This page offers prayers for our children, written for parents, grandparents, godparents and anyone who carries a child in their heart. Pray it in the morning before the house wakes up, at bedtime, in the car on the way to school, or whenever a worry about a child rises up without warning. You can read it aloud exactly as written, or use it as a starting point and speak your own words where your child’s life calls for them.
Prayers for Our Children
Father, thank You for the children You have placed in our care. We did not earn them, and we cannot keep them safe by our own strength, so we come to You today with open hands. Be near them when we are not. Guard their hearts from fear, their minds from confusion, and their bodies from harm. Let them know, long before they can explain it, that they are loved and that You have never once looked away from them.
Lord, we bring You the particulars of their lives: the friendships that feel fragile, the schoolwork that overwhelms them, the questions about who they are becoming, and the things they are too shy or too proud to tell us. Give them honest friends and wise teachers. Give them courage to do what is right when no one is watching. Where they are struggling with illness, disappointment or grief, meet them there and be their comfort. Where they have wandered, call them home gently, and let us be patient enough to wait.
Make us the kind of parents, grandparents and mentors who point them toward You by how we live. Help us listen more than we lecture, forgive more quickly than we judge, and admit when we are wrong. Give us wisdom for the decisions we must make on their behalf and peace when we cannot see the outcome. Let our children grow up knowing Your faithfulness in their own lives, not just in ours. Amen.
A Shorter Version to Pray in a Moment
Lord, my child is in your hands today. Surround them with your protection and fill them with your peace. Guide their steps, guard their hearts and help them know how deeply they are loved. Where I am anxious, steady me. Where I am tired, renew me. Keep us all close to you, through every hour of this day. Amen.
Scriptures to Pray Alongside
Psalm 127:3
Behold, children are a heritage of the LORD. The fruit of the womb is his reward.
(WEB)
Pray this verse by thanking God that your children are a gift from Him rather than a possession you must control. Ask Him to help you hold them with open hands, trusting Him with what you cannot manage.
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
(WEB)
Use this verse to ask God for wisdom in how you teach and guide your child. Pray that He will show you the right direction for their character and faith, and that you will be patient as they grow.
Isaiah 54:13
All your children will be taught by the LORD; and your children’s peace will be great.
(WEB)
Read this verse slowly and pray for your children’s minds and hearts to be taught by the Lord. Ask Him to bring them into a lasting peace that does not depend on how their circumstances look.
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or scared of them; for the LORD your God himself is who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you.”
(WEB)
Pray this verse over the fears your child may be carrying, and over your own fears for them. Ask God to remind both of you that He goes before them and does not leave them alone.
3 John 1:4
I have no greater joy than this, to hear about my children walking in truth.
(WEB)
Let this verse shape your prayer for your child’s faith. Ask God to help them walk in the truth, and thank Him for every sign that they are growing toward Him, even the small ones.
How to Pray This Prayer
Many parents find it helps to pray this prayer at a fixed time, such as while your child is getting ready for school or as you tuck them in at night. Keep a copy somewhere you will see it, like the inside of a kitchen cupboard or the front of a school planner, so the words are close at hand when a worry shows up. Holding a photo of your child or resting a hand on their bed or backpack can make the prayer more personal.
You do not need to pray this alone. Invite a spouse, a grandparent, a friend or a small group from church to pray the same words, perhaps once a week, and let each person add the name of a child they are carrying. Write down what you ask God for and return to the list over the coming months, noting where you see answers and where you are still waiting.
A Blessing to Close
May the Lord bless this child and keep them. May He make His face shine upon them and be gracious to them. May He lift His countenance upon them and give them peace, today and in every season ahead. May they grow strong in faith, and may they always know they are held.
