10 Days of Prayers for ParentsSample

On a Mission

From the time a child is born, parents begin to dream about what their child will become. Some have dreams of their child becoming a doctor, a professional athlete, an accomplished musician, a famous actor, or the next president of the United States. Even when children are very young, parents invest a lot of money in music or drama lessons, sports equipment, tutoring, or special programs for various interests. The tendency is to steer children toward fulfilling those dreams, even if the child resists.

Parents should have dreams for their children, but those dreams should be centered on their growing to become the man or woman God created them to be and to fulfill His purpose for their life. Psalm 139:16 (TLB) says, “You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!”

How exciting to know that God has a plan and purpose for each of our children’s lives. As parents, we can steer our children toward fulfilling their mission by helping them cultivate a growing relationship with Christ and learning how to follow His leading and direction. We can teach them to make a difference in this world and in their scope of influence by using their unique gifts to serve God and help others, whether that’s as a doctor, a teacher, a musician, or as a missionary in a far-off corner of the world. What a dream come true to watch our children live their lives “on mission” for the glory of God.

Prayers for Parents

1. Thank God for choosing your child to fulfill a unique purpose and mission and for giving your child specific gifts and abilities to fulfill that mission.
2. Ask God to help you embrace His plan for your child’s life and to help you resist steering your child toward pursuits that aren’t centered on Him.
3. Pray that God will help you encourage your child to be others-centered and to use their gifts, skills, and abilities to serve Him.
4. Ask God for the courage to give your child the freedom and the support to accept God’s call on their lives, even if that means it’s different from your own dreams.

At FamilyLife, we want to be a part of your journey. If you're looking for more prayers, tips, and stories for navigating parenthood, please visit our resource page on parenting.