Praying for children |
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Here are some biblical passages to help us pray for children (either our own or other people’s). Some of them encourage us to pray for their maturity and godliness; others speak of the blessings that God promises to the children among his people.
Praying for boys and girls
Genesis 17:7-8 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.
Exodus 20:12 Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
Joshua 24:15 But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Psalm 22:9-10 Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
Psalm 127:3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.
Proverbs 1:8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching.
Proverbs 10:2 Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death.
Proverbs 10:4 A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offences.
Proverbs 10:19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
Proverbs 11:20 Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the LORD, but those of blameless ways are his delight.
Proverbs 11:24 One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
Proverbs 11:28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
Proverbs 12:19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
Proverbs 12:23 A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly.
Proverbs 23:20-21 Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.
Mark 10:14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.’
Acts 2:39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.
Ephesians 1:16-19 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
Ephesians 3:14-19 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith – that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 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 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Philippians 1:9-11 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 1:9-10 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
Colossians 1:11-12 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
Colossians 4:5-6 Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
Praying for girls
Proverbs 11:22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.
Proverbs 31:13-15 She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.
Proverbs 31:21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
Proverbs 31:25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
Proverbs 31:26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
Proverbs 31:28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
Proverbs 31:30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Titus 2:3-5 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
Praying for boys
Titus 2:2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.
Titus 2:6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.