How many of us take the time to pray for adult children? Do you even think about it? Or do you shoot arrow prayers when they struggle or are in trouble? Are our adult children out of sight, out of mind, out of prayer?
Think about it. These kids need prayer now more than ever!
Recently Favorite Creative Wife asked me what I prayed for Favorite First Born when he was younger. And I had to take time and stop to think. What did I pray for them?
When the Warriors were younger I prayed for them a lot. I prayed for their safety. I prayed for their health. I prayed for them to believe and be saved. I prayed for their future wives and families. I talked to God about them. All. The. Time.
Fast forward to today. None of the warriors live with me and even Favorite Baby is an adult now. And I got to thinking. What am I praying for them now? Truly? NOT NEARLY ENOUGH.
So here is a starter set of prayers to pray for adult children. They need the power of our prayers now more than ever!
1. Salvation:
It’s crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we’ve heard so that we don’t drift off. If the old message delivered by the angels was valid and nobody got away with anything, do you think we can risk neglecting this latest message, this magnificent salvation? First of all, it was delivered in person by the Master, then accurately passed on to us by those who heard it from him. All the while God was validating it with gifts through the Holy Spirit, all sorts of signs and miracles, as he saw fit.
2. Love and/or Marriage
Genesis 2:22-24 (HCSB)
So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to come over the man, and he slept. God took one of his ribs and closed the flesh at that place. Then the Lord God made the rib He had taken from the man into a woman and brought her to the man. And the man said: This one, at last, is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh; this one will be called “woman,” for she was taken from man. This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh.
Two of the Warriors are happily married and two are single. Finding love can be a beautiful, joy-filled process and it can also be filled with hurt, pain, and loneliness.
It is so important to pray for their love lives. Pray for their safety, their wise decisions, and especially their ability to know that no one on this planet can ever love them like Jesus. There is not one person who can fill the God-shaped hole in our human hearts.
Pray for our children's understanding that no one on this planet can ever love them like Jesus. Click To Tweet3. Friendship
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (HCSB)
Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.
Let’s pray for our adult children’s friendships. Pray for wisdom in choosing friends and protection in their relationships. Pray that they will not be lonely, but find fellowship and communion with like-minded people.
4. Fulfillment
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Pray that our children will trust the Lord with their lives, their careers, their choices. Pray that they choose to follow Him and find joy and fulfillment in Him.
5. Health
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Health is tricky, but I believe that praying for the health of our family is powerful. God is the great healer! Pray for our adult children and their health not only when they are ill, but when they are feeling well. Praise the Lord!
6. Wisdom
James 1:5 (Living Bible)
If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you, for he is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask him; he will not resent it.
Ask Him for wisdom! Ask Him for wisdom for your children. Ask Him to remind them He is full of Wisdom for them. The Word says He is ALWAYS ready. Ask Him.
7. Humility
1 Peter 5:6-7 (NLT)
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
Aside from salvation, I believe this is the most important thing to pray for adult children. Humility. Not pride or arrogance. Not egotistical or boastful. But humble, submissive, reverential, even ordinary. Here is the verse again. This time from The Message.
1 Peter 5:6-7 (The Message)
So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.
That is what I want for my Warriors. I pray they will “live carefree before God” because “he is most careful with (them)”.
Pray on!
