A Prayer for Parents
By Emma Danzey
Psalm 127:3-5 says, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;”
Parenting is a beautiful and challenging calling. The truth is that raising up the next generation to know the love of Jesus and to grow each day is no easy task. Parents can often be their own worst critics when it comes to the daily duties of love, discipline, and structure of a home. Today, we will take some time to pray over parents in this amazing journey that God is taking them on. It is a refining path but one of great blessing and joy.
Let's Pray:
Our Father,
Thank You for modeling perfect parenting to us. You are our Good Father who loves well. You tell us in Hebrews 12:10 that You discipline us for our good so we may share in Your holiness. As parents create a home focused on the gospel and training up their children in the faith, enable them to be able to remember how You parent them in love, grace, mercy, and compassion. You say in Psalm 103:13, “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.” As parents discipline and teach their kids, help them to remember that You have shown them great compassion. Give them eyes to see their children through Your lens. Bless them with the ability to look at the child’s heart and speak words of life and encouragement. Place specific rules in their home that would help the children learn to live by Your fruit of the Spirit.
God, You say in Colossians 3:21 for fathers not to provoke their children to anger, so they are not discouraged. Please help fathers and mothers to be careful with their words. Give them the strength to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Guide them with the grace that You have for them. We know there are no perfect parents, but through Your Holy Spirit, please help these men and women to live miraculously as parents who model You and the gospel to their children. We know that everyone sins and has fallen short of Your standard. Help these parents find the courage to entrust their children to the refinement process that You are taking them on. May their attitudes be positive and motivating to these young people.
Lord, You tell us in Psalm 78 to tell the next generation about what You have done. Verses 6-7 say, “So the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.” God we pray that parents would know how to witness and disciple the children You have entrusted to them. Help them to share Your gospel and teach Your Scriptures regularly in their homes. Enable them to use Your Word as an anchor for every way that they parent. We pray for wisdom in challenging situations. We ask for Your Spirit to guide them in decision-making with education, churches, activities and service as a family in the community. Please lead them in all things.
God, You are our perfect Father, and we praise You that You have an abundance of grace. For those parents who feel that they are failing or not living up to Your best, help them to find great grace and mercy. Give them strength to be changed by Your Spirit and walk in Your ways. We pray for men and women to teach Your love and truth in a generation that is quickly running away from Christ and the Bible. Help these parents to know more of Your parenting for them so that they can parent their children like You. We thank you for this gift of fatherhood and motherhood and ask Your amazing blessings upon them. In Your name Jesus, amen.
Photo credit: ©SalemDesign/BethanyPyle
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