A Prayer for Our Children

A Prayer for Our Children: Equipping Them for Fighting the Good Fight
By: Brittany Shields

Sometimes it’s hard to know what to pray for or over our children. This prayer is inspired by the armor of God described in Ephesians— a prayer over their bodies that they would be equipped for fighting the good fight in the army of the Lord.

Dear God,

I thank you for each of my children. I am blessed to be able to be their mom and see them grow up. But there are a lot of things that I can’t protect them from or transform in them. So I pray that you would shape them and be with them as they stand against the devil’s schemes.

I pray for their…

FEET

Lord, direct their steps. That they would follow after You. That, like David, they would be after Your heart. I pray their feet would never be aimless or idle. That they would be resting in You or doing Your work. Lord, keep their feet from straying, from falling in with the march of the culture and the world. Keep their feet from chasing selfish desires and passions that lead to destruction. Call them to Your path and keep them on it. Keep them from stumbling. Keep them until the end.

[Jude 24; Psalm 121; Proverbs 3:6, 16:3; Isaiah 30:21; Philippians 3:17]

LEGS

Lord, help them stand up for what is right and true. Give them strength and courage to be firm in Your Word. Don’t let them be cowered by bullies or loud voices or fear. Remind them that they never stand alone. Help them to see the right places to stand— that they would be wise and avoid places that will tempt or entice them to sin. Help them to see the people You’ve called them to stand with. That they wouldn’t stand on either side of a line for politics’ sake but that they would walk Your ways, seeing people the way you see them. Give them not a spirit of timidity but one of power and confidence to stand their ground, knowing truth.

[1 Corinthians 16:13, 15:58; Jeremiah 6:16; Isaiah 40:31; Philippians 1:27; Galatians 5:1. 2 Thessalonians 2:15]

STOMACH

Lord, give them a hunger and thirst for You. Keep their appetites away from earthly things like greed, money, fame, lust, power, or false beauty. Change their appetites to desire the fruit of the Spirit— love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Inspire them to want to read the Bible. You are the bread of life and the living water, Lord, give them a desire for You. You are the only thing that can satisfy them and fill them.

[Colossians 3:5; John 6:35; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Peter 2:2; Matthew 5:6; Job 23:12]

KNEES

Lord, may they spend a lot of time on their knees, praying and worshiping You. Let them have enough trials to remind them that they are not self-sufficient and enough success to remind them that they serve a loving and capable God who will never leave or forsake them. When they experience suffering and hardship, may their first thought be to get on their knees and come to You— their source of life and all that is good. Give them a spirit of awe and reverence for who You are— that they would be driven to their knees in worship of their Creator. Help them see the beauty of Your creation; reveal Your character to them. Drive them to sing and shout for joy in Your presence. Give them a spirit of humility that they would have a right posture before You, submissive to Your power and authority. That you would be Lord of their life, the Commander they report to, the King they serve, the God they obey, the Father they love and run to. Give them knees that bend in prayer and worship and a spirit that bends to Your will.

[1 Thessalonians 5:17; Psalm 95:6; Daniel 6:10; Ephesians 5:19-20; Philippians 2:10; Romans 12:1; Hebrews 12:28; 1 Peter 5:5; Ephesians 3:14-19]

HANDS

Lord, give them hands to serve You by serving others. That they wouldn’t be consumed with themselves but that they would look for and find ways of helping. That they would be hard workers and not afraid or too proud to get their hands dirty. Give them strength, patience, and grace for tedious jobs. May their hands reach for people over stuff. Above all, may their hands be outstretched to You and for You. Give them an eternal perspective and a devout hope and faith in your provision that their hands would not be clutched onto anything too tightly. Keep them from idols. May they trust that You will provide, that Your ways are better, that it’s not up to them to hold everything together. Help them to know and believe that their life isn’t in their hands, but in yours.

[Philippians 2:3-8; Colossians 3:23-24; 1 Peter 4:10-11; Matthew 25:35-40; Romans 12:6-13; Psalm 145; Job 1:21; Jeremiah 17:7-8; 2 Corinthians 9:8]

ARMS

Lord, help them embrace people in love rather than push them away. Give them an openness for relationship and the strength to endure rejection without giving up. May their arms be inviting and gentle, but also strong, bearing up a shield of faith and a sword of truth. Equip them to both love people and to do battle with evil and lies. Instill in them an enduring faith that shields them from doubt and the pestering devil that questions You or asks- ‘where is your God?’ Shield them from the devil’s attacks and remind them of Your power and sovereignty. Help them know how to attack ideas and not people, that their battle is not against image-bearers. Give them wisdom and shrewdness but also innocence and peace. May they surround themselves with like-minded friends who will fight with them and for them. And may they be open to adding more to their circle. Help them have an eternal perspective without ignoring those in their life who need belonging. May You use their arms to draw others to You, our true Shield and Protector.

[2 Corinthians 10:5; Ephesians 6:10-19; Romans 12:10; Ephesians 4:2; Luke 22:31-32; Romans 8:37, 12:21; John 13:34-35]

HEART

Lord, help them put on the breastplate of righteousness, that their heart would be captured by You, pursuing holiness because You are holy. Hold their hearts, Lord, comforting them when they are hurting, giving them hope when they feel despair, giving them perseverance when they are weak. I pray that they would see their emotions as a gift from You and a way to connect with You and other people, but keep them from being driven by them or overcome by them. Give them wisdom and discernment in thought and feeling. Transform their hearts to look like Yours. May they care about what you care about. Keep their hearts soft, not hardened by hurt, and content, not chasing after or yearning for the empty, fleeting lures of the world. And one day, Lord, may their hearts also find a home with loving spouses who, above all, love You and seek to pattern their lives on Christ. Give their future marriages unity, a force for Christ and His kingdom. May they be unified, humble, gentle, confident, and mutually serving. Prepare and equip them to be godly in their marriages, to love and honor their spouses as they walk toward Glory together.

[1 Corinthians 13; Acts 13:22; Jeremiah 29:13; Psalm 51:10-12; Proverbs 4:23; Psalm 24:4; Philippians 4:6-7; Hebrews 13:8-9; Matthew 19:6; Ecclesiastes 4:9-10]

SHOULDERS

Lord, relieve them of the burden they carry. Relieve them of the pressures they put on themselves or others put on them. That they wouldn’t seek the approval of others but only of You. That they wouldn’t strive for perfection but faithfulness. Remind them that You have not called them to bear the weight of the world’s problems. Draw them to You, instead, where they can lay their burdens, their concerns, their fears, their agonies, their guilt at Your feet. You offer forgiveness and grace and rest. May they find all three in You. Keep their shoulders raised, their countenance up, confident and purposeful, knowing they walk in Your world. Keep their shoulders from sagging under the weight they were never meant to hold.

[2 Corinthians 12:9; Matthew 11:28-30; Psalm 55:22; 1 Peter 5:7; Philippians 4:6; Psalm 68:19; Galatians 6:9; Isaiah 40:31; Psalm 28:7, 143:8, 81:6]

NECK

Lord, keep them from becoming stiff-necked people, proud, or stubborn. May their only stubbornness be in resisting the schemes of the devil. Give them humility, a neck that yields to You, willing to be led by You. Your yoke is easy and light. Give them a spirit of repentance, not allowing any sin to gain root in their lives. May they be quick to correct and humble in receiving correction. I pray they would be eager to obey You, not seeing it as a burden but a gift, knowing they don’t have to earn their way to You. That their obedience would be out of gratitude and love for what You’ve done for them. Help them find the freedom of obedience instead of the restraint of obstinance.

[Matthew 11:28-30; Deuteronomy 28:1-2; John 14:15; James 1:25; 1 John 5:3; Proverbs 3:1-2; Psalm 1; 1 Corinthians 6:20]

MOUTH

Lord, help them take care in what they say. With their mouths they can curse or bless. Help them to be people who use their words to praise You and build others up. Give them a spirit of encouragement and the ability to see the good in others and acknowledge it. May their words be full of truth and wisdom. Bury Your Word in their hearts that they would be able to speak it over themselves and others. May they use their mouths to confess their sin and seek forgiveness. May they use their mouth to confess that You are Lord, and praise be ever on their lips. Keep them from harsh language or proud speech. Make them an instrument of Your peace that what they say would bring glory and honor to You.

[Romans 10:9; James 3; Proverbs 12:18; Psalm 141:3; Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 4:6; Matthew 12:34; Psalm 71:8, 19:14]

EARS

Lord, make your voice heard and give them sensitivity to Your calling on their life. That they would be able to discern between the voice of truth and the voice of lies. I pray they would spend time listening to music and podcasts that teach them about You and lead them to worship. I pray they would be good listeners in their relationships— listening more than talking and listening to really understand. Help them to be good friends and confidantes. That they would also be attentive to who’s not being heard— the voiceless— that they would be advocates and care for those who have trouble being heard. Help them understand the power of silence. Enable them to learn how to be still and wait for You. Grow them to seek solitude where they can hear You clearly. And Lord, let their hearing lead to doing.

[Romans 10:17; James 1:19-22; Luke 11:28; John 10:27; Acts 28:27; Hebrews 3:7-8; Isaiah 30:21; Revelation 3:20; Proverbs 31:8; Psalm 46:10]

EYES

Lord, reveal Yourself to them in such a real way; let them see You. Let them see the work You are doing in their lives and others’. Give them eyes to see people the way You see them— as Your creation, bearing Your image. Give them eyes to see needs and meet them, to see opportunities to expand Your kingdom and take them. Give them a glimpse of eternity that they would marvel at what’s to come. Open their eyes to truth, to wisdom, to beauty, to Your glory. If they must see the worst this world has to offer, may it spur them closer to You, may it make Your truth and goodness ever more clearer. May it only serve to strengthen their faith and dependence on You. If they must see pain and loss and despair and anger and abuse in the world, may it inspire them to pray and share the true hope, freedom, joy, and justice we have in You. Help them to guard their eyes from temptation and things that will draw them away from You. Lord, may they behold You.

[Ephesians 1:18; Psalm 119:18; 1 Corinthians 13:12; Philippians 2:3-4; Matthew 5:8; 1 John 3:2; Psalm 19:1; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Micah 6:8; 2 Chronicles 20:12; Psalm 16:8]

HEAD

Lord, transform them by the renewing of their minds, being able to discern Your will, good from evil, right from wrong, truth from lie. May they not be taken captive by the ideology of the world that champions self worship, feelings, and following every passion. Open their minds to close them around something solid. Keep them from being tossed by every whim of culture that is aimless and enslaving. Free their minds to discover truth, that they would be able to reason their faith and know answers for the hope they have. But ultimately, give them faith when they can’t wrap their mind around every mystery of You. You are unfathomable and some of Your ways hidden, some truths hard. May they be willing to sit in the tension and not make logic and answer-finding king over trust. I pray they would guard their minds, being careful what they put in there because we can’t go back to unseeing, unhearing, unknowing. Give them discernment on what movies, shows, books, music, news outlets, or YouTube videos they allow to take up space in their minds. Help them dwell on what is lovely, right, and pure. Help them remember Your truth and the foundation of faith we’re trying to instill in them. Bring to their mind Your truth, Your Word, that they would know peace and purpose and hope. Incline their heads and minds to You.

[Romans 12:1-2; Jude; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; Philippians 4:3-7; 2 Corinthians 10:5; 1 Corinthians 2:16; Colossians 3:2; Romans 8:6; Isaiah 55:8-9, 26:3; Psalm 19:14, 139:23-24; 1 Peter 1:13; Matthew 22:37; Ephesians 4:20-24; Philippians 2:1-3; James 1:5-8]

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes… Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”

— Ephesians 6:10-18

Lord, prepare and equip each of my children’s bodies for battle that they would stand firm in truth and follow hard after You. Thank You for Your Spirit that helps us in every way.

In the power of Jesus’ holy name, Amen.