Praying for others

How to pray for your children, with prayers and Scripture

October 21, 2026 · 5 min read

How to pray for your children by name, what to ask God for, prayers for your son and daughter, their salvation, and grandchildren, with Scripture to pray.

To pray for your children, bring each one to God by name, ask for one specific need at a time, and pray Scripture over them. Ask most of all that they would know and love Jesus. You can’t control their hearts or their future, but you can bring them every day to the One who can.

How do you pray for your children?

Praying for your children means bringing each child to God by name, day after day. Thank God for them, ask first that they would know and love Jesus, then pray for one specific need at a time: wisdom, a friendship, a hard class, their health, or a decision. Pray Scripture over them, keep praying when you can’t see change, and write down how God answers.

What does the Bible say about our children?

The Bible calls children a gift and invites us to bring them to Jesus. “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord” (Psalm 127:3, ESV). When the disciples turned children away, Jesus said, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14, ESV). Every prayer for your child is a way of bringing them to Him.

God’s faithfulness reaches across generations: “the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children” (Psalm 103:17, ESV).

What should you pray for your children?

What you pray for your children can follow the areas of their lives:

• Faith. That they would know Jesus and love Him for themselves (Ephesians 1:17-18).
• Growth. That they would grow “in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52, ESV).
• Protection. “The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life” (Psalm 121:7, ESV).
• Friends. “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise” (Proverbs 13:20, ESV).
• Character. Patience, kindness, honesty, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
• School or work. Faithfulness and good work, done “as for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23, ESV).
• Their future. Their calling, and the person they may one day marry.
• Peace. “All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children” (Isaiah 54:13, ESV).

Pray for the adults around them too, like their teachers. See these prayers for teachers.

What can I pray for my son?

Prayers for your son can name exactly what he’s facing. A few to adapt:

• For protection: “Lord, keep Sam safe as he drives and as he goes out with friends. Keep his going out and his coming in (Psalm 121:8).”
• For a job: “Father, open the right door for Sam as he looks for work. Give him patience while he waits, and help him do every job well.”
• For his faith: “Jesus, draw Sam to Yourself. Make his faith his own, not just ours.”
• On his birthday: “Thank You for another year of Sam’s life. Teach him to number his days, that he may get a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12).”

What can I pray for my daughter?

Prayers for your daughter can be just as specific. A few to adapt:

• For her health: “Lord, heal Grace’s body and give her rest. Give her doctors wisdom.”
• For her mind and heart: “Father, when Grace is anxious, guard her heart and mind with Your peace (Philippians 4:7). Bring people around her who will listen.”
• For her work or studies: “Help Grace work hard and well, and give her joy in what You’ve made her to do.”
• For protection: “Keep Grace from harm and from people who would hurt her. Give her wisdom to choose good friends.”

If your son or daughter is struggling with their mental health, pray, and also get them help from a doctor, counselor, or pastor. In the US, you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

How do you pray for your children’s salvation?

Praying for your children’s salvation is asking God to do what only He can do. Pray that He would open their eyes to the gospel, draw them to Jesus (John 6:44), and send faithful Christians into their lives. Keep living the faith in front of them, and keep praying with patience. See how to pray for someone’s salvation.

For adult children who have walked away, remember the father in Jesus’ parable, who saw his son “while he was still a long way off” because he was still watching the road (Luke 15:20, ESV). Keep watching, and keep praying.

How do you pray for your grandchildren?

Praying for your grandchildren continues a long line of faith. Paul remembered Timothy’s “sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well” (2 Timothy 1:5, ESV). Pray for each grandchild by name, for their parents, and for the faith to pass to the next generation.

How can The Pray App help you pray for your children?

The Pray App keeps a prayer card for each child. On Home, tap New prayer card, write your prayer, and set Repeat to Daily. Add a Bible verse to pray with it, like Isaiah 54:13. If your child has a phone number in your contacts, add them under Praying for, and after you pray, the message button opens Messages with “Hi Sam, I prayed for you today.” ready to send.

A prayer card holds the prayer, who it’s for, and a verse.

For one area a day, make a card for each area and set it to Weekly on its day. When God answers, tap Answered and write how. It moves to Stones of Remembrance in Journey, a record you can one day show your children.

Scripture also speaks directly to parents: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4, ESV). For praying together with your kids, see how to pray with your kids, and for the whole household, see how to pray for your family.

The Pray App is free on the App Store, with no ads. See how to create a prayer card.