Motherhood has a way of revealing just how little control we actually have. Do you remember watching your mom as a kid praying hard over you and wondering why or laughing about it? That was me, and its funny how its all full circle now where I do the same for my kids. Often times, I go to their bedrooms while they sleep and lay hands on them and sometimes they notice me and ask what I am doing, other times they don’t.
As mothers, we can teach our children, we can guide them, we can correct them.
But there is so much we cannot do, we cannot be with them every second, we cannot control every influence in their lives, and we definitely cannot shape their hearts on our own. Plus, the world we live in now is crazier than before and sometimes that scares me. I know it should not scare me, but it does, however when it scares me, I also let it push me into prayer over them.
Because if there’s one thing I know, it’s this that God loves my children more than I ever could. We are only stewards of them here on earth.
And so every day, I cover them in prayer consistently and I want to share some of those prayers with you.
1. I pray for their salvation and relationship with God
Before anything else, I want my children to know Jesus for themselves and love him.
Not because we told them.
Not because we go to church.
But because they truly know Him.
I pray that their hearts are soft toward God and that they respond when He calls them.
“Lord, draw my children to You. Let them know You, love You, and walk with You all the days of their lives.”
Proverbs 22:6 says “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.”
2. I pray for their protection (Seen and Unseen)
There is so much we don’t see and cannot protect them from.
There are things we can’t control, things we don’t even know to pray about.
So I ask God to cover every gap and surround them at all times.
“Lord, protect my children wherever they go. Keep them safe physically, emotionally, and spiritually.”
Psalm 121:7 says “The Lord will keep you from all harm, He will watch over your life.”
Isaiah 54:17 says “No weapon formed against you shall prosper.”
3. I pray for their character
More than achievements, talents, or success, I care about who they become. I care about their character, their integrity and who they truly are on the inside.
I’m not trying to raise perfect kids, haha I am far from perfect too. I’m raising children who will walk in integrity, humility, and love. Children who have Godly characters and who will leave a lasting legacy to the world. Children who carry the fruit of the spirit around them and are a light unto the world and salt to the earth.
“Lord, build their character. Make them kind, honest, patient, and strong in You.”
Galatians 5:22–23 says “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
Proverbs 19:1 says “Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.”
4. I pray for wisdom and discernment
The world is loud and there are so many voices, influences, and opinions competing for their attention. If you simply open up social media, you will hear voices and advice on every topic possible. Coupled with how eloquent some people are, its so easy to be misdirected and the devil knows that
I pray they don’t just follow what everyone else is doing even if it seems like the right thing to do, but that they hear God clearly for themselves, not someone telling them what God said.
“Lord, give my children wisdom. Help them make decisions that honor You.”
James 1:5 says “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault.”
Proverbs 3:5–6 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”
5. I pray over their purpose
My children were not created randomly or created to just fill up space on earth.
God has a plan for each of them and i know that the plan is far bigger than anything I could map out.
So I don’t just pray for success in life, I pray for alignment to what and who God has called them to be.
“Lord, let my children walk in the purpose You created them for.”
Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord… “plans to give you hope and a future.”
6. I pray for their minds and emotions
Even as kids, they feel things deeply, my eldest daughter gets emotional especially when she is upset or gets corrected and she feels bad.
I don’t want them growing up weighed down by anxiety or lies about who they are. Especially in these times, its easy to get confused about who you are, who God called you to be, or feel like the outcast and look to please people instead of God
“Lord, guard their minds. Let them know who they are in You.”
Isaiah 26:3 says “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”
2 Timothy 1:7 says “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.”
7. I pray that we can lead them well
This one might be the hardest, at least for me. Raising these kids has stretched me in ways I never thought were possible lol. There are days I feel patient and present and think I am doing great, but boy are there days I fall short and think I must be failing.
So its important that I don’t just pray for them I pray for me too. Its important that I also ask God to help me not force my own desires unto them but to seek him.
“Lord, help me be the mother they need. Teach me how to lead them with grace, wisdom, and love.”
James 1:5 says “If we lack wisdom, let us ask of God…”
Conclusion
There you have it! Some days my prayers are long and contain a lot more, other days they are simple short prayers over them. But if you’re a mom reading this, let this be your reminder you don’t have to have the perfect routine and you don’t need the perfect words.
Just start praying to God and covering your children.
God hears you and he cares deeply about the very things you’re bringing to Him.