How to Powerfully Use Scripture to Pray Over Your Children

Do you long to pray with more confidence? Or maybe you desire to deepen your prayer life? Whether you are looking for a place to start or just encouragement to get back on track, I am honored to have you here today. Friends, prayer is a gift given by our Heavenly Father. My prayer is that you lean into Him and strengthen your walk as you learn Bible verses to pray over your children. And that over the next few weeks, you find resources that help you grow in your prayer life so that you can pray with bold confidence when you go before His throne. And where there is bold confidence, there is unveiled HOPE!

Today, I welcome my dear friend and fellow prayer warrior, Melanie Redd. She is sharing with you not only why and how to pray Scripture, but giving you 10 of her favorite Bible verses to pray over your child.

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It was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever experienced.

We were meeting in our weekly Moms in Prayer Group to pray for our elementary-aged children. Our kids were all in the same school and close in age.

For weeks, we’d been praying for my son and a little girl in his class who’d been especially unkind and cruel to him. She was a beautiful child, but she was mean. And, she took out most of her meanness on my son.

Finally, we all got weary with her treatment of him. And, we especially focused our prayers on this little bully’s actions. One of the moms was especially perturbed about the whole situation.

She found a Bible verse to pray and she called down heaven. The verse, from Psalm 31:18 (HCSB), simply reads, “Let lying lips be quieted; they speak arrogantly against the righteous with pride and contempt.”

That day, this sweet momma prayed that the bully’s lips would be silenced and that she would not taunt or tease my son. She asked God to close the mouth of the bully.

That afternoon, when my son got home from school, I asked how his day went. I asked about the girl who bullied him all the time.

He smiled and said, “She had laryngitis today. She wasn’t able to speak all day long at school. So, she only could make faces at me.”

I had to smile as I thought about the prayers of my friend. God had answered her pleas and silenced a bully for an entire day!

Why do we pray using scripture verses?

Is it important to use the Bible as a regular part of our prayer routine? Why pray Bible verses for our children, family members, friends, and others?

Why pray Bible verses for our children, family members, friends, and others? #prayingscripture #parenting Share on X

First, we pray using the Bible because praying scripture is powerful.

The Bible is God-breathed and the words of the Lord Himself. When we pray scripture, we are praying God’s words back to Him.

He takes this seriously and answers powerfully. These are His promises, His decrees, and His truths that we are lifting back up to Him.

Praying scripture is similar to us making a promise to our children. They don’t forget, and they remind us of what we have said to them. “But, you said…”

When we pray scripture, we remind God of what He has said to us and pledged to us. It’s powerful!

Second, we pray scripture because it makes praying easier!

Do you find yourself wondering what to pray in a certain situation? Or, maybe you aren’t certain how to pray for someone? Praying Bible verses takes the guessing game out of the equation. You can just plug a name into a verse and lift it up to the Lord.

It’s that simple.

Finally, we pray scripture because it’s effective. It works!

Many, many times I’ve seen the Lord answer a very specific prayer in a very specific way. And, when I pray from the Bible, I’ve seen even more answers to prayer.

I don’t always understand it, but using scripture to pray greatly enhances my prayers and makes them more impactful.

I don’t always understand it, but using scripture to pray greatly enhances my prayers and makes them more impactful. #prayer #parenting Share on X

James 5:16 tells us, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”

What verses should you use to pray?

Of course, there are myriads of verses to choose from. But, I’ve selected 10 of my favorites that I use for my own family. Maybe you can start with these while choosing some of your own.

First, I’ll share the verses. Then, I’ll add a way to pray these scriptures over your child.

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Bible Verses to Pray Over Your Child

1} Colossians 1:9-10

“We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.”

Prayer – Father, give _________________ complete knowledge of Your will and to give ________________ spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then _______________  will live and always honor and please the Lord, and ______________’s life will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, ______________ will grow as they learn to know God better and better.

2} Colossians 1:11-12 

“We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,  always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.”

Prayer – Lord, I pray that you will strengthen _________________ with all Your glorious power so that ___________________ will have all the endurance and patience they need. May __________________ be filled with joy, always thanking the Father.

3} Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Prayer – Father, thank You that You know the plans I have for __________________. Thank You that they are plans for good and not for disaster, to give _______________ a future and a hope.

4} Isaiah 41:10 

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

Prayer – Help ________________ to not be afraid, for You are with them. Encourage ________________ to not be discouraged, for You are their God. Strengthen _______________ and help them. Hold up ___________________with my victorious right hand.

5} Philippians 1:6 

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

Prayer – Father, I am certain that You, who began the good work within _______________, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

6} Proverbs 3:5-6 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

Prayer – Lord, I ask that _______________ will trust in the Lord with all their heart. Encourage _____________  to not depend on their own understanding.  Rather, help _____________ to seek Your will in all they do, and You will show ________________ which path to take.

7} Ephesians 5:15-18 

“So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.  Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.  Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Prayer – Lord, help ________________ to be careful how they live. Encourage ___________ to not live like fools, but like those who are wise. Enable _______________ top make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Free ______________ to not act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants them to do. Give ______________ the wisdom to not be drunk with wine, because that will ruin their life. Instead, fill ______________with the Holy Spirit

8} Philippians 3:14 

“I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

Prayer – Lord, enable _______________ to press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling them.

9} Philippians 2:2-5 

“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”

Prayer – Dear God, help ______________ to not be selfish or try to impress others. Enable ______________ to be humble, thinking of others as better than themselves.  Help ___________________ to look out only for their interests, but also to take an interest in others. Give ________________ the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

10} Proverbs 3:3 

“Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.”

Prayer – Father, never let loyalty and kindness leave ________________! Tie them around _____________’s neck as a reminder. Write them deep within __________’s heart.

That’s it!  So, what do you think? Have you tried praying scripture for your kids? What verses do you use to pray for your children?

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Melanie is a Christian blogger, Motivational Speaker, Author, and Marketing and Social Media Consultant. She married Randy 27 years ago and serves alongside him in ministry. Additionally, she’s mom to two awesome young adults. God’s grace never ceases to amaze her. You can find out more about Melanie & her ministry at www.melanieredd.com. You can also connect with Melanie here:

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Could you use more encouragement in your parenting?

You may want to check out Melanie’s positive parenting resource – “How to Win Your Child’s Heart for Life: 8 Proven Strategies for Parents.”

Learn more about the book HERE.

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This month we are focusing on different kinds of prayer. Today, Melanie opened by sharing with us why and how we pray Scripture. She gave us some of her favorite Bible verses to pray over your child and taught us how to pray those verses. In the next weeks, we will share the ACTS method of praying, learn how Jesus taught us to pray, and explore becoming confident and bold in our prayer lives. So, whether you are longing to learn to pray with confidence or you are just wanting to deepen your prayer life, this series may be the encouragement you need! Join us!

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