Praying For Our Adult Children – Part 2
Last week we talked about praying for our grown children and, as God’s people, believing He will answer our prayers regardless of the circumstances. This week let’s talk about what to pray for and how we should pray.
Being a parent is one of the most important, difficult, yet rewarding responsibilities in life. We can never start praying too early for our children. In fact, scripture reminds us we should start our prayers even before they are conceived: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” Jeremiah 1:5
Prayer gives us an amazing opportunity to lean into God and ask for His blessings and protection through every stage of our children’s lives.
What are some of the areas you’re struggling with as a parent these days? I know parents who’ve prayed their adult children through some of life’s hardest seasons, from broken relationships and financial setbacks to mental health challenges and addictions.
It can often be heartbreaking but let’s face it, sometimes there doesn’t need to be a crisis to pray for them! Some are already Christians and have a healthy lifestyle, but we still need and want to pray for constant protection: protection while traveling, protection from illness, protection from harm.
While prayer can be a continual part of every parent’s life, let’s be honest – consistent prayer is HARD! It takes time, patience, and a lot of trust.
Jodie Berndt says “A prayer of blessing on our children can lay the groundwork for God to move, even when our own hearts are heavy or we don’t see evidence of God’s provision.” God is always moving and working in us and our children. He invites us to open our hearts and come to Him in prayer.
In Part 1 of this series we talked about how our prayers have authority and are an investment into our children’s future. I encourage every parent today to remember it’s not our job to answer – it’s our job to ask! As Jesus taught us “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be open to you.” Matthew 7:7
Mark Batterson has written “The greatest tragedy in life is the prayers that go unanswered simply because they go unasked.” I love these words!
What do I pray?
What should we pray for? What specific petitions do we bring to God on behalf of our children? Here are a few ideas.
Pray:
- That they might have a foundation of faith and recognize their need for God.
- That God’s protection will cover them constantly
- For healthy and God-filled relationships
- For freedom from addiction, destructive behaviors and evil influences
- That they might experience good health and honor their bodies
- For a faith-filled marriage strong in God’s principles
- That they will remain deep in their faith to survive the tough times (because they will have them)
- That they surrender their dreams and ask God’s will be done regarding their future
How do I pray?
If you struggle with how to pray, remember God knows what is in our hearts even more than our words, He knows what we need even before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8). Just speak from the heart, ask Him to reveal what you should pray and HE will.
There are no rules or wrong ways to do it as long as your prayers are sincere and earnest. You don’t have to be on a hilltop or in a prayer closet to pray. It can be anywhere: as you’re driving your car, in your office, working out, or doing the laundry. It doesn’t matter. God hears us and even when we don’t “see” Him working in our children’s lives, be at peace knowing He will move through them in His timing. So stay strong!
As a parent, my prayer for you is:
To continue loving and praying for your children: that you would know the presence, and the grace, of God. It doesn’t matter whether you feel like you’ve done everything “right” or whether you are all too aware of your inadequacies. All of us need God’s grace in our lives. All of us need His presence, always. Amen!
Blessings.