31 Days and Ways to Pray for the Children and Youth

Let us pray for our children and youth will develop strong Christian morals and the fruits of the Spirit had prompted her to develop a unique prayer list, that included reminders to pray for her children's salvation and growth in grace, as well as other concerns (such as that they would "be leaders, not followers").

Here is a simple practice that has revolutionized the way we can pray for my children. Each day of the month, in addition to my prayers for their safety and for the concerns of that day, I also pray for a specific character trait, virtue, or fruit of the Spirit to be planted and nurtured in our children, through parents and church adults efforts, through the influence of others, and throug hthe children;s own actions and decisions. At the end of each month, we begin praying through the list again, combining traits when the month is shorter than thirty-one days.

Following is the list I have developed, complete with brief suggestions for prayer from Scripture. Feel free to duplicate it--or improve upon it--to help you pray specifically and purposefully for your children to experience and evidence:  Read the Scriptures and let them fuel your prayers.

1st Salvation "Lord, let salvation spring up within my children, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory" (Isaiah 45:8, 2 Timothy 2:10).

2nd Growth in grace "I pray that they may 'grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ'" (2 Peter 3:18).

3rd Love "Grant, Lord, that my children may learn to 'live a life of love,' through the Spirit who dwells in them" (Ephesians 5:2, Galatians 5:22).

4th Honesty and integrity " May integrity and honesty be their virtue and their protection" (Psalm 25:21).

5th Self-control " Father, help my children not to be like many others around them, but let them be 'alert and self-controlled' in all they do" (1 Thessalonians 5:6)

6th A love for God's Word " May my children grow to find your Word 'more precious than gold, than much pure gold; [and] sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb'" (Psalm 19:10).
7th Justice " God, help my children to love justice as you do and to 'act justly' in all they do" (Psalm 11:7, Micah 6:8).

8th Mercy " May my children always 'be merciful, as [their] Father is merciful'" (Luke 6:36).

9th Respect (for self, others, authority) " Father, grant that my children may 'show proper respect to everyone,' as your Word commands" (1 Peter 2:17a).

10th Strong, Biblical self-esteem " Help my children develop a strong self-esteem that is rooted in the realization that they are 'God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus'" (Ephesians 2:10).

11th Faithfulness "' Let love and faithfulness never leave [my children],' but bind these twin virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts" (Proverbs 3:3).

12th Courage "May my children always 'Be strong and courageous' in their character and in their actions" (Deuteronomy 31:6).

13th Purity "'Create in [them] a pure heart, O God,' and let their purity of heart be shown in their actions" (Psalm 51:10).

14th Kindness "Lord, may my children 'always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else'" (1 Thessalonians 5:15).

15th Generosity "Grant that my children may 'be generous and willing to share [and so] lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age'" (1 Timothy 6:18-19).

16th Peace, peaceability "Father, let my children 'make every effort to do what leads to peace'" (Romans 14:19).

17th Joy " May my children be filled 'with the joy given by the Holy Spirit'" (1 Thessalonians 1:6).

18th Perseverance " Lord, teach my children perseverance in all they do, and help them especially to 'run with perseverance the race marked out for [them]'" (Hebrews 12:1).

19th Humility " God, please cultivate in my children the ability to 'show true humility toward all'" (Titus 3:2).

20th Compassion " Lord, please clothe my children with the virtue of compassion" (Colossians 3:12).

21st Responsibility " Grant that my children may learn responsibility, 'for each one should carry his own load'" (Galatians 6:5).

22nd Contentment " Father, teach my children 'the secret of being content in any and every situation. . . . through him who gives [them] strength'" (Philippians 4:12-13).

23rd Faith " I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children's hearts, that by faith they may gain what has been promised to them" (Luke 17:5-6, Hebrews 11:1-40).

24th A servant heart " God, please help my children develop servant hearts, that they may serve wholeheartedly, 'as to the Lord, and not to men'" (Ephesians 6:7).

25th Hope " May the God of hope grant that my children may overflow with hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13).

26th The willingness and ability to work hard " Teach my children, Lord, to value work and to work hard at everything they do, 'as working for the Lord, not for men'" (Colossians 3:23).

27th A passion for God " Lord, please instill in my children a soul that "followeth hard after thee," a heart that clings passionately to you (Psalm 63:8).

28th Self-discipline " Father, I pray that my children may develop self-discipline, that they may acquire 'a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair'" (Proverbs 1:3).

29th Prayerfulness " Grant, Lord, that my children's lives may be marked by prayerfulness, that they may learn to 'pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests" (Ephesians 6:18).

30th Gratitude " Help my children to live lives that are always 'overflowing with thankfulness,' 'always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ'" (Colossians 2:7, Ephesians 5:20).

31st A heart for missions " Lord, please help my children to develop a heart for missions, a desire to see your glory declared among the nations, your marvelous deeds among all peoples" (Psalm 96:3).

An additional benefit to my prayer program; as you pray for the children each night, the Lord will bring mind the subject you prayed for that morning, and you would repeat your request in the children's hearing. Before long, they began to echo your praying, and pour out their own hearts in prayer for the very virtues and qualities you desired to see in them. By God's grace it will influence how we all live!

Praise Honors God! Praise is the Voice of Faith!

Praise - Honors God!  Praise - Undergirds faith!
Praise - Brings deliverance!  Praise - Is the voice of faith!
Praise - Is the language of heaven!   Praise - Sets the stage for God to move!
Praise - Releases the angels to minister!  Praise - Fuels joy, which is your strength!
Praise - Knocks down walls of resistance!  Praise - Stills the enemy and the avenger!
Praise - Dispels darkness and depression!  Praise - Must precede, not follow blessings!
Praise - Gives God the legal right to help you!  Praise - Brings the presence of God onto the scene!
Praise - Is a sure sign of acceptance of the Word of God!
Praise - Is the highway that faith moves its blessings down!Praise - Is calling those things that be not as though they were!

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, In everything give thanks; For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thess 5:16-18 NKJV

In the above verse, take note that it says "in" everything give thanks - it did not say "for" everything give thanks. In the midst of the trial, in the midst of the attack, when you feel as if the enemy is in your face with all of hell itself, right there, at that moment do not give in to the pressure of the devil, instead turn the tables on him and put the pressure back on the devil where it belongs and lift your hands to the Lord and begin to just love on God and praise and worship Him. (It'll just give the devil fits!)

Praying For Others is a Great and Good Thing

Praying for Others is Something We are Called Upon to Do!

In John 16:6-24, Christ prays for his disciples—that God would protect them from the evil one as they went out into the world to spread the Word— and for those who would hear their message and come to believe that God had sent his son to save the world. Christ prayed for others and so should we.

We are commanded to pray for others:

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven" —Matthew 5:43-45a.

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should" —Colossians 4:2-4.

"I urge, then first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. … I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing" —1 Timothy 2:1-4, 8.

We are also given examples of praying for others by the Apostle Paul::

"Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends his greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured" —Colossians 4:12.

"I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe" —Ephesians 1:16-19a.

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus through out all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" —Ephesians 3:14-21

Let Us All Pray for the People of Haiti

WE PRAY FOR HAITI

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As the eyes of the world turn to Haiti, let us join our hearts in prayer:
God of compassion
Please watch over the people of Haiti,
And weave out of these terrible happenings
wonders of goodness and grace.
Surround those who have been affected by tragedy
With a sense of your present love,
And hold them in faith.
Though they are lost in grief,
May they find you and be comforted;
Guide us as a church
To find ways of providing assistance
that heals wounds and provides hope
Help us to remember that when one of your children suffer
We all suffer

Through Jesus Christ who was dead, but lives
and rules this world with you. Amen.

(Adapted from Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church, USA)

More Declaring Prayers

Declaring prayer is taking the spiritual truths of God's Word and prayerfully declaring them into your life.  It is taking spiritual reality and bringing it into this plane with a declaration prayer.  Some call these declaring prayers "faith confessions" or "Godlly or Biblical affirmations."  Whatever you call them. these are power tools for the Christian, scripture quoted as affirmations that when you speak out loud in Jesus' name, you command your body, your finances and even the demons to do what God's Word in the Bible says.

Let the truth of the Word sink deep into your heart, which changes YOU at the deepest level and gives you peace and faith to overcome! As God's ambassador, declare His truth (from His Word) into this world!

These true statements of God's power are based on actual Scripture promises, and because of that we know we are doing God's will when we claim these as reality in our lives. In this way these things are manifested into our world by God's power, which is in His Word, and the Holy Spirit watches over and backs up the Word of God.

Here are some declaring prayers.  Look up the Scripture and meditate upon it as you pray.  End each prayer with "IN JESUS NAME, AMEN!"

Thank You God for your Love! Your word says that you love me so much that You gave Your only Son for me. Therefore, I declare that I believe in Jesus, therefore I will not perish. I have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Thank You Father that Your Word states that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Therefore, I declare I can do all things through the Anointed One and His Anointing which strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)

Thank You God that I am yours through Jesus Christ, therefore, I declare that the Lord delivers me out of all my afflictions. (Psalm 34:19)

Thank You God that I am a child of the Living God and an inheritor of Abraham's promise through Jesus Christ, therefore I declare that I am blessed when I come in and blessed when I go out. (Deut. 28:6)

Thank You God that Jesus bore my sins in His Body on the tree; therefore I am dead to sin and alive unto God and I declare that by His stripes I am healed and made whole (I Peter 2:24; Rom. 6:11; 2 Cor. 5:21)

Thank You Father that Jesus bore my sicknesses and carried my pain. Therefore I give no place to sickness or pain. I declare that God sent His Word and healed me. (Psalm 103:20)

Thank You Father that You have given me abundant life. I declare that I receive that life through Your Word and it flows to every organ of my body bringing healing and health. (John 10:10, John 6:63)

Thank You God that by Jesus stripes I am healed and I declare that the life of I Peter 2:24 is a reality in my flesh, restoring every cell of my body.

Thank you Lord for your provision, and I declare that my God supplies all my needs according to His riches in Glory. (Phil. 4:19)

Pray for the Children

Every child that is born is a miracle. “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward” (Psalm 127:3). This does not, however, mean that our children are free from sin and immune to Satan. Remember that while God has a perfect plan for our children’s lives, Satan has a plan for them too. Satan’s plan is to destroy them.

In order to stop Satan and deter his plan, we must pray for our children, teach them about God and ensure that they ask Jesus Christ into their hearts. This is the only way to save them in this life and eternally. Never underestimate what your belief in Jesus and the power of prayer can do in your children’s lives. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you ." (John 15:7).

The Bible also tells us “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). Remember that Jesus gave us authority over all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). This means that through the prayers we say on our, or other’s, children’s behalf, we can save them from the enemy. As a praying parent, grandparent, guardian or Christian, we can make a huge difference in how a child’s life will turn out.

Prayer is an opportunity to talk freely to God. It is your opportunity to tell him all of your fears, concerns and worries that you have for your children. Pray for your children’s present and their future’s. Pray for their protection and their health. Pray that they will become Godly people and continue to grow in His Word. Pray that God helps you to teach your children through the mistakes of your past, and your families, so that your children may not repeat them. Pray you will be surrounded by Godly people, or that you will find the right school for them, or that they will have a strong sense of self. Every single detail of your child’s life is important to God. Nothing is too small or too big for God – he wants to hear it all. God is your Father, your best friend and your confidant. He wants you to come to Him, believe in Him and trust in Him.

Pray for your children (or grandchildren or neices or nephews or church school kids you know) each and every day. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in the specific things your children may need that you may not know. Then allow peace to move into your mind and soul. God’s Word tells us “Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive” (Matthew 21:22). God is telling us that he wants us to lean on him. He wants us to be able to feel relief and a sense of freedom from our worries knowing that we have turned them over to Him. His Word tells us to cast “all your care upon Him” (1 Peter 5:7).

Watch and wait for answered prayer. Remember that God works in many different ways. A prayer may be answered immediately, or take a great deal of time. Some prayers may not be answered for reasons that we cannot understand. But, we must always recognize and trust that God does what is best for us.

We must also remember that our own lives, and the paths we choose to take, will affect our children. “The righteous man or woman walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him". (Proverbs 20:7).