Have you been concerned about your family lately? So often, we remember to pray for other people, but we forget to pray for ourselves and for those closest to us. We simply forget the power of prayer and that God longs for us to be in prayer with Him! He especially desires for each of us to be in prayer about our family, the people closest to us on this side of heaven. To help you pray for yourself and for your family, here is a short, bullet-point seven-day prayer guide that covers nearly every aspect of life.
Day 1: Honor
Scripture: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12)
Pray for your parents:
- Ask God to bless them.
- Pray that they would be treated with honor, dignity, and respect by everyone they encounter.
- Pray that they also would honor all people.
Pray for yourself:
- Pray that you would see your parents the same way God sees them and love them the way He loves them.
- Pray that you would always show honor and respect to your parents.
- Ask God to help you forgive all their failings from your heart.
Pray for your children:
- Ask God to help your kids show godly honor to you (and any other parents) the way God’s Word prescribes.
- Pray for your children to live long lives in the land their Father gives them.
- Ask the Lord to give your children a keen sense of honor toward all their authority figures (pastors, teachers, etc.).
Day 2: Walk with God
Scripture: “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.’” (Matthew 22:37)
Pray for your parents:
- If they are not already saved, ask the Lord to save them and draw them to Himself.
- Ask God to help your parents to be hungry and thirsty for Jesus.
- Pray for your parents to be people of prayer and of God’s Word.
Pray for yourself:
- Pray that you would strive to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
- Pray that Jesus would refill you with His Spirit and wisdom every day.
- Ask God to make you a person of prayer and a student of His Word.
- Ask God to show you how to disciple your children, so they also will love God with all their heart.
Pray for your children:
- Pray for your children to be full of the Holy Spirit from the womb (or from now on).
- Ask God to help your children hear the voice of the Lord behind them saying “This is the way; walk in it” and that they would never turn to the right or the left.
- Pray that your children would have a magnificent obsession with the Son of God.
Day 3: Health and safety
Scripture: “Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” (Psalm 91:9-11)
Pray for your parents:
- Ask God to send His angels to watch over them, protecting them and all their belongings.
- Ask Him to keep them healthy in every way, including by protecting their eyesight, brain function, and memory.
- Ask God to help your parents make wise decisions regarding exercise, nutrition, and health care.
Pray for yourself:
- Ask the Lord to send angels to protect you and every building and vehicle you are in.
- Ask Him to help you make wise decisions regarding your own exercise, nutrition, and health care.
- Ask Him to give you wisdom to guide your children’s time, so they will be healthy and not overloaded or stressed out.
- Ask Father to protect you and your family from all diseases, keeping you completely healthy.
Pray for your children:
- Pray angels would guard your children with a flaming sword that turns every way, turning them back from any dangerous path.
- Pray your children would fill every inner craving with Jesus so they would not be tempted to look for sinful satisfaction.
- Pray they would know God’s love intimately, and that they would be immune to every lie the enemy tries to tell them about who and what they are.
Day 4: Finances
Scripture: “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
Pray for your parents:
- Ask God to give your parents wisdom to steward His resources well.
- Ask the Lord to provide all their needs richly, both now and throughout their retirement.
- Ask the Lord to make your parents perfect in His love so they will never be afraid when they think about money.
Pray for yourself:
- Ask God to provide richly for every need you and your family have.
- Ask Him to help you steward His resources well.
- Ask the Lord to give you the motivation to diligently take care of your finances.
- Ask the Lord to show you how to teach your children a good work ethic and how to handle money.
Pray for your children:
- Pray that your children would enjoy the process of financial stewardship; but that they would always love God, rather than money.
- Ask God to give your children profitable business ideas even while they’re young, if He wants them to be entrepreneurs.
- Ask God to give your children an aptitude for math and business.
- Ask the Lord to show your children in practical ways that He will always provide for their needs.
Day 5: Relationships
Scripture: “…[T]hat they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:21)
Pray for your parents:
- Pray that all their relationships would be godly and harmonious.
- Pray they would forgive all who have hurt them, reconciling relationships wherever possible.
- Pray they would be kind and loving, speaking words of life to all people.
- Ask the Lord to send your parents close friends with whom they can share their lives.
Pray for yourself:
- Pray that you would forgive from your heart all those who have hurt you.
- Pray that the Lord would show you how to heal any broken relationships.
- Pray you would model humility, kindness, love, and encouragement for your children in all your relationships.
- Pray for close, covenant friends with whom you can share your life.
Pray for your children:
- Pray for God to lead each of your children to the spouse He has for them at the right time.
- Pray that your children would remain sexually pure until marriage.
- Pray for each of your children to love others and be friendly.
- Pray that the Lord would bring your children the right friends and deliver them from the wrong friends.
Day 6: Use of time
Scripture: “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).
Pray for your parents:
- Pray that your parents would use their time wisely.
- Pray that they would remain occupied, useful, and fully engaged in life throughout their latter years.
- Pray that they would walk fully in their calling so they will have no regrets.
Pray for yourself:
- Pray that the Lord would help you seek Him first every day, and that He would help you accomplish all that needs to be done after that.
- Ask God to order your steps according to His Word.
- Pray you would know clearly when to say “yes” versus “no” to commitments for both yourself and your children.
Pray for your children:
- Ask the Lord to show your children the value of their spare moments.
- Pray that they would develop godly pastimes that will benefit their lives in the long run.
- Ask God to give your children a spirit of excellence.
- Pray your children would be diligent in their schoolwork and other responsibilities.
Day 7: Legacy
Scripture: “… holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain” (Philippians 2:16).
Pray for your parents:
- Pray they would stand strong in the Lord all the days of their lives.
- Pray that they would leave a godly inheritance to their children and grandchildren.
- Pray they would fully perform God’s purpose for their lives, leaving no task undone for which they were created.
Pray for yourself:
- Pray that you would clearly discern God’s call on your life.
- Pray that God would show you how to raise up your children into their own callings.
- Pray that the Lord would help you and your children to keep your priorities in proper order.
Pray for your children:
- Pray that your children would know exactly what God has called them to do from an early age.
- Ask God to give your children influence for Him.
- Pray that they would be filled with the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, the children to the fathers, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just.
- Ask Father to give your children His heart for the nations.
Beloved, these prayers are all based on Scripture. As you pray through each day’s list, expect to see God answer His Word. He is ready, willing, and eager to send help to you, your parents, and your children.
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