God answers our prayers, so we know that when we pray for our kids God hears us and answers us. As Parents, it’s wildly important that we pray for our kids, here’s why:
Why should we pray for our kids?
It’s no secret that evil is prevalent in this world. Satan wants to snuff out our faith in Christ and what better way to do that than through our children. If he cannot take our faith away from us, he will go for the next generation. This is exactly what has been happening for multiple generations already. Raising children who love God and others is only getting more challenging. This not only requires physical action or teaching, it will also require battling spiritually for them through prayer daily. Scripture tells us the following, which is especially true in family discipleship:
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
Your Prayer Life matters!
I cannot stress this enough: If you do not have a strong prayer life, this is the most important place for you to start. Your prayers strengthen you and give an opportunity for God to speak to you and give you wisdom for your family. There will be moments in family discipleship that will drive you to your knees in prayer to the Father of all wisdom and mercy. Why not just start at the Father’s feet, to begin with.
“… anyone who comes to [God] must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6b (NIV)
Praying for our kids is an act of faith
God wants us to seek him in all things – even parenting. When we pray for our kids regularly we not only believe that God exists but that he hears us and answers us, we believe that God can and will move in the lives of our children. We may be praying for the sick child who just threw up on us for the third time that day. In that instance, we believe that God can heal our child. We could be praying for our child who has night terrors – we believe that God is the Prince of Peace, the Comforter, and protector that our child needs. We have faith that God can move in the lives of our children and prayer is just one way we act on that faith.
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)
Praying for our kids connects us with God
I started babysitting when I was 11, I helped in the church nursery and children’s ministry for years, and I was paid to be a teacher’s assistant at the preschool level, but none of that prepared me to parent my own kids. I’ve struggled with teaching and discipling my children, not being sure what to say or even how to discipline in a way that teaches them and points them to Christ. Most days I feel like I don’t know what I’m doing. I’ve called my mom crying multiple times just trying to figure out what to do, or have someone tell me “I’ve been there too.”
But there is someone with more wisdom than my mom, the one who created me and my children wants to guide me as I disciple them, teach them, and discipline them. We can approach him any time of day or night for any reason. My mom has always realized this and often repeats the same simple question her mother asked her when asking for advice, “have you prayed about it yet?”
I’ll be honest in the moment I hate hearing that question – I called for advice, I wanted answers more than I want to hear that question. But whenever my mom doesn’t have the answers (and I suspect often even though she does) she points me to the one who can give me more than what I’m looking for. Since I was a teenager this question from my mom has pointed me over and over again to God’s presence, and from there I’ve found more than my mom could ever give me herself.
Praying for our kids cultivates thankfulness for them
If I’m being totally honest sometimes I lose sight of the reasons why I’m thankful for my children. I know I am thankful for them. I know God gave them to me for a reason. But some days I just don’t know what exactly I’m thankful for. This is when I know I need to pray for my kids even more. I think many parents feel the same way. That’s why we see so many tweets or Instagram posts making parenthood seem to be the worst part of life.
It’s hard to imagine looking into a sweet newborn face you could be anything but thankful. Until you step on a Lego in the middle of the night. Or, you’re faced with a picky child on a hunger strike. It’s no wonder so many parents are counting down the days until their children are out of the house.
I’m not sure about you, but I don’t want to be one of those parents. I don’t want to hate parenting. Nor do I want to reduce it to a countdown to my freedom from baby spit-up and toddler tantrums. I want to enjoy my children for as long as I’m on earth. After all, scripture tells us that they are a blessing. Praying for my kids has helped me look past the daily struggles and find joy in who they are. When I pray for them, I can’t help but thank God for who they are and the blessing of being their mom. So, if you’re struggling in this parenthood journey right now, pray for your kids, thank God for them, ask him to remind you of the blessing that they are.
Praying for our kids produces peace
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
From the moment that first positive appears an onslaught of fear comes racing towards you. Everything from the food you eat to the car seat you choose, marketers rely on your fear as a soon-to-be new parent. And why is it people who already have children like to share the hardest things with newly expecting parents? All that can produce fear and anxiety in someone with a healthy pregnancy. All that fear and anxiety is often increased for those who have experienced loss, high-risk pregnancies, or complications.
When your baby is born there are more potential fears like leaving them with a babysitter for the first time, going back to work, wondering if they are eating enough, or watching them experience their first fever. All of these things can be nerve-wracking for any new parent. Seasoned parents have their own list of fears they’ve experienced too. All of us have been faced with fear at least once when it comes to our children.
The biggest thing that made a difference for me when faced with fear was prayer. It started in the middle of the night when I would wake up and check if my kids were ok. Now, it’s the first thing I do any time of day when I’m feeling anxious as a parent. I’ve experienced firsthand the peace of God when I turn to him and you can experience it too! The more I prayed for my kids, the more peace I had concerning them. When you pray for your kids you are placing them in God’s hands. Just for a reminder: God is much bigger and much more powerful than yourself. We can find peace when we pray for our kids because God is more capable than us in everything.
I don’t want to make it sound like one prayer will make everything easier. Sometimes life is just hard. Sometimes the trials continue, the baby still doesn’t sleep, the fever doesn’t break, or the tiny attitude still rages. But prayer will help you experience God’s peace in the midst of whatever chaos you are in right now. Prayer connects us to God, allowing his wisdom and mercy to flow through us. It prepares our hearts to see the blessing of our children and the true gifts that they are. And, prayer paves the way for God’s spirit to work both in you and your children.
Prayer changes things, but most importantly it changes you.
If you’re not sure what to pray for your kids, join me on Instagram here for my 31 prayers highlight.
