Prayers for Parents

“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” —Deuteronomy 6:6-9

We are familiar with Christ’s instruction in the Great Commission to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19-20). Did you know that as parents, we are to be disciple-makers first and foremost at home? One of our primary assignments is to diligently teach our children about God and about His Word.

No matter your children’s ages, you can talk to them about God, teach them the Bible, help them memorize Scripture, and pray with them. Look for opportunities throughout every day to talk to your children about God and the Bible. Here are some opportune times: when they wake up in the morning, on the way to school, while you’re traveling, while gathered around the table for meals, after watching a movie or television show, and before they go to bed. Additionally, encourage your children to be a partakers of truth on their own, by encouraging them to read and study the Bible, read good Christian books about godly living, church history, heroes of the faith, and so on.

Gathering together as a family, at a designated daily or weekly time, for family devotions is a great way to build into your children spiritually and to grow closer together. Most importantly, you can encourage them—by your own words and actions—to come to know and love God, surrender their lives to Him, and own their faith.

Prayers for parents

• Thank God for the blessed opportunity to share the good news of the gospel with your children and to be the greatest influence in their spiritual growth.
• Pray that you would be intentional about making faith an integral part of your parenting and family life.
• Ask God to give you creative ways to help each child cultivate a growing relationship with Him and that your children would make faith their own as they grow and mature in Christ.