This simple prayer for our children is written for parents, grandparents, and anyone who loves a child and wants to bring that child before God. It works well at bedtime, at the breakfast table, on the drive to school, or whenever worry rises and you need words. You can read it aloud exactly as written, or use it as a starting point and speak in your own voice.
Simple Prayer for Our Children
Lord, thank you for the children you have placed in our care. They are yours before they are ours, and we trust you with their lives more than we ever could on our own. Thank you for the laughter in our house, the questions at the dinner table, and the small hands that reach for ours. Help us see them the way you see them, with patience and with hope.
We bring you our fears for them, Father. We worry about their health, their friendships, the pressures of school and screens, and the choices they will face when we are not in the room. Protect their bodies and their hearts. Give them wisdom beyond their years, and surround them with people who will point them toward you. When they feel lonely or misunderstood, remind them that you see them and that you never leave them.
Shape their character, Lord. Teach them honesty, kindness, courage, and humility. Help them to forgive quickly and to love generously. Make us faithful examples in the small things, so that they learn what following you looks like in ordinary days. Hold them close tonight and every night, and let them grow up knowing that they are loved by you. Amen.
A Shorter Version to Pray in a Moment
Father, my child is in your hands. Be near them right now, wherever they are and whatever they are facing. Guard their heart, steady their mind, and give them the courage they need for this day. Remind them that they are yours and that you love them more than we can say. Thank you for hearing us. Amen.
Scriptures to Pray Alongside
Psalm 127:3
Behold, children are a heritage of the LORD. The fruit of the womb is his reward.
(WEB)
Pray this verse by thanking God that children are a gift from him. Name each child by name and ask the Lord to help you receive them as the good inheritance he describes.
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
(WEB)
Use this verse to ask God for wisdom in guiding your child. Pray that the path you set before them would lead them toward the Lord in the years ahead.
Isaiah 54:13
All your children will be taught by the LORD; and your children’s peace will be great.
(WEB)
Speak this promise over your children and ask that they would be taught by the Lord himself. Pray for peace in their home, in their friendships, and in their own hearts.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7
6 These words, which I command you today, shall be on your heart; 7 and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.
(WEB)
Pray that God’s words would take root in your children’s hearts. Ask him to give you daily opportunities to talk about his goodness in everyday moments.
Matthew 19:14
But Jesus said, “Allow the little children, and don’t forbid them to come to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these.”
(WEB)
Bring your children to Jesus in prayer, just as people once brought their little ones to him. Ask that they would always feel welcome in his presence and never think they are too small for his care.
How to Pray This Prayer
Choose a regular moment, such as bedtime or the minute before you leave for school, and pray this prayer at the same time each day. Sit close to your child if you can, or place a hand on their shoulder or back while you pray. Physical closeness helps young children feel the presence of God and the safety of your love. For older children, you might pray silently while they sit beside you, or ask them to add a sentence of their own.
Invite others to join you. A spouse, grandparent, godparent, or friend can pray this prayer for the same children, and it can be encouraging to know that many people are lifting them up together. If you are praying alone, write the child’s name on a card and place it somewhere you will see each morning, such as on the bathroom mirror or by the coffee maker, as a quiet reminder to pray.
A Blessing to Close
May the Lord bless these children and keep them safe in every season. May his face shine upon them and be gracious to them, and may they grow strong, kind, and deeply loved. May they always know that they belong to God and that his peace will go with them wherever they go.
