One of the best ways we can prepare our children as they go back to school is by praying for them. Here are 5 prayers to pray for you kids as they make their way into a new school year.
Our Father in heaven,
We’re nearing another changing of seasons. Summer is winding down, and a new school year is beginning – just like it did last year, and the year before. Through this predictable repetition in our calendar and Your creation, we see Your faithfulness. Help us to look at the sunrise and remember that You always keep Your promises.
As we approach another transition sending our kids back to school, conflicting emotions wrestle within us. New fears jostle with new hopes. We’re happy to send our children back to the classroom, and sad to see them go. We delight in their excitement, and worry with them over the unknown.
Calm our hearts, Lord, and give us a peace that passes understanding.
Remind us to commit our children to prayer, each and every day.
Lord, as parents, our instinctual prayer for our children is that You would protect them. Please do protect their growing bodies, Lord -- but even more, protect their souls. Protect them from the deception of the evil one. Teach them the power they possess in the name of Jesus. Keep their eyes and ears from wickedness (Psalm 101:3). Strengthen their spirits to resist the devil, so that he will flee from them (James 4:7).
Even when they are injured, whether in body or spirit, we pray that You would keep them strong in You.
Photo credit: Unsplash
Lord, as parents, our instinctual prayer for our children is that You would protect them. Please do protect their growing bodies, Lord -- but even more, protect their souls. Protect them from the deception of the evil one. Teach them the power they possess in the name of Jesus. Keep their eyes and ears from wickedness (Psalm 101:3). Strengthen their spirits to resist the devil, so that he will flee from them (James 4:7).
Even when they are injured, whether in body or spirit, we pray that You would keep them strong in You.
Photo credit: Unsplash
God in heaven, we know that the social and peer pressures of this world are real, and they are strong. Media bombards us with images and opinions, most of them ungodly. Satan uses a myriad of tactics to distract us from You; He has countless schemes to draw our attention away from the cross. Give our children feet that are firmly planted in Your truth. Grant them a passion to defend Your name and Your Word.
Help them not to be ashamed of the gospel. Persuade them in their heart of hearts that Your Word is the power of God for salvation (Romans 1:16). Give them courage and confidence to keep their eyes on the prize of eternity. Make them willing to suffer for Your name, knowing that it will be worth it in the end, when they receive the crown of life. Give our children eyes to see the temporary nature of temptations in this life, and let them strive forward in hope of glory.
Photo credit: Unsplash
Help our kids realize that every breath that passes through their lips is a gift from You.
You alone give life and breath to all living creatures. The earth and everything in it belongs to you (Psalm 24:1). Show our children Your glory. Show them Your majesty, through Your creation, and through Your presence in their lives. Help them to see that every good and perfect gift is from above (James 1:17). And help them to be grateful. Teach our kids that they can do nothing apart from Christ (John 15:5). Show them their utter need and dependency for You. Father, we pray that You would cause them to bow the knee to You at an early age and acknowledge You as Lord and King.
Photo credit: Unsplash
Father, we boldly ask that you would set apart our children as lights in a dark world. Make them shine like a city on a hill (Matthew 5:14). Make them like the good Samaritan, who took pity on the injured and offered help (Luke 10:25-37). Make our children willing and eager to serve.
Cause them to seek out the lonely child on the playground, the hurting and wandering soul. You are the Father of compassion, the God of all comfort – help our children to emulate Your character in all that they say and do. Clothe them with “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12).
Lord, we’ve asked You for many things. We’re a needy people. Yet we bring You this final request, humbly and on our knees:
Help us, as parents, to trust You with our children. And even in that, Lord, we say “our children,” knowing full well that really – they’re Yours.
Amen.
Photo credit: Unsplash
Editor's note: This content came from Kate Motaung's original article "5 Essential Back to School Prayers for Your Children."