As Christian parents, our top priority has to be helping our children develop a real relationship with God, right? That's no small task, but it's so worth it. The best way we can support them is by staying close to God ourselves through prayer.
Raising godly children today comes with many unknowns and challenging moments. But prayer has proven time and time again to transform lives and strengthen bonds between parents and their little ones for generations to come. Thankfully, our gracious God gave us simple strategies to sustain our prayer lives even when life gets messy.
Here are ten free prayer resources that many have found super helpful over the years:
The Bible
One of the best ways to supercharge your prayer life is by making God's Word a regular part of it. Sure, some folks think opening the Bible adds more to their to-do list but let me encourage you on this!
See, the Scriptures aren't just some old collections of stories - they're God's love letter written explicitly with YOU in mind. The pages spill over with truths about who He is and what matters to Him. So, when you pray, let those verses reveal more of God's beautiful character.
And hey, try throwing in a reading during your prayer time, too. Just sit quietly, letting a passage soak into your soul. The Author Himself will feed you revelation and encouragement.
Praying the Scriptures
Have you tried incorporating Scripture into your prayer time? It can enrich your conversations with God. When reading the Bible, pay attention to verses that particularly stand out or feel relevant to what you're going through. Those impactful passages are significant to adapt into heartfelt, personal daily prayers directed to God. Rather than just reading them as-is, personalize them by tweaking the words to directly talk to Him and ask for His help in whatever situation. This brings those passages to life as an engaging two-way dialogue rather than a one-sided reading.
Prayer Journals
Does anyone else ever feel like their prayers get all tangled up? Or want to look back and see how God showed up before, but the details are fuzzy? A prayer journal is a total game-changer.
It's so freeing to just pour it all out on paper without worry. Plus, being able to look back is incredible for maintaining gratitude and seeing how faithful God has been! Any time you need a reminder of His goodness or direction in the future, it's all written out for you.
The Lord's Prayer
You know, when it comes to finding something to guide your prayers, you can't do better than going straight to Jesus Himself! Remember that prayer He taught His disciples, often called The Lord's Prayer? Talk about the perfect blueprint for covering all the bases in prayer.
This prayer flows from praising God as our Father to admitting where we mess up, asking for what we need, and submitting to His plans - it's like the ultimate fill-in-the-blanks template you can customize!
The Psalms
No matter what kind of day you're having, you can't beat the book of Psalms for prayer inspiration. Those songs cover every human emotion under the sun - joy, sorrow, anger, fear, name it, and it's likely in there.
When you're feeling on top of the world, join in belting out praise to God with lyrics straight from Psalm 100. Nothing compares to crying out, "How long, Lord?" right alongside the anguished voices in Psalm 13 on your total down days.
The coolest part? These prayers were written thousands of years ago and still resonate to this day.
Prayer Apps
As Christian parents, prayer is essential but can be challenging amidst busy lives. That's why the prayer resources from Praying for your child are invaluable. They allow powerful, Scripture-based prayers to integrate seamlessly into your daily routine.
With our website, you get easy access to targeted prayers and Bible verses for all areas of your child's life. Also, extensive video libraries on YouTube and TikTok offer topics like blessing children scripturally, teaching prayer, and speaking a life through God's Word. With these tools, parents can genuinely raise children enveloped in constant prayer.
The Prayers of Others
Throughout history, countless believers have penned their prayers, leaving a beautiful legacy of spiritual growth and devotion. Consider reading and praying through collections like "The Valley of Vision" by Puritan writers or the prayers of saints and spiritual leaders throughout the ages. Their words can inspire and deepen your prayer life, reminding you that you are part of a vast, global faith community.
Spiritual Mentors
While prayer is ultimately between you and God, it's always wise to surround ourselves with more experienced companions on the journey. Seeking counsel from spiritual mentors can hugely benefit our prayer lives.
Pastors, elders and long-time believers have travelled farther down the path and faced countless battles in their faith lifestyle. Tapping into their wisdom gained from seasons of intimacy with the Lord is valuable.
Prayer Partners
Praying with others can be an incredibly enriching and encouraging experience. Consider finding a prayer partner or joining a small group dedicated to prayer. As you share your burdens and lift one another in prayer, you'll experience the power of united faith and the collective strength of the Body of Christ.
Quiet Time and Solitude
While we should pray without ceasing, dedicating specially set aside time for solitude with God remains critical. Carving out moments to escape distractions, pouring out your heart, and simply being still in His presence will do wonders for your relationship with the Almighty.
When did you last sit quietly, focusing solely on communing with the Divine? Adjusting may take some practice, but dipping into His rest can strengthen you like nothing else.
Final Thoughts
Developing a solid prayer life takes discipline but immensely benefits you and your family. Make prayer a regular daily practice through morning/evening prayers for family, praying scriptures over your children, and keeping a prayer journal. Leverage tools like prayer apps, books of prayers, and spiritual mentors to deepen your connection to God and inspire unique prayers. With consistency over time, a vibrant prayer ministry will draw you and your children closer to God, instill faith, provide peace and direction, and help fulfil His destiny for each life.