When you don't know how to pray for your daughter or son

Parenting is challenging. We often don't know where to turn, how to act, when to speak, or what to do. 

If we try to parent in our own strength and according to our own wisdom, we get for our family what we can do. But if we pray and invite God to act in our home and through our parenting through the power of His Spirit, we get what God can do. 

Sometimes, the trials of parenting are so great and our burdens are so heavy that we simply don't know how to pray - how to invite God to act in our behalf. 

So, I've put together a prayer for parents who are facing difficult times with a son or a daughter and who find themselves needing a guide. 

When you don't have words of your own to pray, you can use these. But don't use this prayer in a vainly repetitious way. Let you eyes wander across the screen (or on the page if you choose to print it) and let the Holy Spirit prompt your words. 

Remember: No written prayer is a magic, miracle-working prayer. God is the Miracle-worker. Simply use this prayer as a tool to help you call out to Him - to help you trust Him. He says, "Call on Me in your day of trouble. I will answer You and you will honor Me" (Psalm 50:15).

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Lord, I believe that I am on the same team with You, especially when it comes to helping my child.

Lord, let us join You in helping my daughter/son. Give him/her Your joy, O Lord.

In addition to giving her/him happiness, add to it a connectedness to You, to his/her family, and to others. And help her/him be productive and fruitful.

I admit that I don't understand You or Your ways in his/her life right now. But I know You are a God of love. I know that goodness and mercy follow me and my family every day of my life. I know You love my family. I know You love my daughter/son.

You are too wise to make a mistake. You are too loving to be unkind. You are too tender to crush your servants. You are too great to allow the enemy to win.

Therefore, I'm going to trust You. You are my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my strength, my hope, my very present help in time of trouble, and my salvation. And You are all of that and more for my child, too.

I believe that we are on the same team, You and I. You want my child to glorify You - to be a testimony to Your grace in this world even more than I want it.

Thank You that in Christ You have forgiven my sins as a parent. Now, Lord, let our family be a trophy of Your grace. I'm asking You for the grace to join You on Your team, on Your mission to restore and to renew my child. Show me how to think. Show me what to feel. Show me what to do.

First, change me from the inside out. Free me from my sin. Help me to repent of all wrong thinking, wrong feeling, and wrongdoing. Help me be a true believer, a true helper, a true servant, a true encourager.

And resolve our crisis from top to bottom so that You gain great glory. Take my child’s brokenness and bring about a great restoration. Go before my child; go behind, above, beneath, and to his/her right and to her/his left. Protect him/her from the evil one. Deliver her/him from brokenness. Heal. Sooth. Equip. Encourage. Grant joy! Give my daughter/son a great career. Give him/her great friends. And, if it be pleasing to You, grant her/him a great family one day.

I will assist You in accomplishing Your gracious plan for my child and for my family.

May what my daughter/son thinks be brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. May his/her mind be renewed. May Your Word dwell in him/her richly. May her/his delight be in the law of the Lord and may he/she meditate on it day and night. Sharpen her/his mind. Lead him/her to make good decisions. Help her/him be wise and discerning. Help him/her to be a man who loves You with all of his heart, soul, mind, and strength. Fill her/him with your Spirit.

Jesus, I hear You say, “Do not fear.” You are sovereign over our suffering. You have perfect knowledge of our present suffering and perfect foreknowledge of what good You will bring from it. Therefore, I trust You in the midst of our trial, because You alone are eternal, You alone are all-powerful, and You alone are good.

Defeat all the powers of darkness that wish to dominate our lives. Cast out, throw down, and send away all rulers, powers, and authorities that work to harm. You are mighty to save.

Whatever suffering we’re currently experiencing, or whatever suffering comes to us in the future, we can trust that we’re held in the hands of a sovereign King, who not only knows our suffering but is sovereign over it. You are Emmanuel, the One who is with us in the midst of our suffering and who has conquered all our troubles.

You will cause this family trial to refine us, not destroy us. And You will do so as the sovereign ruler over all things, the first and the last, the One who died and came to life.

You raise all things. You make all things new. You restore all things. I claim all that good and more for my son/daughter.

I believe that my child is fearfully and wonderfully made. I believe that my child is Your workmanship – a work of art, a masterpiece, absolutely unique and needed for Your work in this world.

I believe that You have a future and a hope for her/him. He/she will grow and grow and be useful to You.

I believe that my child will find a fruitful and fulfilling career. I believe that he/she will learn how to live in mature and edifying ways. I believe that we will get to know our son/daughter more and more, better and better as the years go by.

I see my son/daughter as an overcomer and as someone who perseveres through difficulty to achieve lasting victory in her/his life for Christ.

May You, Lord God in heaven, give my child grace to live up to this high calling starting today.

In Jesus' name. Amen.