There is power in prayer, and one of the most important things you can do for your kids (and grandkids) is to pray for them. You might wonder what exactly to pray for your kids about. Well, most importantly, pray from your heart. There are 10 areas that parents can pray for their kids that can make a huge difference in their lives today and for their future.

1. Pray that your child connects with God through a personal relationship with Jesus.

The most important decision that anyone will ever make is asking Jesus to be the Lord and Savior of their lives. No one is a part of God’s forever family just because their parents or grandparents are Christians. Everyone has to make that choice on his or her own. You can pray that they will make this decision as soon as they are able to understand their need for Jesus.

2. Pray that your child worships and obeys God.

When your kids understand that they were made to worship God with their lives, they will be even more excited about doing what He wants them to do. The daily decisions that your kids make to put their own faith into action will set them up for success and significance.

3. Pray that your children know who they are in Jesus.

One of the biggest challenges facing our kids (and ourselves) is understanding who God created them to be. Pray that they know they are a child of God who is loved, secure, chosen, confident, and forgiven.

4. Pray that your child develops godly attitudes.

Their attitude will determine their how they rise and how far they go. The right attitude includes characteristics like optimism, humility, perseverance, confidence, and thankfulness.

5. Pray that others see something special in your child.

As Jesus grew, he grew in wisdom, strength, and in favor with God and man. I like to pray for my kids that God’s favor is on them and others are drawn to them.

6. Pray that your child is safe.

Let’s face it, it’s an increasingly dangerous world that our kids are growing up in. These prayers include their health as well as their overall protection. Everyone faces risks and attacks, not only from those who would want to harm them, but also from the enemy, the devil, who wants to steal, kill, and destroy their future. You can pray that they resist the attacks of the enemy.

7. Pray that your child will grow as a leader.

As much as we want them to be safe, we also want them to be bold risk-takers who are influence those around them. Our world is suffering from a crisis of ineffective leaders. Since everything rises and falls on leadership, our kids have a great opportunity to lead those around them. Pray that they will grow in areas of leadership like communication, commitment, and creativity.

8. Pray that your child will have strong, healthy relationships.

The people that your kids surround themselves with will be a clear indicator of who they are and who they will become. Pray for your kids’ friends by name. Also, it’s a great idea to go ahead and pray for his or her future spouse, because that will be the most important human relationship that they have. You don’t know who their spouse will be, but God already knows!

9. Pray that your child will make a positive difference in the world around them.

Your child wasn’t born just to take up space in the world but to make it a better place. Pray that will know how they were made to make a difference and they will pursue God’s purpose for life.

10. Pray that your child’s heart will be for God, their family, and the church.

The goal we have set for kids in our circle of influence is that they grow up with a strong love for God, a strong love for their family, and want to be a part of God’s people, the church, even as they grow into adulthood.

A praying parent is a powerful influence. As a primary spiritual leader in your child’s life, your prayers, both for them and with them help to shape the direction of their futures. As with anything else, consistency is the key. While your prayers don’t guarantee a certain outcome, James, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16). You can count on God doing some great things in the lives of your kids as you talk with Him about their future.

If there is something specific you would like for me to pray for your kids, shoot me a message and I would be honored! Just let me know.