What should I pray for my kids? My spouse? My parents? As a speaker I get asked these questions often. Because frankly, sometimes it’s hard to know what to pray or how to pray for our family.
The day each of our children was born JP chose a verse for them and has faithfully prayed their verse every day of their lives. After 25 years of parenting, that’s a LOT of prayer.And after 25 years of parenting we see the fruit of all those prayers. (In fact, in recent days we’ve seen some miraculous answers to our prayers for our children—more about that in a later post.)
The verses JP choose 25, 21 and 18 years ago had more to do with what we wanted to see develop in our child’s character than what we wanted to see God do in our child’s circumstances, although we prayed for those things, too. Of course we moms pray for our kids safety, happiness and health, but is that all there is to prayer? Could there be more? What exactly are we to pray for our loved ones?
When we pray God’s word for our children, our spouse, or our family members we can have confidence that we are praying something God desires every bit as much as we do. 1 John 5:14-15 assures us “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”
As summer comes to a close and the school year looms near, maybe you would like a verse to pray for your child or your spouse, or even your parent—something you know God will hear and answer. It may not happen overnight, but rest assured, when you pray God’s Word over the people God has entrusted into your care, God will respond to your prayers.
And don’t forget: if you don’t pray for your family members, in all likelihood no one is praying for them. Don’t leave your loved ones vulnerable to the attacks they face every day. You can do something for them even when you’re not with them—you can pray.
So pick one of the verses below and before your head hits the pillow at night, pray God’s will into the lives of those you love. A praying woman is a mighty tool in the hands of God. So you go, girl!!!
10 Scriptures to Pray for Your Family
1. Joshua 1:9 (This is Taylor’s verse so, for example, we pray “Lord, help Taylor be brave, strong and courageous”)
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
2. 1 Peter 3:3-4 (This is Kylie’s verse)
Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
3. Proverbs 9:10 (This is Ashton’s verse)
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
4. Philippians 1:9-10
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.
5. Mark 30:12
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
6. Ephesians 1:17
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
7. Ephesians 3: 16-17a
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
8. Ephesians 3:17 b-18
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.
9. 2 Timothy 1:7
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
10. Proverbs 2:20
You will walk in the ways of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous.
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These are great. Thanks for the great verses.