But God’s Spirit blesses our children

Isaiah 44:3; 59:21 For I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to irrigate your parched fields. And I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children. … “And this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit will not leave them, and neither will these words I have given you. They will be on your lips and on the lips of your children and your children’s children forever.

This is a quick post to make up for missing last week while I was traveling.

Shutterstock: Studio Romantic

Recently, one of our mission teammate’s father, Dr. Roger Gulick, died from cancer. Part of Roger’s legacy follows. We can partner with the Holy Spirit by blessing children in this way.

Biblical Virtues to Pray for Kids (whatever their age)

From ENCOURAGE by Roger Gulick, 2025

1. Salvation.  “Lord, let salvation spring up within my children that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory” (Is. 45:8, 2 Tim. 2:10).

2. Growth in grace.  “I pray that my children may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ “(2 Pet. 3:18).

3. Love.  “Grant, Lord, that my children may learn to live a life of love, through the Spirit of God who dwells in them” (Gal. 5:25, Eph. 5:2).

4. Honesty and Integrity.  “May integrity and honesty be their virtue and their protection” (Ps. 25:21).

5. Self-control.  “Father, help my children not to be like many others around them, but let them be alert and self-controlled in all they do” (1 Thes. 5:6).

6. Love for God’s Word.  “May my children grow to find Your Word more precious than much pure gold and sweeter than honey from the comb” (Ps. 19:10).

7. Justice.  “God, help my children to love justice as You do and act justly in all they do” (Ps.11:5, Mic. 6:8).

8. Mercy.  “May my children always be merciful, just as their heavenly Father is merciful” (Lk. 6:36).

9. Respect (for self, others, authority).  “Father, grant that my children may show proper respect to everyone, as Your Word commands” (1 Pet. 2:17).

10. Biblical self-esteem.  “Help my children develop a strong self-esteem that is rooted in the realization that they are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:10).

11. Faithfulness.  “Let love and faithfulness never leave my children, but bind these twin virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts” (Prov. 3:3)

12. Courage.  “May my children always be strong and courageous in their character and in their actions” (Deut. 31: 6).

13. Purity.  “Create in them a pure heart, O God, and let that purity of heart show in their actions” (Ps. 51:10).

14. Kindness.  “Lord, may my children always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else” (1 Thess 5:15).

15. Generosity.  “Grant that my children may be generous and willing to share, and so lay-up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age” (1 Tim 6:18-19).

16. Peace-loving.  “Father, let my children make every effort to do what leads to peace” (Rom. 14:19).

17. Joy.  “May my children be filled with the joy given by the Holy Spirit (1 Thes. 1:6).

18. Humility.  “God, please cultivate in my children the ability to show true humility toward all” (Titus 3:2).

19. Responsibility.  “Grant that my children may learn responsibility, for each one should carry his own load” (Gal. 6:5).

20. Compassion.  “Lord, please clothe my children with the virtue of compassion” (Col.3:12).

21. Contentment.  “Father, teach my children the secret of being content in any and every situation, through Him who gives them strength” (Phil. 4:12-13).

22. Faith.  “I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children’s hearts, that by faith they may gain what has been promised to them” (Luke 17:5-6. Heb. 11:1-40).

23. A servant’s heart.  “God, please help my children develop servants’ hearts that they may serve wholeheartedly, as if they were serving the Lord, not men” (Eph. 6:7).

24. Hope.  “May the God of hope grant that my children may overflow with hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 13:15).

25. Willingness and ability to work.  “Teach my children, Lord, to value work and to work at it with all their heart, as work for the Lord, not for men” (Col.  4:23).

26. Passion for God.  “Lord, please instill in my children a soul that “follows hard after You” (Ps. 63:8), one that clings passionately to You.”

27. Self-discipline.  “Father, I pray that my children may acquire a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair” (Prov. 1:3).

28. Prayerfulness.  “Grant, Lord, that my children’s lives may be marked by prayerfulness, that they may learn to pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Eph. 6:18).

29. Gratitude.  “Help my children to live lives that are always overflowing with thankfulness and always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 5:20, Col. 2:7).

30. A heart for missions.  “Lord, please help my children to develop a desire to see Your glory declared among the nations, Your marvelous deeds among all peoples” (Ps. 6:3).

31. Perseverance.  “Lord, teach my children perseverance in all they do, and help them especially to run with perseverance the race marked out for them”(Heb. 12:1).

And on Crosswalk.com, Debbie McDaniel offers forty prayers of blessing to pray over our children.

Here too is a prayer for those who care for kids:

Almighty God, heavenly Father,

You have blessed us with the joy and care of children:

Give us calm strength and patient wisdom so to train them,

that they may love all that is true, and pure, and lovely, and of good report,

following the example of their Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.