Click here to access this prayer guide as a downloadable PDF!
Children are a gift - an amazing blessing from God. If you are a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, or mentor in the life of a child, then you have the power to make a difference in the world through their precious lives. Whether our children are still in diapers or have already graduated from college, we hold this incredible opportunity to encourage, equip, and cover them in our prayers.
As parents, we can’t see everything, be everywhere, or know all that goes on each day in our children’s lives, but God can. He sees, He knows, and is there. And we can be assured that He is able to care for our loved ones even better than we can.
Here’s how the prayer challenge works. Every day for the next 30 days, you will pray in a specific way for your children. Some days there will also be an opportunity for you to read a related article, or watch a short video. Other days you’ll be encouraged to journal or write down your thoughts about a particular parenting related prompt. Every day will also have at least one verse for you to study and pray over your children.
You can start this prayer challenge any day of the month, but it might be easier to start at the beginning of the month, just to keep track of the days. It’s okay if you miss a day or two- life happens! If you do miss a day, you don’t need to go back and or start over. Just pick up with the corresponding day and, if you have time, you can go back to the days you’ve missed. You might want to bookmark this page to make it easier to come back to each day.
Ready to spend the next month praying for your children? Let’s get started!
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Day 1 - Pray that your children would always know how very much they are loved. Pray that God would make them aware that He is loving and kind, that He would fill them with faith to believe His words are true. Pray that they would find their great confidence in the security of His love for them. John 15:13; 1 John 3:1; Jer 31:3
Day 2 - Pray that your children would come to know Christ as Savior and Lord. Pray that from an early age their hearts would be drawn to Him, and that they would have a desire to walk closely with God. Rom 10:9-10; John 3:16; John 8:32
Watch: How should I react when my child confesses doubt to me? - Jessica Thompson
Day 3 - Pray that your children would have a love and desire for God’s Word, that they would have an unquenchable thirst for Truth, and that their hearts would be tender towards Him. Pray that God would give them spiritual insight, wisdom, and deep understanding of His commandments, even far beyond their years. Psa 119:11; 2 Timothy 2:15; Psa 19:7-10
Read: Help! My Kids Don’t Want to Read the Bible by Jennifer Slattery
Day 4 - Pray that God’s blessings and favor would surround their lives. Pray that God’s face would shine on them, be gracious to them, and give them great peace. Num 6:24-26; Zep 3:17; Psa 90:17
Day 5 - Pray that your children would grow in the fruit of the Spirit, and that godly character qualities would be evident in their lives. Pray for love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Gal 5:22-23; 1 Timothy 6:11-12; 2 Timothy 2:22
Day 6 - Pray for God’s protection over them. Pray that God would guard their way, keep their steps secure, cover them from behind, and protect them from evil. Pray that no weapon formed against them will prosper. Pray that God would be their constant Shield and Defender, that He would hide them in His powerful presence. Psa 91:1-4; Psa 91:11; Psa 121:3-8; Isa 54:17
Day 7 - Pray that your children would be strong and courageous, believing that God is always with them. Pray that they would be bold to stand for what is right, even if it means standing alone. Ask God to equip them as mighty warriors for his purposes. Jos 1:9; Deu 31:6; Eph 6:10-18
Read: 5 Ways to Equip Your Children to Fight Spiritual Battles by Brooke Cooney
Day 8 – Pray that God would give them kind, loving, and compassionate hearts. Pray that they would see the needs of those around them and extend grace and goodness. Pray that He would help them to offer forgiveness to others, knowing how much we need it ourselves. Eph 4:32, Eph 5:2; Col 3:12-13
Day 9 - Pray that God would give them an awareness of sin, that they would be quick to confess when they’ve done wrong, and have the heart to make it right. Pray that they would not walk in condemnation or guilt, but in the freedom and forgiveness of Christ, being wise to learn from mistakes. 1 John 1:9; Rom 8:1-2; Psa 51:10
Write: Think about your children’s specific sin struggles. For one child, it might be impatience. For another child, it might be a quick temper. Write down these struggles and commit to further prayer for them- that God would make them aware of their sin and feel their need for His grace toward them. Look for ways to gently reveal the consequences of their sinfulness and their need for repentance.
Read: 7 Ways to Pray When Your Child Goes Astray by Cindi McMenamin
Day 10 - Pray that God would surround your children with godly friends and relationships, both now and in the future. Pray that He would guard them from those with wrong motives and harmful influences. Pray for their future spouse, if God may lead them to marry someday, that He would be at work in their lives in powerful ways even now. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8; 1 Corinthians 15:33; 2 Corinthians 6:14
Write: Write down your children’s two best friends. Commit to praying over their lives and their particular influence in your children’s lives.
Day 11 - Pray that your children would find their confidence, self-esteem, and security in Christ, knowing who they are in Him. In a world that places great value on outward appearances ask God to give them wisdom to know the deeper value of what is on the inside. Pray that they would see as God sees, that they would be drawn to focus on the heart, on internal beauty and strengths. 1 Samuel 16:7; 1 Peter 3:3-4; Psa 139:13-14
Read: Should We Teach Our Children Self-Confidence? By Lindsey Carlson
Day 12 - Pray that your children would walk in humility. Pray that they would not be drawn to a life of pride or conceit, but would have a deep awareness of their value in Christ and their need for dependence on Him. Titus 3:2; 1 Peter 5:5-6; James 4:6
Day 13 - Pray that your children would be wise leaders and influencers in this generation, not conformed to the world, but transformed by His Power. Pray that God would equip them with all they need to make a difference. Ask God to help them to live as salt and light in a dark world that desperately needs to know Truth. Mat 5:13-16; Rom 12:1-2; Psa 1:1-6
Day 14 - Pray that your children would be faithful followers of Christ. Pray that they would be aware of the importance of following Him above all else. Pray that they would be respectful to those in authority, honoring to their parents, and obedient to do what is right. Mat 16:24; Eph 6: 1-3; Titus 3:1-2
Read: 3 Ways to Honor a Child's "No" While Teaching Obedience by Cara Joyner
Day 15 - Pray that your children would walk in honesty and integrity. Pray that God would build in them deep godliness, that they would be more concerned about their character than their reputation. Pray that they would seek to bring honor to Him throughout their lives. Psa 25:21; Pro 10:9; Psa 119:32
Day 16 - Pray that your children would seek to be God pleasers and not people pleasers. Ask God to guard them from the influences of this world that would tell them to “fit in.” Pray that they would have a strong desire to live a life of pleasing God, instead of seeking to find security and value in people or things. Pro 29:25; 1 Thessalonians 2:4; 1 John 2:15-17
Read: The Truth About Raising Kids Who Go Against the Flow by Kristen Welch
Day 17 - Pray that your children would walk faithfully and diligently in God’s ways. Pray that He would make their footsteps firm, that His Word would be a lamp for their feet and a light to their path. Psa 119:105; Psa 37:23; Pro 3:3
Read: 12 Promises Every Parent Should Ask God to Fulfill
Day 18 – Pray that God would give your children wisdom and direction in making decisions. Pray that He would teach them to listen closely to His voice, that they would obey His word, and have a desire for right choices. Pro 3:5-6; Psa 37:1-6; James 1:5
Day 19 – Pray that God would help them to walk in purity. Pray that He would set a protection over their mouths, eyes, and minds. Ask God to equip them to guard their hearts, staying focused on what is true and right. Php 4:8; Pro 4:23; Psa 119:9
Read: 10 Lies the World Tells Your Teen about Sex by Debbie McDaniel
Day 20 - Pray that your children will have a desire to serve and a heart to work hard. Pray that in whatever they do, God will give them strong passion to work heartily for Him. Eph 6:7; Col 3:23; Php 2:13-15
Day 21 - Pray that your children would be generous, giving, content, and free from the love of money. Pray that God would plant within them a deep gratitude, and from that would flow a desire to extend help to others, and honor Him in all they have and do. Luke 6:38; Psa 37:25-26; Heb 13:5
Read: 4 Important Tips to Raise Generous Kids in a Greedy World by Arlene Pellicane
Day 22 - Pray that when your children encounter various trials and difficult times, when they experience loss and things don’t go their way, that God would teach them greater perseverance. That He would build deeper character, stronger faith, and use any hardship in their lives for ultimate good, turning it around for blessing instead. James 1:2-4; John 16:33; Gen 50:20
Day 23 - Pray that God would give them self-control. Pray that He would help them when they face temptations in remembering that He is Able to help them overcome. Pray that he would guard their steps from evil, and would give them diligence in turning away from what is wrong. Pray that they would be bold to say “no” to what is wrong and “yes” to what is right. 1 Corinthians 10:13; Rom 8:37; 1 John 4:4
Read: 5 Ways to Teach Your Kids Self-Control by Sarah Hamaker
Day 24 - Pray that God would make them healthy and strong. Pray that God would give them health physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and that God would protect them from disease, illness, or any harm to their minds and spirits. Pray that He would equip them for every purpose and that He would give them endurance to run the race well. Heb 12:1-2; Isa 40:31; Psa 103:1-5
Read: Trusting God with Our Children by Kate Motaung
Day 25 – Pray that your children would be worshippers of God. Pray that His praise would always be on their lips, and that He would give them great skill in music, dance, writing, art, and that all that they do would bring glory to Him. Psa 8:2; Psa 34:1; John 4:23
Write: How do your children’s show creativity? Do they love to draw, paint, dance, play pretend? Encourage their imagination and creativity, and remind yourself that our God is a creative, imaginative God who delights in his children showing creativity.
Day 26 – Pray that your children would have a vision and heart for the world. Pray that God would extend their boundaries and give them incredible influence with people and nations. Pray that they would be open to God’s plans and boldly go wherever He calls. 1 Chronicles 4:10; Mat 28:19; John 4:35
Read: 6 Ways to Encourage Your Kids to Read and Like It by Jamie C. Martin. This article will introduce you to Jamie’s amazing book, Give Your Child the World: Raising Globally Minded Kids One Book at a Time. Her bookfeatures carefully curated reading lists of the best children’s literature for each area of the globe. The reading lists are organized by region, country, and age range (ages 4-12). Each listing includes a brief description of the book, its themes, and any content of which parents should be aware.
Day 27 – Pray that your children would walk daily in the Presence of God’s Spirit. Pray that He would give them spiritual discernment and the ability to see through the enemy’s lies and step over his traps. Pray that they’d know the power of prayer from an early age, and would be prayer warriors for His Kingdom. John 10:27; Gal 5:16; Eph 6:10-18
Read: What to Pray with Kids at Bedtime by Rebecca Barlow Jordan
Day 28 - Pray that your children would be covered in God’s peace and security. Pray that their thoughts would not be drawn to worry and fear, but instead be filled with the strength and confidence of the Lord through every day. Knowing He is with them. Believing that He is Mighty within them. Isa 41:10; Php 4:6-7; Isa 54:13
Read: 5 Scriptures To Help Your Child Through Fear and Change by Lysa Terkeurst
Day 29 - Pray for laughter and joy to fill their days. Pray that God would bring a great love for humor in and through their lives, and that they would know what it is to laugh deeply and often. Pray that they would smile at the future and live with a sense of adventure and expectation in all God has in store. Neh 8:10; Pro 17:22; Psa 126:2
Read: 30 Jokes Your Kids will Love (many more in the comments!)
Day 30 - Pray for the future of your children that they would dream big, run strong, soar high and not allow anything to hold them back in this life. Pray that God would help them to fulfill his every calling, strengthening them to live a life of so much love, passion, influence, hope, and determination, that this world is changed for the better. May they always know that anything is possible to him who believes, for our God is always greater. Jer 29:11; Eph 3:20-21; Mat 19:26; Php 3:12-14
Read: Two Things To Teach Your Children While They Dream Big by Ruth Schwenk
Write: What are some of the hopes and dreams you have for your children? Where do you see God at work in their lives? Has this month of prayer revealed in particular areas you feel the Spirit leading you to continue praying for? If so, write down a pledge of commitment to pray for another month about those particular things. If you want, invite your husband, parents, or a close friend or spiritual mentor to pray with you. You could even invite your children to pray with your for themselves! Imagine the impact it would have on your kids to hear your loving prayers for them?
Congratulations—you just spent an entire month faithfully praying for your children! We would love to hear from you—how has this prayer challenge changed you and your children? Leave a comment and let us know how prayer has transformed your family!
Click here to access this prayer guide as a downloadable PDF!
Debbie McDaniel is a writer, pastor's wife, mom to three amazing kids (and a lot of pets). Join her each morning on Fresh Day Ahead's Facebook page, for daily encouragement in living strong, free, hope-filled lives. Find her also on Twitter and at her blog on Crosswalk.com.
