Prayers of blessing for our children

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.

Clearing a path

But God doesn’t want what we have. He wants us. July 8, 2024

2 Corinthians 12:14-15, 19 I don’t want what you have—I want you. After all, children don’t provide for their parents. Rather, parents provide for their children. … I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you. Everything we do is to strengthen you.

1 John 3:1, 16; 5:3, 21 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children. … We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. … Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.

My young grandchildren often give me things. A drawing (rainbows predominate these days). A dandelion, carefully tucked in a buttonhole or behind my ear. A bite of a cookie. A song.

These offerings are sweet because of the love that infuses them. At the same time, I need to remind them from time to time, what really shows me that you love me is your obedience. What I ask of you is not for myself—it’s for you, to help make your lives orderly and peaceful and happy. And the same is true for your mommy and daddy. You often tell me that you love them. Don’t just say it; show it—by obeying them, by doing cheerfully the simple things they ask of you.

Love and generosity are meant to be a two-way street. But that’s not what everyone experiences, and it’s hard—and not safe—to give our hearts and our obedience to those who aren’t trustworthy. In REVER (the restoration ministry Dave started in Brazil in the ‘90s), we talk about a “father wound” and a “mother wound.” So many people resonate with these concepts. They were hurt, rather than loved appropriately by their fathers and/or their mothers. This wounding made them profoundly vulnerable to abuse by other people. Often, they struggled with loving God, their parents, and other people, because in their formative years, they did not feel generously loved and cared for by the most important people in their lives.

Our heavenly Father, out of his profound, pure, self-giving love, can and longs to heal these soul wounds. Jesus said, “Let the little ones come to me.” I think that’s each one of us. His heart breaks when he sees abuse carried out in his name, throwing up barriers to him rather than a helping hand.

I’m reminded to be careful of my own heart, words, and actions. I want to open a way to the Father, not clutter it with pitfalls or align God’s pure name with harmful words and behavior.

Where I grew up, this was a common way to clear a path. Shutterstock: n_defender

If someone asks you about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way … Let them see the good life you live because you belong to Christ. … who died to bring us safely home to God (1 Peter 3:15-16, 18).

All the children of the world

But Jesus says the Kingdom belongs to those who receive it like a child

Mark 9:34-37 The disciples had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. Jesus called them over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else. Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.”

Mark 10:13-17 One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.

If you’re like me, the most heart-wrenching stories and photos coming out of southern Turkey are the children, injured if they’re still alive, freezing, hungry, without shelter and often without their families. Lord, have mercy.

In my imagination, Karis and her brother Michael are among those welcoming into Heaven the children who did not survive the earthquake, caring for them with tender love.

Heaven feels so close.

And our petty quarrels and power struggles so ridiculous.

Jesus loves me. This, I know.

But God’s Spirit joins with our spirit

Romans 8:14-17 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

Not fearful slaves. Children and heirs, who can call the creator and sovereign over the universe, Daddy.

No matter our social position on Earth, whatever our story, in the Kingdom of God, where the last will be first and leaders are to be servants, each of us is welcome at the royal table. Because first, the King of kings stooped down to live with us.

Our friend Annette introduced us to a beautiful song, whose story is here. The text follows, and you can listen here or here.

Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,
All for love’s sake becamest poor;
Thrones for a manger didst surrender,
Sapphire-paved courts for stable floor.
Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,
All for love’s sake becamest poor.

Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love’s sake becamest man;
Stooping so low, but sinners raising
Heavenward by thine eternal plan.
Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love’s sake becamest man.

Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Saviour and King, we worship thee.
Emmanuel, within us dwelling,
Make us what thou wouldst have us be.
Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Saviour and King, we worship thee.

Let this beautiful praise fill your heart today.

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the Cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.