family resources

Prayer for your home, children, and family is one of the most important things you can do as a parent. Commit to some time of prayer every day. It is not about quantity, but consistency.

There are many types of prayer. The ones below can serve as petitions but also as faith-filled thanksgiving to God for His Word and promises. Thank Him for His promises even when you haven't seen them yet. "Yet" is the important word there. You are not as much trying to get God to do something as you are reminding yourself that you will trust in Him and His Word more than what you can see in your present circumstances. Pray when things are good and pray when they are not. Just consistently pray.

Below are just a few samples and ideas that parents can use to pray for and over their home and children. Use thses as an inspiration to cause you to dive into Scripture yourself and find verses that resonate with you and your family. Make the scriptures personal as you pray. 

(Scriptures quoted from the ESV translation)

Scriptures & Prayers for Your Children & Family:

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding. 

In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Sample Prayer: I thank You, Lord, that I can trust in you for everything my home and family need. I choose to learn and follow Your ways and not lean on what I think I know or what anyone tells me. I know that doing so will lead me to the blessing you have in mind for my family.

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:7)

"Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." (1 John 4:18)

Sample Prayer: I thank You, God, that in You my children and I do not need to be afraid because You strengthen us and help us. The gift of righteousness you gave us in Christ Jesus will uphold us. If fear tries to overtake us, we remember that You do not bring fear, but want to help us drive it out by Your love.

"The LORD will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life. The LORD will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore." (Psalm 121:7-8)

"But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one." 

(2 Thessalonians 3:3)

Sample Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that You watch over my children wherever they are. You protect them from all evil.

"All your children shall be taught by the LORD,
and great shall be the peace of your children." (Isaiah 54:13)

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." (3 John 1:4)

Sample Prayer: Thank You. Lord, that as I do my best to teach my children Your ways, they will choose to walk in those ways. Your truth brings them peace and joy.

The Apostle Paul, prayed a great prayer for the church in Ephesus that is great to adapt into a prayer for your family:

"For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love[fn] toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all." (Ephesians 1:16-23)