Fathers hold a unique and irreplaceable role in families. They are the pillars of strength, the guiding lights, and the silent heroes who often carry a huge weight of responsibility. Yet, in the midst of their noble journey, fathers too need encouragement, support, and divine guidance. Sometimes we focus so much on the mothers and forget about the father’s needs.
The devil is always up to no good and we know he targets the family unit. There are several families that lack father figures for one reason or the other and the enemy tries to step in to turn the hearts of the children away from the purpose God has called them into.
That is why it’s important to search the scriptures and fortify fathers around the world with prayers. Take a look at some powerful prayers and scriptures for dads.
Prayers to pray over Dad
Prayers for fathers for strength
Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.
Discussion
Fatherhood comes with various responsibilities and challenges, from providing for the family to being a positive role model for their children. Praying for strength can help dads develop mental and emotional resilience, enabling them to cope with stress, uncertainties, and setbacks more effectively.
Fathers often face difficult decisions related to parenting, career, relationships, and personal growth. Through prayer, dads can seek guidance and wisdom from God and thus help them make sound choices that align with God’s plans for their lives.
Fathers play a crucial role in shaping the spiritual and moral development of their children. By prioritizing prayer and relying on their faith for strength, dads set a positive example for their children, teaching them the importance of building a strong relationship with God.
Prayer
Lord, we pray for the fathers in our lives, bless them with strength in all they do. Help them to walk in the full authority you have given unto them as fathers. In times of difficulties, help them not to lean on their own strength and understanding but to bring their burdens unto you and exchange their yoke for your strength.
Prayers for expectant fathers
Deuteronomy 7:13-14
13 He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land—your grain, new wine and olive oil—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you. 14 You will be blessed more than any other people; none of your men or women will be childless, nor will any of your livestock be without young.
Discussion
Becoming a father is a significant life transition that often comes with feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. Praying allows expectant fathers to seek guidance, wisdom, and strength as they navigate their new role and responsibilities. Especially since they cannot experience pregnancy like the mothers, it’s important to cover them with prayers for the important role they are stepping into and for them to be able to navigate the highs and lows of pregnancy with grace, strength, and faith.
Prayer
Lord, we commit the soon to be fathers into your hands. Fatherhood is such a huge role, but we know you have specially equipped them to be the fathers of these children. Help them walk in the light of this, help them to be the fathers you called them to be. May they surrender to your will in order to raise Godly children that seek after your heart. May they draw closer to you daily and teach this to their children as well.
Prayers for dads waiting for a child
Hebrews 11:11
And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.
Discussion
Although I have no personal experience in this area, I know waiting for the fruit of the womb can be emotionally taxing, and your prayer can help fathers find peace and patience amidst the uncertainty. By surrendering their desires and concerns to God, these fathers can experience a sense of relief and trust in God’s timing even when it may seem difficult to understand or accept. Through prayer, they can reaffirm their belief in God’s goodness and sovereignty, knowing that He has a purpose for their lives, including their journey to parenthood.
Prayer
Lord, we pray for fathers waiting upon the fruit of the womb. Strengthen them through this waiting period, you have said none shall be barren and so we believe that they will be called fathers of their own children. Help them wait patiently even when the darkness feels like it won’t end. Help them trust you completely and not fall under their weakness.
Prayers for new dads
Psalm 127:4-5
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them
Discussion
We all know Parenthood is a gift, but it can also be demanding and overwhelming at times. It’s important to pray for fathers in their new role and for God to bless them with all that they need to be the fathers he has called them to be. The devil is always looking for loopholes to destroy families and the new role of fatherhood is no exception. Cover the fathers you know in God’s arms that every plan of the enemy will be far from them.
Prayer
Thank you Lord, for the new fathers, we pray as they step into this role of fatherhood, you grace them with all they need to walk in this role. Teach them to be great stewards of these children you have given to them.
Prayers for wisdom for dads
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
Discussion
Dads need all the wisdom they can get when it comes to raising Godly kids. The bible also says those who lack wisdom should ask for it. Therefore, pray for the fathers you know, that God grants them the wisdom that they need to be great fathers and husbands. I have a blog post on the role of fathers in their children’s lives which talks about how vital fatherly figures are in raising kids for Christ.
Prayer
Lord, give them wisdom is all areas of their lives, help them to walk in wisdom at work, in relationships, in fatherhood, with their finances and all decisions. May they walk in kingdom wisdom and pour it out even to their children.
Prayers for protection
Psalm 91:1-2
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Discussion
The devil is always looking for ways to destroy families and so praying for protection over fathers is important. Pray that God watches over and guides them in their going out and coming in. May they never be involved in accidents or illnesses that will take them away. Pray that the Lord keep every form of evil away from them.
Prayer
We ask for protection over these fathers. In their going out and coming in, their health and all that concerns them, we pray you watch over them. Hide them under your wings through all the attacks of the enemy. Be their shield and buckler, whenever people gather against them, we pray you fight on their behalf and shield them from harm.
Prayers for Dad’s friendships
Psalm 27:17
Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another
Discussion
It is so important to have Godly friends and mentors around to guide you in the right path. Pray that the fathers you know find friends that will keep them accountable in their walk with God and guide them to walk in obedience to the will of God. Pray that friends that are sent by the enemy will not come near them or speak wrong counsel to them.
Prayer
Bless them with Godly friends that will draw them closer to you. Give them friends that seek your heart first and your kingdom. Anyone planted by the enemy to pretend to be their friends, we pray you reveal such people and give these fathers a spirit of discernment. Make them the friends that others need as well to draw unto your kingdom.
Prayers for Faith
Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Discussion
Pray that the fathers you know are able to walk in faith at all times. Sometimes life presents challenges that can bring us crumbling. Commit them to God’s hands asking that he increases their faith and helps them to see him in all situations even those that seem unsolvable. Pray that they find the faith to always put their trust in God and stand firm in all situations.
Prayer
We pray their lives will be full of ever-increasing faith for you. Their faith will shine forth unto the world and impact others for you. May their faith be so strong that it points others to you through their lives. No matter what the enemy throws at them, like Job they shall stand strong at all times.
Prayers for single dads
Isaiah 58:11
“The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”
Discussion
We should always pray for the single fathers we know. It takes a lot of strength to raise kids together. To raise kids alone can be a challenge. Pray that God gives them the strength, faith, discernment and all they need to be the dads he called them to be. Pray that God helps them to seek his face in times of trials and not to give up.
Prayer
Prayers for Dad’s salvation
John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.”
Discussion
We know that without knowing God and being saved, we cannot make heaven. Pray for the fathers you know, that God transforms their hearts and removes every stony heart that is against him and replaces it with a heart that hungers and thirsts for his will. When a father seeks God and chases after him, it is a strong force that propels the rest of the family to follow Christ as well.
Prayer
We pray you open up their hearts and touch them for you. Break every hardness of heart and turn to hearts of flesh that seek after you. May they become new creations who desire to walk in obedience to your willingly commands. Help them receive fullness of life in you alone.
Prayers for a sick dad
Jeremiah 33:6
Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.
Discussion
Sicknesses are not fun for anyone. If you know any fathers that are ill, commit them to God’s hands for healing. Even for those that are healthy, pray that God keeps them healthy and keeps sickness far away from them. May he lay his healing hands upon them and heal every part of their body that needs to be healed.
Prayer
Lord you are the god of healing. We ask that for any father that is going through one health issue or the other, may you lay your healing hands upon them and restore perfect healing unto them. May all parts of their bodies and organs function the way you created them to function. May their bodies be free of pain and sickness.
Prayers for Grieving fathers
1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
Discussion
Loss can be such a difficult place to be in and we all probably know fathers that are grieving for one reason or the other. Some fathers have had their wives lose pregnancies, lost their children, lost spouses and so much more. It’s important to always pray over any father you know that has experienced loss.
Prayer
Lord, we do not know why death happens, but we come to you to pray for strength and comfort for fathers grieving. Be their source of strength and peace through the trying times. May they be filled with your hope knowing you are walking this journey of life right beside them. May they no longer experience loss of anyone again.
