How to Pray for your Family in 5 Simple Prayers 

I’m rarely short on words. As a verbal processor, I enjoy words in any form: conversations, books, podcasts, or articles. Yet, as I juggle and mentally manage all the roles of being a wife, mom, friend, and ministry leader, I’m often out of words. I struggle to put together complete sentences most days, especially during my prayer time.  

As a mom, I know the prayers I pray for my children matter. I long to pray prayers that partner with the work God is doing in them. Yet, often I find myself praying aimlessly, jumping from child to child and request to request, like a mental pinball game. I desire a powerful and effective prayer life but struggle to find the words at times.  

Basic Tips to Cultivate a Deep Prayer Life 

There are three things I have found helpful in cultivating a deep prayer life in the midst of a chaotic and hurried schedule. 

• Simplicity: Having a simple rhythm for prayer helps us stay consistent in our prayer lives even in the midst of chaos.  
• Specific: If we don’t have a target, we won’t know where to aim our prayers. Specific prayers keep us focused on the long-term, not just the urgent and important. 
• Scripture: God’s Word is full of wonderful prayers for us to borrow, especially when we aren’t sure what or how to pray.
   

5 Simple Scripture-Based Prayers to Help Guide Prayers for Your Child 

1. Relationship with God

Scripture: “He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. – Matthew 22:37 HCSB 

Prayer: God, I ask that _____ would know, love and follow you wholeheartedly. Show _____ that knowing you is the only thing that brings true joy and satisfaction.  

2. Relationship with Others

Scripture: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:39 HCSB 

Prayer: God, you created us to live in relationship with others. Every person is a treasure. Help _____ see people with your eyes. I pray _____ would reflect your love to each person they encounter. Help _____ to be quick to show love, patience and kindness.  

3. Head: Wisdom

Scripture: “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 HCSB 

Prayer: God, in you, is all wisdom and understanding. Thank you for giving wisdom abundantly when we ask for it. I pray that _____ would be quick to seek wisdom and ask for it in all things.  

4. Heart: Character

Scripture: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control.” Galatians 5:22 HCSB 

“How I long for Your precepts! Give me life through Your righteousness.” Psalm 119:40 CSB 

Prayer: Father, I thank you for _____ and how you have made him/her. Give this child a love for your ways, not the ways of this world. I pray he/she would walk by the Holy Spirit and be full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness and self-control. 

5. Hands: Serve Others

Scripture: “For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 HCSB 

Prayer: God, you are a marvelous creator. _____ is fearfully and wonderfully made! Thank you for the gifts you have given _____ to glorify you and serve others. Help _____ see the opportunities around them to serve others each day.