10 Important Scriptures to Pray Over Your Kids

Another school year is beginning.

Before our kids head off to their first day of school, we prepare them by purchasing proper school supplies, a nice backpack, and a lunchbox to hold a nutritious meal.

But are we preparing our kids spiritually for the kinds of things they may face at school? 

And pssst! To help you start praying for your children, we have a brand NEW Praying the Promises for Your Children prayer journal! You can find out all about this beautiful Mother’s Legacy journal here. 

We know that prayer for children in school is vital, so before your kids head off to school and throughout this school year, make sure to pray for the following.

10 Important Prayers for Your Children This School Year 

These Scriptures will help you say a prayer for your child at school. Use these 10 important Scriptures to pray over your kids this school year.

 

1. That they would be a light in the darkness at school

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14 (ESV)

As our kids walk the halls of their schools, let’s pray that the light they shine for Jesus would be bright. As others interact with them, may our children draw people to Christ through their words and actions.

2. That they would recognize the authority of their teachers

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution…1 Peter 2:13a (ESV)

One of the problems we faced with our kids as they entered the junior and senior high years was dealing with respect for their teachers.

Even when facing conflict with teachers, the Bible says we need to respect the authority placed over us.

Let’s pray that our children have respect for their teachers, even if they face conflict with those teachers, knowing that this year God has put those teachers in authority over them.

3. That they would do their schoolwork to the glory of God

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV)

One of the things we try to stress in our home is doing homework well, instead of doing it quickly to get it out of the way.

It’s human nature for kids to want to rush through homework, so they can get on to doing things they love. But let’s pray that they take the time to do their schoolwork to the best of their ability, as if they are doing schoolwork for the Lord. Because they are.

4. That they would be a friend to the friendless

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:7-8 (ESV)

Doesn’t it seem like every year there is one kid in class who has a hard time making friends? Some years that kid was my child. Oh what a difference it would have made if just one child came alongside her to be her friend.

Our experience has spurred us to deeper prayer for kids in school. We pray that our children would be a friend to the friendless. Bullying or even just loneliness can take such a toll on children. Let’s pray that our kids have the courage to reach out in kindness when they see another child who could use a friend.

5. That God would open their eyes to anything unbiblical

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:26 (ESV)

One of the things I remember as a Christian student in public high school was the day my science teacher made fun of one of my classmates for challenging the accuracy of the Big Bang Theory.

Years later, I admire my classmate for sticking up for her beliefs.

When our kids go to school, especially public school, they will be exposed to beliefs that are in opposition to what the Bible says. Let’s pray that our kids listen to the Holy Spirit’s prompting to recognize such thoughts and ideas. And let’s pray that our kids would desire to discuss these issues with us, their parents.

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6. That they would not be ashamed of the gospel

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16 (ESV)

Sooner or later in public school, a Christian kid will probably be made fun of for their belief in Jesus.

Hopefully it won’t happen on a regular basis. But even if it does, let’s pray that our kids are confident enough in their faith that they are not ashamed of the gospel. Pray they recognize that everyone, including those who make fun of them, needs the salvation the gospel offers.

7. That they would have wisdom in choosing friends

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 (ESV)

Choosing friends is important. It’s a talk I’ve given to my kids over and over.

You see, in college, I thought I was a strong enough Christian to hang out with whomever I pleased. I chose some non-Christian partying friends. I didn’t change them. They changed me.

Let’s pray that our kids choose well when they choose their closest friends. That they choose friends who will encourage them to strengthen their relationship with Jesus.

prayer journal and open bible

8. That they recognize and take opportunities to share the gospel

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…Matthew 28:19 (ESV)

Even our children are presented with opportunities to share the gospel. You can say a prayer for your child at school, praying that they recognize the opportunities to share Jesus with their friends — that they would be open to inviting others to church or youth group or AWANA.

9. That they would be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20 (ESV)

There are a lot of opportunities to get angry at school. An unfair grade, a cold shoulder from a friend, or even a misunderstood assignment all have the potential to stir up anger in our children.

Let’s pray when they are tempted to lash out in anger that they would remember to listen first and not sin in their anger.

10. That they end the school year more spiritually mature than they began

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18 (ESV)

Each school year we expect that our children will have more knowledge at the end of the year than they had at the beginning. It’s why we send them to school.

But do we expect that they will grow spiritually every year?

More than anything else, let’s pray that our kids take their faith in Christ seriously. That they are motivated to read their Bibles and pray. And that they would end the school year more spiritually mature than they began.

That, to me, would be a successful school year.

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We have several wonderful FREE resources to help you as you pray for your child:

And don’t forget! To help you start journaling Scripture prayers for your children, grab our BRAND NEW Praying the Promises Mother’s Legacy Prayer Journal here.

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Lynnae Profile 250 x 250Lynnae McCoy is a wife, mom of three (a young adult, a teen and a 6 year old!), and an unabashed Christian. She has found that her best parenting occurs on her knees, and she is on a mission to help other women discover the power of prayer.

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7 Comments

  1. I really like this article. I homeschool my children, however this can apply to them as well. We do not shelter them- we are always out and about and so being that light to the world wherever we are. Prayers for growth and control of anger…which seems to be a decent sized one in our home at times, between brothers.. Thank you for sharing!

  2. I thank the Lord for leading me to your site. You have covered every prayer I did not know how to put into words. I’m so thrilled with how the Lord uses his saints to help someone on the other side of the world. He really is interested in our weaknesses and does answer prayers. Thank you Lynnae.

  3. Powerful and anointed prayer items that will help me to go and pray with school kids as l always visits my neighrhood schools before they enter their classrooms . We bless the Lord Jesus for the servants of God. Amen

  4. These 10 scriptures to pray for our children are well-chosen and encompass a wide array of needs. Your idea of tying our prayers to scripture gives us a solid starting point in crafting prayers, and often, that’s the hardest part – knowing where to start. We’re sharing this page with our readers as a suggested way to commemorate National Day of Prayer on May 5th. Thank you for crafting and providing this resource. We’re praying that many readers will continue to benefit from it.

  5. I somehow stumbled on this post, and felt compelled to comment. I am not meaning to be offensive, nor disrespectful, but hoping to spur further consideration of the topic.

    To say, ‘Ten Important Back to School Prayers for your Children’ would be very much like, ‘Ten Prayers to Say for Your Children Before Feeding Them Raw Sewage’.

    1) Pray that they would learn to be thankful for the raw sewage they are about to receive.
    2) Pray that they would respect the authority of those god-hating, god profaning authorities who prepared the sewage for them.
    3) That they would learn to pretend the sewage is clean, if those providing it say so.
    4) Try to encourage others who are becoming ill and discouraged about the sewage they are being fed to be of good cheer.
    5) Pray that the sewage does not make them sick.
    6) Pray that they do not begin to love the sewage they are going to be fed.
    7) Pray that they learn that what they are being fed is raw sewage
    8) Pray that God would allow them to grow into healthy, productive mature Christians on the raw sewage they are about to be fed.
    9) Pray that the raw sewage would be made clean as they eat it.
    10) Pray that God would bless their lives because of the raw sewage.

    Sounds ridiculous, right? Yet, I would gladly feed my children raw sewage before I would expose them to Drag Queen story hour, God denying and God hating school policies, Bible denying curriculum and prayer-forbidding classrooms.

    I am utterly grieved to my core that Christian parents would submit their precious children to the horrors of the public school system.

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