Cleaning out my mom’s file cabinet drawers, I discovered a prayer, typed by hand on an electric typewriter sometime back in the 1970’s or 1980’s. It was filed among my school papers and other personal items she collected through the years. It was a good prayer – a good start… but I had other things I wanted to add to it.
I don’t claim to be the original author – only a very thankful recipient and editor. I’ve added promises from scriptures which I hope to claim for my kids.
God wants you to know His Word enough to pray it back to Him. It shows Him you are listening.
I have underlined in the prayer where I have used scripture as part of the prayer, or used scripture as inspiration for what I added. The link to the scriptures I used for the prayer is here in this paragraph.
May God remind us to keep praying this often. {I originally posted this in 2005, but felt it was time for an update – as a great reminder to keep praying in all stages of your child’s life.}
Oh, God, my Father in Heaven, please make me a better parent.Help me to understand my children, to listen patiently to what they have to say, and to respond to their questions kindly. Help me to look not only to my interests, but also to theirs. Help me to see in them the gifts that you have placed, to nurture those gifts and add to them skills and experience. Keep me from interrupting them, talking back to them, and contradicting them. Let their words be precious to my ears. Make me as courteous to them as I would have them be to me. Prevent me from uttering words that are careless and do not lift them up. Fill my mouth with sound instruction and encouragement.
May I grant them all of their wishes that are reasonable and have the courage and strength to always withhold a privilege or gift which I know will do them harm – no matter what anyone else thinks. Let me test all things against the laws of Your Word. Let me give light to your Word in every circumstance, talking about it all the day long so that their entire world-view is wrapped up in your promises and truth. Let me base my decisions in love and be consistent in my parenting according to your precepts. Let them see me give you first place in my life and let them see me faithfully devote myself to the study of your Word and prayer.
Reduce, I pray, the meanness in me. May I cease to nag; and when I am out of sorts, help me, O Lord, to hold my tongue. Blind me to the little errors of my children and help me to see the good things they do. Give me a ready word for honest praise. Let me fall in love with them every day all over again. Help me appreciate the giggles and wiggles that you have placed in them instead of seeing them as an annoyance. Oh, that I could find joy in their laughter and not be so serious and distracted by the anxieties of life that I miss the short time I have to play with them and pick them up. Let me hold and kiss them each day.
Help me to treat my children as those of their own age. Let me not expect from them the restraint and judgment of an adult. Allow me not to rob them of the opportunity to wait upon themselves, to think for themselves, to discover for themselves, and to make their own decisions whenever possible. Help me to foster an environment of learning and a full knowledge of your Word. Lead me on straight paths in choosing what I teach to my children and help me be a thorough educator, never forsaking the building of their relationship with you or the character you desire in them for academics only.
Forgive my children any sins they commit – bring them to the surface so they may be dealt with early on. Forbid that I should ever punish them for my selfish satisfaction or out of anger. Give me the courage to confess my sins against my children and ask them for forgiveness when I know I have done wrong. May I not vainly hurt the feelings of my children. Forbid that I should laugh at their mistakes, or resort to shame and ridicule as punishment. Let me not tempt my children to lie or steal. Guide me hour by hour that I may demonstrate by all I say and do that honesty produces happiness. Let me be used by You to guide them into Your arms by my life.
Make me so fair and just, so considerate, companionable, and gentle – that they will have a genuine esteem for me. Fit me to be loved and imitated by my children as a Proverbs 31 woman. Let your Son shine in my heart as a beacon for them. Bless them and the future mates they will marry, protect them from physical harm and the spiritual wickedness that seeks to devour them in this world. Keep their minds, souls, hearts and bodies pure before you. Give them a heart that seeks to obey and please You. Let them desire to know You. Let their earthly father and I be the example of love and loyalty that they need to feel secure and know what to seek out in a relationship when they are grown. Oh, Father, give me the calm, poise, grace, wisdom and self-control that I need to ensure that they see You in my life.
Help me to display order, good stewardship, responsibility and patience in such a way that it will become part of who they are as well. May I bless you in honor for your trust in me to raise them. Let them grow to be oaks of righteousness – plantings of the Lord for the display of your splendor. Let goodness and mercy follow them through their whole lives. May they be bound to You forever…
{ Amen and Amen. }
In Him,
Madge says
Thanks for posting this. I am currently going through the Stormie Omartion book, POWER OF A PRAYING PARENT. It hits so many parenting issues right on, but I would like to say a more specific “homeschooler’s prayer” too. This prayer that your mother kept is beautiful. Did you follow up with scripture references? If so, I don’t see them and would appreciate a link.
Thanks again. This prayer is a wonderful outline for me to use!
Sprittibee says
I added the verses to the bottom of the scripture. 😉 Thanks for asking. 🙂
lazynana says
Hi,
Thanks for posting this.
I’m a mother of two boys and instructor of multimedia at an international cooperation organization of Japan.
In my research on “health communication”, I found the Japanese version of the prayer, then decided to put it on my blog. I also wanted to post English version, then I reached here.
To my surprise, the date you posted was the day I became a mother (June 25) 10 years ago.
This is a Grace of God, I believe.
I just wanted to thank you.
Stay blessed,
lazynana (Okinawa, Japan)
Colleen says
I needed the serenity that this prayer offered tonight. Thanks. I will keep a copy to enjoy and reflect upon in the future.
Connie says
Looking for an appropriate prayer for someone desiring to become a parent.
karen says
Thank you for posting this prayer. The Holy Spirit apparently lead me to it tonight b/c it was just what I need after a rough homeschooling week for me and my 4 boys. I will pray it everyday.
God bless you!
posh post says
thank you so much for this. i am a new mom and would like to cover my baby in prayer in many aspects of her life. i am looking for prayers on the internet. thanks for sharing this.
grabill46@comcast.net says
Thank you for posting it. This is just what I needed. I am going to print a copy and keep it near me so that I may look at it often to remind myself what a blessing my daughter is.
Katherine says
This is such a beautiful prayer.
Heather says
Thanks! I needed the reminder to pray it!
Ana says
I am so thankful that I found this site of yours! Today has not been a good day in the parenting arena. I will incorporate this beautifully, well written prayer in my morning devotions.
Melanie Britt says
This is beautiful!!
Heather says
Thanks Melanie!
Dianeen says
This is such a beautiful prayer, a prayer that truly speaks what is in my heart as a mother toward my children. I pray this prayer daily and I am seeing God helping me daily with becoming a better mother to my Precious children. May God bless you for posting this prayer! You have helped the lives of many through doing this!
Christina J. says
I love this prayer! It speaks to my heart and shows me what I need to be praying. All glory be to God.
Heather says
Thanks Christina. I needed the reminder to print it out again. <3