
Last week, I gathered with some homeschool mom friends at the local Moe’s, where we talked about Scripture verses we pray for our kids. I love the idea of praying for my kids using the Word because I can be certain that I’m praying God’s will for them.
The Armor of God
When one woman pulled out a prayer card that helps parents pray the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20) onto their kids, I knew I was in the right place.
Rooted in the Word
We took turns sharing verses we pray for our children. One mom recommended Psalm 1 as a passage not just for prayer but for our kids to memorize.
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 1:1-2 ESV
We want them to be rooted in the Word and blossom into mature, fruitful adults—just like the tree described later in that Psalm.
Encouragement to Persevere
One of my friends expressed the encouragement she found when praying Philippians 1:6 for her children. “We need God to bring completion to what we’re doing in homeschooling our children,” she eloquently explained.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6 ESV
Faith to Counteract Satan’s Lies
Another woman divulged that she prays specific verses for different kids. For her daughter, she often prays Hebrews 11:1 because she senses her daughter “needs to have faith even when the enemy lies to her.”
”Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].”
Hebrews 11:1 (AMP)
Security and Companionship
The next mom shared several verses. She often prays for her children “to have the mind of Christ—to hear God’s thoughts over their own and the Holy Spirit’s words louder than theirs.”
“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
2 Corinthians 2:16 ESV
She also requests that the Lord will secure their steps so they don’t stumble.
You enlarge the path beneath me and make my steps secure,
So that my feet will not slip.
Psalm 18:36 AMP
Using a verse from Proverbs, she asks God to provide wise and godly friends for her children.
Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
Proverbs 13:20 ESV
Understanding God’s Love
When it was my turn to share, I read Ephesians 3:14-18, which I’ve been praying for my children, especially as they launch into adulthood.
[That you] may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:18-19 ESV
How do I turn this into a prayer for them? It’s pretty simple:
Father, strengthen ____ so that they can understand just how high and long and wide and deep your love is. Fill them with Your love, Your wisdom, and Yourself.
As I read my Bible, sometimes God will use a particular verse to direct my thoughts toward one of my children. I pause and pray that passage for them—praying God’s will for them through His Word. This style of prayer requires us to “Listen to what God tells us to pray for them,” as one of my friends so concisely conveyed.
Awesome Prayer Resources
One mom held up her copy of The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartian, which includes scripture-based devotions to guide parents into intercession for their children.
“It helps you see how to put Scripture into prayer and make it your own.”
From the seat next to me, another mom encouraged me to check out The Power of Praying for Your Adult Children—a book by the same author. Infused with Scripture, it’s full of “wisdom, discernment, and revelation” to help parents navigate this transitional period of parenting.
Build Consistency in Prayer
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 3:16-18
God’s Word reminds us to pray all the time. Can we really pray constantly? If it weren’t possible, the Bible would not direct us to do it.
I do a pretty good job shooting prayers heavenward in moments of panic or at specific times when I know my child needs to know God’s presence. When one of my kids is anxious about a test, a trip, or a job interview, I need the peace of God just as much as they do. Often, I pause and pray with them in those instances.
When life is normal, ordinary, mundane, and even boring, I tend to coast through on auto-pilot, hardly thinking about prayer. But this type of fellowship with the Lord is so important that there should be a constant urgency to pray.
Lord, show me how to pray more consistently for my kids, especially when things are going right. I want to remember to thank You for all You’ve done and are doing, seek Your will for my family’s future, and recognize your presence even in the ordinary days. Amen.
Maybe you didn’t make it to Moe’s with us, but I invite you to join our conversation. Are there verses God has led you to pray for your children? Please share them in the comments.